Experience the ENDURANCE of Foundation Breeding
Conditioning a horse
This is my schedule of conditioning whenever I get a new horse to start working distance. Now, I have started 22 horses, 17 of which are still running, so I have to assume this works. Everyone in this sport will have a different schedule, so talk to many people and choose what works best for you...and don't let anyone tell you how to ride your horse. Your horse will tell you how to ride (if you listen).
This assumes a pasture potato horse that already has trail experience. Work is done on trail. If weather is bad, this work can be done in an indoor arena.
WEEK 1 - 6 days
5 minutes walking
10 minutes trotting
5 minutes walking
Stop and eat grass while mounted, if you pass water let the horse drink
10 minutes trotting
5 minutes cantering
5 minutes trotting
5 minutes walking
WEEK 2 - 6 days
5 minutes walking
15 minutes trotting
5 minutes walking
Stop and eat grass while mounted, if you pass water let the horse drink
10 minutes trotting
5 minutes cantering
10 minutes trotting
5 minutes walking
Stop and eat grass while mounted, if you pass water let the horse drink
10 minutes trotting
5 minutes walking
WEEK 3 - 4 days (every other day)
5 minutes walking
30 minutes trotting
5 minutes walking
Stop and eat grass while mounted, if you pass water let the horse drink
15 minutes trotting
5 minutes cantering
15 minutes trotting
5 minutes walking
Stop and eat grass while mounted, if you pass water let the horse drink
10 minutes trotting
5 minutes walking
WEEK 4 - map out a trail 10-12 miles long work it 4 days (every other day)
5 minutes walking
45 minutes trotting (note, walk through any tough spots)
5 minutes walking
Stop and eat grass while mounted, if you pass water let the horse drink
45 minutes trotting (or however long to finish the loop)
5 minutes walking
Stop and eat grass while mounted, if you pass water let the horse drink
**A 12 mile loop at this point should take you about 2 hours - the key is slow and steady - maintaining a good pace that does not tire you or the horse**
WEEK 5 (if the horse is handling the 10-12 miles, increase the length)
Work every other day, never miss a day
Work hard, purchase a heart monitor and bring your horse's HR to 130
Work long and slow, the key to good conditioning is to keep the horse's interest
Do not worry about speed, the key here is consistency and steady rhythm
Mix up your trails so the horse isn't bored
Always throw in a canter or two to stretch your horse's back and let him relax
Always stop and eat grass.
Always stop at every water or mud puddle and encourage your horse to drink
Never push your horse when he's lagging. Encourage him to pick up the pace but do not push him beyond his limits.
Get off and walk beside your horse, teach him to walk at YOUR pace, not drag you down the trail. it will come in handy!
Teach your horse to "trot" out for the vet. From a stand still, give the command you choose to use and trot straight out and straight back. Do this same excercize but trot straight out, do a figure 8 (loop to the left then loop to the right) and trot straight back. Work on this when your horse is fresh, and when your horse is tired so he knows that whenever you ask for it, he has to give it.
Teach your horse to be poked and prodded. Gums checked, anal tone checked, heart rate and pulse checked, legs checked, skin tone checked. Nothing annoys a vet more than a horse that won't stand still for the checks.
WEEK 6 - Try a 25 mile LD or CTR with a mentor to help you pace yourself.
First Season on Distance Riding. I work my horses on 25 and 30 mile rides every other week. Conditioning is dropped to twice a week, a 15-18 mile ride trying to hold a good pace of 7-8 mph. I also will do a pleasure ride once in a while to remind the horse that walking and moseying along is a good thing.
Second Season on Distance Riding. I ride all winter long, twice a week. If the weather is bad, I spend the time in the barn working on trotting out, bending, stepping over obstacles, some basic dressage work on the ground and under saddle, and we also work the roads. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO RIDE ON THE ROADS! We put cleats on our shoes so we are safe on macadam. The horses are traffic safe and when the trails are icy or under three feet of snow, we can still get them out to work. When the second season starts, I do a 25 or 30 LD or CTR as the first ride of the season to get them warmed up and see how their pace is doing after the long winter months. If the horse shows a good talent for this work, they go to 50's. Again, I only ride every other weekend and I will throw in a 25 or 30 mile LD or CTR in there for training purposes. I will also put the horse on a multiday ride (back to back 25 mile rides). Generally, a horse that is not suited for this sport will tell me in the second season. Listen to your horse. If the horse is not relaxed and enjoying the work, he'll tell you. If he is not staying sound or is having metabolic troubles at rides, LISTEN! He's not working this sport well. There is no shame in stopping the horse and finding a new one for the sport. This is a tough sport, some horse people consider endurance as EXTREME SPORTS and think we're nuts...not every horse is suited to the sport (and not every rider is suited to the sport). If you want to do this and do it safely and sanely, find the right horse.
Third Season on Distance Riding. Anything goes! Again, first ride of the year is a 25 or 30 mile. Then they work 50's and multidays. Usually, at this time I've sold the horse and am on another new horse. BUT, horses into their 3rd season, if they show good talent for this work and are consistently working well and relaxed, could and should be ready by mid-season to do a 100. Are YOU ready????
Remember ... it's all about the horse. A good horse should be started slow and ridden smart. If you care for your horse the first three years, that horse will be working for you 10 years from now.
Instructor/Manager: Dodie Sable
Located in New Smithville PA at 37 Fenstermacher Road, 3 miles north of Kutztown University
Call us at 610.756.3836 or email us at dodie@newpromisefarms.com