Fittening a horse debate..

[Natch]

As in the how to bit. Feel a bit numptyish for posting this, but could do with some more opinions on fittening Frankie for horse camp in a month's time. Don't worry, this started months ago, trying to up his exercise level in general, as well as trying to manage his increasing waistline

He is currently in work, say 4-5 days out of 7, normally 1-1/2 hrs back (undulating off road tracks, probably 60% walk, 30% trot and 10% canter/blast) or 3/4 hr to 1 1/4 hr schooling session, more trot & canter.

Horse camp is 3 days of 2 x 1hr lessons. So what next?

Also related is a debate I am having with a friend over which paces are best for fittening a horse: she says lots of canter because trot and walk are metabolically similar, but I think i've heard from endurance riders that trotting is similar to cantering, but we're neither of us sure about our info... are either more accurate, or are we both talking rubbish?!

Yours, from a confused naturally!

 

[faerie666]

I think he'll cope fine at camp with what you're doing at the moment.

Remember that you'll be sharing the lessons with at least one other person, so it won't be as strenous as if you were doing 1hr lessons by yourself.
I did roughly that much with Robbie before we went to camp last October and he was fine.

I was always told that a good, brisk walk is best for aerobic fitness, and I can certainly tell the difference in our racehorses if they don't go on the walker as much as they normally do at the start of the season.

 

[Natch]

Thank you. I think he'll cope, but I'd like him to have enough energy for us to both enjoy it and not be pooped by lesson no.2 if you know what I mean.

He is going to start being ridden twice a day occasionally soon, so that that isn't a shock to him, and I'm not all together sure he will agree with doing work twice a day: I think we may have a few tantrums!

Pity nobody has been able to answer any scientific type answers to the bit about if walking/trotting or cantering is the best work for him: will stick to plan A and do assorted I think

 

[milliepops]

I am *not* an expert in the science of fittening, but I would have thought that how you get your horse fit depends on what you are preparing it for? (provided you are not starting from scratch - i.e. horse is already in ridden work)

e.g. I event my horse in the summer, so prepare by doing more canter work, (interspersed with Dr and SJ practice) including progressively longer, more intensive bursts. For a 3DE, I will do more fast work than when preparing for one days, as the XC test is longer and her system needs to adjust to work in that way.

If I was doing more dressage with her, then the fast work wouldn't be so important, as she wouldn't be working in that way normally so wouldn't have to be conditioned to it. She would still be working hard, but in a different way.

I would continue to work your horse with variety to keep you both interested. If you are already schooling, then building up to longer or harder sessions gradually would improve his fitness as well as the hacking does.

ETA - here is some science

 

[wizzlewoo]

Walk is by far the best fittening and toning pace for horses, canter and trot are equally good but are more for building stamina and the cardiovascular system. It depends what disapline you are wanting to do the most. Also with the walk you eliminate the risk of stress on the legs untill his weight comes down and his legs have strengthened, obviously i dont mean eliminating trot and catner because they are used in schooling but regards fittening the walk is far better. For loosing weight as well walking is just as effective. Do you have any hills you can use for training and fittening? Hope im not to unclear i know what i mean lol?

 

[emma69]

Another option would be interval training. I don't have the literature on me, but I am sure if you google it, you will find information on how it is done, max heart rates etc.

 

[Ludi-doodi]

[ QUOTE ]
Another option would be interval training. I don't have the literature on me, but I am sure if you google it, you will find information on how it is done, max heart rates etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

I do a variation of interval training and did this when I was fittening my boy up for a 3 day camp. It can be quite hard on them so would only suggest doing this once a week. But week 1 start with 3 x 2 minute cantering sessions with a 2 minute interval between each sessions (eg 2 canter 2 walk, 2 canter, 2 walk, 2 canter, 2 walk). The following week do 3 minutes of canter with 2 mins of walk, building up each canter session by 1 minute until you're doing what you feel is enough for him for what you want. If you had more time or he was less than fit than he is you start at 1 x 1 x 1 etc, and may be do that for 2 weeks, before increasing the time.

I do this work in the arena which fortunately has just been increased to a 60m but still managed reasonably easily in a 40m