Hunting Fit?

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Miss Daisy

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Evening all!
Having recently bought a Hunter I would like any advice you hardened hunters out there can give me on, How often I should school/jump/hack each week? How many days off he should have? And any other tips regarding his training!
From a Hunting virgin:)
 
Might be worth asking the previous owners what they did? He will need to be doing enough 'cardio' work to keep up his fitness levels. Jumping can be reserved for when you're hunting (if you're planning on hunting) or competing. A horse can never be too fit for a days hunting. For me, when our old mare was evented/hunted she was being ridden 5 days a week, but we were going out with an amateur point-to-pointer so were hacking for 1.5 hours of which up to 45mins of that was trotting and cantering continuously, then in the school for up to 45mins 3 x a week in the afternoons or a slightly slower hack.
 
The jumping very much depends on the horse & how much you do out hunting. And what you do in a week depends on how many of those days you are out hunting.
When mine hunted she could do a 2hr very fast hack, then either an hours intense schooling or jumping involving mainly trot & canter, & quite a bit of galloping on hacks. The other of mine used to do slightly less jumping wise, 2x max in a week including any comps as he otherwise got flat, & his jumping sessions were less intense than the mares as she lived to jump anything, whereas he was only inspired xc or hunting.
 
If he is already fit and has been autumn hunting to date you should just need to keep him ticking over in between hunting. Plenty of long steady hacks with trotting up hills, the odd steady canter, a schooling session each week to keep him supple and improve his schooling and possibly a short jumping session if required.
A day off after hunting, or a gentle leg stretch if you want, if hunting weekly he should remain fit without too much in between, if unfit or only hunting once in a while more work will be needed to keep him in shape.
 
When fit my hunters get one days rest after hunting and work each day after that they get a lunged once every week ( gives me a chance to spot changes in gait )
Unless there's a issue or they are young I don't jump except out hunting .
If they are hunting once a week say Saturday they will canter on a Wednesday or Thursday I work them around one hour per day.
 
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