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HorsesRule2009

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Hi all,

In hoping to get out and do some ODEs towards the end of the summer/ autumn time.

What do people think of interval training in an arena it's roughly 40x20.

We have limited hacking and of what we do have on offer very little areas for canter work.

I can box up for some canter work but this is not only far more time consuming but also depending where you go more expensive.

Has anyone here predominantly used an arena for canter work?

We hack out plenty and will have a decent trot while out a few times a week.

Thank you
 
While not ideal it can be done. Living somewhere that has a huge amount of rain which meant ground conditions can often be too wet I have resorted to this pre season when we had horses competing. Obviously you can't replicate hills and differing terrain but if you're hacking in trot that will help.
 
That's what I'm thinking, we have forestries that have decent hills so will walk up them possibly trot but these aren't suitable to canter.

I am hoping to get out fortnightly 🤞 for some better canter work as well
 
Not ideal- you're not going to get the heart rate up enough and you're always going to be on the turn so increases the chance of injury. Box out to do some proper canter work, you only need to do it every 10 days or so
 
To be honest you don't need loads of additional fitness work for 80/90 if you work your horse reasonably hard in your normal schooling sessions and hack decent distance with trotting. Unless you have a very cobby type?
But the horse fitness work also helps with rider fitness - consider half seat when doing a lot of your hacking trotting to make sure you have the strength to be up out of the saddle for reasonable periods, as that will very much help your horse too on a longer course and often seems overlooked at that level. Once every 10 days / 2 weeks to a gallop would be helpful if you can.
 
HorsesRule2009 said:
Would be 80 this season.
There is a 80 at Howick that I'd like to do in August unaffiliated but around the BE course
Click to expand...

You shouldn't need to do lots of fitness work for an 80.
I'd be more mindful of putting unnecessary miles on their legs.

Personally, you'd be best off doing your usual prep (SJ classes, xc school etc) and then one or maybe two trips to box up to do a bit of faster work.
That should be plenty for doing an 80.
 
Thanks all.

He is a D with a good amount of bone.
I will continue as I am and just increase the canter work in our schooling sessions.
I do generally trot in two point so hopefully will be ok
 
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