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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
   
Location: Louisiana | I'm working to get T-Bo back in shape and we've been doing a good bit of long trotting to burn off some fat. I was just wondering how far everyone goes? 2 miles, 5 miles, etc? What do you start at and what do you ultimately build up to? I have a large field and plenty of wooded trails now that we've moved. So were stuck in a small arena anymore.
Feel free to toss out any other routines y'all do to stay in shape!! Once he builds a little more muscle and wind I would like to start breezing him once or twice a month also. Right now we're focusing on the "beer belly" lol. He had a couple months off due to a hot hot hot summer and skin allergies.
Thanks!!! |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
 
Location: Montana | My typical ride is about 2 miles, and I would say I trot about half of that, the other I lope or walk, and occasionally breeze. Sometimes I go longer, it just depends on how much time I have. I have done as much as 4 miles trotting, give or take, but feel that that is a little excessive. I'd say, JMO, 2 miles would be a good amount. I'd start out with less, maybe a half to 1 mile of long trotting, and build up from there. Again, JMO. |
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Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | Thanks! I do a LOT of walking. I set my gps the other day and we went 4 miles during a 30 minute ride. He was psychotic that day and I ended up just letting him run off a little steam. So we went farther than normal bc we were going faster than normal lol.
A friend of mine trots hers about 4 miles. Not daily, but fairly often. And he is lean and has a huge stride.
I guess I feel like I can walk 3 miles like it's nothing. My horse has 4 legs and probably should go further than me. |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | 2 miles is really nothing for a horse to long trot. If yours is super fat and out of shape, that would maybe be the most I would go the first few times. I walk mine a bit and then pick up a trot, once they are feeling good and wanting to move out we go to the long trot and I just pick a trail and go and go. I usually go by my horse. If they are starting to puff or sweat quite a bit, I'll let them walk again or back down to a slow trot. |
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Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | wyoming barrel racer - 2015-08-30 5:35 PM
2 miles is really nothing for a horse to long trot. If yours is super fat and out of shape, that would maybe be the most I would go the first few times. I walk mine a bit and then pick up a trot, once they are feeling good and wanting to move out we go to the long trot and I just pick a trail and go and go. I usually go by my horse. If they are starting to puff or sweat quite a bit, I'll let them walk again or back down to a slow trot.
I do believe the reason I'm not clocking is bc the top girls have horses in top shape. I'm a half second off and he has a gut and so do I. So we're gonna change that!!
I say we're a half second off... I've gained about 20 lbs and I can honestly say we're consistently .8- .9 off now. So apparently it matters!!
Thank you! |
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Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | dashnlotti - 2015-08-30 4:53 PM wyoming barrel racer - 2015-08-30 5:35 PM 2 miles is really nothing for a horse to long trot. If yours is super fat and out of shape, that would maybe be the most I would go the first few times. I walk mine a bit and then pick up a trot, once they are feeling good and wanting to move out we go to the long trot and I just pick a trail and go and go. I usually go by my horse. If they are starting to puff or sweat quite a bit, I'll let them walk again or back down to a slow trot. I do believe the reason I'm not clocking is bc the top girls have horses in top shape. I'm a half second off and he has a gut and so do I. So we're gonna change that!! I say we're a half second off... I've gained about 20 lbs and I can honestly say we're consistently .8- .9 off now. So apparently it matters!! Thank you!
I'm with you! Totally agree. My horses have all been out for an injury of one sort or another. If I ever get one I can long trot on I will be in heaven lol. My gut needs the exercise as much as my fatties sitting in pasture do. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| I walk for about 10 minutes- long trot to 3 or 4 songs- usually around 15 minutes, walk 10 minutes then repeat long trotting with a little loping, walk to cool down. It is usually around 6 miles and takes about an hour. I do this 3 times a week. |
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| when i was able to ride we long troted about 1 or 2 miles of which i locked knees and balanced in the hot georgia sun coming back to work 5 day a week and a blow or breeze on thurs to pump air in them
i treated them like at the track only i long troted instead of galloped i personally think u can have to to much with no engery left for weekends
afterall we were barrel racing not endurance riding just my 02 |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1118
Location: The South | Perfect timing for this thread, I'm just starting to get mine back in shape too! It was just too dang hot this summer, I threw in the towel. |
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Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | LindsayJordan84 - 2015-08-30 6:56 PM Perfect timing for this thread, I'm just starting to get mine back in shape too! It was just too dang hot this summer, I threw in the towel.
Well not only did the humidity make me wanna pass out, it was T-Bo's first time being out in it. He's always had a stall and a fan. He didn't do well. He dropped weight, was beat down, got a sunburn. It was terrible. We got him some shade and a fan and he started to pick back up. But during all that I didn't ride him for 6-8 weeks. I put him on Animal Element Detox about 10 days ago and I can already see a difference. He is shiny again!! I sent a funny pic of him to my friend just now and she commented how good he looked. Made me get the warm and fuzzies hahaha!
I definitely don't push them in this heat. If they tell me they're hot, we quit. But as long as they're breathing good and ready to go, we keep going. Bc one day it might be 85 but the humidity is so high you can't breath. Friday evening it was hot but the humidity wasn't bad so they were fine. They sweated a lot but weren't breathing too hard. Sweat is good when you're trying to lose weight lol.
Another 2 weeks and I'll switch it up to start building more muscle. I have a small log I can pull, hills to work, stuff like that.
I always like like to hear others' routines bc there are so many ways to approach fitness and be successful!
Thanks for all the input!! |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| rodeomom3 - 2015-08-30 6:50 PM
I walk for about 10 minutes- long trot to 3 or 4 songs- usually around 15 minutes, walk 10 minutes then repeat long trotting with a little loping, walk to cool down. It is usually around 6 miles and takes about an hour. I do this 3 times a week.
^^Something very similar to this. I never had any leg problems and had plenty of run for the rodeos.^^ |
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Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | vjls - 2015-08-30 6:54 PM
when i was able to ride we long troted about 1 or 2 miles of which i locked knees and balanced in the hot georgia sun coming back to work 5 day a week and a blow or breeze on thurs to pump air in them
i treated them like at the track only i long troted instead of galloped i personally think u can have to to much with no engery left for weekends
afterall we were barrel racing not endurance riding just my 02
I appreciate different views!! I know sometimes I wonder what else I can do to get that burst of speed. But I do think at this point in my routine longer amounts of cardio are needed. To burn off the excess fat if nothing else. He is fat lol. Not obese, but needs to lose some.
I welcome all opinions!! Most things with my horses is a big hodge podge of techniques I've learned from various friends, trainers, pros, and of course BHW lol. |
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Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | dashnlotti - 2015-08-30 7:02 PM vjls - 2015-08-30 6:54 PM when i was able to ride we long troted about 1 or 2 miles of which i locked knees and balanced in the hot georgia sun coming back to work 5 day a week and a blow or breeze on thurs to pump air in them
i treated them like at the track only i long troted instead of galloped i personally think u can have to to much with no engery left for weekends
afterall we were barrel racing not endurance riding just my 02 I appreciate different views!! I know sometimes I wonder what else I can do to get that burst of speed. But I do think at this point in my routine longer amounts of cardio are needed. To burn off the excess fat if nothing else. He is fat lol. Not obese, but needs to lose some. I welcome all opinions!! Most things with my horses is a big hodge podge of techniques I've learned from various friends, trainers, pros, and of course BHW lol.
When I ran cross country in high school we would do stairs part of the week, sprints etc part and for our mid week runs we would go 4 miles plus. At our meets we only ran 3 miles so it was like an easy day. The longer runs during the week built us up, not tire us out. But you can over do it too, so I get what she was saying about being barrels not endurance. I just think it would take a lot to over do a horse. Our ranch horses can go all day and then some. They do 10 miles before lunch, usually a long trot gathering. Then stop for lunch and let them rest and drink and then trail cows home at a walk. I would bet they prefer the arena with me any day of the week |
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 Professional Amateur
Posts: 6750
Location: Oklahoma | I don't keep track of miles, but I keep track of my workout time (ETA - I ride for at least an hour per horse). I do a lot of walking / trotting and will throw in some loping all in an effort to build up stamina. I will also breeze in order to give them that sprint like they will feel during an actual competition run. The breezing also helped the Child Gone Wild to get a comfort of a horse actually running and get her over the fear of that run from the alley to the first barrel.
I don't base the "fat gut" on if they are in shape. I have some that just keep a gut and when I've had them in tip top shape and no gut - they don't clock. I'm not sure. But, a few of my "Oklahoma Fat Girls".. run tough a little chubby. They get the same exercise as the rest of the crew, but they LOVE their full figures.
Edited by Pocob 2015-08-31 12:44 PM
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 Go Your Own Way
Posts: 4947
Location: SE KS | good topic -
can you long trot to far?
Do you feel this affects their joints?
SOme vets believe only 1 1/2 is needed, after that, it is a stress on their joints?
what are the opinions out there? |
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 Leggs
Posts: 4680
Location: lexington KY | I have always used Marlene McRae's program and it has never failed me. I agree that 2 miles really isnt much for a horse. I like my horses to be in very good condition and a 30 minute program of continuous work doesnt take a lot of time, but this program gets the job done. I dont sprint that often but I do open my horse up a few times a month for a short distance.
http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-experts/western-horse-training-advice/faster-barrel-racing-time.aspx
Having a well-conditioned athlete is the first step to getting your horse to run to his maximum ability. I like to work my horse every day for the first eight weeks of training, and then decrease the training to four days a week. The distance I train and the pace I go are the secrets to a well-conditioned horse that has the ability to run faster during a barrel racing competition.
Condition your horse in long, straight lines whenever possible, as circles are physically hard on a horse. Here is my conditioning program broken down into each step:
• Trot one mile
• Lope one mile on one lead
• Lope one more mile on the opposite lead
• The fourth mile: Long trot the first half mile then slow trot the last half mile.
NOTE: Do not walk in between paces.
This totals four miles, which I feel is the optimum distance for building a well-conditioned equine athlete in barrel racing or any event. I want to keep the heart rate up and work it, then bring the heart rate slowly back down. Every third day, I sprint my horse after the third mile in a straight line for about 400 yards.
You will be impressed how your horse’s muscle tone will change with this type of conditioning program. Before long, you will find that your horse feels like running and will be quicker around the turns and faster in the straightaways. |
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Red Hot Cardinal Fan
Posts: 4122
| polorunner - 2015-08-31 2:36 PM I have always used Marlene McRae's program and it has never failed me. I agree that 2 miles really isnt much for a horse. I like my horses to be in very good condition and a 30 minute program of continuous work doesnt take a lot of time, but this program gets the job done. I dont sprint that often but I do open my horse up a few times a month for a short distance.
http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-experts/western-horse-training-advice/faster-barrel-racing-time.aspx
Having a well-conditioned athlete is the first step to getting your horse to run to his maximum ability. I like to work my horse every day for the first eight weeks of training, and then decrease the training to four days a week. The distance I train and the pace I go are the secrets to a well-conditioned horse that has the ability to run faster during a barrel racing competition.
Condition your horse in long, straight lines whenever possible, as circles are physically hard on a horse. Here is my conditioning program broken down into each step:
• Trot one mile
• Lope one mile on one lead
• Lope one more mile on the opposite lead
• The fourth mile: Long trot the first half mile then slow trot the last half mile.
NOTE: Do not walk in between paces.
This totals four miles, which I feel is the optimum distance for building a well-conditioned equine athlete in barrel racing or any event. I want to keep the heart rate up and work it, then bring the heart rate slowly back down. Every third day, I sprint my horse after the third mile in a straight line for about 400 yards.
You will be impressed how your horse’s muscle tone will change with this type of conditioning program. Before long, you will find that your horse feels like running and will be quicker around the turns and faster in the straightaways.
Thanks for posting this! Very informative.
Does anyone who is an Ed Wright junkie remember what he recommends for conditioning? I've been to a couple clinics and can't remember.
I will add that I work my horses very similar to this, but also a couple days a week I don't travel this far of a distance. When loping, I'll ask them to extend out and step it up a notch compared to a collected lope, but not fully breezing them out. Breezing depends on the horse I'm riding. One I breeze a couple times a week to get freed up, another doesn't need that. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 725
| Would you guys breeze on a gravel road? I've always been scared the footing wouldn't be very good. |
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Professional Amateur
Posts: 6750
Location: Oklahoma | I won't breeze in a gravel road. I do it in a safe environment and one I won't stone bruise my horse.
IowaCanChaser - 2015-08-31 6:04 PM
Would you guys breeze on a gravel road? I've always been scared the footing wouldn't be very good.
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| IowaCanChaser - 2015-08-31 6:04 PM
Would you guys breeze on a gravel road? I've always been scared the footing wouldn't be very good.
NO |
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