The objective of fitness improvement is to increase the durations that your horse / pony can sustain exercise to achieve distance at sustainable paces. The general approach is to progressively increase the durations of exercise, coupled with interim period of rest to allow for recovery. In technical terms, this is aerobic (activity) and anaerobic (recovery) respiration.
There are two key decisions to be taken before you start training your horse / pony:
Decide which class you would like to enter and complete, and
Design a training programme for your horse / pony over an identified period of time.
Your training programme will be centred around the type of exercise you already undertake with your horse / pony*, for example, schooling work and hacking out, and the facilities that are available. The training programme that you design will be unique to your horse or pony’s needs – you are the best person to judge this. You may wish to start your training before the closing date for the event.
Below are helpful tips on what you can undertake as part of your training programme to vary the work for you and your horse / pony.
1. Dedicate as much time as you can to training in the run up to the event. If your horse / pony is exercised in accordance with your training programme, for most days over a 3 week period – a good level of general fitness can be achieved to accomplish between 15 and 20 miles.
2. Remember to warm up your horse / pony in preparation for any vigorous exercise and to warm down your horse / pony afterwards. This is generally achieved by walking your horse / pony for between 5 to 15 minutes before and after any exercise.
3. Hacking or riding around a field. As opposed to hacking at a leisurely pace, once your horse / pony has warmed up, increase the pace to a trot for periods and alternate these with periods of walking. Trot up inclines. Over time, progressively increase the periods of trotting and the distances covered, for example, by increasing the duration by 5 or 10 minutes each time you exercise. With field work, cantering can also be included in the exercise.
4. Flat work in the school. Using the same approach as with hacking, increase the durations of trotting and cantering work undertaken and alternate these with periods of walking. Don’t forget to work on both reins to help maintain the balance of your horse / pony. Over time progressively increase the duration of the work.
5. Free work and lunging. Don’t underestimate the benefit of working your horse from the ground either through free work or lunging – it is fantastic exercise. There is a saying that ˝ hour lunging is worth 1 hour hacking – in terms of aerobic exercise for your horse / pony, ˝ hour lunging is worth more. In parallel with the above ridden work, alternate walk, trot and canter exercises and undertake this on both reins. Over time progressively increase the duration of the work.
6. Pleasure and competitive rides. Where possible, take advantage of local rides – whether donation, farm or Endurance GB (EGB) rides to help you gauge the fitness of your horse / pony. If you feel that your preparations are going well and that you and your horse are ready, why not set yourself the challenge of completing an EGB Pleasure ride at 15 or 20 miles (as the ride schedule determines) or a Novice competitive ride at 20 miles. You don’t have to be an EGB member to do this and non-members are always welcome.
* Jumping. Jumping can be integrated into the training as a variation within the main exercise programme. However, remember that you are aiming to cover distance and the best overall approach is to exercise your horse / pony to sustain regular paces in order to make the best use of his / her energy. In this respect, jumping is disruptive to pace, breathing patterns and is a very energy consuming form of exercise.
The following committee members of the Cheshire Group would be more than willing to provide advice on improving the fitness of your horse:
Steph Wagstaff Bethell – 01270 628052
Liz Finney – 01565 633310
Maggie Maguire – 01663 763237
Jane Evison - 01565 872758
