Weekly exercise routine for showjumper

[lyndsayberesford]

I have a 17.2hh 8 yr old warmblood that competes usually once a week at BN/Disc height.
Would just like some ideas of a weekly exercise regime I could implement with him as he is on full livery where he gets ridden for me when I can't ride etc but I would like to be able to ask for a specific weekly plan to be done with him. His current level of fitness is ok but not as fit as I would like him to be.
Usual day for competing is a Saturday or Sunday (occasionally both days)
Any suggestions welcome? We have a large outdoor arena, enough local hacking to hack for say 30 mins (only walking as roads are skinny lanes and quite slippy etc) and in dryer weather have access to a big field with a good stretch uphill.

Suggestions please (sagged homemade blueberry muffins on offer)

 

[be positive]

Unless he is overweight he should be fit enough to jump 2 classes without doing that much regarding fitness if he is exercised regularly, a 30min walking hack is no more than a leg stretch before or after exercise and I would not count it as enough for any horse unless it is having an easy day for some reason.
He is a big horse so will probably require a bit more sharp canter work to up his overall levels but without doing too much to risk damaging his joints with constant turning, I would try and fit in a session of canter mid week, interval training can work in an area and should increase the fitness, follow this with the 30min walk to chill out.
I would plan the week as
Mon - day off if competed at the weekend, out in the field relaxing.
Tues- hack and flatwork total about 1hr
Weds- canter work and hack, or if you ride and need to jump do that instead,
Thus - hack if he worked hard the day before let him have an easy day, a lunge if the yard prefer.
Fri- the same as Tues
Sat- a fairly easy day if competing Sun or more if he is the type to get sharp when out
Sun - competing

Any days can be swapped but it is better for them to have an easy one after intensive work as they need recovery time, a longer hack would be beneficial, steady uphill trots if possible are really good for the fitness.

 

[lyndsayberesford]

Thanks for suggestion, I think weight wise he is ok.
I am in agreement about the canter work and interval training as that is missing from his routine and currently if hacked he doesn't work as well as so will implement that too!
As haven't done interval training before can you explain how I would do this with him also?

 

[blood_magik]

Our routine varies slightly but it's usually something like this for my 8yo ISH (jumping Newcomers and 1.15m Opens):

Monday: Off (if jumped Sunday) or flatwork
Tuesday: Flat lesson with some pole work
Wednesday: Lunged in pessoa
Thursday: Jump lesson with pole work
Friday: Hack or flatwork (sometimes compete)
Saturday: Compete
Sunday: Compete or off.

He goes out in the afternoons.
He's worked the afternoon before a show otherwise he can be a bit too sharp.

 

[be positive]

Thanks for suggestion, I think weight wise he is ok.
I am in agreement about the canter work and interval training as that is missing from his routine and currently if hacked he doesn't work as well as so will implement that too!
As haven't done interval training before can you explain how I would do this with him also?

Once they are warmed up enough start to canter, time or count the laps, usually 30secs is enough to start with, bring back to walk to almost recover then canter again, do 3 or 4 canters with the walks inbetween then cool down. Gradually increase the time of each canter and up the speed until he is doing as much as required for his fitness, 3 4-5 mins will get him significantly fitter as you will see by how quickly he recovers from each canter. I have got horses fit enough to event in a 20x40 arena by doing this in the spring, a real pipeopener is good but if the ground is too wet you have to do what you can in an arena.

 

[lyndsayberesford]

cheers for that, will start this next week (hopefully if sound this week) as he had bruised soles