How many times a week do I need to hire a school for my horse to progress

[maya2008]

In dressage…from basic ‘can go on the bit and do circles’ level. Pony is nearly six and with Covid and lack of time I have managed to create a wonderful hacking pony who can do a walk/trot test but hasn’t enough canter fitness to make it through Prelim looking half decent. I miss competing and want to make a plan for us to get somewhere!

Hacking is nearly all walk/trot only, narrow tracks with uneven ground. Field slopes and gets wet so can only walk really (trot in drier weather).

I can do swapsies with a friend to borrow her school over the winter if I teach her daughter, so it’s just planning for time I need to do.

Would twice a week be enough? Or three times given we can’t really canter at home? Or school twice and box to hacking once or twice to get more canter work in?

 

[milliepops]

I would aim for 3x a week I think, but you'll need to build it up steadily as it sounds like a different type of work to what she's used to.

I'd rather 3 short sessions with a green horse than 2 longer ones with more of a gap in between. When learning new things I think they learn faster with more regular repetition. Can you hack to the school to give you a nice warm up/cool down or do you have to box there too.

 

[ycbm]

I agree 3 is optimum but I think 2 will still work, only more slowly.
.