getting my horse fit- any tips?

[Fionafaye]

Had a bit of a disastrous show jumping class yesterday and im pretty sure it was down to my horses fitness. We knocked the second jump down then struggled over the 3rd 4th 5th and 6th then refused the seventh which was a big spread (and I fell off lol) none of this is like lady at all. She usually clears jumps by miles. On the way back to the horsebox she seemed to have no energy left (I had done the class before as well). She has only been ridden once or twice a week for past 2-3 weeks because my sand school and fields have been flooded. I never realised how much this has effected her fitness until yesterday. My next show jumping competition is in a month so I need her to be fitter for then. Obviously she wont be at peak fitness by then but hopefully she will be fit enough to do two classes. Has anyone got any tips on how I could get her fit? I clearly need to ride her more but is there any exercises? Thanks.

 

[Bethie]

If she was properly fit 2-3 weeks ago she shouldn't have lost that much fitness so quickly. I'd possibly be suspecting a virus - have you checked her temperature? Might be worth having her checked.

If it is just fitness, can you hack out on the roads if you're flooded out off road? Or box her somewhere else to get her working regularly?

 

[Katie__Connie]

Defo check as Bethie said....

And if it's just fitness..... lots of uphill trotting