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Beach Rides - A fantastic way to Improve your Horse's Strength and Stamina!
When it comes to training our horses and getting them fit, we generally think about getting our horse to the stage where it can withstand a certain length of time being ridden without dripping with sweat, but as important as the stamina side of fitness is, we often overlook the importance of good strength.
So what's the difference?
With stamina - we're trying to achieve optimum endurance from our horse so that their organs including the lungs and heart can healthily withstand a fast paced ride with a good recovery. This is trained by consistency in our fitness regime and gradually lengthening the amount of time we ride for. Our horses need a good level of stamina in the first place to be able to comfortably enjoy that long canter down the beach we all dream about but because the sand depth adds resistance it increases the effort required by the horse therefore making it a great stamina exercise for those horses going up a level in their training regime.
Strength - So everyone knows the importance of having a fit horse but often struggle with achieving true strength. This is all about the musculoskeletal fitness aspect of the horse, which requires strong, equally formed muscle in the correct places. If you can achieve this then you will dramatically reduce the chances of your horse having an injury.
You can have a strong horse with no stamina, equally you can have an endurance horse with poor strength, so the importance of factoring in both when working out your training regime is vital for an all-round fit and healthy equine.
Unfortunately, the more we ride our horses, the more pressure and strain we are putting on their bodies so how do we work on fitness, strength, core stability and engagement all whilst causing minimal stress to the joints and ligaments. Viscous circle isn't it?
six horses walking through shallow sea water on sandy beach
This is where beach rides can really help. Walking in shallow water (just covering the hoof) will make the horse step slightly higher with every stride as they prefer to step up and over the water. Just imagine how many raised poles you would have to put out to achieve a 5-10 minute walk of this consistent action! This is excellent for working that hind end and also a very good rehabilitation exercise. Don't overlook how much your horse is having to work those muscles even in the shallowest of waters so be mindful not to overdo it if your horse is unfit. Once your horse can do this with ease, take them slightly deeper so those legs are lifting even higher.
three horses wading through sea water above knees with riders wearing helmets and red body protector
If your horse enjoys the water don't be afraid to get them wet. Once the water is above their knee level and they are walking without lifting up and over with every stride, they move into resistance mode and we have all heard our gym instructors tell us how resistance work is key for muscle strength! This is excellent for full body conditioning and working that top line. Horses tend to take a bigger stride under water, this will help with hind end engagement and muscle development over the lumbar area. The water encourages them to drive from behind and take weight off that forehand and work up and over their back. (You will notice as the horse starts to work through the water, his head will naturally start to drop onto the vertical as he works over his back into a true outline- no gadgets or nagging reins needed!) The concussion and impact on the joints and legs are also dramatically reduced making it an all-round beneficial workout for our horses.
So, the beach really is the place to head for if you want an all-round healthy, conditioned horse with improved performance. What an easy way to make training fun for both of you!
Thanks for joining us on this epic adventure! We love sharing it all with you - leave a comment and let me know what you'd like to see more of,
xo
Jade
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