Help with cardio fitness for horse

[RedHorses]

Spring is finally here, and with typical for the area performance is likely to become full on summer within about three weeks. The fields aren’t yet dry enough to do more than walk and tiny trot, but they’re coming along. I do have road access - paved, with one gravel road about fifteen minutes walking away. I need, really need for his sake, to get my horse’s cardio fitness up before we get into the promised stupidly hot weather this summer.

The horse is fit enough for a walk, trot (say half trot, at a good working pace), with the odd canter, hack of almost two hours without strain. But stick him in a ring and ask for some good dressage work and he’s running out of steam after half an hour. I know some of that is muscle strength as the dressage work uses muscles differently than the hack out - I have my plan for that strengthening work - but some is his cardiovascular system coping with the increased load.

This is an urgent need because he has early stage COPD. I know that keeping him fit will make the summer much easier for him. I also know that once we reach the hard days of summer all I will be able to do is maintain what we have at that point. Having witnessed it firsthand with a fellow boarder’s horse years ago, I do not wish to be in the position of having my horse struggling to breathe while the vet tells me there is nothing more medically that she can do to help him (but being fit would drastically help the horse).

So, given these limitations and current fitness level, where would you start?

Thanks for any advice.

[Foxglove6]

I really like transitions, even walk trot or halt trot transitions, for strengthening. I also walked a lot of hilly trails with my guy. I’m curious to hear other suggestions though!

[beowulf]

You need to dial it back a little - keep in mind that horses with COPD have exercise intolerance. They also had trouble in dusty rings so don’t forget that his ‘stamina’ will expire quickly if he is struggling with poor air quality.

Think about building up: look up interval training. I read a fine book by Sally Swift that was all about fitness at the UL; you don’t need to take it that far, but she had some great week regime exercises she imparted in the book.

For a horse that is used to light work (w/t, some canter, 1 hr trail rides, that stuff), do this – but make sure the other days of the week you are doing LONG SLOW DISTANCE which is the BASE in which cardio fitness relies on. On “INTERVAL” training days make sure you warm up and cool down @ the walk for at least 15m.

Week 1:
day 1: 2m trot 3x, 2m intervals at walk. I prefer to do this on the trails.
day 3: 2m trot 3x, 2m walk intervals inbetween

Week 2:
day 1: 3m trot 3x, 2m walk
day 3: "
day 5: "

Week 3:
day 1: 5m trot 3x, 2.5m walk intervals
day 3: "
day 5: "

Week 4:
day 1: 7m trot 3x, 3m walk intervals
day 4: "
day 6: "

I would not go past 7m personally for a horse who is not planning on competing. Interval sessions are 'low intensity" on limbs but are very hard, so make sure to ‘rest’ a horse a day or two between interval training sessions.

Consider also getting the horse FLAIR strips - I have known a few people with COPD who use it. Is the horse on full 24/7 TO? That will also help and seems to resolve many cases.

[RedHorses]

The horse is quite capable of the three 7min trot with 3 min walks between at this point. He needs to improve lung capacity.

Our half hour dressage work is currently 5-10m walk, 15m trot, 5m walk, 10m trot and canter with a few steps of walk in transitions exercises (so it’s more like 35-40m :lol: ). The whole being followed up with a 10-30minute walk hack, cool out.

Dialing back at this point would be the first stone on the road to hell. Yes, his lungs are slightly compromised at this point, but keeping him working to his limit as much as possible means his body doesn’t have to work as hard to breathe. Right now his symptoms show in the summer heat and allergy season. This period of cooler weather is my opportunity to increase his fitness (muscle and cardio) to make the summer easier for him to handle.

Aside from the road to hell, he has EPSM and needs to work as regularly as possible - including during the summer heat (THAT is when I dial it back to match what he can do on the day).

ETA - his fatigue in the dressage work shows in his decreasing ability to maintain self carriage near then end of the session, not in breathing issues. This is lack of specific muscle fitness.

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=RedHorses;8630445]
The horse is quite capable of the three 7min trot with 3 min walks between at this point. He needs to improve lung capacity.

Our half hour dressage work is currently 5-10m walk, 15m trot, 5m walk, 10m trot and canter with a few steps of walk in transitions exercises (so it’s more like 35-40m :lol: ). The whole being followed up with a 10-30minute walk hack, cool out.

Dialing back at this point would be the first stone on the road to hell. Yes, his lungs are slightly compromised at this point, but keeping him working to his limit as much as possible means his body doesn’t have to work as hard to breathe. Right now his symptoms show in the summer heat and allergy season. This period of cooler weather is my opportunity to increase his fitness (muscle and cardio) to make the summer easier for him to handle.

Aside from the road to hell, he has EPSM and needs to work as regularly as possible - including during the summer heat (THAT is when I dial it back to match what he can do on the day).

ETA - his fatigue in the dressage work shows in his decreasing ability to maintain self carriage near then end of the session, not in breathing issues. This is lack of specific muscle fitness.[/QUOTE]

You said he is maxed out after 30m, so yes, you need to dial it back.

Ring work is different than interval training. In interval training, you are deliberately and repeatedly pushing the horse past its comfort threshold in a way that maximizes the development of cardiovascular fitness. You can run a horse for 15m at a trot but that is not the same as a five minute repetition of interval training. You can’t just go straight to 7m interval training, it needs to be built upon.

I suggest reading up on it. W/T/C in a ring is very different than interval training. Your OP says he is maxed out after 30m which to me is completely different than what you just said above.

[Hilary]

My TB has been hacking all winter - trotting/cantering for at least an hour if not 2 with lots of hills. For that he was nicely fit. I had a few arena rides but nothing serious until a month ago we had our first lesson and both of us were pooped after 30 minutes.

Dressage is a whole 'nother ball of wax in terms of fitness - muscle fatigue is not the same as running out of air. He needs to build that now that you’ve got a base of road work fitness on him.

Just because I can run a mile easily doesn’t mean I can do a pull up or a sit up.

[merrygoround]

Be aware that it is an unusual horse who does not lose interest in Forward once you put them in an arena. So if he’s all that comfortable out there trotting, he is probably fit enough for arena work. You may just need to work a little harder. And be cagier about extending your arena time.

[RedHorses]

Hilary got it.

My guy is working at around Second Level dressage. And he enjoys it a great deal (he IS unusual). The muscular demands are quite different from those of an hour plus hack (which he also enjoys a great deal ). So yeah, he’s done as far as working in dressage carriage goes after the half hour in the ring - done without being pushed past his limits to the point of injury or strain. I know his early signs of fatigue very well and ask him for just a little more correct work (with all the help I can give) then stop before going too far. That fitness has quite naturally fallen off as the snow, ice, etc prevented that sort of work for the last four months. I know what he needs to rebuild that kind of fitness, and have a plan for it.

While we have evented in past years I haven’t shown for several years. When we did Entry level (2’9") he was fit enough to have run all three phases twice on the one day, comfortably. Yeah, I know, far too fit for that level, but that’s how fit he was just from my day to day riding. So from my perspective now he has lost a lot of fitness, which I would like him to regain so that everything is easier for him when his breathing gets to be compromised.

I know there are ways to specifically target cardio fitness. I know cardio is the system that becomes fit the fastest. I have just never specifically targeted cardio fitness before. I would simply like to add it to our work to give him the best chance for an easier summer.

[asterix]

Then you do want intervals. I have never worked with a COPD horse but I’ve brought several heavy horses to Training 3 day/prelim fitness. We do have hills but the interval training does give you an incremental way of pushing them. Going for the longer trot sets that Beowulf described is a nice idea for this horse, who doesn’t need to gallop. The traditional sets for a competition horse might look more like 3 5 min trots with 2 min walk breaks followed by 3 3 or 4 min canters with 2 min walks (for a novice or training horse).

I would pick a starting target, like 3 5 min trots, and try it to see how he does. If it’s easy for him, add 30 second to each set the next time (or add 1 min or 30 sec canters). You won’t really know where he is until you try it.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

You need to ask more on your hacks. There is no reason why you only do dressage in an arena. It sounds like you have been complacent on your hacks out. I would be trying to increase slowly what I’m asking out on my walks and trots.

Personally, I’ve never found a difference in my horse’s fitness in the ring or out. They are either fit or not and when I do interval work out, I’m asking them to go just as straight and work over their back as in the ring. Same transitions…shoulder ins and correct work. But it takes discipline as a rider. I do also do hacks for mental relaxation where we are on a long rein. But others are the same work as in a ring…just not on a circle.

[RedHorses]

Thank you, asterix. That is very helpful. I will try that and see how he does.

Not complaisent, bornfree, just very conscious of the risks inherent in the quality (lack thereof) of the footing.

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=asterix;8631201]
Then you do want intervals. I have never worked with a COPD horse but I’ve brought several heavy horses to Training 3 day/prelim fitness. We do have hills but the interval training does give you an incremental way of pushing them. Going for the longer trot sets that Beowulf described is a nice idea for this horse, who doesn’t need to gallop. The traditional sets for a competition horse might look more like 3 5 min trots with 2 min walk breaks followed by 3 3 or 4 min canters with 2 min walks (for a novice or training horse).

I would pick a starting target, like 3 5 min trots, and try it to see how he does. If it’s easy for him, add 30 second to each set the next time (or add 1 min or 30 sec canters). You won’t really know where he is until you try it.[/QUOTE]
^ :yes:

Most horses in some form of work can do intervals of 3-4m. I’d start there if you think he is fit. Interval training is THE way to improve cardiovascular fitness.

If you don’t know how to already, (general you) during interval training you should be proficient in being able to calculate BPM. Your horse should be close to fully recovered and back to normal resting BPM in the first rest interval; second rest interval he should have elevated BPM but not stress breathing. If horse has an extremely high BPM or has not fully recovered after a few minutes of walk I would think about doing a shorter trot interval. If you want to go full out you could invest in a heart monitor but IMHO not necessary if you are not doing endurance or eventing…

Not for nothing but I kill 2 birds (three birds?) with one stone when I do interval training: I usually do it on uneven terrain and during the rest intervals I have them walk over poles. Keep in mind that doing interval training on terrain will definitely affect their recovery time so it may be worth it to start small first.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

[QUOTE=RedHorses;8631370]
Thank you, asterix. That is very helpful. I will try that and see how he does.

Not complaisent, bornfree, just very conscious of the risks inherent in the quality (lack thereof) of the footing.[/QUOTE]

Personally my horses who hack out are far far far fitter than those only ridden in ring. Yes you have to be aware of footing, but if you have access to roads, you have good enough footing. No…you don’t do speed work. But my horse should not feel more unfit in the ring than out. That is more my point.
If they are unfit…they are unfit. Now keeping a horse fit when you only have crappy footing (either in a ring or not) is harder but then they would be unfit…not fit out hacking and not fit in the ring. I’d say they are not fit period.

So it sounds like you horse is unfit…solution is doing interval work where you have the best footing. It is better out of the ring…but many of us get stuck in an arena. And when doing interval work…ask them to work correctly whether or not you are in ring. Given how unfit he is and his COPD…you need to stay out of dust…and increase the work very slowly. There are many books out there on the topic. I typically start with 20-30 min walk warm up, 3 5 minute trots with 2 minutes walk then 3 five minute canters with 3 minutes (at 400-450 mpm) then long walk to cool down…ultimately you want jus 2 minutes of walk between your canters. But with a COPD horse, you may need to start slower/less time. I’d do this every 5 days trying to increase. On the other days, I will do my dressage/jumping work and most days have a 15-30 minute hack on top of ring work.

[RedHorses]

I see what you are saying, but I am looking at fitness as a matter of degrees, not absolutes.

Fit enough for two hours w/t on the trail is one thing.

Fit enough for a 45 min dressage work is another.

Fit enough for an hour lesson over jumps is yet another.

Fit enough for a BN event isn’t fit enough for Prelim (also applies to Training vs Second Level dressage). Have you never encountered the discussion about not getting your horse “too fit” for the bottom level event?

But each horse can be fit for his intended workload.

COPD is a disease of degrees as well. Generally a progressive decline. My horse shows no sign of it at this time of year, with no medication - so far. Which effectively means it is a non-issue for his current work considerations; other than the need to get him as fit as I can before the seasonal changes bring on COPD symptoms. I am always watching him for signs of breathing issues of course, but it does him no kindness to be conservative in his work without active cause. As I mentioned in my first post I boarded with someone who’s horse had heaves and she was unwilling to increase his breathing rate for any reason. She rode less and less and as the horse grew less fit his breathing grew worse. I was standing there the day the vet told her nothing more medically could be done, but increasing the horse’s fitness would help significantly. Pity the poor horse, but I won’t make the same mistake with mine. This is my all to brief window of opportunity to rebuild his fitness to where I would like it. If that is what will load the dice in his favour, then on with the interval training. :yes:

I tried three three minute trots today after a 20min w/t/c warm-up. I did have to do it in the ring, but he had no problems with it. Breathing rate came down nicely afterwards, and he was happy to go for a 20min hack.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

I think there is also a difference in “hacking”. Where I am…we have hills…that adds to getting their heart rate up even if just walking. There is also a difference between a 2 hour walking hack v. 45 min hack out where I’m trotting and cantering the entire time. The horse trotting and cantering out for the 45 min hack is also plenty fit for a 45 min dressage work in the ring. Where I am, we have fields and trails that we can trot and canter on…but also good dirt roads for trot work when it is wet in the fields.

And yes…you have to have them fit for appropriate level and the horse. My point was more the degree of work doesn’t matter if you are in the ring or on trails…it is what you are doing in that time that matters for fitness.

FWIW–we have horses with COPD. So I’m quite familiar with it. You absolutely get them fit either in the ring or out hacking by upping their heart rate and with intervel work. You up their heart rate with increase in terrain, increase in speed, in increased work of quick transitions. Cavaletti poles (slightly raised) also help if you are stuck in the ring.

The trots will help…but the canter work is critical too. Speed work is harder on them though…so it is always a balance of long slow work with the speed work. I’d expect a BN/Novice horse to be able to handle 3-3min canters with 2-3 rest when competing. But I rarely do those with a BN/novice horse—unless I was dealing with something like COPD.

I typically am dealing with an OTTB…and for those I do not do canter sets or focused fitness until we are about to run Prelim. For them, just consistent regular work gets them more than fit enough for Training and below. Current horse does 4 minute canter sets once a week on hills…he is ready for Prelim. If I was aiming for a 1* CCI or the 3-day, I’d want it up to 6 mins a few weeks out from the event. Heavier horses or horses with an issue like COPD also need more focused fitness work earlier than an OTTB.

But we were stuck in the indoor doing trot and canter sets before heading south for an event this winter. To get their fitness up, you have to go to where you have appropriate footing and do more than just walking (although long walks are important too).

[RedHorses]

You are fortunate. It is quite flat here, and the roads near my barn are paved, leaving just the shoulders (and only then if you have a traffic safe horse). The gravel road is about 20 minutes away along a busy road, and the old rail line trail is half an hour the other way on that road. This winter was that awful mix of snow, melting, freezing rain, and exposed frozen bumpy ground. The frequent snow/freezing rain cycles left the road shoulders unsafe as well. It was just about the worst riding winter I’ve had. I did resort to moving my other horse to a facility with arena because he was getting obnoxious.

Last year was tough in the other direction. Brutal cold with snow, more snow, and no thaws. Knee deep snow makes for a great cardio work, but the horse’s carriage changes and some dressage muscles suffer.

I will increase his trot sets for a bit, monitor his breathing, and then start the canter sets. Thanks for your input.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

Yeah we can get tough in the winter too. When it’s ice…not much you can do unless you have an indoor. And with a horse with COPD, you need to be very careful what type of footing you go in. A dusty ring is not your friend! Good luck! It just takes time and consistency.