Riding into Spring: Top Tips for Conditioning Your Horse for the Season Ahead
Hi Athletes!
Riding into Spring: Top Tips for Conditioning Your Horse for the Season Ahead
With (hopefully) the nicer spring weather coming about, we are starting to think about gearing up and getting our equine companions ready for show/ride/competition season. If they’ve been hibernating a bit over the winter, or haven’t been exercised as frequently, here are some tips on helping to prepare your horse for spring training to set them up for success:
Ensure proper nutrition, hoof care, health care. Use the spring time to get everything balanced and ready to go. It’s like the maintenance on your vehicle before you go on a long road trip. Speak with an equine nutritionist to ensure your horse’s body is getting what it needs to be able to have the energy required for the work it is going to be doing. Mad Barn has an awesome free consultation if you don’t have an in person nutritionist in your area. https://madbarn.com/nutrition-consultation/. Have your vet out to do a health check, give appropriate vaccines, balance teeth, etc. Work out with your farrier your competition schedule and arrange for timing of trims or resets to ensure your horse has time to adjust to any changes. Schedule bodywork to help target any areas of weakness and to keep those muscles loose and supple to keep the body performing optimally and to help avoid training injuries.
Start gradually. It is important to start conditioning your horse gradually, especially if it has had a long winter break. Begin with short sessions of exercise and slowly increase the duration and intensity over a period of weeks. Ensure to not increase intensity and duration in the same exercise session. If you need help creating a conditioning plan, send us an email at ridelikeanathlete@gmail.com and we’d be happy to work with you to develop a program for your horse.
Incorporate variety in training: Incorporating variety in your horse's exercise routine helps build a balanced fitness level. This can include hill work, intervals, and stretching exercises. Do work both in and out of the arena. Mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness.
Monitor your horse's health: During spring conditioning, it is important to monitor your horse's health and well-being. Look out for signs of fatigue, lameness, and discomfort, and adjust your training schedule accordingly. It is also advisable to consult with a veterinarian if you have any concerns.
You’re spending a lot of time focusing on your horse’s fitness but your fitness as a rider is just as important. Subscribe to the Fit Rider Membership to have access to all the workouts and resources or we can develop a custom fitness program for you as well.
Whatever your discipline, optimizing your and your horse’s fitness will help you have an enjoyable ride season. Spring conditioning is an essential aspect of equine care and helps prepare your horse for the demands of the upcoming season. It is crucial to ensure you’re starting out with a healthy horse, increasing exercise gradually, utilizing variety in training to keep things interesting and to work the whole body, monitoring your horse's health to ensure the program is working, and working on building your own fitness level. Remember that every horse is unique and may require a different approach to conditioning. Be patient and consistent in your training efforts, and consult with a veterinarian if you have any concerns. By following these tips, you can help your horse reach its full potential and enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle.
Ride on!
Ashley