How to Condition a Sport Horse

Keeping a horse in working condition takes time and consistency. Keeping a sport horse in condition requires a schedule of exercises to keep all parts of the horse in competition condition, including cardiovascular exercise, muscular exercise and exercises that condition the legs, joints and ligaments. Learn how to condition a sport horse by following these steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Determine what you are using the horse for and how often you ride in competition. Riding cross country courses every weekend requires more conditioning than jumping in a show ring once a month. Exercises may be the same, but the intensity and length is different.
2. Know what kind of condition your horse is in before starting a conditioning program. If he has been ridden regularly and is in good health, he can be started on a more rigorous program. If he is young or has not been ridden consistently, he should be started light and brought up to a more intense level slowly.
3. Ride your horse 4 to 5 days a week, every week. After a day of tough exercise, ride him through light exercises the following day. Strenuous exercises every day can be almost as bad as no exercise at all. The horse and his muscles need time to rest to reach their potential.
4. Perform cardiovascular exercises 3 days a week. This can include traveling at a fast pace for a certain amount of time. Lengthen this time each week. Trotting, loping or cantering on flat ground is a good cardiovascular workout.
5. Incorporate strength training into your horse's schedule 3 days a week, skipping the day after for light work. Working a horse on an incline is great strength training. Use hills to walk and trot your horse. If you don't have access to hills, deep ground is also a good alternative. Working in deep sand or dirt can help strengthen many muscles in the horse.
6. Work your horse on suppling exercises every time you ride him. This keeps him flexible and keeps joints limber. Working uphill, riding through shallow water, working in circles and jumping over low jumps at a walk and trot are great suppling exercises for a horse of any discipline.