Dressage Interval training

[j1ffy]

Hi all - question for the hive mind, particularly those with more of an eventing background I would guess!

My loan horse doesn't hack on the roads (yet) and has spent most of his life in the arena, other than short hacks around the fields of his livery yards. For both our sakes I'm keen to do something other than dressage in the evenings. He's a bit rubbish at pole work and at rising 18 I'm not sure I can be bothered trying . We're playing with some WE obstacles but generally to break up the flatwork, and they also require him to be up and together so I'm not sure it's that much of a break. I've also played with some in-hand work, which is quite new to him.

I was thinking that we could do some interval training as the arena is a good size and shape for it, and it would keep his cardiovascular fitness up without stressing his joints as much as dressage. He's dressage fit (was competing up to Inter 1 until August and fitness has been maintained since then); he's stabled with short daily turnout (he's not a fan) and daily walker exercise. What sort of intervals would you start with?

 

[rara007]

1 min canter 3min trot x6 and see where that gets you?

 

[BronsonNutter]

I do my arena intervals with the pony as X number of laps of the arena in a cross country pace canter, then walk one lap to recover, repeat 6 times (3 x per rein). As he gets fitter the number of laps of arena per interval increases. In the summer we do it in the field instead (which is on a hill so we gallop along the bottom, uphill up the side, along the top, and then walk back down the hill and repeat!)

 

[LEC]

Just on the Polework. Either wedge them more so they can’t move or get thicker heavier poles like railway sleepers. He will learn pretty quickly and it will really make a difference to other areas. Dressage boards are pretty good as well once he has worked out his footwork.

I am not personally keen on interval work in an arena as constantly turning hence why it’s worth persevering with the polework as very good long term for fitness. If they move while riding - lunge over them as less hassle to out them back.