Winter Conditioning Program by Arena Riding
Tracey Zellmann (Tracey_Zellmann@notes.teradyne.com)
Wed, 19 Nov 1997 12:52:33 -0500
I wonder if someone can give me some advice on a winter conditioning
program. I am new to endurance riding and fairly new to horses. I have
recently bought my first horse. He is not an Arabian and he does not have
any endurance miles, but he is sound, well trained and a good horse for me
to learn from. He is a 9 year old quarter horse who has done a bunch of
reining. I do not expect to do 50 or 100 mile events with him, but I would
like to do 25 mile events next summer. This winter, I am keeping him at a
barn with an indoor lighted arena. There really aren't any trails nearby. I
will not have any horse transportation until next spring, so whatever
riding I do for the next four or five months will probably be in this
arena, which is 70 meters by 20 meters. I have looked through the archives
and read several books which have good advice on interval training and hill
work. I have already located some good hills I can trot on, but that will
have to wait until April.
In the meantime, my horse is a little out of shape. He hasn't been ridden
much this summer. I am riding him five or six times a a week, for about 90
minutes at a time. With his reining background, he will go at a quick pace
and canter with tight maneuvers, but I am not sure about his stamina.
Can someone recommend a progressive program that will help us get ready for
the spring? Thanks.