Getting a horse fit?!

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charlottemary

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I've just taken on a lovely Irish Draught cross on part loan and I'm looking for some advice on getting him in shape. He hasn't been ridden consistently in a few months so will need his fitness and muscle building up slowly. Thinking of doing 20-30 min sessions in the school a few times a week and some hacking. What exercises are best to help improve fitness? He isn't on any hard feed so that doesn't need to be reduced or anything and limited grazing, he's just a bit of a fatty:D
TIA x
 
best exercise at first is just long slow hacks on the road, building up gradually. I'd be tempted to do more hacking thank schoolwork for the first month.
 
The best way to fitten a horse is by hacking, preferably up and down hills. Traditionally hunters, who need to be very fit for the season walk for the first 6 weeks before trot is introduced, depending on what you want him to be fit for, you might be able to shorten that time but don't rush him, or you could damage his legs. I would forget about working in the school for a couple of months, artificial surfaces can cause terrible strain on unfit legs.
 
Getting him out hacking will be the best way to build up his fitness, until he can hack comfortably for an hour or so I would not school at all, probably at least 6 weeks, a big horse that is overweight needs to get the weight down by slow steady exercise in straight lines as much as possible otherwise he will be at risk of injury, if you are only riding him a few times a week it will be even more important to build up slowly without doing too much in the school on the days you do ride.
 
Personally I'd hack only for several weeks and then introduce some school work.

So initially 30 minutes walk daily building up to an hour over the first two weeks. Then start quietly introducing some short spells of trot work. I'd think about school work after about a month to six weeks.
 
Thank you for all of the quick replies! Will start out with hacking then! The yard he is at at the moment has a pretty rubbish school but I'm hoping to be taking him on full loan in the next 6 weeks and moving yards to one that has two good schools so will hold off any schooling until then
 
charlottemary said:
Thank you for all of the quick replies! Will start out with hacking then! The yard he is at at the moment has a pretty rubbish school but I'm hoping to be taking him on full loan in the next 6 weeks and moving yards to one that has two good schools so will hold off any schooling until then
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That sounds sensible, if he is going to be "yours" it makes sense to do it properly now so you give him the best chance of getting fit so you can enjoy him long term.
 
from scratch-
I do 4-6 weeks walking building up from 30minutes to 2hrs and adding in hills if possible.
trot work weeks 6-8, building up from a few minutes (to 20/30minutes by week 11/12)
canter weeks 8 onwards building up like the trot. I usual have them doing 3min canter x4 by week 10.

schooling- I normally wait until week 8 but I do basic schooling out hacking from day one- ie transitions, leg yield etc. I prefer to gradually increase the work in the school too- so I may hack for 10min, school for 10min and hack another 10min as the horses body needs to adjust to the different surface demands.

if you are already partway thro the fitness regime just pick up from there....
 
Get him in the habit of walking out as if he is going somewhere, not just out for a stroll!

I have found that TBs and X are much, much easier to get fit than other horses, as they are always so enthusiastic about things. With other breeds it can be hard work for you and them.

Schooling is also quite hard work, so keep the sessions short to start with, and varying terrain is important.

You increase fitness by increasing the heart rate.
 
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