Training/conditioning program for limited time?

[Toblersmom]

Seems like most of the training and conditioning programs I’ve come across assume that a substantial amount of riding or equivalent exercise can take place six days a week, on a consistent basis and you are gunning for Very Serious Eventing. Between various schedule issues (full time work, kids), weather (no covered arena and the footing in the uncovered arenas doesn’t tolerate persistent rain particularly well), getting out to the barn six days in a week is rarely possible and actually RIDING six days is nearly unachievable for me (although the stars do align sometimes). Four days is regularly achievable (assuming the weather cooperates and there’s no illness or vacations). Five days is often possible, but not a given, and usually one of those days is pretty short, sometimes too short to ride.

My guy is only four and we are in no rush. I’d like to get him to the point of being able to take him to the local unrated eventing equivalent of a crossrails hunter division by the fall. Long range goals aren’t a great deal more lofty, and for all I know that kind of putteringing about jumping hay-bale sized obstacles and splashing through puddles is all I’ll ever work up the gumption to tackle, eventing-wise. So, I’m not gunning for a four star or anything remotely close to one. Taking the time to consciously work with him on all the various equine good citizenship skills that will serve him well over his life is also very important to me. I didn’t have time to ride today, for instance, so after a good grooming we worked on dropping the head on command for grooming and bridling purposes, and not grabbing at oral syringes (a previous lesson was accepting oral syringes by way of giving applesauce with them was learned with a wee too much enthusiasm).

Anybody know of any books/websites that have some guidance for low-aspiration, low-time schlubs? I have access to grassy riding areas, a galloping track, a pond, hills (levees for the pond), round pens, a couple sand arenas (one open dressage, one walled oddly square and small former Charreada venue).

[Mango20]

To tell you the truth, your regular riding 4 days per week is probably enough fitness for an entry level event. If I were you, I’d get him out on the galloping track about once a week and do some interval sets, then work on dressage or jumping the other three days.

[Jealoushe]

I agree, at that age just regular riding and some nice long hacks will get him as fit as needed!

[RAyers]

My 4 year old OTTB (just turned 4 on the 23rd), is jumping 2’ every other week and we do once a week trots of 3-6 miles. I may trade the trot for a gallop every other week. The rest is trails and once more a week in the arena. He is ready for BN, if I wanted to, but I don’t plan. I’ll give him another 6 months to year.

Serious conditioning starts at prelim. If you can trot and canter for 45-60 minutes straight, you are pretty conditioned for training. If you can get on your horse from a mounting block, you are ready for intro/elementary/BN.

[vineyridge]

I’m a firm believer in the rising trot for conditioning. It’s good for both horse and rider, and it doesn’t take a huge amount of time. My goal is always to be able to do a rising trot without interruption for about three to five miles, but one works up that. Once you have that basic fitness, you can then add other stuff. But to me, if you can do a rising trot without interruption for at least 3 miles, you are pretty good to go for almost anything. (This assumes that you have space to do a three mile hack at the trot.)

(I see RAyers and I agree on the value of trot work for conditioning.)

[merrygoround]

Trot work and hills. And while a clean well mannered horse is ideal, I will settle for a clean under tack area, along with the good manners, when time s critical. You can get a horse extra clean in a hurry. Conditioning takes time. Although for BN fitness needs are minimal, the habit of conditioning is a good one of which to be aware.

[devvie_continued]

@RAyers

If you can trot and canter for 45-60 minutes straight, you are pretty conditioned for training. If you can get on your horse from a mounting block, you are ready for intro/elementary/BN.

Are you being literal here, as in trot and canter without a single walk break?!?

[Synthesis]

@devvie_continued

Are you being literal here, as in trot and canter without a single walk break?!?

For Training level? I’d think yes

[Synthesis]

@vineyridge For TB types, trot is good for conditioning. If you have a heavier type, like a draft cross, slow canter tends to work better for horse and rider.

[Toblersmom]

@merrygoround

Trot work and hills. And while a clean well mannered horse is ideal, I will settle for a clean under tack area, along with the good manners, when time s critical. You can get a horse extra clean in a hurry. Conditioning takes time. Although for BN fitness needs are minimal, the habit of conditioning is a good one of which to be aware.

There have definitely been “lick and a promise” days for us, but every now and then I have only a teeny slice of time to get out there and find him covered in what is basically adobe brick that has to be chiseled off. Even just getting the under-tack areas cleaned and the burgoo picked out of his feet (and thrush treatment put in—I’m a little paranoid about thrush with him, he had awful contracted heels and thrush when I got him), eats into my time allotment and it doesn’t seem worth it to go ahead and tack up to ride if I’ll be able to ride for about five minutes before getting back off again. I try not to let that happen too often, though.

[tbchick84]

Just 10 minutes of hacking on uneven terrain a few times a week will be enough to put some nice muscle on him. I learned the mantra as, walk for muscle, trot for balance and canter for wind, but whatever works for you. Being out in those grassy areas or any open space will keep his mind fresh, body strong and expose him to things he will see at shows versus the boredom of a ring. I love to do my flat work in open spaces since the impulsion is always magically there. If you want to feel true back to front connection, trot 20 meter circles in an open field.

[alyssaequestrian]

Most websites and books regarding fitness are geared towards upper level horses. Don’t stress about your horses fitness, he’s young. Try to keep it different to keep it fun for both of you! If you can do 1-2 days of flat work, 1-2 days of jumping, and the rest hacking you will be more than fit enough to meet that goal! Even if you have 10 minutes to trot once a week, that’s plenty of fitness.

[subk]

Breed matters, too. Years ago I was clinicing a few times a year with a very BNT who finally scolded me: “are you ever going to take that horse prelim?” My answer was that I had two little kids at home and max I could ride was 5 days a week so I didn’t think I could. He snorted and assured me that not only could an TB do Preliminary on 5 days a week it was probably better not to have a hot one overly fit. I moved up a few weeks later. It wasn’t until I was prepping for a long format 3-day that I finally got on the 6 day a week program. So 4 days a week for LL stuff? Easy Peasy—don’t over think it.

[RAyers]

@devvie_continued

Are you being literal here, as in trot and canter without a single walk break?!?

Yep. So, do a dressage lesson for 45 minutes with no break. Or work poles and such. This does NOT include a 10 minute warm-up walk or 15 minute cool down walk. I would get to 20 minutes of canter and 35 minutes of trot (mixed up however) and I knew we were pretty conditioned. This was the only way to prepare for the early spring events when riding in an indoor all winter.

Again, this is for Training level, or as a prep for warmer weather and quick conditioning for prelim. I also always wear a wrist watch to be able to actually time my workouts.

The old long format was riding twice a day for a few weeks leading up for an hour each including 30 minute “gallops” as well as interval work.

[Toblersmom]

So, just thinking out loud: 30 minute private lesson on Tuesday to be a “jump” school day (I put “jump” in quotes as we are mostly crossing tiny things and he mostly trots over them if he thinks he can get away with that; he’s all about conservation of effort) with warm-up and cool down before and after, Wednesday off (work and kid activity schedule precludes everything else, 45 minute semi-private on Saturdays along with the kidlet to be more dressage-like (transitions and asking him to move in a more rounded frame), Monday and Friday hack out on the big field/galloping track (asking for more time at faster gaits as we go along and he and I develop a bit more strength and endurance), Thursday and Sunday maybe happen or not as per general life circumstances with goals to work on miscellany that’s come up along the way (right now it’s “anticipation” so we’ve been doing a lot of taking up contact and getting him a nice marching energetic frame—as if I am going to ask for a transition—and then just letting it back out again into a nice relaxed and stretchy gait).

I know I’m over-thinking and over-planning, but I also know that if I don’t sketch out a plan of some kind it’s unlikely we’ll make much in the way of forward progress.

[RAyers]

Dear lord, you more than ready. At the low levels you will never go faster than what you do in the ring (hunter hand gallop). If you were my student, I would say enter next week.

[Toblersmom]

@RAyers

Dear lord, you more than ready. At the low levels you will never go faster than what you do in the ring (hunter hand gallop). If you were my student, I would say enter next week.

Hah! I’m flattered, the outline as it stands now (particularly the hacking out on the track part) is awfully walk-break, transitions within the walk, halt-walk, etc. heavy at the moment, more on my account than his. The “jumping” is probably 90% a relaxed jog over cavelletti or a very low crossrail to let him figure out where the heck is feet are and feel relaxed about the whole process, working up to cantering over a teensy vertical a time or two if he’s feeling lively and my lower leg hasn’t crapped out on me so I can support him properly. Most of the hacks we’ve done so far are 90% at the walk so we can work through the whole “yes, those are COWS over there at the rodeo next door” lookie-loos calmly. Last time I took him out on the track he was nice and settled, though, so I’ll be better able to build up more trot and canter work, and venture out into new and different areas on the property.