Exercising twice a day for fitness?

Laura+Phantom · #1 15th May 2007, 09:24 PM

I am trying to fight the flab with phantom so we can get fit and get out there having fun, but its hard! He's already semi-fit and only has short grass and a bit of hay every day, I was wondering if exercising twice a day would help?

He can do an hour's hack in walk, trot and canter and only be a tiny bit damp on his girth area, which, when considering how fat he is, isn't bad.

Would lunging in the morning and riding in the afternoon make a difference?
Or hacking in the morning and schooling in the afternoon, something like that? I don't want him to get bored of me but his health is at risk with him carrying all that weight.

coss · #2 15th May 2007, 09:53 PM

i used to ride my mare twice a day and she was fine and think of all those riding school horses that might do 3 hours of lessons. start off with two short-ish rides and build it up so its not too sudden, i would probably school in the morning and hack in the afternoon as the horse is more likely to be stiff after schooling than hacking and the hack might help loosen phantom off if he feels stiff from schooling. lunging really gets horses fit, if you do lunge make it a short session and then do something relaxing if you work him again. lots of variety will be the key if you exercise twice a day.

All i used to do was gallop, canter etc about a field (i was young) but my mare loved that and was quite willing everytime... i couldn't do that with my gelding though!

Laura+Phantom · #3 15th May 2007, 09:58 PM

Great, thanks Coss! Think I will start tomorrow, he'll be slim if it kills me! I'll do the schooling or lunging in the morning then go for a hack in the afternoon, as you said.

Daffy Dilly · #4 15th May 2007, 10:12 PM

I did last year (and plan to as of this weekend) but I kept him in at night as well and that really shifted the weight.

At the time I was mostly hacking twice a day, but now the plan is to mix hacking with schooling, jumping, inhand work, freeschooling, longreining and lunging. Plenty to stop us getting bored, especially as I keep schooling sessions short and don't insist on breaking the 30minute barrier. I reckon we're lucky to make 15.

Even once round the block and 20 minutes in the school made a huge difference before. Although he did end up on competition mix, otherwise he was knackered out by day 3. I'm not sure whether he'll need it this year now that the physical problems are fixed, we'll see.

Laura+Phantom · #5 15th May 2007, 10:15 PM

Ah, good, thanks! I would really like to keep him in at night too, but can't unfortunately, I already rent one stable for Saphy and can't afford another. Might do when I get paid more though!

Well hopefully this will work!

NZdressage · #6 16th May 2007, 05:58 AM

I dont see a problem with that but I would school in the morn, when he is still fresh, and hack in the afternoon and lunge twice a week as lunging can be very hard on their joints etc if done too much.
It also depends on how long you ride him for.

Daffy Dilly · #7 16th May 2007, 06:58 AM

You could always keep one in at night and one during the day?

Laura+Phantom · #8 17th May 2007, 11:59 PM

That is a good idea daffy, I think I will try that if this exercise isn't having an effect on his weight. YO won't mind

(only reason i'm waiting is I don't really fancy leading him the 1/4 mile to and from the stable on the busy road with the scary tractors and lorries, he'd be off

) We'll see, he is getting braver on hacks!