fitness prog for a SJer only in work 3 / 4 days a week ???

[TinselRider]

I need a bit of help here, I have a few SJ comps coming up mid december ( no higher than 3'6")but due to college I can only ride 3/4 days a week. I finnish college on the 13th of december so need a fitness regime to work by untill then.

the horse I will be riding is a slightly overweight ID xTB 8year old.

I have access mainly to a 20 x 20m outdoor pen( for 30 mins max), about a 15 - 25 min road hack and now (thankfully) a 20 x 40 m indoor school which I can use once a week.
I was just wondering if any of you could reccomend a regime for me

thanks in advance

 

[Helenabbey]

I hack mine three times a week, and school once. He is an oldie though and well schooled. I only jump him at shows but if yours is not so experienced I would school twice, jump once and hack once with maybe a pop down a grid during one of your schooling sessions?

 

[Agent XXX999]

I can only ride twice in the week and both days weekends. Because of this, I school him in the week with the floodlights. If it is raining or the trains are delayed I lunge him in a pessoa. I hack out at the weekends and do alot of trotting and cantering (I literally only walk of 5 mins at the start and at the end, and I am out fo at least 40 mins), then go in the school and over a couple of jumps (literally 3 or 4) On a Sunday I will go competing or to a clinic or have a jump in the school.

He is a 17.2hh trakhener, who is fit and content on this level of work x Not being able to ride every day is annoying isnt it!

 

[Pasha]

I would walk more when out hacking (30 mins walking and only 10 mins trotting and cantering out of the 40). Personally I always walk for at least 10 mins to warm up and cool down, especially when you are getting them fit and it's cold - up and down hills, to build up his muscles and strengthen his legs.... the two schooling sessions with trot and canter should be enough cardio excersise, but you can't beat walking and hill work for fitness and stamina building!