Fitness

[Loulabella1980]

So my boy has lost a lot of fitness since this bloody lockdown situation. Me and my daughter have been riding once or twice a week but only schooling as we have to box him to my friends to go hacking and that’s a no no right now. Also can’t have our weekly lessons. I have 3 kids so can’t just ride him when I like! Anyway he’s absolutely blowing out of his arse after just 10 mins of trot/canter work In the arena. He has put weight on, right now I’m keeping him in a pretty bare field during the day In at night. I know he’s never going to be skinny, he’s a stocky welsh d, but he’s def bigger than I’d like him to be. What can I do to start building up some fitness? Normally don’t have to worry as we both have a high intensity lesson per week plus hacking plus competing dressage and jumping. This COVID-19 is messing us up!

 

[Cowpony101]

Possibly do some raised poles or other exercises in the school to strengthen the hind end? it is quite hard without roads or hacking but if you have any hills or places you can have a canter or to do interval training you wouldn’t need a lot of space. Or lunging? Hope this helps a little!!

 

[be positive]

I find they are less inclined to gain weight if turned out 24/7 on as little grass as possible in as big an area as you can or even better on a track type of set up, being in all night not moving and eating hay is not going to help your cause, even swapping to out at night in during the day can help if you ca bring in later turn out earlier so they are moving for longer.
Spend the time saved by not mucking out to get him on the lunge or long reins on days you dont ride and vary the schooling into a slow longer session and some faster sharper ones, a fit horse should not really lose a significant amount of fitness in 6 weeks so it must be more due to the weight gain than lack of exercise.

 

[Loulabella1980]

Thank you.

They are not stabled at night although have access to their stables, they have a small ménage that they are in. Yes I agree I think its weight gain. I usually turn out at night from mid/end may, may do that now.