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Creating a proper fitness program

852 views 7 replies 5 participants last post by  Foxhunter 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I've put a lot of thought into a fitness regime for my boy to build topline and hind strength, as well as overall fitness. He's not broke to saddle so I am doing ground exercises. What I've settled on is 10 minutes each direction of easy trotting in the round pen with two ground poles to encourage him to lift his feet. We take a five minute walking break between directions and after the session. This will be repeated every two days for two weeks, then I will move on to 15 minutes each direction. On his "off" days we go on trail walks, and do ground driving to prepare for winter. He has virtually no topline yet his hind quarters seem pretty strong.
I have a few concerns which I'd like advice on;
How does my schedule look? Do you think it needs any tweaking?
He drags his hind feet in the dirt sometimes. I've chalked it up to being lazy so I will most likely add more ground poles as he gets better.
What is your general critique on him? He'll be used for ranch work, I think he has a nice working trot. His heads a bit high but we'll work on that.
He gets free choice grass and hay, no grain. He's completely sound and healthy as well.

Some pictures to show his different gaits.





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If you guys need anything else just say the word!
 
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#3 ·
How old is he? He strikes me as a younger horse. If he's 3 or older you could start introducing saddle and bridle, and eventually side reins. Side reins will help teach him to yield to pressure and encourage movement in a more correct shape so that when you do get on, you can teach him to carry himself which will build top line. If he's 2, don't worry about it yet, he still has a fair bit of maturing to do and might develop one naturally as he evens out.
 
#5 ·
He's two, we're starting under saddle at three. He already ground drives, accepts the saddle, bridle, etc. Accepts contact. I'm going to focus on driving all winter. He's extremely good with his "buttons" so to speak. voice aids of walk, trot, left, right, whoa, come here, lope. We've done all the desensitizing in the world as well.
 
#6 ·
He is fairly immature at the moment. He is in a growing phase, his butt is a lot higher than the front end.

I agree with Greentree, to had e him mindlessly going round and round in circles is not going to achieve anything except a bored horse and an even more bored owner/trainer.

The underfoot going is bad, uneven and hard, so that could well be why he drags his hind feet every now and then.

Personally I would chuck him out in a field and forget about working him until late next spring.
 
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