Increasing fitness and stamina in a cob

[mnb]

Hi everyone,

I am after some advice on developing a fittening plan/programme for my horse and my self to improve his fitness, stamina and interest in work.
I have a traditional gypsy cob who I bought 16 months ago to help build my confidence after numerous incidents with previous horses. Bailey was 10 when I got him and had only ever been used for hacking and plodding around and never really schooled. Because of this we was very right legged as he had been able to choose which leg he wanted to go on in canter and would only ever canter on that lead. We have pretty much cracked that issue now and 98% of the time we get the correct lead. He has massively increased my confidence so are ready to start doing more things however we haven't yet found his forte. I believe that he is reasonably fit walking and trotting but lacks interest and stamina and I struggle to hold him in canter for more than 30 seconds and he takes so much work to get him to do a jump he certainly doesn't take me. But when I have been to the beach with him he will canter for as long as I want and last week on a xc course he took off in excitement doing flying bucks (first time since I've had him). I unfortunately don't do this exciting things often enough as the beach is an hour away and I'm very nervous when jumping and he had never jumped before I got him. I don't think I have helped the situation, I take him in the school too much and have made him stale but I am wanting to change this. I was at a show yesterday and where a lot of horses would be excited to be somewhere new he was as cool as a cucumber. Walk and trot was fab but I had to bully him into canter and again wouldn't hold it and to get him to extend just doesn't happen. His teeth, back, tack and health are all regularly checked.

I would love to get him to more shows, do some dressage and get round a 50cm show jumping or working hunter but I need to get him interested. If my nerves hold up I would also like to take him cubbing as I think that this would give him a new lease of live but need a weekly plan that I can add to each week to increase his stamina.

My currently plan is:
3-4 days 35-40 minutes schooling, walk, trot, canter starting some lateral work and rein back lots of transitions as he is very behind my leg and occasionally I will pop a cross pole if there is one up in the school maybe once a week.
1 8-9 mile hack in walk and trot loads on hills.
2 days off.


What would you suggest?

[sarahp]

First remember you have a horse bred to be driven and not ridden, which would not therefore have been bred to canter or jump. Doesn't mean he can't learn, but he may find those more difficult. Good for you in finding yourself a suitable horse, and for addressing his current state with correct schooling instead of a change of bit or supplement!

He sounds to me like a candidate for schooling on hacks as much as you can rather than in the school, I used to with all my Welsh Ds. You just have to think what you are doing and do it correctly, don't allow sloppy transitions but make all of them as neat as you can, for example. Leg yield across paths from side to side, and do a few circles if you can find suitable space. And don't forget periods of working in a long outline for variety and reward. I schooled in fields too using the same criteria - ride straight towards a particular chosen fence post rather than vaguely across the field for example. If he finds canter difficult he would find it easier in a bigger space than a normal school, which can be a bit tight to start with, so incorporate into your hacks. Canter up some hills if you can, and do big circles - if he's happy to canter along the beach maybe he find it easier in the big space?

You could try to vary his work in the school if you are forced to use it - long reining him, loose schooling or pole work to make him more active perhaps. If his walk and trot are good you could go and do some walk and trot dressage tests now couldn't you? Anything for variety. Cubbing and later hunting sounds great too. Good luck with him.

I'm no expert on fittening programmes, but would add that to make muscle they do need sufficient quality protein so maybe check out his feeding - I'm a huge fan of balancers, it might be worth talking to some of the quality feed company nutritionists?

[mnb]

Hi Sarahp thank you for your reply.

I think hacking is the way forward I just have to put my nerves to the back of my head (previous horses bolting). I have just bought a book called schooling while you hack. I am fortunate to be in an area with lots of hills. I am currently walking up them so that he has to push him self up and and trotting on the flats. Its just so hard to get him out of plod mode without using the whip every stride I do more work than him. When we wants to ie when excited he has a fabulous walk so I know he can do it just don't know how to get it out of him. Maybe tonnes of transitions. I started him on endurance feed and oats about two months ago following my instructors instructors to start on competition mix but my nerves wouldn't let me. But it has made no difference at all, so after research I am going to start spillers instant response mix (for the laid back horse.

Here is a picture

[sarahp]

He looks a lovely chap, and I was expecting a coloured when you said a gipsy cob!

He does learn to be sharp off your leg by the sound of it - I was taught gentl squeeze, if no response PC kick, if still no response schooling whip behind your leg. Constant nagging with your legs just makes them ignore it.

The book sounds great, I had to do it without benefit of that sort of help. Just another odd thought - has a physio checked him over? We bought a pony years ago who passed the vet OK but was a little lazy with one hind. One treatment later and he woke up, I think being not quite right had slowed him down.

[mnb]

Yeah I do what you have said above and by the end of the session he is great. But the next time I ride he gone back to how he was before. He really responds to be shouted at but I feel like a right plonker. Physio checks him every 6 months and no problems. Does have slight windgalls but the vet says that these are just cosmetic. I started him on endurance mix and oats 2 months again after my instructors instruction to start on comp mix but I was scared off the effect so went with slow release. It has made no difference at all. So I have been looking it to comp mix and alot of people with cobs what said that spillers instant respone (for the laid back horse) works well.

[baluga]

He's quite a nice looking cob. How big? Take a bit more off his tail and you'll have quite a nice little show cob.
I certainly think going cubbing is a great idea!
Firstly if you're program is to get him fit for the cubbing I would reduce the schooling sessions and add more hacking (I also have to agree with earlier post, I'd be more inclined to school whilst hacking out. 1-2 sessions a week in the school should be sufficient)
If he's struggling with cantering in the school/confined spaces but is happy to do it in larger more open spaces then I'd be looking into the possibility that he doesn't feel balanced enough to carry himself. Do you lunge/long rein at all? I would use this as one out of two sessions. Don't forget to long rein over poles too.
Do plenty of hill work and canters out hacking. Vary the pace of the canter, as him to collect as much as possible then ask for him to extend before bringing him back down to a collected again. Ask for plenty of transitions - hundreds, flex his neck, leg yield, shoulder in etc etc
When riding in the school do a variety of different things, again loads of transitions, turns and circles. Put random poles out, put trot poles out, poles in a star formation.
I'd hold off popping x poles until you have him going nicely off your leg, do loads of pole work for now instead.
do you wear spurs? You may need to just reinforce to him that you want him going forwards off your leg - if he's never been asked to do it, then he won't know that it's what he's supposed to be doing!

[catkin]

I agree with all SarahP has said and baluga too. I would add, that to get him fit I would do some proper interval training. An old-fashioned concept now I am sure, but it works! Probably lots of good books on the subject, but basically it's based around 'intervals' of fast and slower work, expanding the lungs/using muscles, resting etc. The intervals change as the fitness improves. I have my own little version I have used to great effect on lots of laid back native ponies. And always, always ride forward!

[sunny1]

I too think cubbing would be a great idea along with schooling while out on a hack. We have a coloured traditional stallion and he is very lazy, i think it just the 'type' of horse they are, but then it usually means they are very safe.We feed pasture mix normally but if a big show is due we wean him on to competition mix with baileys outshine and he looks wonderful on it, though it doesn't make him gallop any faster !!!