Up his training safely
Brighter days and calmer weather make riding more inviting in spring, but as Gemma explains, it’s important to consider what your horse has done over winter and make sure he’s fit enough for what you’re asking. “I find that there are two types of rider in the winter,” says Gemma. “Those that keep their horse fit throughout, schooling and attending dressage or showjumping competitions — and those with less facilities who only manage a hack at the weekend. It makes all the difference when it comes to increasing your horse’s workload. The less work he’s done over the winter, the more time he’ll need to improve his fitness.”
Set good foundations
Without access to a school, riding over winter can be restricted to weekend hacks (if that) and your horse’s fitness is likely to suffer as a result. If this sounds familiar, it’s time to take your horse’s training right back to the beginning. “If he hasn’t done anything over winter, start him off by just walking for 15 minutes a day for two weeks,” says Gemma. “You can then gradually add in small amounts of trot or canter work and increase the amount each time you ride. For example, add an extra five minutes each week.” If you have access to them, hills are another great way to up your horse’s fitness and engage his hindquarters, helping to build back some muscle. Pay close attention to your horse when working on his fitness. If he’s breathing hard, ease off and take things down a level. Don’t try to do too much too soon, as tired horses are at greater risk of injury.
Utilise interval training
If you’ve kept up your horse’s workload and competed over winter, it may just be that you need to increase his fast work to get him ready for more intense competition activities, like eventing. Interval training is an effective method for boosting your horse’s stamina, mixing trot and canter into your ride in short bursts. For example, try cantering for 30 seconds and walking for one minute, then repeat this throughout the session. Over time, you can build up the number and length of canters as your horse’s fitness improves. “To get it right, you need to work backwards from the date of your first competition,” says Gemma. “For example, if he’s already quite fit, allow for six weeks ahead of your competition for fast work to boost his fitness.”