Nestled in the beautiful Wollombi Valley at the south end of the NSW Hunter Valley, we are an equest If you can bring any with you it is much appreciated!
28/03/2025
Who else spends time walking? Our horses all get regular walk days. When they’re coming back into work after a break, they only walk for the first 2-4 weeks. So good for everyone involved- including me!
They W-I-L-L N-O-T D-O I-T.
Will not do what? Use active walks for strength training as an. add-on to their regular training schedules. Eventers, show jumpers, dressage riders, whoever could gain benefit from having stronger equine athletes.
What are you talking about?
Well, this---In 1974 Jack LeGoff had a shallow bench of advanced 3-day horses to send to the World Championshipd to be held in September at Burghley. He had six riders and six horses, zero extras if one got hurt. He wanted to maximize their fitness, because cross country day, back then, would be over 17 miles long, and would require one hour and twenty minutes of trotting and galloping.
So he used vigorous long walks three days a week in addition to the normal schools. So say we did 45 minutes of flat work in the morning, which, with warmup and cool down might take an hour, give or take. Then, in the afternoon, say Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, he would have us saddle up again after lunch, and go hike around the open hills at Wylie. About one to one and a half hours, as I remember, each walk day.
Walks do not stress horses much. They are highly unlikely to cause injury. They build base strength and create muscular development. They are a win-win.
But virtually NOBODY does this, Most human sports teams now employ strength coaches because when technique starts to fail, raw strength can create that winning edge. Why would human horse trainers not want stronger horses?
But does ANYONE grasp this in 2024? Or, if they do, do they make the effort to actually do it?
There’s a hidden gorilla in the room, actually more of a train than a gorilla, It is called the Excuse Train. Nobody wants to admit being lazy, so they dig up reasons to deflect.
“I don’t have time.” That’s a big one.
“I don’t have a place to do it.”
I don’t have enough help.”
But the real reason is usually more basic, six words. “I don’t want to do it.”
Everyone wants an edge. Strength is an edge. There’s a reasonably safe and straightforward method to add strength, Take Jack’s advice or deny it----.
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