Help with Fittening Work in 13 weeks

chickeninabun

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 July 2007
Messages
2,001
Location
Yorkshire
www.wix.com
I am going to a Trec camp in 13 weeks time and need to fitten up my horse.

Problem is I have no arena or off-road hacking and work full-time and have small children, so can only ride (very) early mornings or evenings, when it's dark :( and weekends.

We have an area of yard in front of the stables, which is lit (badly) and about 20m x 30m, but is just mud and stones, so I could walk on it and a little trotting, but my horse doesn't know how to lunge :rolleyes:. Is it worth trying to teach her in 13 weeks and will lunging get her fit without riding?? Or could I just school in walk, in the dark?? Would walking in circles help fitten her?

Any other things I could do in a short bursts that would help?

P.S. unfortunately we do not have any hills round us for miles and miles so walking and trotting up hills is out of the question.:(
 
What’s Trec camp?

TBH the walking around you’re muddy yard sounds a bit pointless (and boring!!), if she gets turned out regularly I think I’d just make sure you go on a good hack both days of the weekend, and then wait for the lighter nights to come – just done a quick search and sunset is 5.40 by end of feb and 7.40 by end of March (clocks change), so you should be able to get some decent evening rides in before your 13 weeks.
 
Thanks Starbucks. She is turned out from 6.30am until 3pm everyday, so has plenty of wandering about!
Yes, I agree if I make the hacks nice and long but with quick purposeful walking then she should start getting fitter.

The Trec camp is with the White Horse Trec Group. I think it is full now but they have a waiting list. It's near Pickering at the end of April (bank hols) and involves training/demos/lectures etc on all aspects of Trec. I'm really looking forward to it, just need to pass my trailer test before then!!:)
 
I’m sure she’ll be fine with the weekend hacks and some evening rides nearer the time – doesn’t sound too hard core.

Have fun and good luck with the trailer test! :)
 
Top