Knowing when to stop training

Some horses do not tire in any obvious way, but you may notice their work starting to slip, for example knocking fences down or losing their spring. A good rule is to stop while things are going well, so the work does not take too much out of the horse.

Build in several walk breaks for recovery during the session. Here is one example of how to structure a session.

Warm-up: Walk on for 10 minutes, do an easy jog for 5 minutes, then canter quietly until the horse is relaxed. Include walk breaks.

Pole work: Work over poles in trot and canter for 5 to 10 minutes. Walk poles are useful too.

Jumping: After about 30 minutes, start with fences from trot and then move on to fences in canter. Break the course into separate exercises and finish by jumping a whole course. Do not jump it again if the horse seems too tired to improve.

Jump no more than once a week, and vary the work with hacking, groundwork and rest days for recovery. Giving the horse time to recover is important for building muscle. If you want to compete, make a long-term plan with a build-up phase, competition and rest. A vet check before and after intensive periods is also worthwhile, to see whether the horse is ready to carry on or needs treatment.

Good luck!