Re posted....ODE questions

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Agent XXX999

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Now my horse is sound (after his shoes were changed, hurrah!) I am aiming for Coombelands at the end of the month.

He was very fit and then had a quiet three weeks - in walk with small amounts of trot. He has been sound since Sunday (instant improvement) and hacked Sunday, yesterday and today. This morning I gave him a canter in the long grass, about 4 minutes, and he wasnt even puffing or sweating after. This is after about 15 mins of solid trot. His recovery time (breathing) is really short.

My question is this. I think he is fit enough to go ODE even now. However he has only showjumped before and I am worried about the xc phase.

1) How do I improve his stamina? He has fitness, but even after the canter today I could feel him slowing. How do I push him forward.

2) Am going XC schooling in 2 weeks. If he does well there, then we are going to Coombelands. Any tips on getting him started? Such as how to encourage him to realise that the jumps are solid, what tack to wear (currently ride him in a straight bar snaffle, but would like a bit more!) and how to get him in the water (he is great with puddles, but I have spent all winter trying to get him to jump water trays!)

Just help and advice really please!

Also do you think it would be better to so XC in a GP or a stubben jumping saddle which is very flat. And can I do dressage in a GP?

All these questions!
 
Yes you can dressage in a GP
As for which saddle you want to xc in all depends which saddle you prefer jumping in. I personally would go for the stubben jumping saddle, i hate jumping in my GP after jumping in my jumping saddle.

For small ODE you horse doesn't need to be overly fit and from the sounds of things he does sound fit. He will probably liven up when you get to the competition due to the buzz of the atmosphere.

As for schooling, start of small and make it a fun experience and don't do too much. Horses normally realise that xc fences are solid as they will hurt if they hit them!
 
Fitness sounds fine for a small ODE - they don't loose it all that fast and you can always go slowly XC. Probably not going to be pushing on with the ground as it is anyway.

Stamina takes a long time to build and with the ground so hard, I wouldn't suggest interval training or anything (unless you have access to all-weather).

It will improve with maturity (you don't say how old he is) and lots of long, slow rides will help him build up his strength.
 
Silly mare - thanks for that. How slow? I usually do about 15 mins trotting (not fast) 5 mins walk 15 mins trot, 5 mins walk, 10 min trot, 5 min canter (ground not too bad in long grass near us)

Do you recon that is OK?
 
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