by Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD,

Strategic layoffs

Many equestrian sports have an annual cycle in which a competition season alternates with an off-season.  Even in the sports that continue on a year-round basis, most trainers schedule a break from competition, which gives the horse a chance to recover mentally and physically from the stress of travelling and competing.  Consequently, long-term conditioning plans are based on an annual periodicity.

Benefits of deconditioning

At the end of the competition season, the horse benefits from a period of “active rest”, which involves riding or driving for pleasure two or three times a week to preserve the strength and suppleness of the musculoskeletal tissues, while allowing somewhat of a reduction in cardiovascular fitness.  If a baseline level of fitness if maintained through a reduced work schedule, reconditioning of the horse proceeds much more rapidly the following season.  It is not recommended that horses be let down completely – except during recuperation from injury – because large oscillations in fitness are detrimental to long-term soundness.

In older horses, it is particularly important to maintain fitness in the off-season because reconditioning takes longer as the horse ages.

Definitions and Concepts

What is fitness? 

The conditioning process comprises three distinct, but complementary areas known as cardiovascular conditioning, strength training, and limbering exercises.  Cardiovascular conditioning enhances the ability of the respiratory, cardiovascular, and muscular systems to produce energy by the appropriate metabolic pathways.  Strength training is directed toward increasing the power or endurance of the muscle groups that are important for performance of the specific sport.  Limbering exercises increase the range of motion of the joints, which makes the horse more athletic, improves the aesthetics of the performance, and reduces the risk of injury.

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