Three Stages of Horse Fitness Training
Racehorses, eventers, and Standardbreds should be trained in three distinct stages of conditioning for fitness.
Moving on to the next stage can cause injury and mental stress.
The first stage should be leading work (at trot, canter, and gallop) to strengthen the mechanical-skeletal system in the absence of weight-bearing stress.
The second stage is training for aerobic conditioning, and the third stage is speed training for anaerobic conditioning.
Endurance horses do not need anaerobic conditioning until they reach competitive level, and this should not be in their first two to three years of competition.
Speed and distance should not be increased at the same time: do one or the other, not both.
In fact, speed should not be introduced until the third stage of training.
Also, you can increase the training effect by working the horse one afternoon and then the following morning.
You can decrease the training effect by working the horse the morning of one day and then the afternoon of the following day.
If at any time the horse needs to be pushed on, ease up on training immediately.
Likewise, if at any time the horse becomes slower than usual in their work, ease up on training at once.
The horse must be keen and willing at all times.
If the horse is becoming sour, going off their feed, and/or losing weight, the trainer should incorporate more rest days into the training.
This is the case in any of the three stages of training.
Before competition, the horse should be tapered, that is, work should be reduced the last week before the horse competes.
Make sure you reduce the grain accordingly.
To be highly successful in competition, you do not need to use drugs, you simply need to get the horse fit, keep the horse sound and feed the horse correctly.
Remember the three stages of training and do not progress to the next stage too rapidly.
Taking time will pay off.
Moving on to the next stage can cause injury and mental stress.
The first stage should be leading work (at trot, canter, and gallop) to strengthen the mechanical-skeletal system in the absence of weight-bearing stress.
The second stage is training for aerobic conditioning, and the third stage is speed training for anaerobic conditioning.
Endurance horses do not need anaerobic conditioning until they reach competitive level, and this should not be in their first two to three years of competition.
Speed and distance should not be increased at the same time: do one or the other, not both.
In fact, speed should not be introduced until the third stage of training.
Also, you can increase the training effect by working the horse one afternoon and then the following morning.
You can decrease the training effect by working the horse the morning of one day and then the afternoon of the following day.
If at any time the horse needs to be pushed on, ease up on training immediately.
Likewise, if at any time the horse becomes slower than usual in their work, ease up on training at once.
The horse must be keen and willing at all times.
If the horse is becoming sour, going off their feed, and/or losing weight, the trainer should incorporate more rest days into the training.
This is the case in any of the three stages of training.
Before competition, the horse should be tapered, that is, work should be reduced the last week before the horse competes.
Make sure you reduce the grain accordingly.
To be highly successful in competition, you do not need to use drugs, you simply need to get the horse fit, keep the horse sound and feed the horse correctly.
Remember the three stages of training and do not progress to the next stage too rapidly.
Taking time will pay off.
