Garmin, a market leader in GPS-enabled technology for sportspeople, has moved into the equestrian world with a new piece of wearable tech to help riders track their horse’s health and fitness – Garmin Blaze.

The device is a sensor that is secured to the underside of the horse’s tail within a neoprene wrap. The sensor tracks the horse’s activity as well as health and fitness metrics.

It provides equestrians with real-time access to information such their horse’s heart rate, stride, gait and skin temperature, enabling riders to make better informed decisions about their horses’ wellbeing and training. The complete Garmin Blaze system retails at £519.99.

Susan Lyman, Garmin vice president, explained that this new system has been designed to help equestrians keep their horses performing at their best.

“Garmin is a world leader in the health and fitness industry, and we are excited to bring our advanced sensor data and technology to the equine market with the introduction of Blaze,” she said.

What is the Garmin Blaze?

The Blaze equine wellness system utilises a lightweight, removable, and rechargeable sensor, which is secured by an easily adjustable, durable and washable neoprene tail wrap. This wrap attaches the sensor to the underside of the horse’s tail without requiring any special skin preparation. The system monitors health and motion with the help of advanced algorithms.

Data from every ride, including training, recovery and travelling, can be viewed with the Blaze app on your smartphone or a compatible Garmin smartwatch.

Features of Garmin Blaze

• Track multiple horses and create individual profiles in the app
• Monitor average skin temperature and how it changes and relates to work or environment
• Ambient heat score – a combined total of current air temperature and humidity to help determine the best time to ride
• GPS location summary of your training or transport activities
• Battery life of up to 25 hours
• Sensor can be removed from the tail wrap for cleaning and charging

For more information, visit garmin.com

Harry Meade has risen to the top of the eventing tree in a large part thanks to his extraordinary ability to go clear inside the time at five-star level. This isn’t just down to innate speed of the horse he’s riding, given he has consistently achieved fault-free clears on a range of horses with varying pedigrees. In this article exclusive to H&H subscribers, Harry reveals the meticulous fitness system that underpins his performance

The new eventing world number one’s recent cross-country record at five-star is outstanding. In his last nine runs at the highest level, he has produced six clears inside the time, results that speak volumes for how Harry Meade gets horses fit.

Many horses and riders never go clear inside the time at CCI5*; Harry has repeatedly steered more than one horse on the same day to beat the clock. The majority of this achievement must be thanks to years of experience in honing a natural talent, but there’s clearly a skill in producing so many different horses to perform at their peak at the elite levels of eventing.

The son of the 1972 Olympic champion Richard Meade admits: “We have quite an orthodox approach; it’s a combination of old-fashioned horsemanship with reliable, proven science.”

It sounds so simple, but Harry is exceedingly meticulous. It all begins with bespoke treatment for every horse.

“We’ve always had the philosophy of trying to treat each horse as if it’s the only one on the yard,” says Harry.

How Harry Meade gets horses fit

The foundation of Harry’s successful horse management is fitness. He doesn’t run his horses fast at national one-day events, yet they are primed to perform when it really matters.

But while they might appear to be taking life in the slow lane in their formative years, Harry says his horses “start fitness work early in their career – we’re lucky we have some really good hills to work on”.

He walks and trots the young horses up a long grassy slope to “build core strength”. He estimates that from April to November, “95% of their work is done on grass”.

“They start going up here aged four or five and once they have that strength they never lose it, even with time off,” he explains. “I don’t think of it as fitness work, just learning to work in a balanced way, and as a by-product they get very strong and fit.

“They develop a core base fitness, building resilience, and it increases gradually over time without having to have a deep push. This avoids putting too much pressure on them physically,” Harry adds.

“We work on the hills with relaxation, focusing on their breathing and softness, to provide the maximum cardiovascular benefit with minimum stress on their legs.”

Every rider has their variation on fitness work, according to their facilities and terrain. Where Harry’s strategy differs is his commitment to tracking data, which allows him to monitor the individual over its entire career.

He has kept a detailed hand-written record of every fitness session for every horse in the run-up to a CCI4*-L or CCI5* since 2003, including which hill or gallop they worked up, how many times they went up, the pace, going, weather, how they felt and how they recovered.

After their target event he makes a summary of how they coped and what, if anything, he’d change in their preparation next time.

“It means I’m able to bottle up what has worked really well with different horses, and know how to peak at the right time,” Harry explains. “I can compare horses that have been prepared through faster work to those who predominantly did longer slower bits. I can compare similar types of horses 15 years apart.

“It also allows me to have a precedent in a setback, knowing how horses who missed a period of work were affected. If a horse needs a change of plan leading up to an event, I can look back over the years and see if there is a precedent.

“I started doing this in the era of roads and tracks and the fitness programme I use now is broadly the same as I used back then.”

No stone left unturned in pursuit of peak fitness

Part of the routine recovery strategy is making sure the horses clear their airways after a gallop session, with their heads down grazing, so any discharge can drain out rather than back into their lungs.

Some horses need more help than others with clearing the airways. It was Harry’s grand old campaigner Away Cruising who induced the regular use of a nebuliser at Blenheim in 2016. Despite being super fit, Away Cruising uncharacteristically struggled with his breathing early on the course at Blenheim, and was subsequently diagnosed with equine asthma. For the rest of his career he had nebuliser treatment twice a day, and went on to line up at 10 CCI5*s.

“Any horse with compromised wind in my yard uses a BreathEazy nebuliser in the run-up to their target event, and it makes a big difference,” Harry adds.

Steamed hay or haylage is another nod to keeping dust levels low.

Harry prefers to feed his mares hay rather than haylage, and they also have a slightly different work routine to the geldings to reduce their likelihood of tying up.

“For this reason, the mares will have two short bits of work a day rather than one long session,” says Harry.

This approach is borne out by his huge success with mares – Cavalier Crystal finished fourth at Badminton in 2025, third at Burghley in both 2023 and 2024 (two of these rounds were inside the time), and Annaghmore Valoner won Bramham in 2024 before finishing fourth at Burghley on her five-star debut (both inside the time). Grafennacht, the former ride of William Fox-Pitt, has already won a CCI4*-L and finished fourth at Kentucky CCI5* (inside the time) since arriving in Harry’s yard.

His remarkable five-star record is a testament to the precision and depth of how Harry Meade gets horses fit. By combining old-school horsemanship with data-driven detail, he consistently produces horses that peak at exactly the right moment.

You may also enjoy reading:

How to make the most of cross-country schooling with advice from top trainers

How to improve a horse’s gallop: top eventers share their tips for productive fast work

Meet new world number one Harry Meade’s top horses, from the surprise five-star performer to the sensitive worrier

Are you ready to go eventing? A helpful fitness plan for a grassroots eventer

‘Aim to do this straightforward exercise to score 10 out of 10’: how Harry Meade uses polework to improve suppleness

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Concern some top eventers at Badminton were too thin or under-muscled may show how common overweight horses are, it has been proposed, as people are reminded that fitness can have many faces.

In the wake of this year’s CCI5* at Mars Badminton Horse Trials (8–11 May), numerous people posted pictures of horses on social media claiming they were underweight or had atrophied muscles. But, as H&H has previously reported, equine obesity is so common, it can mean people’s view of “normal” weight has been distorted, so horses who are lean and fit may be seen as too thin.

Clare MacLeod, an independent equine nutritionist with more than 20 years’ experience, said: “I’ve been disappointed about some of the awful comments flying around Facebook by people who don’t understand the appropriate body composition of an event horse. Horses lay down fat along their topline, so when they have low body fat, they can, to the amateur eye, look under-muscled, when in fact they are not.

“Some of the owners I work with worry that their horses are too thin but I think that’s because generally we’re used to seeing slightly – or significantly – overweight horses.”

Ms MacLeod told H&H she posted about the issue on her social media as she was concerned the original posts, and misinformation on the topic, could be shared widely.

“I think that’s what happened here,” she said. “Everyone got excited and started sharing these posts as if they were true. I’m passionate about getting real evidence-based information out there, and these posts were just wrong. The danger of social media is if something gets talked about enough, people start believing it’s real, which is concerning.”

Ms MacLeod noted that each horse is an individual, but said it is worth some amateur owners looking at more top-level fit horses to understand what they look like.

“The other thing that concerned me about these posts is that I didn’t see much of other people saying, ‘This is what those horses do look like,’” she said. “We’ve now got research showing that many owners find it hard to assess horses’ body fat and our view of ‘normal’ is changed by what we see.

“There were also some bodyworkers and saddle fitters talking about atrophied muscle, but I think they may not be used to working with very slim, fit horses, and it’s a misunderstanding of the sport. There’s a reason those horses are so slim, and it’s a good reason.”

British Equine Veterinary Association veterinary projects officer Lucy Grieve pointed out that as with human athletes, top horses’ body shapes and composition can vary, and that static photos can “give an impression of shape that is at odds with the reality”.

“Given that an event horse is training for three disciplines there will likely be a broader range of morphologies among them, which may become exaggerated as you observe them through the levels,” she told H&H.

“At the elite end of the sport there will be horses demonstrating relative strengths and weaknesses in all aspects of their physiology, as this is what any sport and competition is about – no two are the same. Just as us humans know, some will gain muscle mass more easily in different places, and some may demonstrate a variable reduction in redistribution of muscle with increasing fitness.

“Where there is noticeably reduced muscle mass we should always ask why… is it pain, neurological, poor training, genetics, previous injury, individual variation – or does that difference in fact constitute a competitive advantage to that individual in some way when performing one of the many tasks involved?

“Given that the morphology of elite event horses is fairly consistent across the board, it would suggest that those nuances we see compared to horses in other disciplines are likely a product of the characteristics favoured by the activities they do.”

Former Badminton winner Andrew Nicholson noted, and welcomed the fact, that many horses at Badminton this year were “fitter and leaner than previously” (opinion, 29 May).

“Fitness was much discussed at the FEI Eventing Forum in January, and it appears that the message has been received and acted on,” he said.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Not just laminitis: vets warn of performance-related issues caused by excess equine weight

The fatter the pony, the higher its score: concern over judging at top US show

How to calculate your horse’s body condition score – is he the right weight?

Horses’ lives at risk as owners can’t see the excess weight

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The abdominal muscles play a vital role in stabilising a horse’s pelvis, spine and back and those horses with poor core strength will struggle with their movement and balance and be unable to reach peak performance.

Functional anatomist and biomechanist, Gillian Higgins from Horses Inside Out, shares some of the best pole exercises for horses to help strengthen these all important muscles.

Exercise one – raised walk poles

Place five trotting poles on the ground approximately 80cm-1m apart depending on the size of your horse, raising alternate ends off the ground with a block. Walk over the poles on a loose rein with your leg off and let the horse take control. Progress to raising both ends of the three middle poles.

Points to remember: Sit up tall, look ahead and push your hands forward.

What Gillian says: “Halt a few strides out from the poles to let the horse see what he has to do and then slowly walk over them. Raised walking poles are particularly good for a horse’s core muscle strength, hoof-brain coordination, posture and back rotation.”

Exercise two – canter poles

Place three poles on the ground (separated by a wider distance than in the exercise above) and raise both ends of each pole. Canter over the poles.

Points to remember: Make sure you have an active canter and remain soft in your hands.

What Gillian says: “Canter is the closes gait to a sit up as it uses both sides at the same time so working in canter is one of the simplest ways to enhance abdominal muscle tone. This exercise is also good for developing thoracic sling and hindquarter strength, back flexibility and lumbosacral mobility.”

Exercise three – weaving over a long line of poles

Place five poles end to end on the ground in a long line. Ride your horse alongside the poles for an odd number of steps before asking him to step sideways over the pole. Continue walking down the other side of the pole for the same number of steps before stepping back over the pole. Continue the exercise along the length of the pole. Start with seven steps before reducing it to five and then three.

Points to remember: Make sure the leg closest to the pole goes over first and keep an even rhythm.

What Gillian says: “It can be useful for the rider to do this exercise on foot first so they understand how difficult it is and what is being asked of the horse. This exercise is very good for lateral stability and flexibility, proprioception and core muscle strength and ensures you are aware of where the horse’s legs are. It also helps to develops harmony between horse and rider.”

Exercise four – jumping oxers on a curving line

Build three oxers on a curving line and canter over them. To develop the exercise make the fences wider.

Points to remember: Maintain the rhythm, sit quietly, look towards the next fence and stay on your line.

What Gillian says: “Having three fences in a row is more tiring than just one on its own and makes the horse work. This exercise is not about height it’s about width and getting the horse stretching over his back and elongating his frame over the three oxers. It ensures the horse brings his hindleg underneath him and is another good one for increasing thoracic sling strength.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

3 polework exercises that could help give you and your horse the edge

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The eventing season is nearly here, so if you haven’t already done so, now is the time to prepare your horse’s fitness plan so he’s ready for his early events

The following eventing fitness plan, suggested by leading riders, is based on a 12-week fittening programme from the time a horse comes in from the field after a complete break to their first event of the year. This plan assumes the horse has been on holiday, but has not been turned away following an injury. If the horse has been injured, please speak to your vet for an appropriate plan to bring the horse back into work.

For a horse that has been kept in light work post-season, or one that has been hunting or competing in other disciplines, it would be appropriate pick up further down the line, as indicated. Each week would include six days exercise with one rest day.

Week 1: around 30 minutes’ roadwork walking each day.

Week 2: build up to 45 minutes’ walking on the road each day.

Week 3: increase to 60 minutes’ walking on the road, incorporating a few more hills.

A horse that has been lightly hacked, mostly in walk, three or four times a week over the winter can start their eventing fitness plan here.

Week 4: introduce short spells of trotting (two minutes at a time) while out hacking on suitable surfaces.

Week 5: increase time spent trotting and start to incorporate more varied terrain. Flatwork can also be introduced for 20 minutes at a time. This should be subtracted from — not in addition to — a 60 minutes hack.

Week 6: start a rotated exercise programme of hacking, hill work, flatwork and a bit of jumping.

Monday: one-hour hack including bursts of trotting and slow cantering, preferably up slight inclines.

Tuesday: 20 minutes’ gentle flatwork plus 40-minute hack or hill work.

Wednesday: as Monday.

Thursday: some simple gridwork with a 20-minute warm-up and a 30-minute hack afterwards to cool down.

Friday: as Tuesday.

Saturday: as Monday and Wednesday.

Sunday: day off.

Week 7: as above, increasing the amount of hill work and slow cantering.

Week 8: introduce more jump training and build up the slow canters on good, but varied ground, to around three or four minutes at time.

A horse that has been in regular work in other disciplines, such as hunting or showjumping, can start their eventing fitness plan here.

Week 9: introduce two lots of faster work/stronger canters this week, preferably on a slight incline. A dressage or small jumping show can be included this week.

Week 10: aim to go cross-country schooling, but only do as much as your horse’s level of fitness allows. Keep up the cantering (once a week) and hill work (twice a week), and focus on more discipline-specific training.

Week 11: a varied week of hill work, two strong canters, some discipline-specific training (possibly another cross-country schooling session or a jumping show) and relaxing hacking.

Monday: 30 minutes’ flatwork plus 30-minute hack incorporating some hills.

Tuesday: strong canter day — aim for double the amount of time you’ll be expecting your horse to gallop across country (ie for a four-minute course, aim for eight minutes total divided into two or three bursts).

Wednesday: 45-minute jumping session plus 30-minute hack, or a jumping show.

Thursday: as Monday.

Friday: as Tuesday.

Saturday: cross-country schooling or another training/competition outing.

Sunday: day off.

Week 12: your horse should be ready to compete, but listen to what they are telling you on the day and tailor your riding accordingly. Their adrenalin is likely to be high during their first event of the season so they may well be exuberant, but their fitness will only improve for the run, so use the first event to settle them back into their work and set them up for the season ahead.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

‘Don’t look for eureka moments’ — and 6 other training tips that top eventers swear by

Want to start affiliated eventing? Here’s what you need to know…

9 common cross-country queries solved

We ask the experts to tackle some common cross-country problems, from dealing with green horses to keeping your horse focused

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

If you are looking to keep your horse in the best possible health so they can perform optimally, treatments by a qualified equine therapist are only the beginning — follow them up with targeted strengthening exercises at home and you’ll be amazed with the results. The following polework exercises for horses have been suggested by veterinary physiotherapist Hayley Marsh, as they are designed to help strengthen their core when done at home in between treatments.

How pole exercises for horses work

Polework for horses can increase the range of motion of the horse’s limbs and joints, engage the hindquarters, increase stride length and core stability, and improve balance and proprioception (the sense of position and movement). The following exercises can be done under saddle, in-hand, on the lunge or on long-reins. NB: If your horse is coming back into work following an injury, or if you have any concerns about your horse’s physical state, we recommend you speak to your vet or physio before adding these exercises into your horse’s work.

Three pole exercises for horses to strengthen their core

1. Raised poles

Set out six poles in a line, spaced so that there is one footfall between each pole, and work through them in walk first, followed by trot once you’ve amended the distance. Next, raise alternate ends of the poles (beginning with one pole at a time for inexperienced horses), starting with just a few inches in height, to increase the range of motion in the joints. On approach, make sure that the horse is balanced and straight, and let him find his own way through the poles. Don’t hold him together. Once the horse is performing this exercise well you can gradually increase the height of the poles, but they should not exceed about a foot on one side, with the other end resting on the ground.

2. The maze

Set up a maze, as in the video. Walk through in a forward, balanced walk. As you turn each corner, open your inside hand to encourage the horse to bend through his body in the direction of travel and place your inside leg slightly behind the girth, encouraging him to step under and cross over with his hindlegs. If you are doing this exercise in-hand, then use your body positioning, line and stick to encourage the horse to bend to the inside and step under with the hindleg. Once set up, you can also use this exercise to walk and trot over the poles (see arrows on diagram below).

3. Fan of poles

Set out five poles in a fan shape with a foot’s width between the poles at the narrow end of the fan, and about five to six feet wide at the widest. Ask the horse to work his way through the poles in balance, ensuring he is active. You can encourage him to shorten and lengthen his stride by choosing which line he takes over the poles. Ensure he has a slight inside bend through his body.

Important things to note when using pole exercises with your horse

• Walk is the most effective pace to perform polework in when trying to build a horse’s core strength as there is no moment of suspension, so all movement is achieved through muscular effort
• The closer the poles are together, the more the horse has to sit back and developing his carrying capacity and, alternatively, the further they are set apart, the more the horse has to push forward to lengthen his stride — be aware that this can encourage the horse to fall onto his forehand
• Working horses over poles without a rider allows the horse to move more through his back and core, while also giving the rider the chance to see how the horse is moving

About Hayley Marsh

Hayley is a fully qualified and insured veterinary physiotherapy with a BSc in Equine Sports Science and a PgDip in Veterinary Physiotherapy. She is a member of the National Association of Veterinary Physiotherapists (NAVP), RAMP and is recognised and covered by equine insurance companies. Find out more…

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Learn how to stretch your horse to help improve suppleness

7 polework exercises to keep your horse interested

Keeping a veteran active for longer

Groundwork for horses: what it is and why it’s useful

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Whether your horse is coming back into work after a break, or you are looking to increase their exercise with competing in mind, it is critical your horse is fit for the level of work he will be doing to help minimise the likelihood of any injuries.

Fitness should be worked on gradually over a period of weeks to enable the horse’s body to adjust to the changes in exercise level. There are no short cuts as sudden increases in work can result in pulled or torn muscles, resulting in enforced time off work.

A horse’s general health needs to be checked before any fitness work begins, if you are starting from scratch, so make sure your horse is ready to start work by organising any vaccinations, dentistry checks, shoeing and worming as necessary. You still need to ensure your horse is healthy after a short break or slight reduction in workload too.

While most riders follow a similar plan to the one outlined below, each horse is an individual and the period of time required to get a horse fit will be influenced by:

• The horse’s age — veteran horses and very young horses will take longer to get fit than those in their prime
• How fit the horse is now — a horse which has been kept ticking over will be fitter than one which has had a field holiday with no exercise
• Any injuries — a horse coming back into work following time off with an injury will need many weeks of slow work to ensure too much pressure is not applied to the injured part
• How fit the horse has been — a horse which is used to being let down over the winter and brought back up in the spring, for example, will be fitter quicker than a horse being got fit for the first time

Most fitness programmes can be broken down into three stages:

• Stage 1 – slow work to prepare the body’s muscles, tendon and ligaments
• Stage 2 – work to improve strength and stamina and basic fitness
• Stage 3 – faster work to prepare the horse for cross-county type events.

By completing all three stages your horse will be fit to compete regularly in a variety of disciplines.

A fitness programme for your horse

The fitness programme set out below caters for a horse which has been kept ticking over with occasional light hacks and whose rider intends to compete regularly in lower-level affiliated competitions. The horse should have one day off per week, with time turned out in the field daily to stretch and relax.

Week 1 – Around 20mins roadwork in walk each day

Week 2 – Increase roadwork to 30-40mins per day

Week 3 – Increase roadwork to 60mins per day, including some hills

Week 4 – Extend hacking time to up to 90mins per day (can be in two separate rides) including some trot work on suitable ground

Week 5 – Start introducing some gentle schooling in the manège (20-30mins max). Exercise can be increased to 2hrs daily including some trotting up hills (not on roads)

Week 6 – Gradually increase time spent schooling and introduce some cantering on suitable ground out hacking

Week 7 – Build up the period of time in canter, including some cantering up hills. Continue with schooling in the menage, start to introduce jumping

Week 8-9 – Continue with the current work and introduce some faster work (strong canter, controlled gallop) in either a continuous training or interval training format.

While it may prove difficult for those working full-time to fit in up to 2hrs riding, work on your horse’s fitness will not go to waste (hopefully!), so asking a competent friend or employing a professional to help with some of exercise sessions could be a worthwhile investment in the long term.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Gemma Tattersall’s training and fitness tips: ‘I try to do the plank every day’

The British team event rider explains her training and fitness tips — from jumping skinnies in the school to the

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The winter break offers a much-needed rest for both horse and rider, but as the New Year rolls in, so does the responsibility of getting your show horse fit and ready for the season ahead. For many, this process can feel like balancing on a knife’s edge – progress too quickly, and the risk of injury looms; progress too slowly, and you may struggle to meet your goals.

Rebuilding fitness requires a methodical approach. Walking forms the foundation, but when should you introduce trotting, canter, or hill work? What about the controversial topic of roadwork – should it remain a staple of conditioning programmes, or is it an outdated practice? Here, we’ll unpack these questions, explore the essential steps to take, and share insights from top professionals on best practices for bringing horses back to work.

Laying the foundation for getting a show horse fit: the walking phase

Walking may seem mundane, but it’s an essential first step in any fitness regime. This phase helps restore muscle tone, improve joint health, and engage core muscles, all while minimising strain on tendons and ligaments. For horses that have enjoyed a holiday turnout period, walking also provides a mental reset, allowing them to settle back into the rhythm of work.

The golden rule when planning a walking programme is to dedicate at least half the duration of the horse’s time off to this phase. For example, if a horse has had six weeks off, aim for three weeks of walking under saddle or in-hand before progressing to faster work. This calculated approach reduces the risk of soft tissue injuries and builds a solid base for the next stages.

Producer Vicky Smith believes six weeks of hacking is the best start to the season.

“Once they’ve had their holiday, I treat each horse like a blank canvas. Six weeks of hacking on the road is vital to slowly introduce them to work. I’d give them a bib clip and then, after a week, have shoes put back on. Once we’ve had the full MOT on each horse — backs, teeth, and saddle all checked — we increase the workload slowly.”

How to structure the walking phase

• Week 1: begin with 20 minutes of walking per session, sticking to flat ground and straight lines. Gradually extend the duration by five minutes every few days.
• Week 2: increase sessions to 30–40 minutes. Introduce changes in terrain, such as gentle inclines or uneven surfaces, to activate stabilising muscles.
• Week 3: Build up to 50–60 minutes, adding basic lateral work like leg-yielding to enhance suppleness and coordination.

Walking is also an excellent opportunity to observe your horse closely. Are they moving evenly? Do they seem comfortable under saddle? Early detection of any stiffness or imbalance can prevent setbacks later.

Animal chiropractor Lucy Willis Fleming reinforces how important this stage is: “A good, energetic walk has many benefits. When every limb is engaged, it’s the gold standard in fitness. When I say walk, I mean engaged and marching out, not slopping along on a loose rein while you’re on your phone. It’s a really useful cardiovascular workout while giving gentle concussive stimulation to the body.”

The roadwork debate: outdated or essential?

Roadwork has long been a cornerstone of traditional fitness regimes, valued for its ability to prepare tendons and ligaments for more strenuous work through steady exercise on a consistent level surface. However, its place in modern conditioning is increasingly debated. Some vets warn of the potential for repetitive strain injuries caused by prolonged work on hard surfaces, while others argue that short, controlled sessions remain beneficial.

Proponents of roadwork claim it helps prepares tendons and ligaments for harder work by exposing them to controlled, repetitive strain. And working outside the arena offers mental stimulation for horses, particularly those bored by arena work.

Critics, however, point to risks such as concussion injuries from excessive work on hard ground, and increased wear and tear on joints, particularly in older or heavier horses.

Ultimately, the decision to include roadwork should depend on your horse’s individual needs. Lucy Willis Fleming advises finding a middle ground: “Short road hacks during walking phases can be beneficial, but avoid prolonged or high-speed sessions on tarmac. Consider other terrains like beaches or woodland tracks, which offer variety without the same risks.”

Progression: introducing faster work

Once your horse is has had sufficient time walking under saddle, the next step is to incorporate trot work. Like walking, this phase should be approached gradually, allowing the horse’s muscles, cardiovascular system, and soft tissues to adapt to the increased workload.

When to start trotting

Begin trotting after your horse has completed at least two to three weeks of consistent walking, provided they are moving freely and showing no signs of discomfort. This is where knowing your horse well is key to deciding when to increase the pace. Start with one to two minutes of trot, interspersed with walking, and build up over several weeks.

Key tips for trotting progression:

• Focus on straight lines initially to reduce strain on joints and tendons.
• Gradually increase the duration of trot segments, aiming for 10–15 minutes of total trot work per session by the end of the phase.
• Avoid small circles or tight turns until your horse is sufficiently conditioned.

Introducing canter work

Canter should only be introduced once the horse is comfortably handling at least 15–20 minutes of trot work. Like with trotting, start with short bursts in straight lines or large, sweeping turns. Canter encourages the horse to work harder through its hindquarters and to release its back muscles, but a horse can easily become sore if it is overused when the horse is not physically ready so proceed carefully.

Vicky Smith suggests starting canter work out hacking: “I find that introducing canter while hacking allows the horse to find their natural balance. From there, we build up to incorporating beach or farm rides, which provide more space and allow the horse to find their natural balance.”

Building strength: hillwork and polework

Both hillwork and polework are invaluable tools for improving strength, balance, and coordination. Incorporating these elements into your horse’s routine adds variety and targets different muscle groups, making for a more rounded fitness programme.

Walking uphill engages the horse’s hindquarters and core, while descending carefully strengthens stabilising muscles. Start with gentle slopes and short sessions before progressing to steeper gradients and trotting uphill.

Key tips for hillwork:

• Begin with walking sessions lasting 5–10 minutes.
• Gradually introduce trotting, but avoid cantering uphill until the horse is fully conditioned.
• Allow plenty of rest breaks to prevent fatigue.

Polework promotes proprioception and engages the horse’s core. It’s also an excellent way to break the monotony of flatwork.

Sample polework exercises:

Walk poles: start with four poles spaced evenly for your horse’s natural stride length (3-3.5ft for most horses). Raise them slightly over time to encourage more lift.

Trotting poles: space poles 4.5–5 feet apart, depending on your horse’s stride. Introduce variations like fan-shaped or zigzag patterns for added challenge.

Top show producer James Knipe adds: “Polework gets your horse thinking and helps keep their mind fresh. Exercises that improve strength while staying in the lower gears are ideal for long-term soundness.”

Tack: vital details for getting your show horse fit

Time off can lead to changes in a horse’s condition, so it’s important to reassess your tack. A poorly fitting saddle or bridle can cause discomfort, leading to behavioural issues or even injury.

Susan Wilkinson, owner of Fylde Saddlery, highlights why a saddle check is essential after a winter break: “If a horse has been stabled, he may have gained body fat, but his muscles could have softened with lack of use. On the other hand, if he has wintered out, he will likely have lost weight to keep warm and lost muscle tone due to the time off.”

Susan explains how different horses can experience unique challenges during a break.

“Older horses can struggle to maintain their weight and often develop muscle wastage, especially in the trapezius muscle, which can make the wither more prominent. For young horses, growth spurts can make them temporarily croup-high.”

It’s important to watch for changes in how the saddle sits.

“Keep an eye on your saddle. Watch for movement – maybe it’s sitting to one side or moving forward – and check for any change in contact and clearance of the withers,” Susan advises.

For these reasons, Susan recommends regular saddle checks.

“I would suggest getting your saddle checked twice a year by a competent saddle fitter, but, ultimately, listen to your horse. He’ll tell you something’s not right with a change in behaviour, such as resisting being tacked up or ridden.”

Prevent girth rubs on unaccustomed skin by using padded or sheepskin girths. Gradually tighten the girth in stages. Keep girths clean and free from debris that could cause irritation.

Susan recommends regular checks during the initial stages of training, particularly for horses returning after a break: “These simple steps can prevent discomfort and ensure your horse is happy to get back into work,” she says.

Get your show horse fit safely by recognising signs of overtraining

Overtraining can lead to physical or behavioural issues. Being attentive to these signs is crucial.

Physical signs:

• Swelling or heat in legs
• Stiffness or reluctance to move forward
• Weight loss or dull coat condition

Behavioural indicators

• Increased resistance under saddle
• Anxiety or sourness during work sessions

Scottish equine vet Andrew Miller stresses the importance of knowing your horse: “Regular checks are essential with any changes in workload or feeding. Build up gradually and adapt when necessary—there isn’t a one-size-fits-all programme.”

The road to fitness after the Christmas break is one of careful progression and constant observation. By laying a solid foundation with walking, thoughtfully introducing faster work, and incorporating strength-building exercises, you can ensure your horse is ready to tackle the season ahead. Above all, remember that patience is key – every horse is an individual, and listening to their needs will always pay dividends.

Thank you for subscribing to the H&H website. We will be bringing you showing news from major dates on the circuit including Royal Windsor, Royal Welsh, Royal International, HOYS and more, as well as important news that the showing world cares about throughout the year. Stick with us for all you need to know.

Read the rest of this exclusive series for H&H subscribers…

Expert tips to turn your hairy horses into showing stars ready to impress the judges

Catch the judges’ eye – when to clip, trim and hot-oil to create a great first impression in the show ring

Look at me, judges! Expert tips on preparing your show horse to stand out in the ring for all the right reasons this season

Be ready to win with expert tips on last-minute planning and polish to ensure a successful show ring debut

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Knowing how to bring a show horse back into work after a well-deserved break requires patience, planning, and attention to detail. Whether your horse has spent the winter holiday out in the field or enjoyed a lighter schedule, preparing them for the upcoming show season is about more than just fitness – it’s about ensuring their overall health, happiness, and readiness to perform at their best.

In this five-part series, we’ll guide you step-by-step through the key stages of transitioning your horse from holiday mode to show-ready. From managing their return to the stable and adjusting their diet to rebuilding fitness systematically and addressing essential health checks, this series offers practical advice and expert insights for every stage of the journey.

The aim is to help you set your horse up for a successful, safe, and enjoyable season ahead, all while promoting their long-term wellbeing.

The importance of the winter holiday

The winter holiday is a cherished tradition in the showing world, offering horses and ponies a chance to unwind and recharge after a demanding competitive season. For many, this period is not just a break but a crucial opportunity to safeguard their long-term physical and mental well-being. As renowned show producer Vicky Smith explains, “Horses are herd animals, and we often take them out of their natural environment, stabling them and travelling with them. It’s important for them to switch off.”

However, transitioning a horse back to work after a break requires careful planning and patience to ensure their health, well-being, and long-term performance. Vicky adds, “I feel strongly that people need to be educated about bringing horses back to work correctly. It’s not a race – it’s a slow process. If you rush this stage, you’ll be on the back foot all year.”

If you have given your horse a decent break and are feeling daunted by the road ahead, rest assured that the holiday was worth it. For Stuart Hollings, a British Show Pony Society (BSPS) judge with over 50 years of experience in the show world, the benefits are clear.

“The winter holiday is important because good ponies shouldn’t be rushed, especially early in their careers,” he says. “They become switched off and don’t want to play. Some ponies need time to mature, and the winter holiday can make a difference, especially between the novice and open year. I’ve seen so many good ponies burnt out by continuous showing.”

As the new season looms, the challenge becomes how to transition horses safely and effectively from their holiday back to work. This process requires careful planning, gradual adjustments, and a deep understanding of the horse’s individual needs.

How to bring a show horse back into work: first steps

The first stage in bringing your horse back into work involves reintroducing routines gradually to minimise stress. Horses who have spent weeks turned out need time to acclimatise to stabling, handling, and grooming.

“Suddenly bringing a horse straight off grass into a full stable routine can cause unnecessary stress,” Vicky Smith advises. “Start with short periods inside and increase them gradually. Keep their stable environment calm, clean, and inviting, with plenty of forage to mimic their outdoor diet.”

Even if your horse remains living out, most working horses will have changes to their diet. Transitioning from grass to hay should be done carefully to avoid digestive upset. Hard feed should be introduced gradually, starting with low-energy, high-fibre options and adjusting if needed as their workload increases. Scottish-based vet Andrew Miller BVMS MRCVS emphasises the importance of pacing: “Slowly introduce feed to match the workload. Good haylage may be enough to start with, avoiding the risk of overexciting the horse with energy-rich food.”

Grooming and handling also play a key role. Light grooming preserves the natural oils in the coat, which provide essential protection during cold and wet conditions. Handling sessions should be calm and consistent to help the horse settle back into their routine.

Care and checks: the essentials

Before embarking on ridden work, it’s vital to ensure your horse is physically ready for the demands of the upcoming season. A full “MOT” is essential.

Feet

Farrier and top producer James Knipe offers valuable advice on hoof care during and after the winter holiday.

“I’d either suggest taking the shoes off and giving them a nice edge if turned away, or if they are still part-stabled and it’s a stony yard, maybe just take the back shoes off. It very much depends on the pony’s feet,” he explains.

When bringing horses back into work, James recommends starting with normal shoes for the first couple of sets.

“They give more support to the foot,” he says. “Then, when my clients start showing, we transition to aluminium plates. However, aluminium plates all summer can start to break the foot up, so I advise my clients to keep these on for the shortest possible time.”

James also highlights the benefits of a winter holiday for hoof health.

“The break is great for the feet. Bacteria can get into the nail holes, but the holiday allows natural new horn growth. Very rarely do you get problems with natural feet out in the field — issues like thrush are more common with bedding.” For barefoot horses, James advises trims every month to maintain hoof balance and health.

“A healthy diet is the most important factor for strong, healthy feet,” he adds. “I recommend feeds with biotin for growth and a good hoof moisturiser to prevent brittleness, especially if black show stains have been used during the season.”

Teeth

A dental check is essential before reintroducing a bit, as even minor issues can cause significant discomfort during work. Equine dental technician Chris Warren explains, “Your horse’s teeth play an important role in maintaining a healthy gut. Their teeth are constantly changing, and left untreated, they can become extremely sharp. This can cause varying degrees of discomfort, especially when eating or being exercised, which in turn can lead to behavioural problems. A thorough check from a qualified dental technician after the holiday, along with regular follow-ups, is crucial to keeping your horse’s mouth healthy.”

Backs

Keeping your horse’s back healthy will enhance his performance by ensuring he is pain-free. The timing of this depends on the advice of your horse back specialist. Some prefer to check before work begins, while others recommend an assessment during the first few weeks.

Animal McTimoney chiropractor Lucy Willis Fleming explains, “Getting your horse back to work after the holiday takes careful preparation. Getting this bit right sets the tone and foundation for going forward. It takes about two months for the cardiovascular system to get back to pre-holiday capacity. Depending on the lifestyle and age of the horse, it can take another month for the musculoskeletal system to be ready and stress-resistant.”

Body condition

Monitor your horse’s weight and muscle tone weekly. Horses often lose topline during their break, so adjust feeding and workload accordingly.

“Time in the field allows the body to relax, but it’s important to rebuild strength slowly,” says Vicky Smith.

Clipping

When to clip depends on workload and coat condition. Vicky recommends starting with a bib clip during early fitness work.

“Fully clipping too soon can make some horses sharp in the cold. Wait until they’re working consistently,” she advises.

Weeks of hot oiling and grooming can help prepare the coat for clipping and maintain its quality.

Timeline for how to bring show horse back into work

The time it takes to bring a horse from field condition to show readiness varies, but most require 8–12 weeks to reach show fitness. Vicky Smith outlines her process: “Once they’ve had their holiday, I start them like a blank canvas. Six weeks of hacking on the road slowly introduces them to work.”

Week 1–4

Bringing a show horse back into work is about building up incrementally. Begin with 20–30 minutes of hacking daily. This allows tendons, ligaments, and soft tissues to adjust to a gradually increased workload while allowing the horse to mentally adjust to their new routine.

Show horse producer Collette McGoldrick advises, “Hacking is the best way to bring your horse back into work. We hack out for a few weeks before we start any schooling. If you don’t have access to hacking and only have a school, don’t ask them to do too much too soon. Just ‘hack’ them around the school in walk. Make sure your walk has a purpose, focusing on symmetry and rhythm.”

Week 4–6

Introduce short trot sessions, progressing to longer durations. Increase the trotting by roughly 10% every day. For example, if you are trotting for 10 minutes, increase to 11 minutes the next day. Add gentle hillwork to your hacking. When you feel it’s time to start schooling, keep it light and varied, introducing polework to improve strength and suppleness.

Week 7–9

Incorporate canter work and increase schooling intensity. At this stage, lateral work can help build balance and engagement. Focus on your warm-up and cool-down routines. This is especially important as muscles are developing and it significantly reduces the chances of injury. Consider using different terrains such as grass, road, hills, and beach to continue your fitness work.

Chiropractor Lucy Willis Fleming explains, “The wider your foundation, the more solid your base is. By training on different surfaces, you strengthen and engage all the smaller connective tissue, which in turn supports the bigger muscles and makes your horse stronger.”

Week 10–12

Focus on fine-tuning fitness and preparing for the challenges of the show ring. By this point, your horse should be in full work and ready to compete. This is a good time to start looking at some smaller, local shows or arena hires for valuable pre-season preparation. Working in different venues can help your horse adjust to new environments and regain confidence in the ring.

Make sure your paperwork is up to date

January is an excellent time to ensure all your paperwork is in order. Renew memberships, check vaccination records, and book any necessary Joint Measurement Board measurements. Taking care of these administrative tasks early will save you time and stress as the show season approaches.

Final thoughts

Knowing how to bring a show horse or pony back to work after a winter break is about so much more than just physical fitness. It’s about ensuring their health, happiness, and longevity in the sport. With careful planning, patience, and expert guidance, you can set your horse up for a successful showing season.

“Good preparation in January is the key to a winning season,” Vicky Smith reminds us. By taking the time to transition gradually and addressing every aspect of your horse’s care, you’ll be well-positioned to shine when the show season begins.

Thank you for subscribing to the H&H website. We will be bringing you showing news from major dates on the circuit including Royal Windsor, Royal Welsh, Royal International, HOYS and more, as well as important news that the showing world cares about throughout the year. Stick with us for all you need to know.

Read the rest of this exclusive series for H&H subscribers:

Expert tips for building up your show horse’s workload ready for the ring – with useful fitness timeline and warning signs

Catch the judges’ eye – when to clip, trim and hot-oil to create a great first impression in the show ring

Look at me, judges! Expert tips on preparing your show horse to stand out in the ring for all the right reasons this season

Be ready to win with expert tips on last-minute planning and polish to ensure a successful show ring debut

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Everyone knows there is no one way to manage a horse – especially when there are so many factors that go into creating his care programme. What’s more, every horse is an individual with his own specific needs, considerations and health concerns. While it would be helpful if horses produced a list of their wants and needs, it’s up to us owners to work it out and tailor management as best we can. This is why feeding a horse with no energy is a real head-scratcher – the underlying cause could be one of many.

Horse with no energy: why is my horse tired?

A horse lacking in energy typically performs below his best. He might drop behind the leg frequently, lack his usual impulsion or precision or accumulate more jumping faults than normal. A lack of energy may manifest in evasive behaviours such as napping or spooking. Or, you might notice he isn’t as alert on a hack, and doesn’t want to canter as frequently or as far. If you feel like you’re riding a horse with no energy, the following factors could be contributing:

• Soundness
• Workload
• Nutrition

We’ll explore each with an expert below. To jump to a specific topic, click on it above.

Soundness

A horse’s dip in performance and energy might be explained by checking his vital signs, says H&H veterinary consultant Karen Coumbe MRCVS.

“Your horse can’t tell you when he has a headache, but if you make a habit of observing him closely and knowing what’s normal, you’ll be best placed to pick up anything abnormal,” she explains. “Sometimes, lethargic horses have a low-grade virus. If you know his normal temperature range, you’ll know right away if he has a fever, so best to check.”

In cases where a horse has reduced energy, Karen recommends consulting a vet early.

“It helps if you have a regular vet who knows you and your horse and can see if there’s a difference,” Karen adds. “Get an independent assessment and a clinical exam, plus a blood test. A normal blood result can be reassuring.

“Classically, sore feet are the culprit, or low-grade lameness possibly linked as well to a sore back,” adds Karen, who recommends a full lameness work-up to help isolate the region from which the lameness originates if problems persist. Some horses will benefit from a change in shoeing or a simple saddle refit.

Horses that are persistently lethargic may require further investigations, such as checking out the horse’s heart to look for cardiac abnormalities sometimes including an electrocardiogram (ECG) or ruling out gastric ulcers by gastroscopy. The best thing is talk to your vet.

Workload

For British Showjumping accredited coach Christine Shubrook, a regular coach who knows you and your horse well – and is familiar with his routine and workload – could provide a helpful second opinion.

“You see a lot posts on Facebook asking ‘what should I feed my horse?’ But your coach sees you every week and knows you, and can look at the problem holistically.”

If you feel that your horse has no energy, Christine recommends being honest about how fit he really is.

“Because of the weather, the light and work commitments, it can be really hard to keep a horse going through winter.

“But whatever you want to do on the weekend, be it a fun ride or a round of showjumps, the level of work shouldn’t be a surprise to your horse. And really, fun rides can be three or four hours in length. Plus, you’ve got your travel there and back, where the horse has to balance himself for the whole journey. That in itself is tiring – you wouldn’t run a marathon on no training, after all!

“A round of showjumps is about two minutes, so your horse needs to be able to canter comfortably and regularly for two minutes in the school. It’s longer than you think, so use a free app to time yourself. That way, you know you’re putting in the right level of work.”

Christine says increasing your horse’s fitness now will pay dividends through the winter. What’s more, keeping his work varied throughout the darker months targets his whole body.

“Get him fit enough for a fun ride now and you can maintain it,” she says. “Not by riding that long distance, but by timing your canter work with walk intervals for recovery, doing simple lateral work to strengthen the core and walking over poles. Walking over poles in hand, especially raised ones, demands more than people realise. Just 20 minutes is quite an intense muscle-builder.

“It doesn’t need to be a complicated pattern – three poles in a line does a lot. It’s much easier to fit in than a hack and targets muscles more efficiently.”

Rider fitness is another factor that could hamper a horse’s performance.

“The fitter we are, the more we can support ourselves, the quicker we adapt to the horse’s movement and become an easier load for him to carry.”

Nutrition

According to Sarah Nelson BSc, product manager at Spillers, the way your horse looks should give you a good idea of whether his energy requirements are being met.

“Horses maintaining a healthy body weight or condition score are consuming the right amount of energy for their workload – regardless of whether they lack energy under saddle!” she says. “Unless they’re actively losing weight, overweight horses are consuming too much energy. Underweight horses are not consuming enough energy.

“Vitamins and minerals are needed for optimum health,” she adds. “Many are involved in energy metabolism which means a shortfall in the diet could result in lethargy. Make sure you are feeding the recommended amount of an appropriate compound feed or balancer to make up for any shortfall in winter forage.”

Sarah also advises owners to consider the type of energy that is most appropriate for their horses.

“Feeds high in cereal starch promote a more energetic response in some horses, which is why some owners choose traditional competition mixes or oats for those that are ‘lazy’ or in need of extra ‘sparkle’. Many healthy, exercised horses in ideal body condition handle controlled amounts of cereal starch in their diet very well. For those in moderate to hard work, a balance of energy sources, such as those found in Spillers Performance Mix, can help to support performance.

“However, diets high in starch and sugar are not suitable for all horses. Spillers Stamina+ Cubes are rich in highly digestible fibre and oil, providing a source of ‘slow release’ energy for horses in moderate work.”

Fuelling the good-doer

Overweight horses in need of an energy boost often get their spark back once they’ve lost weight, says Dengie senior nutritionist Dr Katie Williams PhD MSc (Dist) RNutr.

“It’s important to balance the diet,” she continues, “because it can often be the shortfall in vitamins and minerals, which are involved in energy metabolism, that can impact the energy levels.

“A classic one for the good doer would be the loss of electrolytes through sweat. Horses who carry a lot of weight are probably going to sweat more, because they work a bit harder, and the loss of electrolytes contributes to fatigue and them feeling like they are running out of active energy. Balancing the diet, and topping up electrolyte levels, is key to maintaining performance.”

Katie also recommends adding a quick-release energy source to a good doer’s bucket if he’s at a healthy weight.

“As long as he isn’t susceptible to laminitis or EMS, adding a traditional quick-release energy source, such as bruised oats, can help give him a bit of sparkle.”

Katie suggests adding a couple of handfuls to begin with, and seeing if that has the desired effect.

“First of all, you don’t want to add too much and end up with exuberance,” she explains, “and secondly, you don’t want to exceed around one-and-a-half kilos total weight per feed. Any more than that, and the risks of feeding higher starch outweigh the benefits of the quick-release energy it provides.

“It’s also key to remove the oats if the horse has time off.

“Feeding a few handfuls of oats alongside a balanced ration shouldn’t disrupt the overall calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. But, if you do end up feeding more, alfalfa is a really nice natural balancer for this. So, if you had a couple of scoops of Dengie Alfa-A Molasses Free and top dress with up to 1.5kg of oats, then this would naturally balance for calcium and phosphorous. However, if you feed even more, you will need a balancer or supplement to ensure all the micro-nutrient needs are met.”

If you’re looking to fuel a higher level of work and want to aid your horse’s stamina, an oil-based chopped fibre is Katie’s go to.

“Oil is a concentrated, dense source of slow-release energy,” explains Katie. “Which is really useful for helping to fuel low-intensity work. This means energy stored as glycogen in the horse’s muscles is spared – a so-called glycogen-sparing effect meaning they’ve got more in the tank when they move into more intense work. This effect also seems to help horses recover from exercise quicker.

“My go-to for this is Dengie Alfa-A Oil. It’s a really simple formulation but seems to do the job!”

Timing is key

For owners looking to feed a horse with no energy a ‘quick release’ energy source, when they feed it could be the answer. According to Topspec nutrition director Nicola Tyler BSc (Hons) RNutr: “Feeding strategically for a horse to be more in front of the leg is best done about an hour-and-a-half before you need them to have more oomph,” she advises. “This is particularly good advice for good doers. If you had a competition in the morning, you might feed 100g of a fast-releasing energy source, such as TopSpec Turbo Flakes, to a good doer. This won’t add significantly to the horse’s calorie intake, but it will give him a short-term energy boost.

“The effect lasts for about two hours before insulin levels rise and take down the level of glucose that you’ve increased in the bloodstream.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Should you call time on feeding bran mash? Horse & Hound investigates…

5 expert tips for feeding horses this winter

The golden rules of feeding horses that all owners should know

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Horsewalkers are a standard piece of kit at many professional and livery yards. Most horse owners are likely to have seen one in operation, or indeed had use of one themselves. But how many of us can say we’ve had training in how to use a horsewalker safely?

Walkers are generally installed to help meet the specific exercise needs of a yard’s population, whether that’s to help combat weight loss, increase exercise levels, or aid in warming up and cooling down for ridden work. One 2019 study found that 20 minutes on a walker was equivalent exercise to an hour’s turnout. This came with the caveat that while a walker could not replace the psychological and health benefits of turnout, a walker might assist in releasing energy and providing exercise in periods when turnout has to be restricted.

The composition, size and operation of horsewalkers varies across the industry and their build can be adapted to meet a variety of different uses. A private livery yard is likely to install a smaller walker than a large racing yard, whereas a rehabilitation yard might opt for an oval-shaped walker to avoid vulnerable horses walking on a constant small circle.

Once the idiosyncrasies of structure, use and the individual horse have been taken into account, what other factors need to be considered when implementing best, and safest, horsewalker practice? H&H spoke to experts in horsewalker manufacture and use for their advice on getting the most out of a walker while minimising the risk of accidents.

1. Wear the right gear

On the topic of handler safety, gloves were a unifying factor among our experts. The British Horse Society also advised a hard hat and appropriate footwear.

Lizzie Ragg, yard manager at the Berkshire College of Agriculture, told us staff and students are required to make a habit of assessing their own personal protective equipment (PPE) before every activity.

“Any time you’re leading, you should be in gloves,” she comments. “We have a rule here that means as soon as you’re leading outside the confines of the yard, where our walker is, you also need to be wearing a riding hat. Our horses leave the yard for two reasons – to be exercised or turned out. You don’t want a horse anticipating he’s going out and becoming strong or silly while you’re not protected.”

For dressage rider and rehabilitation yard owner Laura Whyte, a horse’s kit should be kept to a minimum.

“A pet hate of mine is seeing side reins and rollers on walkers,” she tells H&H. “Walkers are not an alternative to training.”

In Lizzie’s case, nylon headcollars are always removed on the walker and additional equipment is used on a case-by-case basis.

“We have some horses with bar shoes on, so I’d always put overreach boots on them on the walker. I think walker rugs are a good idea if you’re using the walker in cold weather and when warming up and cooling down. I know people do put horses on walkers in full tack, but it poses a higher risk. I wouldn’t allow my staff or students to put a horse on a walker in tack.”

2. Pay attention to the surface

“It’s important to ensure horses have grip, and aren’t hitting concrete or stone,” says Laura. “I don’t use a rubber tiling as it can be slippy. You get the same with concrete, plus it’s too hard. We use Equigrids for grip topped with a waxed surface.”

Sweeping out the walker removes droppings and standing water.

“I used to manage the yard at West Anglia College, where everything went on the walker each day,” Lizzie tells us. “That walker was swept out thoroughly every day.”

The BHS advises looking closely for any hazards.

“It is essential to keep the entrance area of the walker clear and obstruction-free. The surface of the walker should also be thoroughly checked before and after use. This applies to rubber matting as well as bricks, which could potentially overlap and cause a tripping hazard.”

The BHS went on to recommend consideration of weather conditions, and advised owners are mindful of using uncovered walkers on wet or icy days.

Lots of walkers employ an anti-lock braking system (ABS), which means the pushers aren’t blown around the walker when it’s not in use. According to a video on its website, Monarch Equestrian suggest levering the ABS off for cleaning the walker for ease of moving around the track.

3. Warm up your walker

Lizzie Ragg comments that users should consider that some walkers need to be warmed up – run for a few minutes – before loading horses on.

Guto Davis, saftey specialist at horse walker manufacturer Molenkoning, explains why: “Some walkers run on oil and when the oil is in use, it warms up and gets thinner. This causes the walker to move faster, which can speed up the horses. With Molenkoning, we use an electric motor that requires no warming up or servicing.”

4. Timing is everything

Laura says it’s important to be considerate of other horses if you’re adding yours to the walker.

“When you stop a walker, it’s disruptive. Horses sometimes turn around in their partitions if they get agitated,” she warns. “The best thing is to time it well, so the empty partition lines up with the gate and you can load the horse straight on. Then, the walker is stationary for as short a time as possible. If you’re unsure about it, let someone more experienced help you.”

She adds that you can use the placement of the partitions to show your horse where you want him to go.

“If you make sure the pusher at the back of the partition is close to the door, your horse has a big open space to walk into. He’ll be encouraged to start moving in the direction the walker is set to.”

Laura prefers to put first-timers on the walker alone so other horses aren’t at risk.

“I start off slow and keep my fingers on the control panel while he walks. If he stops, I stop the machine and it gradually revs down to nothing. You’re trying to make sure they don’t get a wallop from the pusher. It’s fine if it hits their bum gently, but no big crash up behind.”

Meanwhile, the BHS told us: “To make sure your horse is confident and comfortable when introducing them to a walker, it is best practice to use the ‘follow the leader’ principle. By having a more experienced horse in the lead position, you can reduce the risk of your horse turning in the opposite direction.

“The use of an assistant to operate the gate and speed/directional controls is recommended too.”

While loading horses, Molekoning advises the walker “should be stationary and electric gates off when entering”.

Horsewalker manufacturer Monarch Equestrian’s website advises the handler should always stay between the walker’s outer fence and the horse.

5. Work on both reins

Our experts universally advised equal work on both reins as a key part of how to use a horsewalker safely. In addition, Molenkoning stipulated 20 minutes as a maximum session time.

Guto tells us: “Our walker timer is set to ten minutes in each direction as it is imperative that horses are exercised equally on both reins. We install, and advise DIY users to allow, a 2.5m width track to enable all sized horses the space in which to turn around easily when the horsewalker changes direction.”

Instead of using both reins in a session, Laura opts for alternating the walker direction day-by-day.

“I personally don’t think turning on the walker is a comfortable manoeuvre. We’d always turn them manually by taking them off and reloading them.”

6. Match your horse to his companions

To ensure comfort on the walker, Laura considers who goes on with whom.

“Older horses don’t go on with fit competition horses, and certainly for less time,” she says. “People with nervous horses who jog tend to put a quieter one in front. This doesn’t really work – if there’s a horse in front they’ll want to catch up. Instead, we put a slower horse behind a nervous one to get them thinking about the horse behind and matching them.”

If a horse seems too unsettled and jogs continually, Laura brings him off.

“People often interpret jogging as a horse blowing off steam, but in my experience it’s usually just anxiety.”

7. Consider additional safety measures

Many companies offer bespoke features, such as wider walkways. Molenkoning walkers come with electrified gates and pushers as standard, but these can be turned on or off while the walker is in use. Monarch stipulates on its website that electric gates should be turned off when horse are loaded on and off.

The panels on Laura’s walker are mobile.

“If they really panic, our pushers swivel upwards up to 90 degrees, like a cat flap. Even though they’re heavy metal panels, you know there’s a safe get-out if needed.”

8. Get your walker serviced

Monarch advises walkers are serviced every 12 months, depending on usage. In a video on its website, the company explains: “For highly used walkers, such as racing yards… we recommend every 12 months. For quieter yards, possible every 18 months.”

For Monarch walkers, services should be conducted around your own basic checks, made periodically – namely hydraulic oil checks at the control box and heavy duty gearbox oil supplied to the bearing plates and ball bearings, part of the mechanism in the centre. If you haven’t topped it up in a while, you can “start to hear a grinding noise, as the ball bearings will have basically dried out.”

9. Placement is key

The general consensus states that horses should not be left on a walker unattended. A spokesman from the BHS told us: “One of the most important things to remember when using a horse walker is to ensure you can always see the walker and horse. The equipment must be easily accessible too, such as the emergency cut-off controls, in case of an accident.”

“From the yard to the walker is only about 12 strides, so I’m never out of range”, says Laura.

The BCA’s walker is outside the confines of the yard, so Lizzie has to consider staff and students getting the horses to the walker safely. “We teach the students about risk-assessing, reading the situation,” she explains.

“As well as correct PPE we ask them to consider the correct method of restraint on the horse, thinking about who they are and their behaviour on the day. For example, stronger horses are lead in a slip bridle to the walker.”

The BHS also stressed the importance of risk-assessment, adding: “This includes making sure everyone involved in the use of a walker has had an induction in safe use and procedures. We would recommend this for all staff at a centre and also for situations where livery clients may place their horses on and off the walker.”

10. Is it in your horse’s best interests?

Lizzie encourages staff and students to look at the whole horse before deciding if the walker would be a productive part of his routine.

“The main thing we focus on is benefit to the horse. We wouldn’t use the walker indiscriminately. If you’ve got a native type that could do with shifting some weight, the walker could be a useful addition. A horse whose legs have filled overnight would be helped by a session on the walker. However, if you’ve got one with arthritis, being stuck on a circle isn’t going to be beneficial.”

Analyse the situation

According to our experts, how to use a horsewalker safely comes down to assessing your horse, yard and the walker you have access to. As well as this, regular checks and professional services keep a walker running as it should, and ensure you are wearing a hat and gloves whenever you load the walker. Ultimately, consider compatibility of a range of factors in relation to your horse – walker size, speed and surface, your horse’s routine, temperament and condition, his companions and how he feels on the day.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout the Paralympics, Burghley, HOYS and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You might also be interested in:

Is a horsewalker a worthwhile investment?

With the darker winter days and general lack of daylight, H&H discusses the merits of horsewalkers

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

When considering what are the best warm up exercises for horses before a competition, bear in mind that the warm up should include three stages in order for it to be most beneficial and allow the horse to perform at their best.

Here are some top tips to help your achieve the best result you possibly can with your horse while competing…

1. Passive warm-up for horses

Make the body warm. This often entails using something external like an exercise rug, even before the rider gets on, as well as a gentle walk. The horse should not be standing outside uncovered on a cold day or the blood vessels will be constricted.

2. General warm-up techniques

This is not specific to discipline and will take the form of walk, slow trot and canter, maintaining a pretty low heart-rate. The horse should not be stretched or pulled, but be able to jog along at a relaxed and comfortable rate.

With a talented horse, this would be long, low and round, but the conformation of some horses will not allow them to work like this easily. At this stage in the warm-up, the muscles, tendons and ligaments might not be flexible enough in some horses, so do not force the issue.

Working in long and low helps to warm up the back and activate the horse’s core muscles. If the horse’s head is in the air, its back tends to be fixed, rather than engaged. Physiologically and mechanically, long and low is the ideal way to do this part of the warm-up if the horse finds it easy.

This stage should involve general movements, working the different muscle groups, including gradual flexing to either side without pulling anything too tight.

Keep direct transitions to a minimum because they make the horse work its body hard and raise the heart-rate. A horse in the wild will only change its gait when it is energetically efficient to do so.

People often miss out this second stage of warming up if they’re in a rush, but it’s absolutely essential. If short on time, it is preferable only to work up to this point, rather than skip it.

3. Specific warm-up exercises for horses

Finally, start practising the types of movement you will be using following the warm-up.

Direct transitions, smaller circles and specific movements can now be incorporated. Jumping would be introduced towards the end of this time.

For competition, you want to practise the nerve-muscle patterns that you will be using in the arena. But this must be balanced so that the horse is not made to work too strenuously and will leave his best work for the practice ring.

For a power discipline, such as dressage or jumping, we have to be careful not to exhaust the energy (glycogen) stores by jumping too much or spending 20 minutes in piaffe.

As a general rule, this warm-up stage should take place about 20 minutes before competition.

You might also be interested in reading…

10 top tips to help tackle nerves in the warm-up

Forget competition anxiety — for many of us, the warm-up arena can prove more intimidating than the event itself

The perfect eventing warm-up: how to tackle all three phases

How you warm-up your horse can mean the difference between a good test and a double clear or a poor

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Hillwork is beneficial for horses across a range of disciplines.

Working on a gradient boosts cardiovascular fitness, and musculoskeletal strength and conditioning; it also helps enhance a horse’s balance and the body awareness known as proprioception.

Hillwork can be incorporated into hacking or carried out over grass fields and turf or all-weather gallops and may include long, slow distance work and faster canter or gallop work – both of which are required for optimum fitness.

A horse moving uphill is working against gravity, which increases exercise intensity. It takes more effort for the horse to travel the same distance up a slope than on the flat, so slow hillwork can be better for building muscle strength.

Cardiac output is also increased during hillwork, as greater blood flow is necessary to supply oxygen to these harder-working muscles. Cardiovascular fitness is improved by increasing the efficiency of the heart and the circulation and by an improved aerobic capacity, due to adaptations in the muscle and cardiovascular systems. However, there is virtually no increase in the capacity of the lungs and ventilatory system as a result of training.

Strength and conditioning is important in all disciplines. An event horse going across country does not rely purely on cardiovascular fitness; he must stay in balance over the twists and turns in preparation for the fences and when jumping, landing and moving away.

Similarly, a three-year-old running in the Derby is tested not only by the speed of the race, but by the unique changes in camber and the undulating terrain at Epsom, so he will need strength and balance to maintain his position.

Muscle groups are used to different extents according to gradient. When going uphill, loading on the forelimbs is reduced compared to when moving on the flat and the quarters, back and neck muscles work harder. Going downhill strengthens the pectoral, shoulder and forearm muscles, while the quadriceps muscles of the hindlimbs must stabilise and balance the horse.

The quadriceps support the patella and stifle, so work both up and downhill is good for improving stifle stability. This may benefit young horses and those with fixation or delayed release of the patella – where the medial patellar ligament remains hooked over the medial trochlea ridge of the femur, often due to poor muscle tone or straight hindlimb conformation. Introduce this work gradually, on a gentle incline.

Tendons cannot be conditioned after they reach maturity, at about two years of age. The tendons connect muscle to bone; in a mature horse, it is the muscle that can be conditioned by training.

However, since tendons are more prone to injury when a horse is fatigued, improving muscular fitness can help. Damage to tendons is also caused by repetitive strain and peak loading during faster work. Working uphill reduces tendon loading by decreasing the vertical force and also by allowing the same cardiovascular work to be carried out at a slower speed.

Varied workload

Gradients can benefit showjumpers and dressage horses, as well as eventers and racehorses. Cross-training and variety will condition different muscle groups and can have a protective effect on the muscles, tendons and ligaments used repetitively in regular skills training.

Both strength and balance can be improved if a horse is worked downhill at walk, trot and canter. A session involving work up and down is most beneficial – for example, hacking back down a gallop perhaps or using a sloping field, so you can canter a circuit downhill as well as up and also cross the incline.

A horse uses his head and neck to balance when moving and jumping. Allowing him to work with a long neck on a contact, rather than a loose rein, and use his neck during training and exercise will encourage the correct development of neck and back muscles and strengthen his topline. This will bring benefits in any discipline, as a correctly strengthened neck is important for flatwork, jumping and galloping.

Proprioceptors are embedded in the muscle fibres at the junction of muscles and tendons and also within the joint capsules. These give the horse continuous information about his limb position and joint movement, which is essential for joint stability and the performance of complex movements.

When a horse works on a consistent surface, such as an arena, there is little variability in footfall. Therefore, moving across varying terrain and going, including hills, improves his proprioceptive control and will result in better preparation of his nerves, joints and muscles for when he is tested in a competition situation – on uneven ground, for example, or when he must make a quick recovery from a turn or slip. This can in turn help minimise injury and maximise performance.

Learning curve

Hillwork should be introduced gradually to allow the horse’s body and limbs to adapt to the surface and incline. Trying to do too much in one session, before he has acclimatised, will increase injury risk. For example, if you transport your horse to a gallop for the first time, a gentle canter may be all that is necessary to allow him to get used to the surface and terrain. This can then be built up on subsequent visits.

The steeper the incline, the more work the horse must do over the same distance. He may need to travel slower up a steeper hill, although the greater muscular effort required by the incline means that the same heart rate may be achieved at a slower speed. A steeper gallop will stimulate a quicker increase in heart rate.

As with any exercise, variety is important to allow the body to recover from each training session and build the appropriate muscular responses before these are tested again. While fast work on hills should be carried out at appropriate intervals within a planned fitness programme, steady hillwork, such as hacking, can be a part of daily exercise.

Where there is no access to inclines, some of the benefits can be gained through water treadmill work, polework, cavaletti exercises and walking in the sea; all will help strengthen the back and neck muscles, albeit without the same cardiovascular gains. Swimming may encourage greater cardiovascular fitness, but will not work the same muscle groups as hillwork.

How to best use hills

• Warm up and cool down appropriately, to prepare the horse’s muscles for strenuous exercise and to assist recovery.
• Make sure that his body is worked symmetrically, to encourage even muscle development and minimise any uneven loading on the limbs. It’s important to canter and gallop on both left and right leads for similar periods. Any unevenness of gait or a tendency to “hang” in one direction should be investigated before an injury or lameness develops.
• Hillwork may not be ideal for horses with certain injuries or conditions. Sacroiliac pain may be aggravated by going up or down steep hills, so a gentle incline is better for training horses with this condition. Some hillwork is beneficial, however, to build muscle through the thoracolumbar region and to help strengthen the muscles that support the sacroiliac region.
• Some tendon and ligament injuries, especially those in the hindlimbs, can be caused or aggravated by pushing too hard up a steep hill. An inconsistent surface can also contribute to the risk of these injuries. Be aware of how the horse is coping with the terrain and footing; do not push him harder than conditions safely allow.

The author: Liz Brown MRCVS focuses on the performance horse in eventing, racing and dressage. She is an FEI vet for eventing and the team vet for the British eventing team. She attended the Tokyo, London and Rio Olympic Games in this capacity and continues to work with the team.

You might also be interested in:

How to form a fitness plan for your horse

Learn how to strengthen your horse at home using polework

What should you do with your horse the day before an event? H&H investigates…

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A significant amount of planning and preparation goes into getting ready for an eventing competition. From fitness programmes to lessons, new kit to travel arrangements, you have probably spent weeks (if not months) gearing up for the big day. But have you given any thought to what you will do with your horse the day before the event? We investigate further.

What to do with your horse the day before an event

Should you be running through your dressage test, popping him over some jumps or giving him a day off? We talk to some top riders and trainers to find out what the ideal preparation should be.

“If a horse doesn’t do anything the day before a competition, then they can often be too fresh at the event. I think it’s important for their well-being, suppleness and brain that they do something,” says British Eventing (BE) accredited coach Cindy Llewellyn.

Five-star event rider Georgie Goss agrees and will often jump her horses the day before a competition.

“It depends on their individual temperaments and needs, but generally the good jumpers will do a course and if they struggle with jumping then I will do some gridwork with them. I’ve always done it like that and it’s always worked,” explains Georgie.

“I always do something with my horses. There can be a lot of pressure at a competition, so if you jump them the day before it just takes the edge off them.”

Event rider Nat Dixon, who has completed Badminton and Burghley and was shortlisted for the Sydney Olympics, is not a fan of jumping her horses before they compete, instead preferring to school them.

“I don’t like to jump mine the day before as I think it stresses the muscles,” says Nat. “Unless they are really gifted, I won’t school them at a difficult level, I prefer to work them in a long, low frame and do a lot of lateral work. I’m not saying what I do is right, but it works for me.”

Individual preferences seem to be the key, with riders and trainers in agreement that it is important to do something with your horse the day before you take him to a competition, but there’s no set rule as to what that activity should be.

“We always work our horses the day before — they would never do nothing, but what work they do will vary by horse,” says Australian event rider Bill Levett. “Some may have a flatwork session, others might jump, or go for a piece of hill work or a lunge for a stretch. What they do will be tailored to the specific horse and what suits it in terms of a pre-event preparation.”

“We would not typically gallop a horse the day before it competes and if working towards a big three-day event we taper the work down and do our final ‘big’ prep gallop 10 days before the horse is due to run cross-country at its event,” adds Bill.

While it might not be a good idea to gallop your horse the day before, Cindy Llewellyn believes a brief canter can be advantageous for those horses competing at the higher eventing levels.

“At intermediate and above it can be a good idea to clear the horse’s airways by giving them a short, sharp canter the day before they go cross-country,” says Cindy. “I don’t think a horse needs an intense drilling but running through their dressage test can be useful to the rider, or going on a hack where they can stretch and you can do some leg yielding to work on their suppleness can be advantageous too.”

While riders and trainers advocate riding their horses the day before a competition, vet Leticia Macias Bricio from Wessex Equine Veterinary Practice doesn’t believe there is any significant risk to your horse’s physical well-being if he has a day off immediately before he competes.

“All horses need a day of rest and if that day happens to be the day before a competition I don’t think it’s a risky thing,” says Leticia. “It obviously depends on the level of competition and your horse, but ideally I would say you should make sure your horse moves the day before, don’t leave them in the stable all day, but don’t exhaust them — a light hack is a good idea.”

“Horses are routine animals so the most important thing is to keep things the same and make sure they stay relaxed,” concludes Leticia.

Bill Levett agrees: “We try to keep their routine unchanged as much as possible before or during or after a competition — they will live out if they are used to living out for example the night before an event.”

All horses are individuals and have different needs and preferences so ensure you know your horse and consider what works for him when planning what to do the day before a competition.

You may also be interested in…

How to form a fitness plan for your horse

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

What could be behind a horse’s failure to develop or maintain fitness as expected? Andrea Oakes investigates

YOU prepared him methodically for the season, but your horse’s energy reserves seem unusually low. Or perhaps his fitness levels are not progressing, despite the fact that you’re following a training programme.

Before delving too deeply into the potential veterinary issues, performance horse consultant Peter “Spike” Milligan MRCVS advises first placing your training techniques under the microscope. Only then can a horse’s fitness – or lack of it – be objectively assessed.

“A competition horse needs to be just fit enough,” says Spike, a British Eventing youth performance squad vet. “Event horses at the lower levels are often too fit, which can compromise their soundness, appetite and condition, as well as their ability to achieve a good dressage score. Yet a slightly overweight, underfit eventer is at risk of injury.

“A good starting point is to understand the athletic demands at your horse’s level,” adds Spike. “You can then set measurable fitness parameters.”

To benchmark fitness levels, Spike suggests using a stopwatch and a horse heart-rate monitor.

“You can then assess fitness by speed of recovery, recording the time taken after a work period for the horse’s respiratory rate to return to 16 breaths per minute – or for his nostrils to stop flaring. If you do two six-furlong gallops, for example, the trend should be for the recovery time to shorten.

“Bear in mind that genetics play a part in a horse’s fitness capacity,” adds Spike. “A horse with more thoroughbred in his breeding will have greater innate fitness and an ability to maintain this. A warmblood, however, may have more power and endurance but less speed.

“Age also matters,” he adds. “The equine cardiorespiratory system is incredibly efficient; young Flat racing horses are on the track at two to three years, but they are still maturing skeletally. While older competition horses may be more at risk of developing an injury that rules out work, they tend to retain a natural degree of fitness. Their riders often know them well and know how to bring them to the required level. It’s all about understanding the horse you have.”

Using a heart rate monitor

While a phone app can tell you how fast a horse is moving, a heart rate monitor will tell you how hard he is working.

“A horse’s heart rate must rise above 180 beats per minute to reach the anaerobic zone,” says Spike. “He needs to work, otherwise you’re not achieving much.

“To push your horse’s heart rate up, you need to go further, faster or steeper. If you go steady, you’ll need to go that much further. The trick is to find the balance, maximising the effect of his training without undue wear and tear or increased injury risk.

“You may need to train a horse to gallop, as some warmbloods will only do a fast canter and never really raise their heart rate. But be careful that a buzzier thoroughbred type does not lull you into a false sense of security – he may be fine for up to six or seven minutes at his first long-format event, but he’ll run out of steam if you’ve not primed his anaerobic pathway and his body is not ready.”

Missing a beat

PROVIDED a training programme is progressive, is tailored to the individual and incorporates rest days, fitness should follow. If a horse remains under par, the areas examined first are usually the heart and lungs.

“While equine heart disease is relatively uncommon, we would check for a correct rhythm, with no murmurs, using a stethoscope on the horse at rest,” says Spike. “The most typical issue is atrial fibrillation, although horses with this irregular or abnormally fast heart rate tend to present with marked exercise intolerance and tire very quickly.

“The next step is to perform an electrocardiogram [ECG], in the stable or while the horse is ridden, to further examine the heart rhythm and electrical activity,” adds Spike. “A specialist can run a heart scan – an echocardiogram – to assess the structure of the heart.

“An irregular beat can occur when the heart enlarges. This is sometimes due to a problem, such as a leaky valve, but is also seen in very athletic horses with a bigger heart. Famously National Hunt horses Denman and Sprinter Sacre both suffered atrial fibrillation during their careers. This condition sometimes corrects itself, or may require medical treatment or even electrical cardioversion, where the horse’s heart is shocked back into normal rhythm under general anaesthesia.”

Lung and respiratory health is also key to performance.

“Low-grade inflammation in the lungs can be limiting,” explains Spike, referring to airway disease caused by challenges in a horse’s breathing environment. “This can be assessed with blood samples, or by sampling mucus in the lungs after exercise.

“Airway health tends to be under-appreciated,” he adds. “While minor airway issues can be managed with medication and treatment, it is vital to maintain a clean environment for the competition horse.

“Use only good-quality bedding and forage, and aim to reduce the respirable particles and chemical irritants a horse can breathe in, such as dust, cobwebs and ammonia. Vaccinating all yard horses against the equine herpes virus will also contribute to respiratory health.

“There may be a limitation in the airway that prevents air from entering and exiting the lungs correctly,” continues Spike, explaining that horses with these issues were previously termed roarers or whistlers.

“If noise is heard and considered a potential problem, your vet may recommend an endoscopy to examine the larynx and the back of the throat. This can be performed in the stable, but may be more revealing during exercise – termed an overground endoscopy.”

Delving deeper

“POOR performance is often due to orthopaedic problems, so a thorough lameness evaluation is an essential part of the process,” says Spike. “Blood testing can also reveal post-viral conditions that can lead to low white blood cell counts and anaemia.

“Check you’re feeding the right fuel,” he adds. “Different disciplines have specific requirements. An event horse needs a tailored diet for endurance, incorporating more oil and fibre, whereas those in dressage or showjumping need more heating food for quicker power.

“Ensure a constant supply of drinking water and consider feeding electrolytes for healthy muscle function. These should not be necessary every day, unless a horse is sweating hard.

“Diet is also linked to muscle function,” says Spike, explaining that muscle problems can lead to exercise intolerance.

“The condition exertional rhabdomyolysis, known as tying up, is seen in its most extreme form as acute muscle cramp, but can occur as more subtle but nevertheless performance-limiting muscle damage. Blood samples and muscle biopsies can reveal more. While close observation of muscle enzymes is key in racing, problems can be limiting at all levels with the competition horse, depending upon the individual.”

More in-depth diagnostics, such as blood lactate testing, are available but seldom necessary.

“The answers are usually to be found closer to home,” says Spike. “It is rare for a horse’s fitness levels not to improve with a planned, varied and progressive exercise programme that, ideally, is easily measurable.”

.

This exclusive veterinary feature is also available to read in Thursday 8 July’s Horse & Hound magazine

You may also be interested in…

Fit and raring to go: how you and your horse can hit the ground running in tip top shape

How to bring a horse back to exercise safely after injury *H&H Plus*

Many horses will have had a season out of work due to the cancellation of the majority of competitions. Laura

The benefits of hillwork for horses: everything you need to know

The importance of rest days for horses *H&H VIP*

Recovery phases are essential for performance, allowing a horse’s mind and body to strengthen. Andrea Oakes reports

How to form a fitness plan for your horse

If fitness levels for you and your horse have been on the back burner, hit the ground running with these exercise plans, advises Andrea Oakes

After a year of stop-start activity on the competition front, we’re again getting the green light to go. But to what extent has a triple whammy of lockdown, bad weather and Brexit border chaos derailed preparation? When the starting bell sounds, will we be ready?

Without the certainty of a show schedule, dressage riders have been wondering whether to keep their top horses at full fitness or bubbling under.

“We had a plan with the international horses and built them up, then everything stopped and we let them down a bit,” says Team GBR dressage rider Gareth Hughes. “The experienced ones do develop greater endurance over the years and tend to come back to fitness a bit quicker, but those who’ve not done much at top level or travelled abroad take longer to recuperate. In a grand prix, the last centre line can seem so far away.”

At all levels, he explains, it is difficult to replicate the intensity of a real test.

“At home, you can always do a circle or a transition,” says Gareth. “Competing is very different, mentally and physically. You do get rusty and even a bit anxious when you haven’t competed for a while, so you can’t go straight out to a big show. You need something smaller first.”

International dressage rider Lara Butler agrees that both sides of the partnership can lose momentum.

“We’re training at home, but we’re out of the competition rhythm,” she says, explaining that shows sharpen both fitness and reactions. “But our horses are still where we need them to be. The younger ones should catch up very quickly, if events restart and run regularly, although it may be a bit of a shock to their system.”

While some showjumpers travelled south to tours in mainland Europe earlier this year, amateur rider Sarah Lewis was dissuaded by the border issues.

“We did go to Vilamoura in October and then felt ahead of the game at Pyecombe in December – the only show we’ve done since,” says Sarah. “We’ve kept the horses working with lots of hacking, which has been good for their heads, along with some gridwork and flatwork for suppleness and rideability.

“They don’t need to jump and jump, especially the ones jumping big fences, and I don’t like drilling them as it can make them tired, sore and cross,” she adds. “The fitness is there. After a couple of training shows, I think they’ll be away.”

For many event riders, the usual pre-season build-up has been affected.

“This lockdown has not come without its struggles,” admits five-star eventer Tom McEwen, whose Tokyo prospect Toledo De Kerser spearheads his Gatcombe-based team. “We’ve been battling the weather, so less turnout has been available, and we’ve been limited to schooling in my arenas as opposed to being able to use the park.

“With amazing facilities and hilly, off-road hacking, however, the horses’ fitness has not been compromised,” adds Tom, who has used a small selection of cross-country fences to focus his horses’ minds before their first event. “They’ve not become bored and sour towards work; in fact, they’re ready and raring to go. They must be wondering what the hold-up is.”

Irish eventer Padraig McCarthy would ordinarily kick off the season at the Barroca International Horse Trials in Portugal, in early March, but the event was shelved due to the recent equine herpes virus outbreak.

“We don’t have gallop facilities and we’ve not been able to box up and travel to any,” says Padraig. “But fitness requirements depend on your goals. The cancellation of Badminton, the early five-star, takes the pressure off, and the seasoned campaigners are easier to bring up to speed.

“It does take some match practice, though,” he adds, explaining that both horse and rider benefit from the pressure of competition. “With Tokyo still on the cards, we need those runs.”

As high-profile events have been scrubbed off the calendar, top eventers have been faced with a training dilemma.

“Some who were going to Badminton have backed off a bit, because you can’t sustain that level indefinitely,” says eventing coach Caroline Moore FBHS. “Once you’ve taken a horse down to short-format fitness, it takes six weeks to bring him back for long-format.”

According to Caroline, fitness is a concern across the levels.

“We’d normally use grassland or gallops for fitness work, but it is tricky when you can’t travel,” she says. “On top of that, bad weather and poor ground conditions in many areas have limited hacking.

“To build stamina, I advise fartlek training [Swedish for “speed play”; a form of interval training] – long, slow periods with some sprint work, or jumping with a bit of sprint work on a circuit,” says Caroline. “This is possible in a reasonably sized arena. The aim is to push up the horse’s heart and respiratory rates, so another option is to work slowly on a steep gradient. Nicola Wilson would do that with [her multiple Team GBR medallist] Opposition Buzz, walking him up and down embankments to make him really puff.

“Some riders may try to select flatter, less punishing courses for the first few events and use these as part of a fitness regime,” she adds. “But they will have to be aware of any fitness deficit at the start of the season and not go out all guns blazing.”

If your personal fitness plans have fizzled out during the mid-winter lockdown, you’re not alone.

“Many of us have been more sedentary, sitting in front of a computer,” says Ashleigh Wallace, head of athlete health and lead physiotherapist for British Equestrian, who laments the fact that gyms – a lifeline for many in the dark months – have been forced to close. “It is really hard to stay motivated and committed when it’s raining and muddy.

“Riders are generally pretty active and usually retain strength, but what drops first is cardiovascular fitness,” she adds. “The competition restart is a good target to work towards. What’s important is to focus on exercise that will make the biggest difference before then.”

Ashleigh recommends a varied strength and conditioning programme.

“High-intensity work that raises your heart rate is really effective in kick-starting your cardiovascular system,” she explains. “The key is to push yourself, within safe limits, and to intersperse these timed sprint bursts with low-intensity periods or rest.

“This interval training can be done by cycling, running or skipping, or in circuits,” adds Ashleigh. “Cycling is especially relevant for riders as it targets the leg muscles and lumbar spine, so spinning sessions are ideal. Even better, take your mountain bike out – bouncing about, with frequent changes of direction, carries over well to riding.

“Hill running develops the calves and glutes, which are important for riding, and will have a big impact on cardiovascular fitness,” she says. “Or try eight fast walks up a steep hill, recovering each time on the way down. With three to four days’ training a week, you should notice a difference within a fortnight – and feel real changes within another month.”

In addition, strength exercises that work multiple muscles at once will deliver superior results for the time you put in.

“Whole-body exercises beneficial for riders include squats, lunges, deadlifts, push-ups and pull-ups,” explains Ashleigh. “Two weekly circuit sessions combining these exercises will have a beneficial effect in just four to six weeks.

“But rest days are vital, along with sensible nutrition,” she adds, pointing out that riding is a weight-sensitive sport. “Protein builds and repairs muscle and also satiates us, keeping us fuller for longer, while low-GI carbohydrates such as oats provide a slower release of energy.

“Include good fats – avocado, seeds, olive oil and nuts – for their anti-inflammatory properties, and eat fruit and vegetables in a rainbow of colours. Importantly, rehydrate with two to three litres of water per day.

“The better fuelled and hydrated you are, the more impactful your exercise regime will be.”

Is he fit enough?

Check out your horse’s fitness status, with Caroline Moore’s at-a-glance guide…

Dressage — medium level

Requirements: ability to work for sessions of up to one hour, with up to three-minute canter periods within this, plus two short warm-ups.

Training: 10 circuits of a 20x60m arena equates to one mile. An average workout at this level comprises five miles in walk, trot and canter, with some fairly muscle-strenuous exercise. If hacking on gradients, complete less mileage.

Tip: a circuit-training session with a range of exercises will allow the horse to rest a certain muscle group while using another – small circles, for example, then lateral work, moving on to raised poles and then simple transitions.

Showjumping — three Discovery rounds

Requirements: ability to work for up to one-and-half to two hours in sporadic sessions, performing in one- to two-minute bursts of power – almost a sprint-type effort.

Training: slow hill work for strength and stamina, with long, slow canter periods and short bursts of work at a faster pace to challenge the cardiovascular system – either on the gallops or within jumping work.

Tip: after a round, when the horse wants to stop, keep cantering for two minutes to improve his stamina.

Eventing — BE100/novice

Requirements: ability to perform three warm-up sessions, amounting to approx 1hr, plus a 4min dressage test, a showjumping round of approx 14 fences and a cross-country round at 520m/min for up to five-and-a-half minutes.

Training: a varied schedule. Fitness work should include twice-weekly sessions in jumping tack, comprising flatwork, strenuous transition work, some longer canter periods (up to six to seven minutes) in collected, working and medium canters, plus polework and an occasional quick-reaction sprint.

Tip: when you do get to the gallops or cross-country training, increase the length of work before the speed. Use a stopwatch to time faster work and chart progress.

Across all disciplines, signs that a horse is not coping include uncharacteristically poor performance, a lack of forward intention, a general reluctance to put effort in and coming out stiff the following day.

After faster work, an increased respiration rate should drop within the first minute of walk and return to normal after five minutes. Delayed recovery or a deterioration in performance might warrant adjustment of the programme or a vet check.

This feature was first published in Horse & Hound magazine, out Thursday 25 March 2021

You may also be interested in…

How fit is your horse? 5 key fitness indicators to look out for

Competition success can often come down to your horse's fitness levels. H&H asks the experts what the key fitness indicators

7 ways to combat negative thoughts when it comes to your riding

How to form a fitness plan for your horse

A heart at 96% capacity: how fit do you need to be to ride across country? *H&H Plus*

Many horses will have had a season out of work due to the cancellation of the majority of competitions. Laura Fitzharris MRCVS advises on how we can bring them back to their job safely

The best way to return a horse to exercise after a period of rest is an age-old topic. With the recent lockdown situation many horses have had a prolonged holiday, but with the competition season back up and running there are factors we must consider when returning them to work. The principles discussed are similar for horses that have had a holiday over the winter period or are returning to training following treatment for an injury.

The first thing to consider is what effect a period of rest has on a horse’s body. In all cases, a reduction in exercise level will result in a loss of muscle mass which can occur after even a few weeks of reduced activity.

The amount of muscle loss is often horse-dependent and will vary based on age, body condition before the rest period and what activity the horse has been undertaking during the rest period, such as field turnout or strict box rest.

Rebuilding the muscle relies on the correct exercise and conditioning programme combined with an appropriate diet.

Monitoring fitness

Many riders go by feel, knowledge and experience to monitor fitness levels. Heart-rate response to exercise is one of the primary measures used by veterinary surgeons, traditionally measured using an electrocardiogram (ECG). The recent increase in availability of equine heart-rate monitors has made this method widely accessible.

Generally, as a horse’s fitness level increases, the heart-rate response to the same level of exercise should decrease. An additional tool is the measurement of blood lactate level, which increases in response to strenuous exercise.

Basic training

Generally, in terms of basic training, a minimum of two weeks should be undertaken before the intensity level is stepped up. For example, two weeks of walking should be performed before introducing trot, with two weeks of trotting undertaken before introducing canter for two weeks.

The duration of exercise should also be monitored. In most cases, basic fitness work is done while out hacking and interspersed with light schooling work. After this initial six-week programme of basic fitness, more specific training can be gradually introduced, such as lateral work or jumping exercises.

How to prevent injuries

There are four basic principles. Firstly, at least 15 minutes of walking should be undertaken before starting any faster exercise. This time is crucial to allow the soft tissue structures time to warm up and reduce the likelihood of a strain injury. It is particularly important when having a lesson or schooling, as the temptation is to start trotting quite quickly. A short hack or putting the horse on the walker before the lesson will help to prevent soft tissue injuries.

A second consideration is how quickly the exercise level is increased each week. As a rule, the increase in exercise duration should not be by more than 10% each week. This will allow the muscles, tendons and ligaments to adapt to the training stimulus. An increase of about five minutes per day each week is generally sufficient. If a horse is pushed too hard too soon, then overload injuries can occur.

Thirdly, training the horse for the job it is asked to do is key. The gradual introduction of jumping exercises before going out to showjumping competitions will allow the horse’s body to adapt and prevent overload injuries.

The final consideration is rest and recovery days. Any human athlete will tell you that good recovery is an important part of training. Traditionally, horses are not given many rest days. However, studies have shown that the muscle recovery time and the replenishment of glycogen (energy) stores is actually twice as long in horses compared to humans. As such, it is really important to schedule some recovery time into your horse’s training plan. This can be in the form of a day off, or a lighter exercise load such as hacking or horse-walker exercise, and will allow the horse’s body to adapt to the training stimulus.

Specific training

When reintroducing more specific training, factoring in a warm-up and a cool-down period is key. Working the horse in a long and low outline is advised to warm up, stretch and loosen the horse, before trying more collected exercise.

The addition of breaks during the schooling session itself, where the horse is returned to a long and low outline for a few minutes, can be beneficial. Finally, an active recovery period at the end of the session is recommended.

A further consideration is the surface on which the horse is exercised. Where possible, quality surface with good footing (not too firm or too deep) is ideal for training and competition. A hard surface may predispose to bony injuries, whereas a soft surface may cause soft tissue injuries.

Complementary exercises

All horses can benefit from complementary athletic exercises to increase muscle strength and improve range of motion. Traditional exercises include hill training and raised pole exercises. The use of training aids such as the Equiband or Pessoa can help the horse to work through from behind and build up the topline. These training aids should be gradually introduced by an experienced user to allow the horse to adapt.

Recently, the use of water treadmills has gained in popularity. Preliminary research has shown an increase in the flexion (bending) of the legs during the swing (flight) phase of the stride and increased range of motion of the back during water treadmill exercise. However, further research is required.

Finally, horse “yoga” in the form of carrot stretching exercises on the ground has the effect of increasing the size and strength of the topline and epaxial muscles in the back, in particular the multifidus muscle.

Nutrition

Some types of horses, such as natives, may gain weight during a rest period while others, such as thoroughbreds, may lose it. For the majority of horses, a diet composed mainly of roughage (grass and hay or haylage) along with a feed balancer is appropriate for maintaining condition during a period of rest and light exercise.

When more intense exercise is re-introduced, the diet needs to be adjusted accordingly. In most cases this means the addition of concentrate feed. It is important that the feeding is in line with the exercise being undertaken and the body condition of the horse.

Speaking to your vet or consulting with a nutritionist can help you develop an individual feeding plan.

Take-home messages

• Ensure the horse does at least 15 minutes’ walking before increased speed to allow the soft tissues to warm up.
• Gradually increase exercise duration each week.
• Use complementary athletic exercises such as carrot stretches and raised poles to improve strength.
• Train the horse for the job it is asked to do.

Ref Horse & Hound; 12 November 2020

Knowing how to ride and lead a horse at the same time is an effective way to exercise two horses at once, provided they’re compatible.

“If they like each other, the job will be a lot easier,” says trainer Guy Robertson, who would ride and lead four when he worked in the worlds of polocrosse and polo.

“Ideally they’ll be paddock mates, or at least able to be tied up together without kicking out.

“You’ll need really good control over the horse you ride — you should be able to handle him with one hand on the reins. Make sure that the other horse leads well from the ground and is happy to be led from the right-hand side.”

Ride and lead: how to get started

Guy starts his by leading them “nose to tail” in a small circle, in each direction. “They tend to be a lot happier like this,” he says.

“The led horse gets used to following with no confrontation, and you can control his head more effectively.”

The led horse will then fall into one of three categories, according to professional polo player and trainer Chris Crawford.

“Hopefully, he’ll lead like a dream, with his head at your knee where it should be,” he says.

“If he pulls ahead and wants to be in front, using a bridle can be helpful.

“Thread a rope from the far-side bit ring through the one nearest to you for more control.

“The worst-case scenario is a horse that constantly drags behind and doesn’t want to be led,” Chris adds.

“A training halter can be useful here for some in-hand work from the ground.

“Ask him to move forwards with even tension on the headcollar, releasing the pressure immediately to reward him when he takes a step.”

Top tips for ride and lead

Chris recommends practising in an enclosed area before venturing out.

“If the led horse is older, with some life experience, he’ll probably be fine in a bridle,” he says.

“A younger horse might be better in a headcollar at first in case he panics at too much pressure on the bit.

“Hold the rope so that the end connected to the horse is laid over the front of your hand, between your index finger and thumb.

“Keep the led horse’s rope in one hand and the ridden horse’s reins in the other,” adds Chris.

“With practice, ride and lead can be a great form of exercise and is probably better for the horse than a horse-walker.”

Road safety

Extra care should be taken when riding and leading on the road. Always keep the led horse on your left, away from the traffic, and use a bridle for more control.

Wear hi-viz or reflective clothing and consider the size of the roads — some may not be wide enough for traffic to pass two horses safely.

You might also be interested in:

How to form a fitness plan for your horse

5 steps to bring your horse back in to work

If your horse is coming back to work after recovering from an injury, what is the best way to proceed?

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

As we are well into the summer season and enjoying typically British indecisive spells of warm sunshine and heavy downpours, horses may find their waistlines increasing as the grass continues to grow.

But for companion horses, who often are at grass 24/7 and may not be ridden, shifting the weight can be difficult.

A study found that horses that were exercised five times a week, with sessions made up of 15 minutes of trot and 5 minutes of brisk walking before and after, enjoyed a range of benefits including reduced laminitis risk — a particular concern for any overweight equines.

Here are six ideas to help exercise non-ridden horses who are healthy and sound enough to be exercised.

In-hand horse agility

Vanessa Bee, founder of horse agility and The International Horse Agility Club, explains why horse agility (pictured throughout) can be ideal for companion equines: “Horse agility is a discipline and internationally competitive sport in which horse and handler, both on foot, navigate a course of obstacles while focusing on clear communication and positive horsemanship.

“It is ideal for the companion or un-ridden horse, pony, donkey or mule because, not only does it keep the horse physically active, it encourages him to think. After a few training sessions the horse realises he is never pressured to just ‘do’ the obstacle but is allowed to be curious and explore it. In that way he not only keeps his body healthy, but also his mind.”

Find out more about horse agility and how to get started on the club’s website.

Lungeing

Lungeing can be used as part of a fit horse’s exercise regime, although it is recommended it is used in moderation as the constant circling will challenge the joints, tendons and muscles. When performed well, it can improve a horse’s suppleness and balance so will be beneficial for non-ridden horses too.

Short lungeing sessions comprising of walk and trot could be incorporated into the routine of a companion horse to help build their fitness and burn extra calories. But it should be introduced gradually and while keeping in mind that it is quite an intense work out.

Free schooling

If you have access to an arena, or even a fenced off area of the field (as long as your horse can resist the grass!) then free schooling can be a fun, simple way to help your horse exercise. In the enclosed area, use a lunge whip to encourage your horse to move on around the area, varying his paces as required.

You can even incorporate poles or small jumps if your horse is fit enough to add variety to free schooling sessions.

Using a track system for exercise in the field

Track systems are praised for increasing the amount horses move while turned out, as they are motivated to keep walking from their hay to their water source, and back again.

Although far from scientific, a waterproof GPS tracker plaited into my gelding’s mane revealed that he walked 7km a day when kept on a track — much further than he would when in a small paddock for restricted grazing.

A basic grass track system can be relatively easy to set-up with electric fencing around the perimeter of a paddock.

Long-reining hacks

Who says happy hacking is just for riders? Why not try long-reining your horse out on your favourite hacking routes?

It is important to practise long-reining at home in a safe, enclosed space before you head out into the open or onto the roads and make sure that both horse and handler is wearing hi-viz and up to date safety gear.

If long-reining is new to you or your horse, enlist the help of an instructor to show you the ropes. You’ll be out enjoying the countryside together in no time.

Ponying or ride and lead

This is another one best practised at home before venturing out — you don’t want to find yourself tanking up the lane with not one, but two ponies to pull up!

Ponying, also known as ride-and-lead, involves leading one horse off another while riding. It can suit owners with multiple horses, as two can be exercised at the same time. However, it’s important to ensure that the horses get along as they will be in close proximity to one another, and that you have adequate control of both horses.

Practise stopping, moving off, turning and negotiating obstacles you may find out hacking in the arena or field at home before you try heading further afield.

Safety first

Remember to take into account the health, soundness and fitness of any horse before exercising them, and seek advice from your vet and relevant professionals if needed. Even if you are working your horse from the ground, be sure to use up-to-date safety gear, including a helmet, and if you’re leaving the yard don’t forget the hi-viz!

You might also like:

Fancy trying your hand at horse agility? Here’s what you need to know first…

How to ride and lead horses together safely

How to lunge a horse – your essential guide

Riding from the ground: the benefits of long reining and how to do it

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Each equestrian sport can benefit from the specialist expertise of another. Catherine Austen investigates the advantages of interaction between eventing and racing

If you placed racing and eventing in a Venn diagram, there would be some obvious shared characteristics: adrenaline, physical risk, equine athleticism. But the sports, despite descending from a shared heritage, are often poles apart – and that distance is increasing. Sam Watson, the Irish international event rider and co-founder of data company EquiRatings, thinks they would both benefit from learning from the other.

He is in a position to judge; not only does his work with EquiRatings mean that he looks at equestrianism, in all its forms, in an analytical way, but he is also a big racing fan and has worked with horses – and riders – at some of the biggest yards in Ireland.

“Look at the improvement in performance in human athletics in the past few decades, and then at horse race times, which have stayed fairly static,” Sam says.

“Some people believe that racehorses have evolved as far as they can; I don’t think so. Human athletics has placed significant emphasis on strength and conditioning – racing hasn’t, really, and that’s where I think improvement in that sport could come from.”

Something racing does brilliantly, he says, is getting horses fit, maintaining that fitness and managing performance, using stress and rest – knowing when to push and when to back off – and eventing could learn a lot from the way trainers do that.

“But what equestrian sports do really well is making horses strong and symmetrical, which gives them straightness, which makes them powerful and effective. Every day I watch races in which horses are hanging in a finish; if they were straighter through their bodies, they wouldn’t do that. I don’t think a lot of racehorses are as strong and supple as they could be.”

The intrinsic difference is that eventers train their horses from the saddle, and trainers (usually) from the ground. They have many more horses in their charge, and employ staff to exercise and work them. No one is saying that staff within the racing industry can’t ride – many of them are outstanding horsemen – but the skills generally required are different to those developed by people who event.

From 2015 to 2017 Sam coached the multiple champion National Hunt trainer Willie Mullins’ staff in flatwork.

“I was terrified the first time I turned up at Closutton [Willie’s yard in Co Carlow],” remembers Sam. “It was Willie’s idea, spurred on by his wife Jackie, who used to be an event rider. There were 40 horses cantering round a big sand arena. I asked which of them were going to be doing flatwork. He said all of them! Imagine teaching 40 people on 40 horses. Your communication has to be very clear and direct.

“We did 45-minute sessions, and I needed to keep it simple and target what matters – symmetry. Most horses will lean out through one shoulder or another, which is what makes them stronger on one rein than the other. If you can train people to be aware of that, it’s a good start.”

He praises the quality of rider Willie employs, particularly those who ride his top horses.

“It’s very notable – they are skilled horsemen,” Sam says. “And to give Willie credit, he really champions them.”

Sam worked on the riders’ seats and balance, making sure they weren’t sitting as though they were in a chair and making the horse beneath them hollow.

“And they know how to keep a horse on the bridle and connected in canter, so it was about getting them to do it in walk and trot as well,” he adds.

Riding skills

Ben Pauling trains National Hunt horses in the Cotswolds and grew up doing Pony Club, eventing and hunting.

“I’m a stickler for making sure horses are ridden properly,” he says. “Every day, our horses go into the outdoor school and are walked and then trotted on either rein to check soundness and to see how they are moving. Some horses in racing aren’t the best movers – that’s much more important in eventing than it is in racing – but I want to see that they are moving as well as they can. Ours never slop along with their heads on the floor. The second a horse of ours isn’t moving well, we’d want to find out why.”

He emphasises the difference in the generally required riding skills, though.

“Judgement of pace and the ability to hold very strong horses are important in racing – a lot of people who work in eventing wouldn’t be able to do that – but my riders, good as they are, would struggle to keep a horse in what is considered a correct outline,” he says.

He did bring in eventer Charlotte Agnew a few years ago to work with his staff on flatwork.

“For some of the older staff, she may as well have been talking Japanese,” he admits. “They didn’t get it. Now we have younger people who want to improve – they are very able to ride, but aren’t educated in that manner.

“The racing schools do an amazing job to turn out good staff in nine weeks, but there isn’t time to teach them the horsemanship skills you learn from Pony Clubbing and hunting, riding from your leg to your hand.

“That’s down to us [as trainers], I suppose, but time is a major factor, and it’s probably a dream, not reality.”

He believes strongly in the benefits of flatwork, however, and he and jockey Nico de Boinville, considered an outstanding and educated horseman, do polework and gridwork with the horses every Monday morning.

“And I’ve been sending horses to [local eventers] Lucy Jackson and Laura Collett a lot this season to get them to use themselves better,” he says.

He gives the example of a horse called The Macon Lugnatic, who won his bumper at Newbury in January 2019.

“He schooled beautifully over hurdles at home, but in his first race over them in December he kept diving right and got very low at them. We got his back looked at, but it turned out to be a problem in his shoulder. Lucy did a huge amount of flatwork with him and got him supple and straight, and he has since won both of his races over hurdles very nicely,” says Ben.

“But you can’t ignore the fact that plenty of trainers do none of that, and their horses jump brilliantly and win a lot of races.”

Sam often has racehorses sent to him for schooling.

“Often I get a horse which has run and shown a lot of potential, but possibly didn’t see out its race for a physical reason,” he says. “And I’ve had some very nice unraced ones.”

He is discreet about names, but he has worked with some very famous horses.

“Of the top 10 equine athletes I have worked with, eight have been racehorses and two have been event horses,” he says. “Sizing John came to us, for example, the summer after his Cheltenham Gold Cup win for Jessie Harrington. A friend from the UK saw me riding him in the school and thought I had a new secret eventing weapon – he’s gorgeous, a beautiful mover and has a great attitude. He really wanted to please.”

The newer generation

What about the other side of the coin? “I do think a lot of eventers, particularly the newer generation, don’t work horses enough early enough in their careers,” Sam says. “I’m not saying we need to run our two-year-olds flat-out over a mile, but a lot of sport horses aren’t broken in until they are four. Yes, usually their bodies are pristine, but we also need them to be real athletes, and ‘stress’ shouldn’t be seen as a bad word.”

If people saw Sam’s three- and four-year-olds, he says they would probably think he was pre-training point-to-pointers, not starting event horses.

“I want them to go forwards,” he says. “Heart and lung and aerobic fitness is important at this time; strengthening comes later and keeps developing all the way through a horse’s life.”

Load needs to be considered when riding very young horses – after all, the people who break in Flat yearlings and who ride two-year-olds are very light – but he thinks that simple work at an early stage helps condition their bodies and lay the foundations for fitness.

It doesn’t even need a rider in the saddle.

Sam says: “Loose-jumping horses as three-year-olds can be great, but not necessarily the type you see at sales, where they make a high, big shape over a big oxer. I like little fences and bits of gradient, where they get their footwork and coordination sorted out – think of kids playing football – and it is good for their lungs to have a bit of a blow.

“Longevity in a horse’s career is a great part of eventing and I am not advocating that we ‘use’ our horses early so there is less in the tank later on, but by doing a little bit more, earlier, they will be sounder for longer and it will be easier to get them properly fit. Take Andrew Nicholson – a high proportion of his horses make it to five-star, and people need to look at why that is.

“You can do so much in eventing without having a horse that fit, and I think that’s the case for a lot of people who don’t do long-format three-day eventing. Be careful with that – don’t leave it too late to get a horse to have a proper blow and to extend his stride.”

Perhaps, in this time of a forced break from both very busy sports, a few participants may have the time – and the inclination – to study what the sports around them excel at and use those traits to their advantage.

Henrietta Knight’s view…

As a former top-level event rider and British eventing team selector, as well as a highly successful National Hunt trainer, Henrietta Knight is very well placed to compare eventing and racing.

She says: “I have always taught young racehorses to carry themselves properly and to go in a balanced way. Topline is very important; all the power comes from behind and they need muscle on either side of their spines.

“Trainer Aidan O’Brien does a tremendous amount of work in the early part of the year using bungees and running reins to make his [Flat] horses use themselves and develop topline.

“But there’s no point making it too complicated. If a horse is comfortable and going in a nice outline, you’re halfway there. Racehorses don’t need to be able to canter a 10m circle.

“So many event horses aren’t fit enough now, and I’ve seen some terrible riding and unfit riders. In both sports riders lack balance; in eventing they never ride without stirrups and rely on their hands, while in the racing world they perch on top and bump about.

“In terms of times of races not having improved, I think that is probably down to poorer, overraced surfaces on racecourses, but I think the standard of competition now is as high as it has ever been.”

Ref Horse & Hound; 28 May 2020

You may also be interested in…

The benefits of hillwork for horses: everything you need to know

The benefits of equine swimming *H&H Plus*

Our pool of knowledge about the benefits of equine swimming is deepening, discovers Andrea Oakes

The importance of rest days for horses *H&H VIP*

Recovery phases are essential for performance, allowing a horse’s mind and body to strengthen. Andrea Oakes reports

Therapy regimes: how do the pros keep their horses at the top of their game?

What therapy regimes do top riders follow in order to keep their horses in peak condition? Stephanie Bateman investigates...

How to maximise fitness and minimise lameness in your horse *H&H VIP*

Everyone has their tried and trusted ways of fittening horses, but how many of these methods stand up to scientific

Last weekend, my UK polocrosse team mates and I paid a flying, two-day visit to Zambia to play the number-two world-ranked team, as a warm up to the Adina Polocrosse World Cup, which is being held in Australia in a month’s time. Having only been able to play “arena” polocrosse during the winter, we were desperate to get some competitive chukkas on grass, but getting off the plane, straight onto an unknown horse, and lining up against world-class opposition was a bit of a shock to the system! We got sharper and more competitive over the three games, and were able to put some tactics and ideas to the test. The Zambians were fantastic hosts, and I definitely want to return for a more leisurely visit to this stunning country and take up the offer of a fishing trip on the Zambezi River.

The countdown to the Adina Polocrosse World Cup has now well and truly started, and these matches have got me really excited for the event, where we play current World Champions South Africa, New Zealand and Ireland, in the group stages. In 2015, I acted as player-coach and we finished a highly creditable fourth, so it would be fantastic to finish in the top three in the twilight of my international playing career.

These last preparations are all coming at a time when we are most busy on the yard with call-outs, as spring brings riders out of the woodwork and can also ignite a personality transplant to some horses!

My March webinar for Your Horsemanship members, was based on how to get your horse back “up and running” after the winter, particularly when taking them to their first event for the year.

I always recommend that when you’re bringing your horse in to work, it should be progressive; start with what they are comfortable at, before moving on. For example, two of my horses are more trustworthy, and less likely to have a little “explosion”, if they are taken straight out hacking round the roads after a break. But for many riders, they would feel more safe if they had the first few rides in a fenced arena. Horses love routine, so repeating exercises in the arena, or a certain hacking circuit, for the first few rides can work wonders for settling them down.

As for taking them out for their first outing of the year, the easiest bit of advice I can give is “LEAVE MORE TIME THAN YOU THINK YOU NEED!” Taking time pressures away gives you one less thing to get stressed about, and it is something you can control. If your horse does come off the box excited and on his toes, then you have time to diffuse the situation and get him in a better frame of mind before you compete.

Following on from the same theme, we have just finished our first hacking camp of the year, where 10 participants worked through issues with their horses’ behaviour, and their own confidence when out hacking. The preparation work led to a hack down the local lanes to have a picnic lunch at a neighbouring farm. Although some approached the outing with trepidation, the sun on our backs, the beautiful countryside and the spring lambs gambolling in the fields couldn’t fail to relax the riders and they all returned with a real sense of achievement. Practice makes perfect, so hopefully, this is the start of these riders being able to enjoy exploring their local environments on horseback.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

7 things you’ll know if juggle work with horses

Until that Lottery dream comes true, chances are you’re financing your horse habit with a job. In which case, some

I mentioned in my last blog that I was starting three home-breds from the Bechtolsheimer’s breeding programme (pictured with all three of them, top). I delivered them home last week and I can’t wait to seeing how they progress. When I dropped them off, we went for a hack round the farm to get them used to their new riders and environment. The “handover” is a crucial part of the training process, as the horse gets used to the feel of their new rider, and I give the rider the tools to cope with any hiccups along the way. My dad always used to say that a horse isn’t truly broken in until they’ve done a year’s worth of mustering cattle round the steep hills of ‘Silver Hills’, the 4,000 acre property I grew up on. I’m not sure how many rides that would equate to for most riders in the UK, but you get the idea! So, with that in mind, I’m off to go for long hack with my family on a new youngster that I have high hopes for.

Jason

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The idea that a horse can become fitter as he rests seems something of a paradox. Yet time off from the training schedule is vital to produce a happy, healthy athlete who enjoys his work.

Andy Bathe MRCVS, of Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons, explains that physical fitness is gained through incremental increases in training followed by periods of repair and recovery — a process known as adaptation.

“Adaptation to exercise occurs while the horse rests,” he says. “Fitness develops as the body responds to exercise, rather than during the exercise itself.”

These rest periods are where the real effects of training occur.

“The principle behind building fitness is progressive loading,” Andy explains. “The body reaches a plateau if the type and level of training stay the same, so the aim is to gradually step up the intensity, frequency and duration of exercise to challenge and develop different systems.

“Each increase in workload causes microscopic breakdown of bone and soft tissues — the muscles, ligaments and tendons,” Andy continues. “These adapt through repeated cycles of damage and repair, to produce stronger tissue. Muscles respond to the stress of exercise in various ways: fibres and enzymes undergo modification, capillaries multiply and aerobic and glycogen storage capacity increases. But this only happens if the body is given time to rest.”

Overtraining can even weaken a strong athlete.

“Too much training can be detrimental,” says Andy, explaining that the body cannot repair itself properly if recovery time is inadequate. “The horse’s fitness levels will not progress at the rate you would expect, and injury is more likely in an over-stressed system.”

Variety is key

So where’s the balance? How much rest is recommended during a sport horse’s working week?

“A human triathlete will work to a nicely planned schedule with structured rest periods,” says Andy.

“While scientific study and modern methods have been applied to equine fitness, we tend to return to the old ways that have proved most successful.

“The art of training is to get the horse as fit as possible with as little work as possible,” he adds, pointing out the risk of repetitive strain injury. “There are only so many ‘cycles’ of damage and repair in a bone or tendon. Progression should be gradual and varied. Intersperse hard exercise with lower intensity work, allowing sufficient time off throughout the week, season and year to recover.”

Incorporating recovery time into your horse’s schedule calls for a common-sense approach. A typical work-rest pattern may involve giving him a day off once a week or after a harder training cycle or session, or two to three days’ rest after a tough competition. However, horses vary in their attitude and response to training depending on type and temperament, so good management means judging how an individual is coping.

“There is generally a better response if the horse has at least one day to recover between high-intensity sessions, although this does not need to be complete rest,” says Andy. “Horses don’t seem to suffer from delayed-onset muscle soreness, which tends to peak in humans between two and four days after intense or novel exercise.

“We know from human sport that athletes should exercise hard or exercise light, with rest periods. The danger, or grey zone, is where an individual is working at a moderate intensity all the time. We appreciate that exercising a horse harder for short periods can have major benefits — this type of interval training allows you to decrease the overall quantity of work but not the quality.

“A horse can become stale or flat if recovery sessions are too short,” adds Andy, highlighting lack of energy and an unwillingness to work as classic signs of over-training. “He is more likely to sustain an injury if his leg structures are overloaded, or develop a cough if his immune system is depressed.”

According to Andy, horses recover from exercise more slowly than humans do.

“It takes longer for a horse to replenish his glycogen stores after a workout,” he explains. “A cyclist can take energy drinks after a ride, for example, or load up with carb-rich pasta that evening, but it’s harder to manipulate a horse’s recovery with diet. You can’t force him to re-energise more quickly without risking colic or laminitis.

“Horses are natural athletes, but they evolved to cover longer distances more slowly,” he adds. “It’s easy to over-ride a horse, perhaps at a championship where he may be working hard over consecutive days. He needs a chance to recover afterwards.”

Easy does it

A rest day should involve some kind of movement, to maintain a horse’s suppleness and reduce the risk of him “tying up” — where time off without a corresponding reduction in hard feed can trigger a condition called exertional rhabdomyolysis (also known as azoturia).

“Turnout is good, both physically and psychologically, so allow a horse as much time out in the field as possible,” says Andy. “Plan easy days alongside total rest — light hacking or walking in-hand. This is particularly beneficial if the horse is older or has orthopaedic niggles.”

The “active recovery period”, in which muscles respond to exercise stimulus, begins immediately after a workout. Does travelling back from a show count as rest?

“This area is not well studied,” Andy responds. “We normally consider flying to be less tiring than travelling in a lorry, although factors such as long loading and unloading periods and transfers in very hot environments can be stressful. Top sport horses are well acclimatised to their lifestyle, however, and can probably switch off more easily while on the move or in the unfamiliar environment of a busy showground.

“Again, it comes down to knowing an individual horse and judging whether he is receiving sufficient time to relax and recover,” he adds. “There may not be a one-size-fits-all formula, but getting the balance right will maximise performance, minimise injury risk and could well prolong a horse’s athletic career.”

The benefits of rest days

“Rest days are vital,” says showjumper William Whitaker. “Each of our horses has a tailor-made plan, taking into account factors such as his temperament, previous injuries, shows done that season and upcoming competitions.

“Take a horse who has jumped a grand prix on the Sunday and has no competition the week after — I would ride him lightly on the Monday, to check that he is looking and feeling himself, and do the same on the Tuesday before giving him a full day off in the field on the Wednesday,” adds William. “We try to give the horses as much time as possible out in the field or grazing in-hand.”

Eventer Harry Meade says: “I take the approach that as the intensity of a horse’s work goes up, the frequency goes down. A horse coming back into training after time off is better in continuous, low intensity work and does not benefit from rest days. Once he is fit and working hard, however, he needs that recovery time.

“I structure the week of an older competition horse around fast work, putting in days for flatwork or jumping and an easier day every fourth or fifth day,” Harry explains.

“An easy day might consist of a hack or a short lunge, rather than complete rest, depending on his needs. After a run, the horse has a day off in the field and will hack out the following day, returning to work on the third day.”

Ref Horse & Hound; 21 March 2019

What therapy regimes do top riders follow in order to keep their horses in peak condition? Stephanie Bateman investigates…

With a multitude of therapy equipment available on the market today, all promising to deliver effective therapeutic treatments to our horses, what do the top riders use on a daily and post-competition basis?

International event rider Alex Bragg finds electro magnetic pulse rugs really beneficial and all his horses see a physiotherapist regularly.

“It’s all to do with symmetry and ensuring the horses are fit and well in their bodies so that they can perform in a balanced and symmetrical way,” he says. “If you want them to do everything symmetrically, you need to make sure that their bodies feel good. They need to be comfortable so that they will work hard on both sides of their body and not avoid using themselves because it’s sore. That’s when you end up with compensation and crooked horses.”

Alex also advocates hill work and swimming.

“We do a lot of hill work and have access to a swimming lane where we swim a few horses,” he adds. “Polework is also really important for strengthening work and we sometimes use magnetic wraps on their legs which are good if you have a horse with a known leg injury or a leg that swells or is sore in the joints.”

Carl Hester’s groom Alan Davies follows a comprehensive therapy regime with the horses.

“We take the grand prix horses to the water treadmill at Hartpury once or twice a week throughout the year because it’s a great way of getting them fit without placing undue stress on their lower joints,” says Alan. “They go on it for 20 minutes at a time with the water at knee and hock height, and it’s a great anaerobic workout.”

Alan also stands the horses under the solarium while tacking up and un-tacking to keep their muscles warm, and they will also wear an FMBS Activo-Med Combi Pro rug to help with relaxation and blood flow before and after exercise.

“Every week our physio comes to treat the horses and she will often use a TENS machine or ultrasound if the horses need a specific muscle working on,” adds Alan. “We also use Finn-Tack ice boots on the horses after a strenuous workout to ensure the tendons don’t get too hot.”

Event rider Laura Collett is also a firm believer in magnetic rugs.

“My top horses have the FMBS Activo-Med Rug on at home for 40 minutes every day and at competitions before dressage,” she says. “At a three-day event they also have it on after cross-country and before the trot-up to help with keeping them soft and supple.

“Ours also see a physio once a month to ensure they are comfortable and there are no problems that need addressing.”

Dressage rider Michael Eilberg’s horses also see a physio and chiropractor monthly.

“I also use the Back On Track products on a daily basis, and for horses that are especially sensitive or weak, I also use an Equissage Pulse pad.”

Yorkshire-based point-to-point trainer Jacqueline Coward uses a different type of therapy on her horses.

“I like acupuncture and use that pre- and post-racing on some of our horses,” she says. “It really helps them to recover and be in good shape for the next race.”

Dressage trainer and rider Gareth Hughes uses electro-magnetic therapy units on his horses, especially on old leg injuries.

“We also use Cyclo-Ssage units on the horses before they are ridden every day to help them warm up and be supple.”

Paralympic dressage rider Sophie Wells finds using the FMBS Activo-med pulse magnetic rug before her horses work and compete very effective.

“I also use ice boots after they have worked hard to bring the temperature of the tendons back down to a safe temperature and help prevent injury.”

Laura Tomlinson’s dressage horses also wear a FMBS Activo-Med magnetic rug most days and always at a show.

“They also have weekly massage/physio treatments and they have pre-/post-work exercises that the grooms do with them from core activation to stability and simple stretches,” she says. “We use the magentic rug as either a warm up programme or regeneration programme after work for around 20 minutes.”

Showjumper William Whitaker is another advocate of ice boots which he uses daily after flatwork and jumping alongside a magnetic rug before and after jumping.

“We have a very good equine physio that sees the horses at least every three weeks,” adds William. “We also do carrot stretches with the horses that need it. We try to keep the therapy-related treatments simple but effective which I think is better for the horses.”

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

9 ice boot options to cool horse’s legs effectively

14 ways to keep your horse’s legs healthy

Follow our handy check list to keep all four limbs healthy

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Event rider Ben Way uses massage pads pre-competition, alongside ensuring his horses have regular phsyio treatments to keep his horses comfortable and minimise muscle tightness.

“We try to turnout as much as possible which is great physically and mentally, and all our horses are tacked up under our Drimee infrared solariums (especially on cold days) to ensure that their top line is warm a relaxed before they start work,” says Ben. “After work we wash the horses off using our Kylix hot water system before again drying them off under the solariums.”

At a competition, Ben uses a lot of cold boots which sit in iced water before being applied after the cross-country.

“We are lucky enough to have the River Leam running through our farm and the horses love being taken down to stand in the cold running water which is great for their legs.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday. Plus in the latest issue, out today (31 January 2019), don’t miss our kit special which includes information on therapy rugs and some great therapy products to help keep horses happy.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

With the new eventing season approaching, fitness programmes are in full swing. But are you preparing your horse in the best possible way? Eventer Nicola Wilson shares her top winter training tips

1. Don’t rush building your horse’s fitness. If you haven’t got the core fitness — such as walking and roadwork — and strength in place, you can’t add any more fitness to it. The foundations need to be strong first.

2. None of Nicola’s young horses visit the gallops, instead all of their fitness work is done at home, on her parents’ farm in Yorkshire. The ground is flat, but she makes the most of hacking, fields and walking up and down riverbanks (pictured below) to build fitness.

“The horses who are being aimed at a three-day do go to the gallops, but not often,” says Nicola.

3. Every time you get on a horse, have a plan in your head of what you are going to do, so that you always manage to achieve something.

“Whenever I get on, I know what I want to work on and get out of the session. It keeps me focused, plus I don’t waste time and I don’t overdo it,” says Nicola.

4. If you ride more than one horse, remember to treat them as individuals. What works for one in terms of fitness work, management or daily routine may need to be adjusted slightly to keep another horse happy.

5. Be clear when your horse has done something well. When she is in the saddle, Nicola talks to the horse a lot, praising them by saying “good boy/girl”. She is also a fan of patting.

“My horses are special to me and when they try hard it’s nice to reward them,” explains Nicola.

6. Don’t become so bogged down with a fitness plan that you stop having fun. Keep the workload varied, so that both you and your horse are happy.

7. All of Nicola’s horses are given hard feed and adlib haylage on the floor. She says this is personal preference, as she likes every horse to have its neck and head down while eating.

“Feeding like this is natural, plus they are stretching their necks and topline, which is important if they’ve been working their muscles hard. Also, the horses are relaxed and chewing properly, and it helps any mucus to drain.”

Continued below…

Are you ready to go eventing? A helpful fitness plan for a grassroots eventer

Gemma Tattersall’s training and fitness tips: ‘I try to do the plank every day’

The British team event rider explains her training and fitness tips — from jumping skinnies in the school to the

8. Each horse spends one hour on the walker in the morning, doing 30mins in both directions.

“It’s a great pre-warm-up but they need to strengthen evenly on both reins,” says Nicola. “The walker is a valuable bit of extra work.”

9. Your horse can’t be at peak fitness all year round, so decide where you want to aim for — perhaps it is a three-day event or your first attempt at a new level — and use earlier runs to build your horse’s fitness.

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A horse fitness tracker that can also be used to detect problems with gait has been launched in the UK, receiving a highly commended award at the BETA International trade fair.

The Estride can be used with one, two or four nodes that are fitted to boots on the horse’s legs and collect data on training time, stride count, gait pattern, session regularity, horse stability and calorie burn for both horse and rider.

Utilising machine learning algorithms, the equipment is able to “learn” from the horse’s stride patterns to build up a pattern of consistency. When used with all four nodes, the tracker will flag early indications of changes to the stride, making it a useful tool for rehabilitation.

The device has been invented by Chichester-based leisure rider and analytics specialist Arpan Bhatia, who has also created a pressure sensing mat — the Estride harmony — to feed back data on saddle fit.

The two devices can be used together to show the impact of saddle and rider on the horse’s way of going.

The harmony device is the first time a pressure sensor has been available at a price point aimed at home users, and employs 920 sensors to capture data as fast as every 200miliseconds while a horse is being worked.

“There are similar devices out there but they are not quite the same — at this point no one else is really using stride-related algorithms. The other mats that are available are 10 times more expensive and haven’t evolved over the past 10 years, even though the technology has moved on,” said Arpan, who been working on the products for the past year-and-a-half, along with a team of 15 others.

“I made it because I bought a new horse and the saddle it came with wasn’t right. A saddler came in and helped me, but couldn’t give me evidence of why the existing saddle was a problem and I needed to spend £2,000 on another one.

“Using the mat and tracker together, you can check the stride patterns between two different saddles and have biomechanical evidence of a problem. If the horse is skipping or missing a beat, and the saddle is OK, then you might have an inherent problem with the horse,” he explained.

Both devices sync data to a cloud via an app, with the information accessible from anywhere in the world. Users can also input data on the types of surfaces they are riding on to build an accurate picture.

“Everyone likes to use a smart watch fitness tracker and horses are as expensive and important as anything else,” said Arpan, who describes himself as “a lover of data”, with a background working in analytics for media, government and military.

“Even if you just use the tracker for hacking every day, it can record useful information on stride and calorie burn — I have a mare who is a bit fat at the moment and I know what I need to do to control her diet. I’ve use data from various research papers based on breed, age, sex and weight to assess calorie burn and we might also create a calorie consumption model going forwards,” he added.

Continued below…

Top vet identifies ‘naughty’ behaviours that might show your horse is lame

The latest research by Dr Sue Dyson to identify lameness through a horse’s behaviour and facial expressions has successfully completed

Breakthrough in equine locomotion analysis

Investigation into the movement of competition horses may be able to help extend the working lives of all horses in

Ask H&H: gait screening and soundness

Horse & Hound explains how gait screening assesses and maintains a horse's soundness

As well as horse owners, Arpan sees the products as being a potentially a useful tool for saddlers and vets.

“We had good feedback at BETA and the Society of Master Saddlers were interested. We also have a couple of vets trialling it at the moment,” he said. “I could see the mat being used by individual yard owners with one mat for every yard — every season horses change shape and it would be useful to check saddle fit.”

The tracker comes with an option on the number of nodes and costs between £299 (with one node) and £599 (with four nodes), while the harmony pressure mat has an introductory price of £349. Both devices are available on pre-order, with a six to eight week wait on the tracker and a 12 week wait on the mat.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

You know the feeling; your horse starts to drop behind your leg, he is not quite giving his fences enough clearance and his breathing rate increases. The chances are he is fatigued. His ability to continue performing is compromised because a protective mechanism has kicked in to prevent him exercising to a point where he may cause himself actual damage.

As a fight or flight animal, the horse may be willing to go further than a human athlete in terms of combating fatigue. This is because during hard exercise a horse’s adrenalin level is around 10 times higher than our own. Adrenaline can help mask pain and allow a horse to push itself harder than may be beneficial to its welfare. For this reason, it is important that we recognise the signs of fatigue and know how to delay its onset through appropriate riding.

As Paul Farrington, a vet for the FEI (horsesport’s international governing body) says: “Riders must take the lead in recognising the signs of over-fatigue and stop to save their horse from potentially serious injury before it occurs.”

What is fatigue?

Fatigue may manifest itself in different ways depending on what it is we are asking of the horse (see panel, far right). It is different from exhaustion, which can result in an inability for a horse even to take another step.

In general terms, the harder a horse works, the earlier it will fatigue: horses at the end of a five-furlong Flat race that lasts less than a minute will be fatiguing, as will endurance horses at the end of a 160km race lasting 10 hours. But the underlying causes will be very different.

Damage limitation

If a horse is struggling to maintain the level of intensity of exercise a rider is asking, a warning mechanism will be triggered and the horse will start to tire.

Fatigue is not an all or nothing event — it tends to creep up. It is important that the rider takes the pressure off at this point because continuing to press a tired horse will increase the risk of injury.

A fatigued horse is more likely to stumble and suffer tendon damage, while a horse that has been pushed beyond the point of fatigue in training or competition runs the risk of developing other conditions after exercise, such as colic, tying-up, laminitis or heat exhaustion.

What causes fatigue?

Fatigue can occur either in the brain, the peripheral nervous system, or more commonly in the muscles themselves. In the latter case, the brain sends the correct signals for what it wants to happen, but the muscles cannot deliver.

It is important to remember that as well as locomotion — running and jumping — muscles, other muscles are also important for exercise. Fatigue of muscles in the upper airway, for example, may also result in reduced capacity for exercise.

Precisely what causes muscle fatigue is still not fully understood, but it can involve the depletion of energy stores, the accumulation of metabolic end-products such as lactic acid and the failure of contractile machinery, which may be the result of calcium imbalance. Electrolyte loss through disturbances to the internal environment of the muscle cells is also thought to be a contributing factor.

When the brain takes over

Central fatigue is different. This refers to processes in the brain where the muscles may have the capacity to exercise, but the brain overrides this and makes the horse slow down.

Central fatigue can be due to a variety of factors, such as low blood-sugar levels, hormones in the blood and pain. Sensations of breathlessness can also trigger central fatigue; horses with an upper airway obstruction such as roaring or a lower airway problem such as recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), may also be more susceptible.

Think fitness

Many different factors influence how quickly a horse fatigues. These include: speed, duration of exercise, the going, terrain, athletic ability, age, fitness and overall health, plus environmental conditions such as heat and humidity.

Of these factors, the one we can most heavily influence is fitness. As we train our horses and make them fitter, they become less prone to tiredness. It will still occur, but the horse will be able to exercise for longer without tiring.

So how can we reduce the chances of early fatigue?

Aside from training and fitness work, appropriate warm-up is also important. This should involve a period of exercise incorporating similar movements at a similar intensity to those that will be performed in competition. For example, a showjumper’s warm-up should include some work over small fences as well as the size of those to be jumped in the ring, while an event horse needs both faster canter work and jumping included in his prep.

Too little, or too much, warm-up could compromise your horse’s health — and your chances of success. Aim to finish warming-up five to 10 minutes before you compete.

Continued below…

7 jumping questions you thought were too obvious to ask

There are some jumping questions that seem too

5 clipping challenges you need to prepare yourself for…

The signs to look out for

Fatigue can manifest itself in a variety of ways according to discipline, but signs to watch out for are:

➤ A slowing of pace

➤ Decreased responsiveness to the aids

➤ An unwillingness or inability to increase speed or change gait

➤ Loss of motivation

➤ Reduced coordination (for example, stumbling/losing balance/wandering)

➤ Increased frequency of brushing or overreaching

➤ Increased frequency of changes in lead in canter and gallop

➤ Increased head and neck movement

➤ Increased breathing effort

➤ Hitting obstacles

This article was first published in Horse & Hound Ask The Vet (Spring 2012)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

With less than two weeks before cross-country day at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, you have to be fairly certain your horse has done enough work by now to be ready for the event. It is totally unadvisable to try and cram any extra fitness, jumping or schooling in the last days before you leave. Ideally you want your horse to be fresh-minded with no aching muscles to be tackling a course like Burghley (although this could ring true for any event).

We don’t see professional athletes over-training in the lead up to a big competition — they have done all the work required in the appropriate timescale. I feel our horses deserve to adhere to the same rules. There is something to be said for us riders to feel slightly underprepared but the horses must be raring to go. If we riders work on everything 110% in the final days, there is a risk the horses turn up over-done with a lack of enthusiasm. That absolutely doesn’t mean I won’t be cantering, schooling or jumping — I do all the above but not to excess.

My Burghley mount, Ali (Malin Head Clover), is a remarkable little horse who keeps his fitness extraordinarily well. He has been slowly working through a gallop scheme since mid-June and this happens strictly every four days (which is the optimum time frame between gallops to increase fitness).

We do interval training on hilly, grass parkland that has perfect going both in winter and summer (hugely spoiling!). For me, galloping on grass and replicating a cross-country course is extremely important. Grass not only allows the natural slip of the hoof (therefore not jarring the joints) but it also means I can work both up and down hill, replicating the terrain we have to deal with when competing.

Before we start galloping, the horses will do a minimum of a 10 minute walk followed by two five minute trots, with a two minute breather gap. They are then limbered up enough to start canter work. The first of the three canters is always slowest and is at showjumping canter speed, then the final two switch been fast work and slower work, exactly the pace changing you will need to use when going cross-country.

Ali is now on three lots of seven minutes. Our fast spurts are a lot faster than they were 10 weeks ago and we are using more hill. As a rule, we only do road work the day after galloping to give the legs a chance to re-harden up as well as having to still use themselves up hills, which continues to add to their fitness. From time to time, after an hour’s road work, I do have a little jump so they are used to using their jumping muscles after a big day prior.

Another huge asset to my fitness regime is Jamie Magee’s water treadmill. This has been a complete game changer for Ali — I have never known him so strong through his body since using this machine. It maximises strength and conditions the muscles while minimising pressure on the legs and he LOVES it — winning! (Although him being stronger may cause more trouble for me stopping when out on course…!).

We haven’t competed Ali since Badminton, but what I have done is run round a flagged intermediate track once the competition was over. We did this fairly fast to practice using all paces while running and jumping for six minutes. For me it wasn’t an option to run round a track while in competition. Ali finds intermediate far too small and in a competition environment doesn’t respect the smaller fences, so the whole experience becomes a battle. With everyone gone home, Ali was alert and using his brain beautifully round the whole cross-country track. Dare I say it, he feels better than ever.

Next week we will be running through his four-star dressage test at West Wilts; a great competition where they do a pick your own test and still be in a show atmosphere.

Showjumping is something he has never found too easy since we’ve had him, with Richard Waygood’s advice I only ever jump a couple of fences in a row and then stop. We leave doing a whole course for when we have to — in the ring itself. He is such a wonderfully forward-thinking horse that if he is allowed to do too many, he becomes quicker not just between the fences, but also in the air. We want him to use his body as effectively as possible and that happens when he always thinks he is going to be pulled up.

Continued below…

*NEW* Lissa Green’s Burghley blog: my little Trojan horse with the biggest heart and a choppy Irish trot

Lissa Green, who will be tackling her first

To make sure he is in peak physical condition Ali has his chiropractor Winston Williams and physio Hannah Complin treating him regularly. We also scanned his legs to be on the safe side and finally have taken some bloods to make sure all are within normal range. With positive results from every corner of his health team we are literally just counting down the hours for when we get to load this incredible creature on to the lorry in pursuit of our second four-star dream.

Lissa

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Everyone has their tried and trusted ways of fittening horses, but how many of these methods stand up to scientific scrutiny? In preparation for the spring season, Dr David Marlin reveals the latest thinking in conditioning horses for competition

Many riders will by now have started their horses’ fitness training.

Fitness work lays important foundations for moving on to longer and faster training sessions, especially for horses that have had a lengthy break over winter. While different riders have personal preferences, some simple rules will maximise your horse’s fitness and minimise the risk of lameness.

Making sure that your horse’s tack fits him is a sensible first step, along with ensuring that his feet are in a suitable condition — whether shod or barefoot.

When you begin ridden exercise it is important not to rush. The ideal start is a minimum of three to four evenly spaced walking sessions per week, each of up to an hour, for two weeks. Then move on to an hour of walk and some short periods (five to 10 minutes) of trot for three to four sessions per week, for a further week or two.

Remember that it is not just the horse’s legs and the other major locomotory muscles that will be unaccustomed to exercise. His back muscles, in particular where the saddle sits, will be unused to being loaded.

Being ridden every day may not suit all horses. Several weeks of lungeing on large circles can be beneficial to those with a history of back problems, to build some baseline fitness and suppleness before starting ridden work.

Choosing the right surface

There is a widespread belief that roadwork hardens or strengthens tendons.

Tendon is primarily a non-living tissue — in effect, it is a large elastic band with a small number of living cells and a poor blood supply. As such it has limited capacity to adapt to training. Most tendon development takes place in the first few years of a horse’s life when he is not yet being ridden.

Roadwork has little, if any, benefit for tendons. Working on a hard surface will create some increase in bone strength, but this requires just a few minutes of exercise per day. Too much can lead to concussive damage to the joints and deterioration of cartilage.

My preference is to restrict roadwork to walking and perhaps five minutes of trotting.

The alternative may be soft ground. Here, concussive damage is likely to be considerably less, but the risk of soft tissue (tendon, ligament and muscle) injury will be greater.

One of the main problems with surfaces, as identified by Rachel Murray and her team at the Animal Health Trust, is unevenness. Choosing a consistent surface is crucial, which is one advantage of roads.

Some riders will have access to all-weather gallops, which, if constructed and maintained correctly, present a lower injury risk. If roads or very soft fields are your only options, using a combination of both is likely to be better than using one exclusively.

Schooling in an arena will help develop fitness, certainly in the early stages of bringing a horse back into work.

Take your horse’s history of injury into account when deciding where and how to exercise, using different surfaces to help spread the load between bone and joints, and tendons, ligaments and muscle.

Stepping it up

Fitness follows the law of diminishing returns, meaning that your horse’s fitness increases fastest when you start training and slows down further into the programme. After around two weeks of working at the same level, his fitness will begin to plateau. This is the time to move up to a higher workload.

Aim to increase distance or speed, but try to avoid changing both at the same time. Large workload increases are a risk for injury.

The main factors that determine levels of exertion are:

• speed

• going

• weight carried

• environmental temperature

• exercise pattern

• terrain.

Put simply, cantering uphill on a soft surface would usually be considered hard work — whereas walking or trotting downhill on a firm surface would be easier. Changing pace and direction, by making lots of turns, also increases workload.

The only accurate way to know how hard your horse is working is to use a heart rate monitor. It may then be apparent that trotting uphill on a soft surface may be harder work (producing a higher heart rate) than cantering on the flat on a firmer surface.

Rest and recovery

An alternative to simply increasing the workload every fortnight is to reduce training intensity for a week. These recovery weeks can be introduced after the first two to three weeks of resuming fitness work after a winter break, or at any stage in training. In such a week, ride for fewer days, and keep the workload between 50% and 75% of that of the previous week.

Most injuries are not the result of one-off freak accidents, but are caused through overuse — an accumulation of low-grade, long-term damage until the horse becomes lame. A recovery week not only allows this minor damage to repair itself, but can be mentally beneficial for some horses.

I would use a recovery week every two to three weeks, depending on the horse. Cut back any hard feed when work is reduced and begin with a few lighter days when you resume his exercise. Repeat a few days at the previous intensity before moving up to the next level.

If you can only ride at weekends, asking someone to lunge your horse several times during the week will be beneficial. Try not to fit too much into the weekend sessions as this will increase the risk of injury.

Weather warnings

Frost calls for extra caution. The risk of slipping is increased, so choose carefully where to ride. A horse will need longer to warm up physically on a cold day, so spend more time at walk and trot before introducing more intense exercise. Plus, frozen fields, verges and even all-weather surfaces can be almost as hard as roads.

Very cold weather also carries an increased risk of damage to the lungs. Exercise at canter and gallop when the air temperature is close to 0°C causes airway inflammation. It has also been shown to increase the severity of exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH, or bleeding in the lungs).

If the weather does turn bad, don’t panic and imagine you are back to day one. A week of missed training has a measurable negative effect on human fitness, whereas it would take around four weeks to see a difference in a horse.

The majority of horses can be brought to competition fitness in 10-12 weeks, although this can be reduced after only a short break. The key is to ensure that your horse peaks at the right time and to work him as hard in training as you will in competition. If you only train in slow canter at home, your horse will not be ready to undertake a fast canter cross-country.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 28 January 2016

Whether you’re gearing up for the start of the eventing season, looking forward to the summer showing circuit or intending to do some dressage and showjumping once the evenings are lighter, your horse’s fitness is likely to be at the forefront of your mind.

But if your horse is a little bit older, coming back to work after some time off or recovering from an injury, what is the best way to proceed? The following five-step fitness plan is a good place to start.

1. Walking in-hand

You can often begin walking the horse in-hand while the injury is still healing. If in any doubt, ask your vet first. Start with five minutes twice per day and walk in straight lines rather than using a horse walker. Mild sedation may be required if the horse has been on box rest for a long period — talk to your vet – or you many find a calming supplement useful.

2. Introduce ridden work at a walk

You should wait until the injury has fully healed to get on board and try to plan in 45min sessions at least four times a week. Any less than this and you won’t see an increase in your horse’s fitness.

3. Progress to trot

A vet should check the injury again before you introduce trot work. Begin with quick bursts — a good rule of thumb is 30sec trotting for every 5mins of walking. The horse should be trotting for at least a month, and ideally eight weeks, before attempting canter.

4. Consider lungeing or long reining

It is advisable to avoid lungeing early in the rehabilitation process, but later on it may be useful. Long reining can be a useful alternative as it allows the horse to go in straight lines instead of being constantly on a circle – and it can help build the handler’s fitness too!

5. Introduce canter work

Cantering should be started slowly and built up gradually. Use boots to protect the horse’s legs when progressing to faster work, and try to stick to straight lines wherever possible. You should also avoid cantering on hard ground or uneven surfaces. Your horse should be cantering comfortably for at least four weeks before you consider jumping.

Remember, every injury is different and a tailored exercise plan should be discussed with your vet.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Expert advice from top riders and trainers about how to get the most out of a session on the gallops

In terms of fitness, many eventers agree that a reasonably “blood” horse in regular work shouldn’t require a dedicated programme of gallop work to be prepared to compete at novice level or below.

Regular gallop work becomes more crucial for three day, long-format or eventing at intermediate level and above, but that doesn’t mean that fast work shouldn’t form an essential part of competition preparation.

Building up to an event

“The majority of our clients are professional eventers, and they’ll come once every four or five days in the build up to a big event,” says Angela Siddorn, who runs the eight-furlong Broxton Hall gallop in Cheshire. “But we also have dressage, endurance riders and showjumpers, plus people who just want a canter and a change of scenery.”

If improving your horse’s fitness is the main goal, eventer and British Eventing coach Nick Gauntlett suggests introducing interval training sessions.

“It depends very much on the horse, but if you were looking to add a bit more fitness, then you might want to introduce some fast work up a hill as that improves stamina,” he says. “I might do 4min at three-quarter pace, give them a break and let the heart rate come down, then do that twice more.

“If they were competing at a higher level or being prepared for a three-day, then I’d gallop every fourth day. I’d start on 4min and then increase it. I might go up to three lots of 6min at ¾ pace and give them a sprint every now and then.”

British junior and under-18 event team coach Caroline Moore says that while the level of fitness required to compete at novice may not compare to that of a four-star, it still needs to be respected.

“The horse has to be ready for the job,” advises Caroline. “They have to gallop at 520mpm for five minutes plus and they need to be fit enough.

“Alternating sprints and slows [slower canter work] has a good effect, as it doesn’t kill the limbs,” she advises. “The most important thing is to have a plan for what fast work you are going to do, and then be aware that if the horse tires earlier than it should do, you need to read the signs and drop the work down.”

Preparation for the rider

Caroline believes that exercise on the gallops is as important to prepare the rider for cross-country as it is for the horse.

“Putting the rider on the gallops really benefits their balance, muscles and understanding,” she says. “You don’t want your first fast work to be in competition and find that you are exhausted three-quarters of the way round.”

Gallops also provide an invaluable opportunity for schooling and honing your cross-country performance.

“If you have a horse that struggles to make the time, it can be useful to get them upsides another horse and encourage them to be competitive. It will help them learn to gallop properly,” says Nick.

“Practising gear changes is important. The ability to get to and from a faster speed helps waste as little time as possible.”

Another benefit of a dedicated gallop is for learning to judge pace.

“You can put markers on the gallops every 520m or so, then see how long it takes. Introduce gear changes to simulate changing speed for fences, and see if you cover the distance in the same time,” he says.

Options and prices

➤ Prices vary but expect to pay £12-20 per horse. There is usually no time restriction.

➤ Some gallops provide extra perks, such as warm-water wash-off or a manège to allow you to warm up, which can be especially useful if you are boxing to the venue.

➤ A gallop with a gradient can help build a horse’s stamina, whereas flat gallops may be preferable for encouraging a stuffy horse or to practise judging pace. A circular gallop is ideal for long slow canter work.

➤ Whether opting for a grass gallop or an all-weather surface, Caroline Moore advises not saving money at the expense of your horse’s legs. “Make sure it is well-maintained, not too deep or lumpy, and ideally get as close as you can to the surface you will compete on,” she says.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (22 January 2015)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Italian eventer Vittoria Panizzon finished best of the Italian squad at last year’s European Championships and at the 2012 London Olympics when she piloted Borough Pennyz into individual eigth and 11th places respectively. Unfortunately, Vittoria had to withdraw Pennyz from this year’s World Equestrian Games just before her dressage test.

Here she shares with H&H her top tips for getting horses fit:

1. Vittoria begins initial fitness work by hacking out before bringing more work into the routine.

“The hacking puts the basics in place, then I can move the hacking up a notch and start schooling,” explains Vittoria.

2. Hills are a vital part of Vittoria’s fitness programme for all of her horses, particularly Pennyz who is warmblood/TB.

“Pennyz used to struggle with hills when she was younger. Sometimes I trot up the same one several times. On the gallops I go up and down in canter so that the horses learn to balance themselves.”

3. Pennyz’s buzzy nature means her fast work has to be well timed.

“If I start doing it too early she starts to stress and then she doesn’t eat very well. That’s why I like to do the majority of fitness work out hacking before doing anything fast.”

4. All of Vittoria’s horses hack most days for around an hour.

“I think hacking is very important. It makes them strong and tough.”

5. Vittoria’s horses do canter work twice a week.

“I make sure I’m a step ahead with the fast work so that if they do something silly, like lose a shoe or get a small cut, and I miss one session I don’t have to panic,” explains Vittoria.

“For younger horses or those competing at lower levels the trot work and hills out hacking are the most important element of building core fitness.”

6. The hills are particularly important for Pennyz because, unlike a pure Thoroughbred, there comes a point when she tires.

“The fast work includes short, sharp bursts of speed uphill and we canter continuously in between,” explains Vittoria. “When we were preparing for London, Pennyz would do that seven times in the same session so that she was ready to cope with a twisty track.”

7. Vittoria builds the intensity of the cantering sessions until each horse holds a steady speed for double the number of minutes of a cross-country round at their level.

“They run up the steeper part of the gallops more times as we get closer to a big event,” she explains. “For instance an intermediate horse goes up and down four times, while a horse aiming at a three-star will go up and down at least five times in the final week. That is around 20 minutes, working on the basis that our cross-country round will last for 10 minutes.”

This training feature was originally published in the April 2014 edition of Eventing magazine

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Keeping high-level sport horses on the road can be a challenge.

The first objective is to ensure that the horse is able to compete, while maintaining athletic longevity. The second is to make the horse as comfortable as possible to help optimise his performance. Different disciplines have different injuries that are most likely to limit performance.

In eventing, wastage tends to come from superficial digital flexor tendon injuries, whereas ligament injuries and joint problems are more of a limiting factor in dressage.

Because the aim is always prevention rather than cure, the horse must be regularly monitored for any problems before they become significant. There is veterinary monitoring at international FEI events, where the horse’s soundness will be evaluated, but it is difficult to detect subtle problems in this situation. Medication control at these events precludes the use of many drugs, for instance phenylbutazone (bute) to treat slight stiffness.

There is a mystique around the treatment of high-level sport horses, but the majority of time it is just the proactive application of standard orthopaedic principles. The quality of riding and training has far more influence than the vet in keeping the competition horse sound.

Minimising wear and tear

Soundness and athletic suitability for the intended purpose are first assessed at the pre-purchase examination.

A slowly progressive training regime, without excessive time spent doing more stressful exercises, is important. The best dressage riders spend relatively little time practising high-level movements at home and many top showjumpers only ever jump at a show. There is obviously a balance between having the horse fit enough to compete while minimising mileage to stop excessive wear and tear.

Good farriery is vital, but the rider’s role in making sure that the horse is shod regularly is equally as important. The emphasis should be on maintaining good foot balance, rather than fitting a particularly fashionable shoe. Older horses should be shod sympathetically for any limb deformities, but without trying to force them back into a perfect conformation.

Regular physiotherapy and and other complementary therapies can also be helpful.

An equine MOT

Veterinary monitoring is different from sport to sport, so it’s important to have a vet who understands the demands of the horse’s discipline.

The event horse MOT normally takes place a week or so after a 3-day event. The horse is examined, trotted and his tendons are scanned. On the basis of this, a plan is made for any further monitoring or treatment as required — for example, a course of shockwave treatment for a niggling ligament problem.

Detecting a minor tendon injury at this point, often with no obvious clinical signs, can mean just a short period out of competition. Time off can be prolonged if an injury is missed and then blows up when the horse has his first proper canter back in work.

Ultrasound scans are therefore very helpful in picking up subtle problems. Reference scans to compare to are useful, as accumulated wear and tear changes can be difficult to differentiate from a fresh, mild injury.

A dressage horse MOT is normally undertaken when the trainer feels that there is poor performance.

Showjumpers have their routine checks when a rider considers performance is below par or when the horse is transiently back in the UK. Due to their itinerant schedules, horses may see various vets and receive varied treatments. It is important to establish an accurate history to do the best job.

Furthermore, different vets employ different strategies with respect to medication and wor-kup. Some prefer to nerve block and image any mild problems to try to identify any issues accurately, while others will proceed with treatment based on a very brief clinical examination.

Even an apparently trivial injury such as a splint can stop a horse competing at a major competition, if not picked up and treated early. A period of rest and patience in the early stages can often lead to less time out of work than a head-in-the sand approach of trying to carry on working the horse.

As an example, some niggling tendon sheath problems respond better to endoscopic (keyhole) surgery than to repeated medications. You can actually end up with a short recuperation period in the long-term with more aggressive initial treatment.

Joint issues may need ongoing medication. Oral supplements have somewhat limited efficacy, but may be beneficial in the maintenance of low-grade problems. Bisphosphonates, such as Equidronate, can be helpful in horses with more bony problems, although the response of individual horses is variable.

Intra-articular corticosteroids are the mainstay of joint treatment. In other circumstances, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or autologous conditioned serum (IRAP) may encourage more healing response.

All systems go

The musculoskeletal system requires the most care and attention in the competition horse, but it is important not to neglect other body systems.

Simple things such as dermatitis, ringworm and skin sores can become a problem if not treated early. A number of competition horses have allergic skin conditions that can be difficult to manage, because of the amount they travel and the inability to exert strict control over their environment.

Similarly, lower respiratory tract conditions can be problematic because of the difficulty in creating a dust-free environment.

Dynamic endoscopy has been a major advance in the diagnosis of upper respiratory tract problems. The larynx can now be viewed during normal exercise, thanks to a special endoscope strapped to the horse’s bridle — a technique that has made treadmill endoscopy redundant.

Standing laser therapy can be useful for more minor wind conditions — the traditional Hobday procedure under general anaesthesia is rarely required.

From a nutrition point of view, the majority of sport horses just require additional salt and vitamin E. Some of the specialised high-fat, low-starch diets can be helpful, however, for horses prone to tying-up.

It’s worth having the horse’s heart listened to regularly. A number of horses developed an irregular heartbeat at Badminton this year and it is important to know that the heart was normal beforehand.

Understanding what’s competition legal

With drugs such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories it is very important to be aware of detection times for national and international competition. For phenylbutazone (bute), for example, we would normally allow approximately 7 days for withdrawal from the horse’s system. But other anti-inflammatories such as Metacam (meloxicam) have shorter detection times and are more appropriate for use close to competition.

Antibiotics are permitted, except procaine (white) penicillin. Some anti-ulcer treatments and Regumate for mares are also now allowed, as are vitamins, amino acids and fluids.

Shockwave therapy can be helpful in the management of some soft tissue problems, but its use is banned for 5 days before competition.

Routine joint maintenance therapies are now allowed during competition, after completion of appropriate permission forms, but must be administered by an FEI licensed treating vet. Hyaluronic acid products and anti-arthritic drugs such as Adequan and Cartrofen are currently allowed, as is the homeopathic drug Traumeel.

As always, check with your vet first.

Preempting a problem

Debate rages about prophylactic — or pre-emptive — “treatment”. This is commonly performed outside of the UK, most notably in America and continental Europe.

If a joint is inflamed, treatment into the joint with anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids is actually beneficial in the long-term. If a lameness problem has been accurately identified, even in a young horse, corticosteroid treatment may be appropriate. It is not necessarily the start of a vicious cycle of repeated injections.

It is not advantageous, however, to repeatedly treat normal joints, as this can lead to cartilage damage. An accurate diagnosis is preferable to “treat and see”. Not all corticosteroids are the same. Triamcinolone is considered to be protective for cartilage, whereas methyl prednisolone acetate (Depo-Medrone) is deleterious.

Systemic anti-arthritic drugs such as intravenous hyaluronic acid (Hyonate or Hy50) or intramuscular Adequan/Cartrophen can be used prophylactically — the only problem is the cost. They are more potent than oral supplements but less so than targeted local treatment.

Studies in racehorses in the USA have shown benefits in higher numbers of starts and more prize-money won with courses of Adequan and Hyonate. Other studies, however, have shown no significant difference.

This article was first published in the 22 May issue of Horse & Hound magazine

Your horse’s fitness programme will depend on his type and your facilities. However, as a general rule, if you are stepping up from novice to CCI*:

• Aim to have your horse ready 10 days before for the CCI* in case of delays, for example due to weather.

• You will need to increase his canter work from about four to five weeks before this.
• You should aim to be doing canter work every fourth day.
• If you usually use short sprints uphill to get the horse fit, you should look at upping this from twice up the gallop to three times.
• If you usually use longer, slower work over flatter ground, you should look at upping it from two 5min canters (with 3-4min walking in between) to two 7min canters.
• A third fitness method is Fartlek, which involves building to a long period of non-stop cantering (up to 15min), but varying the speed within the pace.
• A combination of these three methods can also be effective.
• The key is knowing your horse so you can recognise if he is getting fitter or simply becoming stressed.
• Don’t neglect your own fitness — riding one horse a day may not be enough if you are office-bound the rest of the time.For a three-day with roads and tracks and steeplechase, use the longer, slower forms of canter work. You will also need to hack your horse more, so he has 60-90min work every day.With thanks to British junior team coach Caroline Moore — find more on her website, link at www.horseandhound.co.uk/firstthreedayRead our full guide to tackling a three-day in this week’s eventing special issue of H&H (7 March), which includes an exclusive interview with Izzy Taylor and a guide to the kit you’ll need this seasonRead more about exercising your horseCatch up on all the latest eventing newsLooking to buy an eventer? View our online database of horses for sale

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Dr David Marlin, chairman of the 2006 International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology (ICEEP), defines exercise physiology as “the study of all the systems used in exercise”.

Dr Marlin, an equine exercise specialist whose posts include sports science consultant to the British Equestrian Federation and head of higher education at The Open College of Equine Studies (TOCES), says that exercise physiology is having an increasingly greater impact on all disciplines, but in particular on racing and endurance

“We want to see it used to benefit horse health, welfare and performance,” he stresses. “If it improves health and welfare and at the same time helps horses run faster or perform better, that’s great. But when aiming for increased performance, health and welfare must be paramount.”

At the first TOCES science conference in October, Dr Marlin highlighted some of the latest findings from around the world, many of which are linked to research in human sports.

Can inflatable cuffs boost muscle response to training?

The cuffs featured in a Japanese study based on KAATSU (an acronym for a Japanese phrase meaning increased pressure training). A group of Standardbred mares was trained at walk, once a day, six days a week over two weeks; half wore KAATSU cuffs and the other half acted as a control and were walked without them.

The cuffs are inflated to above arterial pressure, which restricts the blood flow to muscles and increases the response to training. Measurements of muscles and tendons taken before and after the two-week training period showed an increase in muscle thickness of about 11% in horses wearing cuffs, with no difference in the tendons.

“We don’t know yet whether this is beneficial, but there is definitely room for more studies,” says Dr Marlin.

How fast do horses lose fitness if they are taken out of training?

Dr Marlin says some trainers might pull a horse out of a race if it missed even a couple of days’ training because of fears that it might have lost fitness — but, from a scientific point of view, these fears may be groundless.

In another Japanese study, horses were trained for six months, then spent 10 weeks out of training, in the field. Measuring their oxygen capacity before and afterwards showed that they maintained their aerobic capacity.

“They lost weight when trained and put it on when out of training, but that’s diet-related,” says Dr Marlin. “The interesting thing is that some of us have been saying for years that once a horse is fit, it doesn’t lose that fitness quickly — and obviously, the less wear and tear you put on horses, the better it is.

“I believe you can get any horse physically fit — though not necessarily from the skills point of view — in about 16 weeks. Once you’ve got them there, you don’t need to keep training, and if you do, you’re just imposing more wear and tear: this is something of which riders in all disciplines must be aware.”

What is needed now, says Dr Marlin, is trainers brave enough to try it. He believes some would be reluctant to alter their regime through reluctance to take such a perceived risk of losing current performance.

“You need someone like [national hunt trainer] Martin Pipe, who was brave enough to try things,” he says.

How long does it take young racehorses to adapt to bone stress in training?

We know the third metacarpal bone thickens in response to fast exercise, but an Australian study gave a clearer picture. Researchers looked at 40 horses who started training at ages between 20 months and 31/2 years, X-rayed their cannon bones and looked for a plateau in bone thickness. On average, it took 501 days — but one horse took 21/2 years to adapt.

“One horse in the study increased bone mass in the cannon bone by around 30% over 600 days,” says Dr Marlin. “Some of this is likely due to growth, not just work, but it may be that starting slower training earlier would allow bone to be thicker and become better adapted before the horse goes into fast training.”

Can maximum heartrate be equated with age in horses, as it is in people?

Human athletes using heartrate monitors in training work to the equation that their maximum heartrate — colloquially called heartrate max — should be 220 minus age, so the heartrate max for an 18-year-old would be 202 beats per minute, and for a 60-year-old, 160bpm.

It was found that with horses, heartrate increased in a linear fashion until about 220bpm, then reached a plateau. The state of fitness and gender had slight effects, with mares reaching 228bpm and stallions and geldings 225bpm, but they were so slight as to be of little significance.

So you can use the same equation for your horse as yourself when training — but, warns Dr Marlin, remember that if you work a young horse at 200bpm and then work a 15-year-old to the same heartrate, you will actually be working the older horse harder.

How much effort does it take to jump?

A Dutch study looked at horses jumping a 700m course of 12 fences between 0.8m and 1m and compared their heartrates during jumping with those going round the same track with the poles taken out. As a control measure, half the horses went round with the poles out and then jumped and the other half performed the elements of the exercise the other way round.

The difference in heartrates, which went up to more than 180bpm, showed that jumping required about 20% more effort.

“You might say that it’s no surprise that jumping is harder work than cantering on the flat,” acknowledges Dr Marlin. “But now we know how much harder, at least at this level — until now, we have known how much effort it takes for a horse to walk, trot and canter, but didn’t know how much it took to jump.

“Research often provides as many questions as it does answers. The skill is in working out what are the implications of the research and applying them.”

• This veterinary feature was first published in Horse & Hound (7 December, ’07)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Any fitness programme must be tailored to the horse – its breed, its age, and how long it has been off work. However, where, in the past, a hack for a dressage horse consisted of the walk to the school and back, more dressage riders and show jumpers are starting to use the same basic fittening programme as the event riders.

“In dressage, people focus too much on competition and not enough on building muscle and strength,” says Carl Hester. William Funnell agrees: “My approach is very similar to my wife Pippa’s, especially if my horses have had a long lay-off.”

Weeks one to three

Most professionals will walk their horses in week one, building from half an hour the first day, to up to one hour by the end of the week, up to two hours the following week. This is seen as critical to the long-term health and soundness of the horse.

“It is important to remember that you are trying to build them up, not break them down,” says event rider Richard Waygood.

After a long lay-off, both William and Pippa walk the horses on roads for three weeks to tighten the ligaments and tendons, building up to trot work up hills. William says, “I do not agree with pounding them on the roads on the flat. We do trot up the hills, however, as that takes the pressure off the front legs.”

Carl Hester takes the same approach with his dressage horses. “To develop the hindquarters, we will work up and down hills, just as you would with an event horse,” he says.

Dressage riders and show jumpers tend to include some lungeing and work in the school in the first weeks, which event riders usually avoid at this stage — “unless you need to make sure that, if the horse is feeling a bit fresh, it has had its bucks on the lunge,” says event rider Chris King.

Sussex-based dressage rider and trainer Dane Rawlins stays mostly in the school and uses lungeing and long-reining in the first week, working the horses to the point where they are warm, but not breaking out in a sweat.

Danish dressage rider and German-qualified Bereiter Markus Bauer, currently based in Piltdown, Sussex, says that walking the horse off after schooling is almost as important as the schooling itself.

“You often see horses worked and sweating, and then just put back in the stable,” he says. “That will have a very unhealthy effect on the horse. It will come out the next day stiff with aching muscles. The horse will not last very long, it will have a stiff back and there is a danger of him tying up.” He always walks his horses off for at least 20 minutes after exercise, he says.

Weeks four and five

As the horse gets fitter, the professionals build up the periods of trot and introduce canter and school work.

Richard likes to canter during the fourth week on a school surface. “Sometimes people get their horses too fit in walk and trot, and then they explode in canter,” he says. He also believes that the canter is better than trot for making a horse supple and working through its back. By the fifth week he has started flatwork schooling.

Markus adds that a fit horse must be made to sweat a little bit. “Without this sweating process, the muscles will not build and change in shape,” he says. “It’s like a person going to the gym and coming home without having worked up a sweat — they have not done enough.”

Weeks six and seven

The professionals now build on canter work and start more intensive flatwork schooling and some jumping. William starts with some cross poles built into the flatwork.

“I will also introduce shoulder-in and counter-canter to build the different muscles and get the horses aerobically fit,” he says. He adds that bounces help to build and maintain the jumping muscles, along with regular hill work. “You do not need to jump big to get them fit,” he says, just keep to a height at which you are comfortable.

Depending on how the horse is progressing, the professionals may also start to introduce pipe-opening gallops, whatever the discipline. “I take mine up the gallops,” William says. “I have found that it is good for conditioning the horses’ bodies, and good for their minds.”

Carl also says he gallops his horses. “While a dressage horse needs more fat on it to build into muscle, we would work our horses faster than you can in an arena to build the fitness,” he explains.

Week eight and beyond

Now the professionals start going to small local shows to build competition fitness and to make sure the horse is mentally prepared. Depending on the horse, this may be possible from week six, particularly if he has not had a long lay-off.

Dane hopes to be out competing by the sixth week. “The final fitness does not happen until the horses have been out competing a few times,” he says.

From this point, the disciplines tend to differ in their approach. Eventers would expect to take around three months to get a horse fit. For the higher-level events, they now start doing fast work, either on the gallops or through interval training. Richard builds to three 10-minute bursts of canter, followed by three minutes of walk. Warmbloods benefit from gallops, similar to a racehorse’s regime, he says, as they find fast work difficult. Regular gallops open the lungs and build stamina.

A show jumper would already be out competing by now. William expects to get a Grade A horse competition-fit in two months, even if it had had a long lay-off.

For dressage, says Carl, “Up to Elementary level, a horse only needs half an hour in the school. For Grand Prix horses it can be up to an hour.”

The more excitable horses, he adds, do not need to do so much fittening work. However, lazier horses need more fast work to sharpen them up.

Widely used among today’s equine and human athletes alike, the first form of interval training is said to have been developed by the Hittites – great horsemen who lived around 1600 to 717BC.

They used such methods to train their chariot horses so they could travel for long distances at high speed. Today, interval training is used in many spheres of equestrianism, most commonly in eventing and endurance, where great stamina is required.

What is interval training?

Interval training is designed to strengthen the horse’s muscles and respiratory system by a gradual increase in ‘stress’ or exercise levels. In this way, over time, the horse reaches a level of fitness that will enable him to make the sustained effort required in competition.

How does it work?

At the onset of training, the horse is only able to maintain intense levels of activity for a short period, and so needs a period of recovery. If he is forced to continue at the intense level, his heart rate will rise, anaerobic respiration will come into play (see right), and he will become fatigued.

Interval training consists of repeated spells of exercise interspersed with periods of rest, in which the horse is allowed to slow down and almost recover his pre-work pulse rate, before going on to the next interval of faster work (hence the name).

Not allowing the horse’s pulse rate to drop completely to its normal level during the rest periods strengthens the muscles, heart and lungs, and helps them to adapt to the stress placed on them, making them better able to cope with exercise next time it occurs.

Interval training also develops the capacity of the horse’s respiratory and circulatory systems. As the heart becomes stronger, it is able to pump more blood around the body, providing the muscles with oxygen more efficiently, thus delaying the onset of the anaerobic phase.

The difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration

At heart rates of 140 beats per minute [bpm] or below, the horse’s respiratory system is said to be functioning aerobically, with the blood supplying oxygen to the cells, including the muscle cells. The horse can continue working at this pace for long periods without fatigue.

However, when the heart rate reaches 150-160bpm and above (during a very fast canter), lactic acid is released into the muscles and the horse tires. Any further increase in speed or effort results in the production of more lactic acid; this is described as the anaerobic phase.

Anaerobic exercise cannot be sustained for long periods but as the horse becomes fitter, his aerobic capacity will increase, the anaerobic phase will be delayed, and his recovery rates, overall fitness and stamina will improve.

Choosing a fitness level

Before introducing interval training to your fitness regime, it is important to choose the level of fitness your horse requires. This will vary according to the level and type of competition you are planning to enter (endurance or cross-country, for example).

Ask your instructor or an experienced person to help you work out the best structure for your training. Your regime will depend on your horse’s individual needs and the facilities you have at your disposal.

Canter work and interval training should be introduced in the final two weeks of an eight- to nine-week fitness programme.

As a general rule for a horse being prepared for a novice one-day event, two five-minute canters, interspersed with a three-minute walk (per session) should be sufficient. These sessions should be carried out once a week, as part of a full fitness programme consisting of hacking, schooling and jumping training.

As your horse becomes fitter, you will be able to increase the periods of canter – again, this will vary with each horse and it is important to seek advice from your trainer. In time, you will find that your horse is able to travel faster for longer.

Tracking your horse’s fitness

Reading your horse’s pulse and noting his length of recovery will help you judge his fitness level. As he becomes fitter, his heart rate will go down, since the heart’s capacity will have increased and it will be able to pump more blood with each beat.

You can feel for your horse’s pulse under his jaw, or use a stethoscope to listen to his heart. Many riders and trainers use a heart rate monitor, which can be attached to the horse’s skin or numnah. Monitors cost from around £50.

This feature was first published in the September 2004 issue of HORSE magazine

All top-class equine athletes from Derby winners to dressage stars, have two things in common: inherited ability and optimum fitness.

While we cannot change the horse’s genes, you can change your training regime, as Dr David Marlin, head of physiology at the Animal Health Trust (AHT) explains: “Training is an art, but understanding the physiology of the horse can help you perfect your art.”

So what is exercise physiology? Dr Marlin defines it as “the study of all the systems used in exercise” and says it is important to look at the whole as well as individual elements.

“Sometimes we may be particularly interested in the respiratory system, but we can’t forget its link to the heart. Similarly, all blood which flows around the body goes through the lungs,” he explains.

Although training programmes vary according to the horse’s job, according to Dr Marlin, they all have four common purposes:

• Increasing the horse’s exercise capacity
• Increasing the time to the onset of fatigue
• Improving overall performance by increasing skill, strength, speed, endurance as relevant
• Decreasing the risk of injury

Nearly all horse sports are predominantly aerobic and most of the fitness work we do with horses improves aerobic capacity.

“It’s far more difficult to train for pure strength and speed in horses than it is in humans. Strength training for a human weight lifter and speed training for 100-metre runner involve large amounts of work in the gym with weights,” explains Dr Marlin.

“The only real equivalent for horses might be very short interval work with repetitions of 100-metre sprints or draught work pulling a very heavy weight.”

Loading a treadmill so the horse “pulls” extra weight in safe conditions is just one area Dr Marlin is investigating. He and his team have also discovered that a horse’s breathing mechanism changes at canter and gallop to move air in a more efficient way.

“We used to think that when the horse inhaled, the ribcage moved out as the chest expanded, and when it breathed out, the ribcage went in,” he explains. “But observing horses on the treadmill, we realised that in canter and gallop, the chest moves very little. We discovered that the horse locks the ribcage, so all ventilation comes from the diaphragm, not from expansion of the ribcage.”

Also related to breathing, studies from Australia have shown that if the girth is fastened too tightly, it affects the horse’s stride and performance.

“They thought it was because of the effect on the breathing, but we demonstrated that it was because of the effect on the muscles the girth goes over,” says Dr Marlin.

Three-day event riders in particular may need to re-examine their training methods after an Australian study found that only one in 13 horses reached a heart rate in training comparable to that in competition.

“This may suggest that many event horses aren’t being appropriately trained, but you have to put this in context against the way you balance your training,” he says. “You might want to exercise your horse harder, but this could put a question mark over keeping him sound.”

While the latest research certainly throws up a lot of food for thought, in some people my feel it raises as many questions as it answers.

• This piece was extracted from an article on exercise physiology in Horse & Hound (17 July 2003). To purchase a back issue contact (tel: 020 8532 3628).

Q. I have just bought a 15.2hh 3/4 TB who has previous experience hunting and show jumping. However, he has been turned away and not ridden for the past two years. I will be bringing him steadily back into work, but I am unsure how to feed in these circumstances. At present, he is getting haylage and occasionally soaked sugar beet, but little else. I intend to keep him turned out during the summer and stable him in bad weather. Can you give me any advice?

Christine Smy, independent nutritionist, answers: As your horse has been turned out for two years, you mustgo back to basics. You do not mention his current body condition and Thoroughbred-types are often not good doers. However, good quality spring and summer grass should provide adequate condition while your horse is getting fit.

Stage one

As he is used to haylage, continue to feed this, particularly while he is stabled. When it comes to concentrates, I would suggest that he is fed just a broad-spectrum supplement mixed with a handful of chaff. This applies particularly in your case as the horse has not been used to concentrates over the past couple of years.

Choose nutritious chaff, such as dried grass or alfalfa, and steer clear of heavily molassed products. You could dampen the chaff with a little soaked sugar beet pulp, which will also help the supplement to blend in, particularly if it is in a powdered form.

Stage two

When you are a month or so into your fitness programme and starting trot work, assess your horse’s body condition and energy levels. If you feel he needs an additional feed, introduce a low-energy, high-fibre cube. This will mimic his natural feeding regime, while providing a balanced diet.

As the work level increases, up the cubes to a total daily feed of 2kg (4.5lb) split between at least two feeds. Once you have reached these levels, the supplement will no longer be required.

Stage three

When you start canter work, you may choose gradually to change the cubes to a low-energy mix or cube. Replace the high-fibre cubes over a week or so and stop once your horse’s energy levels are adequate.

Stage four

If you’re thinking about competition work, you may decide to move up to a competition mix or cube. Again, replace the current ration weight for weight over a week and stop when you feel you have adequate energy and body condition.

Do not feed more than around 1.5kg per feed, and if you find you are feeding 4kg a day and your horse still requires more weight or energy, do not continue to increase the amount you are feeding.

Switch to a more appropriate feed, such as a conditioning ration for body weight or a race mix or cube for extra energy. Feed a specific amount and type of feed that you are happywith, rather than feeding something because you think you should.