Fitness question..

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karenjj

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Hi everyone, a couple of weeks ago I had my first dressage lesson on my boy. Now I thought he was pretty fit, but he was worn out!! The lesson was a 20min walk down the road then half an hour proper work then 20min slow walk back. I realised he obviously isn't as fit as I thought he was!! I had been hacking him out twice a week for about 5 miles with canter and trot and riding him in my field once a week and lunging him in my field once a week.
I found out in the lesson he wasn't really working that hard and I had to get him going more forward which is why he probably wasn't that fit! I've got another lesson this weekend and have been trying to get him more fit..how do I get him to a decent level of fitness and how do I maintain it through winter when I can't ride in my fields because it'll be too muddy not to mention dark as I work full time?!
 
If you cant ride in the fields because they are wet and its dark in the winter im guessing this = no riding/working, which in turn = an unfit pony?!

I agree with Amy why not cut down the lesson. Perhaps 30 mins of schooling then 15 mins cool down?
 
The lesson is down the road which is why I have to walk there! So if I had a 40min lesson we'd still have to walk there and back. He was in full work all last winter as I had him at a livery yard, this is the first year he will be at home..
 
Oh right.

The work you explained that you "had" been doing, was this last year or is this what you are doing now? If its what your doing now, how long have you been doing it? It has taken me 4-5 months to get my boy up to a good level of fitness and this is by doing intense work 4 or 5 times a week aswell as going out competing at weekends.

What type of horse do you have?
 
He's a TBxNew Forest, (Jasper in my siggy below). The work I've been doing with him is since Feb. He had 3 weeks off in April when he injured his leg and then back in work again. I wouldn't have thought a 20min amble down the road to his lesson would really be working as such? Maybe I should take him down there in the trailer?! I'm wanting to get him fit so we can start the dressage series in the New Year but am worried about keeping him fit over winter, maybe I should think about livery again.. he's not started jumping yet, that's my goal for next summer!
 
Mmmm its shouldnt take a great deal to get a horse of his type fit.
I would keep up the walking to and from your lesson. Walking is a great warm up and cool down and it will help towards his fitness levels. If you think you will struggle to work him over the winter and need him ready for just after, i would consider somewhere with a school where you can ride as you please.

Good luck.
smile.gif
 
If you want to keep him at home but you've got a trailer could you box him to a school a couple of times a week over winter to keep his fitness up?
 
That's a good idea, my instructor did say she rents the school out, I'm not keen on going back to livery now I've had the pleasure of them at home! Thanks for your advice.
 
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