Jessica Jahiel's HORSE-SENSE Newsletter Archives

How much exercise?

From: Mairead Taylor

Dear Jessica I was wondering if you could tell me how much exercise my 6 year old thorough bred would need, she is 14'2". I don't do any shows with her and I dont jump much at all, i dont do dressage either, so I was wondering if you could tell me how many minutes of walk, trot and canter she would need etc. thank you Mairead

Hi Mairead! This is a very general question, so it's difficult to answer properly, but I'll have a go. I CANNOT give you a formula for your horse -- but I CAN give you some general ideas, and tell you whom you should ask for specific information and an exercise plan for YOUR mare.

If your mare is in good physical shape, and spends most or all of her time in a pasture, she will keep herself in reasonably good condition just from all the walking she will do during a normal 24-hour period.

If she spends her nights in a stall, she won't get as much exercise and she won't be quite as fit.

If she spends MOST of her time in a stall, with only a few hours of pasture turnout each day, you will have to be more careful and systematic with your exercise program, even if you don't jump much or often.

If you ride her for an hour or so, four or five days a week, and give her extra turnout time on the other days, you should be able to keep her fit enough for light hacking. In an hour of flatwork, it would be a good idea to walk for the first fifteen minutes to warm up and the last fifteen minutes to warm down, and spend the middle half-hour doing trotwork, with some short canters toward the end of the half hour, and breaks every five or ten minutes to let her walk and stretch for a minute or two. If you have some gentle hills in your area, with safe footing, you could go out a couple of days each week and just walk up and down the hills, and then trot up and down them.

My advice, though, is that you talk to your instructor about what you should be doing with your mare. And if you have any doubts, talk to your vet as well. What I've suggested above is VERY general, and you need to know what is going to be most suitable for YOUR mare. Your instructor and vet will be able to advise you what is best, based on your mare's health and conformation, the condition of her teeth and her feet, her current fitness level, your riding goals, and your own fitness level -- as well as local weather, terrain, and footing....

Jessica

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