How To Get Started
& Sample Conditioning Program

What is Conditioning?
Conditioning is bringing the horse to a peak level of physical and mental fitness.

Steps to follow in conditioning.
1.  Have your horse thoroughly examined by a veterinarian, including teeth, worming and ensuring all vaccinations are up to date.
2.  Have your horse's feet trimmed and reshod at an average of every 5 - 6 weeks. (7 - 8 weeks for horses with slow growth)
3.  Examine your feed program - Use only high quality hay & oats.  Remember to keep it simple. 
     Amounts will vary from horse to horse - your horse should be lean & hard (with no ribs showing).
4.  Grain - roughly 1 lb. to every 100 lbs. of body weight for a horse doing good, regular work-outs.
     Remember to increase or decrease in relation to work.  Do Not Over Feed!

Set your goals
What Rides do you plan to attend?  How many Rides?  How far away will they be?  When is the first Ride? the last? and which one is the most important to you?

Program Layout
- VERY IMPORTANT - Design a program that suits you and stick to it! (don't let a few raindrops keep you home!)  BUT, watch your horse for any problems and be prepared to back off.
Important Pointers
1.  Sweat is not a four letter word - sweat is GOOD!
2.  Key to conditioning is to work you & your horse harder than the previous time out.
3.  Conditioning does not require hours & hours every day to accomplish.  It can be done at a rate of
     of 1 - 1.5 hours 5 - 6 days a week.
4.  Don't over condition your horse!
5.  Pulse and Respiration are vital tools in determining your horse's progress.
6.  Learn what speed YOUR horse travels at.
Variables
1.  Age of horse.
2.  Weight and initial level of condition.
3.  Experience of the horse.
General Priciples
1.  Attention to slow warm ups.
2.  Stress all functions to just short of fatigue (sub-maximal work).
3.  Recognize training as a repitition of sub-maximal work geared toward all systems - i.e. feet,
     respiratory, or musculature.
4.  Simulate terrain, temperature and humidity, times of the day (and night) to those of race conditions.
5.  Teach your horse to tail and run behind you.
6.  Spend most time working the horse alone so attention is on your individual horse's training
     requirements.  Also to develop his mental attitudes and remain in tune with you as a team member.
7.  Vary gaits and work patterns, work out locations - to prevent boredom (works for the rider too)
     and stress various systems.
8.  Don't minimize the value of ring work (and lessons for the rider).
9.  Hand walk or jog your horse the last mile in, he will cool out and you will benefit as well. 

Sample Program
For a horse new to the sport, that is trained but not conditioned.

Month One - aerobic work (slow and steady)
1.  Ride 3 to 4 times a week - on alternate days - with one pair of back to back days.
2.  Ride time 45 - 60 minutes (assuming level to moderately hilly terrain).   Walk up and down hills.
3.  Mileage; 3 to 7 miles - of walk and trot.
4.  If very unfit horse, may substitute ponying instead of riding. (excellent way to start 2 & 3 yr. olds)
5.  Longe on 40' line 15 - 20 minutes on nonwork days.  Only do this on soft ground.  You may want to put protective wraps on your horse's legs.
Month Two - aerobic work (slow and steady)
1.  Ride 3 to 4 times a week.
2.  Ride 7 - 3 - 9 milers. alternate days with one pair of back to back days.
3.  Ride time, 1 hour on shorter rides; 1.5 - 2 hours for 9 - 10 mile rides.
4.  Walk, trot, short canters.
5.  Longe on nonwork days 15 - 20 minutes.
                 ***At this point your horse should be ready to do a Level One CTR***
Month Three
1.  Ride 3 to 4 times a week.
2.  Mileage; 7 miles (1 hour), 3 miles (45 min.), 9 miles (60 - 70 min.),
     and an occasional 15 miler ( in 2 - 2.5 hours).
3.  Do some aneorobic work (speed work).  If you're nervous about doing speed work on the flat,
     try it on a gradual incline. Don't do too much!
4.  Longe on nonwork days 15 - 20 minutes.
                 ***At this point your horse should be ready to do a Level Two CTR
                             and/or a 25 mile Endurance Ride (moderately paced)***
Month Four
1.  Ride 3 - 5 days a week.
2.  Mileage; 7 miles (1 hour), 5 miles (1 hour), 10 miles (90 minutes), 15 & 25 milers (in about
     2 hours to 3 - 3.5 respectively).
3.  Work in a bit more aneorobic work. (speed work)
                ***At this point your horse should be ready to a Level Three CTR***
Month Five
1.  Horse should be able to do 1st half of a 25 miler in an hour.
2.  Should well tolerate 3 -5 days of work (7 - 10 miles with a 25 - 35 miler on the weekend).
Month Six
1.  If horse is handling 35 milers it's ready for a 50 miler!  Go the Distance!

*Most of the above is from a conditioning program by K.J. Ridgway DMV.  Remember this is just a sample conditioning program.  Always concentrate on long, slow distance riding.  Be alert for any problems.  Be ready to back off!  Don't rush things!  Good things will come to those who are patient!


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