Fitness

benson21

benson21

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I have never really worried about how fit donovan was until now, but we are doing our first marathon driving on Sunday, and I am beginning to worry. I take him out probably 3 times a week for a drive, our block is 4 miles, and he will trot most of that, coming home with very little sweat and probably 30 seconds of blowing before breathing returns to normal. butfor the last few days I have been taking him twice round the edge of a field, and although when we have finished he is not blowing, and still seems very keen on going again, he is running with white foam down his back legs ,and round his girth. Should I be worried about his fitness for theis weekend?
 
I aim to do 12 km with my club level driving cob at least three times a fortnight I do shorter drives more often .
I use a cycle meter app on my iPhone to monitor the distance I go and how fast so I ensure I am training hard enough.
I also use the app to measure the distance he does in his schooling ssessions with the carriage on the grass.
He's cantered ridden three times a fortnight as well and does sessions of hill work in walk and canter I aim to drive five times a week and ride three ( one day off) so sometimes he's ridden and driven he does ridden flat work and lunging and jumping as well he's in pretty hard work when I am aiming for HDTs with him .
I have to keep him clipped right out all year or esle he can't cope with the marathon / endurance work.
My horse would not manage a marathon and do the times on the work you describe but horses vary a lot my last one got fit almost too easily .
 
amymay said:
6 miles is no distance - it's a hack.

Take it at your own pace - and have fun.
Click to expand...

This. If he regularly trots around 4 miles without blowing then he will be fine to do 6 miles - just give him walk breaks when he needs it. Good luck :)
 
Just seen your reply to Amy may six miles is not that far .
You need to get to the section E with enough petrol in the tank for the obsticles if you feel you are chasing him to make the kilometre times you may have accept some time faults while you work out how you need to fitten him .
I have found its important to work them at the correct speed per kilometre in training for the marathon that's where my cycle app is really good as my backstepper can monitor the pace.
The main thing is to have fun
 
i am realy looking forward to it!! Just a bit nervous about the obstacles as I just keep forgeting where I am going! thank God for OH as he directs me quite well!!!
 
You can assess with heart rate, take resting heart rate then se how quickly it returns to this after exercise, quicker the return rate the fitter the horse
 
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