how do I get my mare fit?

[DBrasnett]

My 7 year old TB mare has had the luxury of 14 weeks in the field while I travel around South America (hard life for both of us!)

I have spent this week getting to know her and getting her into a routine again.

I need some help on getting her fit and ready for a autumn/winter of schooling before a eventing season next year.

Does anyone have any advice on a training programme for the next few weeks?

 

[xnaughtybutnicex]

Lots of hills and fields if possible.

 

[Libbyn1982]

I'd do lots of long slow work up and down hills where you can, gradually building up trot work mixed with schooling sessions and then adding some fast work in at the end and grid work for agility.

 

[DBrasnett]

This is great thank you. What duration should I ride for at the beginning?

 

[xnaughtybutnicex]

20 mins??

 

[xnaughtybutnicex]

That is 20 mins in quite a forward walk up some hills not plodding along in the school. I was told to do about 15 mins after my mare had 9 months off but do 5 mins longer about every 2 weeks until you get to 30 mins fast walk, then introduce little bits of trot e.g have a trot up 1 hill, then 2 ect.

Sorry about the rambling LOL hope this helps

 

[DBrasnett]

Brilliant, thank you.

 

[Shilasdair]

Here's a phenomenally dull outline fittening programme for you....it may be useful as a 'guideline', but you have to tailor it to your horse, timescale, circumstances etc (for example, hill work in Essex might be challenging).
S

Fittening Programme (Aimed for novice eventer)

Walk Work – Weeks 1 – 3
Starting with ½ hour, building to 1 ½ hrs by end of third week.
Start on flat ground with good going, introduce hill work with gentle slopes, working horse in a good outline.
4 mph

Trot Work – Weeks 4 – 6
Introduce trotting, starting with two or three bursts of 1 minute and increasing to 5, 10, 15 minutes etc.
Increase hillwork to encourage lightness of forehand, engagement of hindquarters, and to work heart and lungs harder.
Increase work to 2 hrs if needed, and introduce schooling.
6 – 7 mph

Canter Work – Weeks 7 – 9
Introduce canter work, starting with twice weekly sessions of two bursts of slow canter.

Wk 7 2 x 1 min
2 x 2

Wk 8 2 x 3 min
2 x 4

Wk 9 2 x 4 min
2 x 5


Faster Work – Weeks 10 – 12
Introduce cross country schooling, show jumping schooling and/or mini hunter trials, grid work, etc.
Canter work increases:

Wk 10 2 x 5 min
2 x 6

Wk 11 2 x 6 min

Wk 12 2 x 7 min
2 x 7
2 x 7

 

[DBrasnett]

Shilasdair, this is brilliant thank you so much. I am currently in south Wales, so hills are all over!

 

[Shilasdair]

Welcome, hope it helps.
S

 

[244jimmy]

great plan Shilasdair i was wondering how to fitten bobby up no i am armed ...