Horse fitness :S

Dizzyblonde99

Dizzyblonde99

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Okay! So I have a lively 9 year old arab X 14.1 gelding. At the moment I am working him for abour 40 mins a day, longer if I hack him. I have a brilliant oppertunity to take him on a "pony camp" type thing buutttt we would be doing 1hour flat 1hour jump and 1 hour hack each day for a week!!!

Do you think it would be fair to try and get him fit enough to go considering it's in three weeks? Or should I borrow I rideing school kick along?

Please help, I would love to share the experience with my pony but I don't want to over work him!

Also does anyone have experience of similer situations? And do you think lots of hill work and hacking is the best way to build up his fitness?

tttt.jpg

and I picture from yesterday if your intrested in his weight etc

Thanks (:
 
Lots of trotting and hill work is the best way to get him fit imo!

I would do it with him anyway and you can always miss out one of the sessions daily if he is looking a bit tired, or ask if your horse is finding the work too hard you can use a riding school one instead for that day?

Just to agree with Hells_Bells on the fact that in the group lessons you will spend time just standing still.
 
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He looks in great condition. Personally i would say keep going as you are but try to do more hacks of 60-90 mins and add in more canter/fast work on hacks and he will be fine at camp. Also make sure you give him a day off each week to recoup.

I used to do about the same as you on my horses when I used to go to pony club camp and they were always fine. Having said that we would only do 2 outings a day rather than 3 but I don't think it would have harmed them if it were 3. Esp if he's arab welsh cross he will probably have tons of stamina!

Also when you're doing group lessons you tend to do less work, esp when it's the jumping lesson, you will spend a fair amount of the time standing round taking turns etc.

Go for it and enjoy it!!
 
if he's lively and you take him on long hacks aswell dosn't seem like it would be a problem-but i am no expert. why not do all those things at home just for a day and see what he's like after it, would be a shame not to take him, good luck :)
 
personally i'd take him no matter if you think he is fit enough, alot of the ponies that go to camp where i am have hardly done anything and its all the work at camp that gets them fit, plus you have three weeks, say three weeks working him once a day for an hour with mostly trotting and cantering with power walking will get him fit in no time
 
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