Interval training is a great way to improve fitness

A great interval training resource is in the appendix of one of Jimmy Wofford’s books, Training the Three Day Event Horse and Rider.  It has an explanation of how/why interval training is used, along with sample routines of some upper-level horses.

Another good resource is Dr. Hilary Clayton’s Conditioning Sport Horses.  It is an excellent, excellent book with information on equine physiology and how it applies to conditioning (and has sport-specific chapters).

As an example, a simple interval notation would be written as the following:

2″ 220 x 3w/ 2″ i

——

2″ = length of time is 2 minutes

220 = meters per minute (220 = trotting speed)

3 w/2″ i = walk the horse for 2 minutes and then repeat the set two more times (for a total of 3 trot/walk sets)

——–

This interval notation reads: Trot the horse for 2 minutes, followed by 2 minutes of walking. Complete 3 sets.

A more intense workout could read:

5″ 450 x 3w / 2″ i

———

5″ = length of time is 5 minutes

450 = meters per minute (450 = Training-level canter)

3 w/2″ i = walk the horse three times for 2 minutes each set

——–

This interval notation reads: Canter the horse for 5 minutes, followed by 2 minutes of walking. Complete 3 sets.

Riders can build their way up to more time and faster speeds. Once your horse’s fitness increases, you can build up to combination sets such:

2″ 220 x 3w/ 2″ i +

5″ 450 x 3w / 2″ i +

4″ 500 –>600 (1)

This interval notation reads: Trot the horse for 2 minutes, followed by 2 minutes of walking. Complete 3 sets. Canter the horse for 5 minutes, followed by 2 minutes of walking. Complete 3 sets. Canter for 4 minutes, starting at 500 mpm (meters per minute) and increasing to 600 mpm, holding that speed for the final minute.

Many riders incorporate heart rate monitors into their interval training to supervise their horse’s fitness progress. A horse’s heart rate can spike dangerously if too much work is asked for too soon, and subject the horse to potential injury if he is overworked. It is ideal to create an interval training plan with a coach or professional who has experience in interval training, to ensure the correct amount of work is asked of the horse.

Always be aware of the footing and conditions in which interval training is performed. Soft, slippery footing or hard, hilly ground can cause injury to your horse. Keep in mind that the fitter the horse, the more of a handful in the ring he may become! Many horses come to enjoy interval training and working at faster speeds, so prepare a conditioning plan and training schedule that will balance schooling as well as fitness. It is important to warm your horse up before beginning interval training, as well as providing a proper cool down.

A great online resource about condition is found in this PowerPoint presentation, A Conditioning Plan. Another interesting read is from a 1993 US Eventing article by Olympic rider Torrance Watkins called Teaching Your Horse to Gallop.

Gymnastic exercises over fences typically include a series of jumps, two or more, that can incorporate poles on the ground. They are especially useful for introducing horses to jumping, progressing from poles on the ground, up to a small “X” and then so on.

Here are some exercises that are useful for any discipline of horse.

Working with poles

Simple flatwork for green/young horses

Jumping a grid

These illustrations were excerpted from “Celebrity Jumping Exercises”, a compilation of exercises by riders such as William Fox-Pitt, George Morris and Karen Dixon, authored by Caroline Orme.  To purchase the book online, visit Amazon.com.

For those who realise they may need an addition to their equine’s winter wardrobe, consider making your own winter blankets. These projects require some sewing knowledge and a trip to your local fabric store, but there are some fabulous websites and books you can refer to for the technical aspect of creating it.

You can refer to Jean Perry’s Make Your Own Horse Clothing, originally published in 1983. She is the author of several other books on how to make your own horse equipment and riding apparel. The book has charts, patterns and step-by-step instructions on how to complete your project.

There is also a website where you can purchase horse patterns and instructions online. Suitability Equestrian Patterns has a variety of rider and horse apparel patterns; including costumes, hoods and tack accesories. The website also has a useful links page that includes various fabric stores that stock appropriate materials for their many projects.

Please do not forget to thoroughly research and inspect fabrics before purchasing. While buying a waterproof fabric off the sale table might seem like a good idea, ensure it not flammable or that “waterproof” also means “does not breathe” which may cause your horse to overheat. Look at the construction of any particular blankets you have/would like to have, and make note of the material used. Do your homework and call around to a few stores that may carry a similar product.

(In case you don’t need a new winter blanket, consider looking at some of the patterns for a horsey friend or family member for the upcoming Christmas season. Any horseperson would be able to appreciate a homemade gift for their equine!)

When it comes to horses, there is nobody better than a trusted vet. It’s hard for a horse owner to stay calm at times, upon discovering their horse is bleeding profusely or in distress. On the other hand, something like a lameness issue can be less urgent but still upsetting or frustrating. Every horse owner should have some basic knowledge of first aid, and it doesn’t hurt to have a working knowledge of several major lamenesses and their causes.

In order to learn about basic first aid,  you should grab a book. Try one like Horse Owner’s Veterinary Handbook by James M. MD Giffin and Thomas DVM Gore, or do some research on a REPUTABLE (key word here people) website.  Please be selective about what you take to heart on the internet, your horse’s health is not something you want to second-guess. Try a website like the Merck Veterinary website, which has been a staple in veterinary resources for decades. It has good information about basic animal anatomy and what to do in an emergency.

Once you have some basic terminology and information, the next (and probably one of the most important) step is to give your veterinarian a call. Ask if there is a time the two of you could chat for a few minutes (as he or she is probably on the go until 6:00-7:00pm at night!) about your horse’s health, and you were interested in learning about equine first aid. He or she will probably have invaluable advice, clarify any questions you have and ideally direct you to a local seminar/class/workshop on the subject. Your vet should also be able to give you a run-down of basic first aid materials you should have at your disposal. (It is possible to buy “ready made” first aid kits, but again, check with your vet if you are uncertain how to use any of the items before using your horse as a guinea pig.)

Here is a sample of what could be included in your kit:

Utensils
Stethoscope
Thermometer/string/clip
Scissors
Hoof pick/cutter
60 ml Syringe
Tweezers
Flashlight
Hand sanitizer
Med Towels
Disposable Gloves
Pen & Notebook

Topicals
Povidone-Iodine Sol.
Antibiotic Ointment
Antiseptic Ointment
Animalintex Wound Pad
Alcohol Wipes
2 Instant Cold Pacs
Eye Wash
Liniment
Epsom Salts
Petroleum Jelly

Bandages
Cotton Swabs 6”
Wooden Applicators
4” x 4” Sterile Gauze Pads
4″ x 8” Non-sterile Gauze Pads
4″ x 5′ Gauze Roll
Roll Gamgee Padding
1′ Adhesive Tape
Cohesive Bandage
Duct Tape

(Want this exact kit? Visit Equi-First Aid to order.)

The rule of thumb is that if you are uncertain how to use a product or item in your toolkit, DO NOT USE IT. Chances are you will do more harm than good. However, after doing your research and hopefully attending a local seminar, all of these items will be invaluable to you. Another excellent resource is a fellow boarder or horseback rider that you can trust. It is surprising how much knowledge one person can accumulate after decades of horse ownership. In an emergency, use this resource to keep your horse’s condition from deteriorating until your vet arrives. Many people are willing to jump in and help if there is an emergency.

As for the sublties of equine lameness, it takes a good eye and often a helper to determine exactly why your horse is off. Be sure to do a thorough examination from top to bottom before doing any sort of flexion tests, or calling your vet out for nerve blocks. For example, being Not Quite Right (NQR) in the hind end could be the result of an abnormality in the corresponding front leg, which could present itself as heat/damage to the front foot or tendon. The best way to learn about lameness is to watch what the vet does when he or she comes out to visit a horse at the barn. Watch and see what they look for, and the sort of simple diagnostic techniques they use (such as flexion tests). Just by learning some of the lingo and observing what sort of things to watch for will become extremely helpful when trying to communicate your horse’s lameness to your own vet.

The key is to be aware. Have a good knowledge of your horse’s “baseline”, which is his typical behavior/movement/vital signs when he is feeling fine. Check for any lumps, bumps or anything that is “standard” for him but might become suspect if there are issues down the road. Is he typically alert and forward under saddle? Sluggish or spooky? Does he tend to be stiff on cold days or is cold-backed? Learning about your horse’s quirks or pre-existing issues will help you and your vet rule out many things when it’s time to diagnose a real problem.

Lastly, knowledge is your friend. Do as much reading as possible from books and reputable website to learn about our equine friends. Have a first aid kit on hand, and know how to use the items and what to do in an emergency. Your vet is your most valuable teacher, so take advantage of his knowledge whenever he comes to the barn, and you’ll be prepared down the road in case of an emergency.

Everyone has heard of the old saying “If you fall off, you have to get back on that horse” as a metaphor for conquering a fear or failed attempt at something. When transcribed into literal terms however, there certainly are situations where getting right back on is not the wise idea.

For riders who are just starting out in their equestrian pursuits, falling off can be a scary experience. Sometimes it can be a simple slip after an exhuberant buck while cantering or an unexpected trip.  Regardless of age, to a novice rider, how they deal with the situation after the fact can strongly affect their confidence long after the fall has occurred. For more experienced riders, while prone to the same simple accidents, are often exposed to less experienced or “hotter” horses which occasionally are the precursor to more dramatic situations.

As most seasoned riders will tell you, falling off is inevitable at some point in your riding career. It depends on the capabilities of the rider, the limitations of the horse and sometimes “staying on” is just plain luck! Nevertheless, riders have to overcome their fear of falling otherwise horseback riding will become an unpleasant experience, in which some people stop riding all together.

If you have fallen off a horse, the most important thing is to do a self-assessment of your condition. Are you hurt? Do you feel dizzy or sick to your stomach? Is there any obstruction of your breathing? While at first you may seem okay, it is always best to have a knowledgable person to examine you for a suspected concussion or anything else that seems suspicious. If you are uncertain as to whether you can or should get back on, DO NOT GET BACK ON. It is always safer to put your horse away for the day and be examined by a doctor. 

Once you have done a self-assessment, the next most important thing is to examine your horse. Many horses, once freed of a rider, go for a bit of a run and then settle down to eat grass or find some of their equine companions. Assuming that you are in a riding ring, you must catch your horse in order to examine him or her. The most obvious step is to check for any external lumps or bleeding that could be a result of the fall. How is your horse’s breathing? Is he able to trot in hand without any mis-steps? Is he fully alert and excited from the freedom, or nervous and difficult to contain in hand? You must understand his condition before getting back on, otherwise you could be setting yourself up for another fall.

If it was a simple fall, in which your horse merely caught you off guard and you slipped off, you will most likely want to get back on under supervision of a coach or knowledgable person. If it is your own horse and this sort of incident is unlikely to occur on a regular basis, then it is best for you and the horse if you get back on and continue schooling.

If you are a riding school student and just learning the ropes, talk to your coach before getting back on. Discuss why you fell off, and if there was anything you could have done to prevent it. Your coach or instructor should explain things clearly and positively, which hopefully will show you a simple fall is par for the course. Exercises can be done to strengthen the lower body and improve balance so next time you will be more prepared.

As a more advanced rider on a green or “hot” horse, the first instinct is to hop back on to teach the horse that unseating their riders does not guarantee an easy trip back to the barn. Caution must be used to assess the horse’s condition, because getting back on a particularly unruly youngster or something that is pumped up after having it’s freedom could only lead to another sticky situation. If the horse really has his or her adrenaline pumping, it is best to hand-walk the horse or consider lunging him until he has “come down” a bit. If you still feel uncomfortable with his state of mind, it is best to find another rider (if one is available) that is more confident and can handle getting on an excited youngster. If you find yourself unwilling/unable to get on the horse, be sure to work with the horse on the ground for a lengthy period of time to make the horse understand that being free of a rider does not mean less work, it can mean MORE work.  If you do attempt this route, it is best to have yourself or another rider get back on the horse in the same day later on, or as soon as possible to give the horse a positive rider experience.      

The question remains: What happens when something goes really wrong? Even the most easy-going horse can have a bad day, get scared, injured or simply say “I’ve had enough” which can result in an accident whether hacking or a fall at a fence during a show. If you have been seriously injured or have a traumatic fall while riding, it is essential that you are not just physically able to ride but psychologically. 

For those people who have had scary or serious falls, the best person to talk to is your coach. Discussing your fears with a professional that you trust can go a long way to restoring your confidence, even before you get back on the horse. Before putting yourself back on the horse or in the situation you were in when you fell, you can try an alternative like borrowing a steady-eddy horse and just work on the basics for a couple of rides until you feel more comfortable, or staying in the ring and practicing poles before going back to jumping or off-property.  The key is to take small steps and stay within your comfort zone.  There does come a time when some riders refuse to go outside of that “safe” space, at which point your coach should encourage you to take small steps and expand that circle, which will ultimately restore your confidence if done properly.

As some riders do not have regular coaching, if you need assistance with the psychological aspect of “getting back on” (whether that be literally on the horse, jumping a fence or leaving the riding arena), an excellent book is “Heads Up!: Practical Sports Psychology for Riders, Their Families and Their Trainers” by Dr. Janet Edgette.  As a horseback rider herself, she has some valuable stories and mental exercises that you can gain a lot from on the road to regaining your confidence on horseback. If you want to learn more about her, you can visit her online at http://www.janetedgette.com