Developing a fitness programme

• Assess your horse’s current fitness level and consider your own rider fitness
  
  
• Plan for easier days, or a few days off altogether, as recovery time for both you and your horse.

If your horse is returning to work after time off, assess their condition before and during their time off.

• Were they sound during their break?
  
  
• Are they recovering from an injury?
  
  
• How fit were they before their break?

• If your horse is carrying excess weight, this can place extra strain on their joints, tendons, muscles and cardiovascular system, and you must keep this in mind when making changes to their workload 
  
  
• Fat score your horse before beginning a fitness programme and then monitor them twice a week.

• Putting young joints, bones and muscles under excessive stress and strain too soon can lead to debilitating problems later in life
  
  
• Consider how established and developed young horses are in their work and plan exercise appropriately.

• The longer your horse has been out of work, the longer it will take to bring them back to the desired level of fitness.

• Be prepared for setbacks to your programme plan. These could range from extreme weather to your horse losing a shoe.

• An increased willingness or ability to cope with exercise
• A change in body shape, with better muscle definition
• Ability to maintain a regular and even speed in any gait
• Less sweating for the same amount of work under similar conditions (e.g. the weather).

• Tailor the training to match what your horse needs
• Consider the activity (e.g. hacking or jumping) and your horse’s fitness level and strengths.

• Start slow and gradually increase exercise
• Adjust the programme based on your horse’s comfort and capability each week
• Change the training frequency, intensity, or duration as your horse progresses only change one at a time to avoid injury
• Balancing gradual progress is key! Avoid injury by taking your time.

• If your horse stops training, any improvements in their fitness will reverse
• Consistent training is essential.

• Allow your horse time to recover
• Rest is essential for overall wellbeing.

• Use a variety of training methods (when appropriate) such as schooling, hacking, jumping and groundwork to keep both you and your horse engaged
• Vary the surfaces and terrain that your horse works on based on your goals (e.g. hills, all weather surfaces, road and grass). However, when working on a new surface, keep work to a slower pace (at a walk or balanced, straight trot) to avoid injury.

If your horse is recovering from an injury, you’ll need to consult your vet before implementing a fitness programme.