Horse Training Plan: How Do I Train My Horse Correctly?

‍DoI even needa training plan for my horse?

Training, by definition, means systematically exposing the body to a repeated stimulus so that its structures adapt to that stimulus. This leads to an increase in performance. Training therefore has a clear goal in mind, which can only be achieved through an increase in performance.

‍But does every rider really need a training plan for himself and his horse? Even if one has no tournament intentions?

The real question should be, why not? Because no matter for what reason we ride our horse, it must be able to bear our weight. And in such a way that it does not suffer any damage in the long run. As much as spending time together with the horse, not pursuing higher goals, is important for the partnership, in the end you need a muscular and mentally well-rested horse. It does not matter in which discipline and at which level the horse is ridden. Every horse is an athlete who needs a stable health.

With a training plan, you can keep track of your progress and discover more training opportunities. And thinking outside the box brings motivation and fun to the saddle.

By visualizing the training possibilities, it is equally easier to offer the horse more variety and to create a balance between over- and under-exertion. Metabolism and digestion are boosted by a variety of exercise, which is especially beneficial for overweight horses to prevent EMS and laminitis.

At the same time, visualized horse training can take back riders who are too ambitious in the saddle and tend to overwork themselves and the horse.

Last but not least, the elaborated structure of a training plan can strengthen the partnership of horse and rider, precisely because they are embarking on a journey together.

A training plan is therefore not only useful for ambitious riders, but also for every recreational rider. Let's now take a look at how we develop an individual training plan for your horse.

Step by step to the right training plan for your horse

Before we present sample training plans for different objectives, we'll go through step-by-step how to create your individual training plan for you and your horse.

Step 1: Actual situation: How trained is my horse?

Before we even start to compile exercises, we must first look at the horse and its fitness. So ask yourself: How fit is my horse? What does his muscling look like and how is it distributed? Is there any tension? Is it lacking muscles or does it have too many in certain areas? Can my horse trot easily for 20 minutes at a time or does he run out of breath before that?

The appearance of a horse reveals a lot about its fitness level:

• An untrained horse will not have a nice round topline, but will have a sunken neck and back, possibly a fat belly and an underneck 
• An overtrained horse has a high resting pulse over 40 and is very tense both nervously and physically. Despite a lot of training, it either has too few muscles or muscles in the wrong places (lower neck).
• A well-trained horse has a beautiful topline that is visually twice as long as the lower neck; the neck tapers toward the ears; the pulse drops within a few minutes after exercise; the horse springs and springs quietly.

The fitness level of the horse can be determined very well on the basis of the pulse. To do this, you can feel the pulse on the gait with your fingers before and after riding. Count the pulse for fifteen seconds and multiply it by four to extrapolate to the minute. The following beats per minute are normal for a horse:

• at rest 28-40 beats per minute (bpm)
• light work: 28-110 bpm
• light: 110-130 bpm
• medium: 130-150 bpm
• intense: 150-180 bpm
• Maximum 190-240 bpm

With a well-trained horse, the pulse should be back around the resting range within 10 minutes after the unit. If it takes longer, the horse is not in good condition. If your horse has very distended nostrils and breathes heavily and shallowly, he urgently needs a break.

Another indication of your horse's stamina and strength is the sweat pattern. This is because, apart from the saddle pad, the horse sweats in the areas that are particularly stressed. Partial sweating tells you the following about your horse's fitness:

• Neck and head: stressed and overworked horses chew violently and sweat mainly on the neck, head, forehead and ears. This may indicate mental stress.
• Underside of the neck and base of the chest: If the horse sweats exclusively on the underside of the neck, it does not take the back and hindquarters with it, but carries itself and the rider via the tension in the lower neck. It runs on the forehand.
• Loin/flank: If the horse sweats in the lumbar region, it tilts the pelvis and thus also arches the back. Very good!
• Pants, hindquarters: If the hindquarters are wet, the horse uses them to carry. A well-trained horse sweats more on the flank and hindquarters than on the neck.

Finally, you can check the horse's coordination by leading him over different surfaces. Does your horse stumble a lot? Can your horse step over poles without bumping? Does your horse walk backward in a coordinated, smooth manner? If your horse runs a little out of control, you should always put coordination exercises at the beginning of the session. As soon as the pulse rate goes up in conditioning and the body gets more blood flow, there is less blood left for the brain, which makes it harder for the horse to concentrate.

Step 2: Goal setting: What is the goal to be achieved?

In addition to discipline-specific goals, such as learning a canter pirouette for a dressage horse, there are three basic training goals on the schedule for every horse: strength, conditioning and coordination. These three points must be trained fundamentally in order to obtain a healthy, high-performance horse.

Endurance training strengthens and stabilizes the tendons, ligaments and fascia, protecting joints, bones and muscles. Many riders focus only on the muscles, which are developed within a few weeks. Fascia, on the other hand, takes two years to become stable. And in the process, they enclose the entire body. So a horse whose condition is not trained can suffer damage more quickly. In addition, endurance training improves the cardiovascular system.

The coordination is important that the horse can perform its movement in a controlled manner. This reduces his risk of injury.

And strength, after all, is crucial for the horse to be able to carry the rider without any problems.

Strength, fitness and coordination go hand in hand and should therefore be trained equally. Only then can you set your personal goals. You can divide these into long-distance goals and stage goals.

A common problem is that the goals set are too vague. In order for you and your horse to progress in training, the goals should be SMART. To make this more understandable, let's look at goal setting for an overweight, untrained horse. It is not enough to say that the horse should lose weight. A SMART training goal would be:

• S - Specific: The horse should lose weight by exercising more, so that there is no EMS or laminitis gets.
• M - Measurable: 80 kilograms (horse scale) or one level in the body condition score must come down.
• A - Attractive: I want my horse to lose weight so he can stay healthy and carry me better.
• R - Realistic: I can manage to lunge and/or ride the horse three times a week. My horse is lame-free and has no physical complaints.
• T - Terminated: After four months I would like to see a visible result.

So the long-term goal has been set. Now you can use milestones to make your progress measurable. For example, you can break down the 80 kilograms in four months into 20 kilograms per month. In another example, you can divide the learning of a canter pirouette into a walking pirouette, a walking pirouette and a canter pirouette. Staged goals help you to proceed in a structured way and thus make it easier for your horse to understand.

Under the point R like realistic you should also plan your training environment. What conditions do you have to achieve your goals?

Step 3: Planning the training approach and creating the training plan.

You now know the fitness level of your horse and have set your goals. From this you can put together appropriate exercises.

The development of strength, conditioning and coordination stands as an overriding goal to your personal training goals. For example, your horse can only perform a new dressage task such as the step pirouette if he has the strength to bend his hanks, the coordination to arrange his legs and the condition to do it all without exhaustion.

For example, if you can exercise your horse three days a week, you can choose between cross-country, ground work and lunge work to train strength, coordination and fitness. You can then work towards the goals you have set yourself within the units.

When creating your training plan, drill down your goals from top to bottom, big to small:

• Main goal according to SMART
• Stage goals divided into monthly and weekly plans
• Daily schedule reflecting the training session.

To reach your stage goals, weekly and daily plans can be helpful, which eventually come together to form the big main goal. We have listed sample training approaches in the section below.

It's best to keep your training plan in writing or visualize it so you can always keep your equestrian goals in mind.

Step 4: Implementation and reflection of the training objectives

Now you can start your horse training. In addition to implementation, reflection is an equally important part of the training plan. Only when you compare your status quo with your initial situation can you recognize progress. Documenting and reviewing your training will help you reach your milestones. In addition to examining your approach, look at the training environment, equipment that may need to be adjusted during training, and your horse's muscling. Realign yourself if necessary, which will keep you on the right track.

What should I look out for in the training plan for my horse?

Every horse training plan looks different - completely individualized to the horse and the rider's goals. Nevertheless, here are 7 tips and suggestions that you should definitely consider when creating your training plan:

1. the mixture makes it: The more varied the training plan, the higher the motivation of horse and rider. Furthermore, the alternation of exercises helps to address all areas of the body equally. You can switch between:

• Cavaletti
• Lunging
• Terrain, fitness training
• Dressage work
• Jumping
• Ground worksuch as classic handwork or double lungeing
• Trick training and balance training for coordination

2. build up individual units sensibly: Start with coordination exercises, then only with fitness. The warm-up phase can already be used sensibly, simply shuffling along is counterproductive. A horse needs to be both well warmed up and cooled down, for which loose exercises at a walk are suitable. The cooldown is just as important as the warmup.

3. create a balance between work and break! If you want to train your horse sensibly, it is essential to include breaks in the training session and in the training plan. During breaks, the body adapts to the performance stimulus, thus building muscle, and the horse processes what it has learned. However, break days do not mean leaving the horse in the box. Offer him free exercise in a paddock or paddock or a walk.

Work well, but not too much. Overwork is just as bad for the horse and its performance as underwork. Keep a balance between overwork and boredom with your horse's training plan.

5. document your progress by video or photo. Keeping a visual record of the current status and your progress not only boosts motivation, but also helps to identify the remaining construction sites.

6. pay attention to the feeding. You are what you eat also applies to our horses. So keep in mind to adjust the feeding schedule to the training schedule.

Work both sides equally. Every horse has a good side and a less good side. Even if you want to strengthen the weaker side, both sides should be trained equally. Start with the stronger side, once the horse is warm you can focus on the weaker side.

Training examples: How should a training plan for horses be designed?

‍Training planfor untrained horses or horses after a break from injury.

No matter for what reason the horse has a longer standing break, already after 8 to 10 break days the muscle breakdown starts in the horse. And after about 12 weeks, you can start the build-up training completely from scratch. Keep the following rule of thumb in mind for the horse's build -up training: To bring the horse back to its previous performance level, it takes twice as long as the break itself. If the horse was able to move by walking during its break in training, the muscles will not break down as quickly or basic muscles will be maintained. This also counteracts muscle hardening, blockages and other signs of overuse.

However, if you want to retrain a horse after an injury-related break, for example after tendon damage, you have to proceed very carefully, very slowly and at a walk. The short intervals are then increased every minute from day to day. Always keep an eye on your horse's pulse and respiration. In addition, you should always discuss the training with your veterinarian.

An example training plan for horse after a break from injury could look like this:

Week 1 - Step: Starting with one minute of step. This is extended by another minute every day. Important: One or two days a week the horse should be allowed to rest. So schedule a grooming and massage session then.

2nd week - from 20 minutes walk: If the horse copes well with the walk level, you can include a small walk course. This trains coordination, promotes body awareness, strengthens the back and stretches tendons and ligaments. Here, too, increase the duration every minute.

3rd to 5th week - from 40 minutes walk: Now the first trotting steps can be added. Walks, a small walking course and balance pads expand the horse's training schedule. Depending on the horse's stamina and well-being, the individual trotting steps can be expanded.

Week 6 to 7 - from 60 minutes walk: The trotting sessions can be extended further and further. Nevertheless, keep an eye on your horse's condition.

From the 8th week: Now the first canter steps and side gaits can be incorporated into the sessions. Here, too, keep an eye on your horse's condition and start cantering just as slowly and carefully as at the beginning of the build-up training.

Unlike a horse that has to start completely from scratch due to an injury, you can train a horse faster after the winter break. Ideally, the horse has maintained its muscles over the winter months due to loose training. So, especially in preparation for the season, you can start the build-up training with long stride phases of up to 20 minutes. Overstepping and lateral gaits loosen up the horse in the loosening phase. Depending on the horse's condition, the walk sequences can be supplemented with 5 to 10 minutes of trot, which are gradually increased. Only after a few days canter is added and also slowly increased.

Training plan for young horses

Many factors go into training plan for young horses. The young horse training includes not only the improvement of performance, but also the education of the horse to become an affable leisure partner. This means that the variety in training exposes the horse to different situations, where it gains in nervousness and self-confidence.

A horse is not fully grown until it is about six years old, and some breeds take even longer. Therefore, one should wait with breaking in, as adding the rider's weight, until the horse is physically and mentally mature enough for it. Nevertheless, you can prepare the horse systematically at a young age.

Training young horses requires a sensitive approach. The young horse must not be overtaxed, for which reason new things must be broken down into small steps. In this way, the horse remains motivated and trusting of the human being.

A training plan for young horses is still important to approach the individual steps slowly and carefully and not to rush. Once a mistake has been made, it is difficult to erase it from the horse's memory or to overwrite it.

Accordingly, a training plan for young horses stretched out over the years can look like this:

Up to three years: In the tender age up to three years the daily handling should be learned, the youngster is familiarized with halter, rope and leading. Short walks with another horse or as a hand horse can be the order of the day.

From 3 years: Preparation for riding weight begins. With varied ground work can begin to build up the muscles and strengthen the tendons and joints. Just ten minutes is enough at the beginning to ensure that the young horse is neither physically nor mentally overloaded. The following exercises can be worked on from the ground in hand and on the lunge line: 

• Change of tempo
• Change gear
• Terrain as a hand horse or walking

Again and again the unit can be performed with saddle pad and bridle so that the horse gets used to the equipment.

From 4 years: Slowly, the rein aids can be worked out via handwork and double lunge. If the horse shows that it is already capable of more, the training period can be extended. Nevertheless, many breaks in between are essential.

From 5 years: The horse now has a good basis so that the first mounting can be practiced and occasionally woven into the other training plan. At the age of 6, the horse is fully grown and muscularly and ligamentally sufficiently developed to carry the rider's weight. After the familiarization phase, one can start with 2 riding units per week. 

As the training progresses, the training scale becomes the focus of the training plan, and riding should not be the only thing on the schedule. Especially in the young horse workvariety must be emphasized. Only with a slow and thoughtful approach can you train a riding horse with strong nerves, healthy and able to work under pressure.

How often should a young horse be worked? A rule of thumb suggests working a three-year-old horse 3 times a week, a four-year-old 4 times a week and a five-year-old 5 times a week. In between, there are break days where the young horse is simply allowed to still be a child with its peers of the same age.

In particular on the young horse training we go into detail in the corresponding article.

H3: Season schedule for show horses:

After the winter break, the show season is upon many riders. The big goal of training show horses is, of course, the show itself. But training for it doesn't start just a few months before the actual start. The season can be divided into sections, each of which has its own micro-goals, but all of which add up to the big goal - the show.

Development and preparation: The development phase runs from the winter months of October to December and January to March. During the winter months, the lessons already learned and performance achievements of the previous season are internalized. Also, the horse's level of conditioning, coordination and strength is maintained. Then in the spring, new lessons are added to be tested in the show.

Depending on the discipline, the training sessions should be designed accordingly, but without skimping on variety. A dressage horse can also be lunged over cavaletti and a showjumping horse should be worked in dressage for its coordination and a balanced muscle development.

Plan at least one day off per week when the horse can go to the paddock and is neither ridden nor lunged.

Pre-tournament: The pre-tournament phase is shorter but more intensive. The load decreases, but the intensity of work increases. The focus here is on the performance that will then be tested in the next stage, the tournament. You could also think of it as the dress rehearsal before the tournament.

Tournament: Everything learned can now be presented at the tournament. How many entries and tournament weekends in a row are possible varies from horse to horse. Also, how long the tournament phase can last in total must be made dependent on the horse and the general goals. In general, however, the season can be finished when you have had a few good starts and the horse has shown that what it has learned fits.

Regeneration: Directly after the tournament and after the tournament phase, regeneration is an absolute must. Before winter training or smaller winter tournaments start, the horse should be allowed to recover from the show season for a few weeks beforehand.

Training plan for old horses: Keep old horses fit

A rolling stone gathers no moss - this also applies to horses. Senior horses also need a training plan to keep them fit with the help of gymnastics keep them supple and maintain their muscles. For this purpose, not only open stabling is beneficial, but also extended walks.

If the senior is still fit enough to tolerate trotting, a warm-up phase of at least twenty minutes at a walk always precedes. For old horses with arthrosis, it should even be 30 minutes of warm-up. Only then can you start with the trotting phase.

Age-appropriate conditioning training should be supplemented with gymnastics in hand or the double lunge. Trail obstacles are recommended for variety in the training schedule and to promote the senior's mental and coordination skills. It is important not to make too tight turns in order to protect the joints. It is best to slowly approach the limit of your senior horse to find out what he can still do.

Training plan for fat horses to lose weight

Being overweight is not part of the horse's nature. Every pound too much on the ribs could prevent the horse from making a life-saving escape in the wild. In our domestic horses, therefore, it is not uncommon for metabolic diseases such as EMS or laminitis to develop from obesity. To prevent this, an immediate weight loss program is required. This provides for a combination of a reduction in energy content and more exercise. At the same time, the metabolism must be boosted, for which interval training is particularly suitable. If the horse is severely overweight, start with intervals of 2 minutes walk and 3 minutes trot alternating for 30 minutes. If the horse's fitness level adapts to this stimulus, you can increase the interval duration to 40 minutes.

Later on, gallop sprints are added, because galloping burns the most calories. These can also be extended over time.

But be careful! You should not overdo it. The excess weight in itself is already a high load for tendons and joints. Therefore, the training intensity should be increased only slowly and appropriately to avoid muscle soreness in the horse.

Interval training can be done in the field, under saddle or on the lunge. But also walking, the horse walker or fast walking and jogging with the horse can be included in the interval program.

At some point, endurance training alone will no longer be enough. Then the horse's training plan must be supplemented with strength training. The following exercises are suitable for this:

• Many, correctly executed transitions
• Cavalettis for trotting and galloping
• 2 minutes medium canter
• Uphill riding
• Interval training in hilly terrain

FAQs - Frequently asked questions about the training plan for horses

1. how often should you train a horse?

Is it good to ride your horse every day? To answer the question, one must distinguish between exercise and training. Exercise is right and important for every horse every day to maintain its muscles and counteract tension and joint wear. The horse's exercise schedule alternates between intensive training and loose exercise. One should ride the horse a maximum of 3 to 4 times a week - every third day is sufficient. This is because the pressure in the saddle position causes compression of the muscles - even with a fitting saddle. The fascia tissue is compressed and loses its buffering effect. If you do not give the tissue a rest, adhesions will occur in the long run. Rest days are therefore essential for regeneration.‍

2. when should you change a training plan?

To achieve training success, the body must be exposed to new stimuli again and again. That's why a well-developed horse training plan provides for an increase in intensity with plenty of variety to push the body to its limits. If the horse's body is still clearly adapting to the training stimulus by building muscle, the training plan does not need to be changed. Only when the horse has reached a certain performance plateau and can no longer reach its load limit do you have to create new physical stimuli for the horse.

On the other hand, the training plan should be changed if you do not see any training success on your horse. If, despite training, neither the horse's condition nor its coordination or strength improves, one should rethink the way of training and even riding. 

‍3How long does it take for a horse to build up muscles?

If you expose the horse to a training stimulus on a regular basis thanks to a structured training plan, it will build up muscles in the subsequent recovery phase. The body adapts to the load within 72 hours. If the horse starts from zero in terms of muscle, a healthy muscle build-up will take 8 to 12 weeks. However, husbandry and feeding also play a decisive role here: the horse should be able to move freely and a lot outside of training and receive high-quality proteins in order to be able to supply its muscles sufficiently.

‍4How do I know if my horse needs a break?

Providing training incentives does not mean pushing the horse to exhaustion. If your horse is exhausted, you can recognize it by the following points:

• Shallow, hectic breathing
• The horse reacts slowly or no longer at all to your signals
• The horse stumbles a lot
• The horse is quickly distracted by its environment and can not concentrate
• The repetitions of an exercise become worse each time

A break does not only mean to put the horse in the paddock after a tournament, an intensive training or a course weekend. A break can also be incorporated during training as a reward. Create the break with a few rounds of walking, your horse's favorite task that he is particularly good at, crawling or a massage. A walk in the field is also a good way to end a successful training session on a positive note.