ploddy cob - needs a bit of zing!!

[those-ears]

My 4yr cob was backed last year, turned away and now been back in work since feb. However she is very very laid back by nature and is very slow off the leg. When we hack out with others she plods along at the back very slowly, however on our own she is much better. In the school she can be very ploddy and my leg is constantly on. I don't use spurs, just carry a schooling whip and i do use it to get her listening but she soon goes back to plodding.
She is very safe & sensible - alot different to my retired TB!!
I appretiate she is still 4 and not up to fitness but its so fustrating plodding about and having tired legs
At shows she does come to life and actually gets strong in warm ups etc. When she is going she goes well, we won our first w&t with 66% a few weeks back and got very positive remarks from the judge
I do have fairly strong legs but they tire quickly!! i end up more puffed than she does!
So am looking for ideas on building up stamina and fitness on a naturally laid back cob - or even feeding for energy?
She is out 24/7, very good doer and has a handful of chaff a day.
She is ridden 4 - 5 x per week, 4 x hacking (mainly walking - lots of hills and a bit of trot work - 45 mins and 1 x schooling for 30 mins and 2 - 3 days off.
We haven't started jumping yet - was going to do a bit of pole work and introduce some x poles and stuff next week. I don't want to over-load her work wise as she does tire easily.
Any ides or tips would be great!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

If she tires easily perhaps you are expecting too much of her. Until I got to that part, I was going to suggest asking her to go in front on a group ride to see if that sparked her up a bit.
Congratulations on your dressage score - you're obviously doing well with her.

 

[Spiritedly]

I agree, you might be doing a bit much with her. She needs time to build her strength up, maybe cut back on the amount you do with her for a while and see how she goes.

 

[those-ears]

If she tires easily perhaps you are expecting too much of her.

I agree, you might be doing a bit much with her. She needs time to build her strength up, maybe cut back on the amount you do with her for a while and see how she goes.

As i mentioned she is much better when we hack alone and has a good walking pace and not tired when we get back - after 45 mins.
She tires more when i school her - we don't do more than 25- 30 mins (mainly trotting 20 m circles, halt -walk -trot -walk -halt transitions and have 1 circuit of canter on both reins) as she really does get puffy and tired. We always end the session with at least 10 mins on a long rein where she has a really good stretch (this is included in the 30 min session)
Since the grass has come through shes more laid back than ever.

 

[Littlelegs]

Schooling for 30 mins is more tiring than a 45 min hack, so given her age & the fact she's tired afterwards I think she just needs time to build up the muscle & fitness for what you want. And some of it is just nature, some are lively, some are quieter.