Wednesday, April 4, 2018
How to improve your horse's cardio? After a winter break and before starting specific work on the horse, developing the cardio-respiratory system is often a key stage in achieving optimum physical condition.
In this article, you'll find 3 sessions to help you work your horse's cardio-respiratory system, and in particular fundamental endurance.
This cardio-respiratory stimulus enables essential physiological adaptations such as :
Muscling the heart means making it adapt to effort by increasing the blood flow it can process with each beat. The more your horse progresses, the more efficient its heart becomes, i.e. as it becomes more muscular, it will need to beat less quickly to deliver the same quantity of "fresh" blood to the whole body, and in particular to the muscles. As a result, the muscles will have more fresh oxygen available, enabling them to produce more energy through the aerobic pathway.
Cardiorespiratory training develops efficient capillaries within the muscles. These vessels deliver a greater quantity of oxygen to muscle cells. It also increases the number of mitochondria. The mitochondrion is considered the cell's "energy powerhouse", since it is here that the final steps take place to transform the energy of organic molecules produced by digestion (glucose) into energy that can be directly used by the cell (ATP).
During endurance training, the horse's aerobic system (use of oxygen as the main source of energy) becomes more efficient. As a result, the horse's intramuscular energy reserves, in the form of muscle glycogen, are spared to a greater extent at moderate paces, and are depleted less rapidly if the effort continues over time. With training, the horse will be able to preserve its stocks of immediately available energy for a final sprint or any punctual acceleration.
Cardio-respiratory training also develops the body's capacity for recovery, making it better able to withstand training loads.
"Just because two horses are making the same effort at the same heart rate doesn't mean they're working as hard as each other!" - Dr. J. Guillaume
Dr. Justine Guillaume shares her secrets and tips for training your horse's fundamental endurance over 3 sessions.
Fundamental endurance training involves working the heart-lung system to improve the way your horse uses oxygen. Training him in fundamental endurance means working him at heart rates below 70% of his maximum heart rate (FCMax). Working in this zone will enable him to optimize the use of oxygen by his muscles, gradually lowering his exercise and resting heart rates.
To add some fun to this exercise, don't hesitate to go outdoors and take advantage of the gradients that the surroundings can offer. As well as providing an effective workout for your cardio-respiratory system, your mind will thank you!
Start your session with 10 minutes of walk followed by slow trot phases. During this warm-up phase, it's best to start with no mechanical stress on the horse. Don't forget that the aim is to warm up "the mechanics".
If you're working in the arena, you'll be able to perform figures such as voltes and voltes inversées, then initiate a few mobilization exercises (hips, shoulders) at the end of the warm-up. The aim is to make your horse available and willing to listen. The best part, of course, is to achieve this relaxed state!
Continue with slow/medium-speed trotting phases (approx. 13 - 16 km/h), lasting 5 to 8 minutes. Your horse's heart rate should not exceed 150-160 bpm (i.e. around 60% of its FCmax*).
Remember to allow time for recovery at walk with long reins between each trot phase. These recovery phases should last at least 2 minutes.
Next, work on your horse's canter. Prefer slow, calm canters. Perform at least 3 canter phases during the session, and make sure you don't go faster than 23-24 km/h. If you're working in the arena, remember to vary the figures!
Finally, end your session with a recovery phase. It's important to end your session on a positive, relaxed note. The recovery phase should begin with a slow trot (around 10 km/h), followed by a walk, with long reins if possible! In winter, don't forget to cover your horse's loins when he's walking!
What you need to know!
* A horse's maximum heart rate averages between 195-240 beats per minute. FCmax decreases with age and is specific to each horse. It is therefore recommended to measure it with an exercise test to be more precise!
This session should be done outdoors! Locate a large hill in the vicinity, ideally 1 km uphill, which will be your work tool for this session.
After a 15-20 minute warm-up phase at walk and trot in a riding arena or field, for example, we're off to the hill. During this warm-up phase, let your horse walk and trot freely. The aim of this session is not to work on technique, but rather to get to the heart of the matter!
Start the climb at a slow trot (12-14 km/h) and try to maintain a steady pace throughout.
If your horse's physical condition does not allow it to trot the entire hill, you can divide it into three zones:
There are several indicators you can use to assess this: your horse's breathing, perspiration and, above all, heart rate!
Note : It is normal to observe a significant rise in heart rate on the hill, even at a slow trot (up to 180-190 bpm).
Finally, finish the session with a recovery phase, first at a trot, then at a walk with long reins.
This last session can be done outdoors or in a quarry. Outdoors, find an area where you can trot for at least 20 consecutive minutes. Alternatively, you can go to a quarry for this part of the session.
Step warm-up: start by walking for 5 minutes at a 'normal' pace, then finish this phase with a minute of active stepping. If you're working in a quarry, remember to vary the figures (circles, hip and shoulder movements, etc.).
Ensuite, effectuez deux séries de trot à une vitesse lente (< 13 km/h) pendant 20 minutes chacune. Entre ces deux séries, pensez à aménager une phase de récupération de 5-6 minutes au pas, rênes longues.
Finally, finish the session with a recovery phase at walk pace, long reins.
Tip!
To make this session more complex, never increase the speed! Instead, you can do trotting sets of 23-25 minutes, or 3 sets of 15 minutes.
 |
Dr. Justine Guillaume Ph.D Equine Nutrition & |
Justine Guillaume has been a rider and horse owner for 20 years. With a doctorate in nutrition for the equine athlete, she aims to combine physiology, nutrition and performance to rationalize and objectify training.
Today, she is executive assistant in charge of scientific and technical affairs at Pommier Nutrition, a manufacturer and distributor of complementary feeds for horses, and has developed an Equine Performance Solutions entity, which provides support in terms of physical preparation for horses.
For her, physical preparation isn't just about massages and wellness treatments. It's much more than that! Above all, it's about preparing the body to perform while preserving its physical integrity. It's a complementary activity, which the trainer must use to get to know his athletes better and find out whether his training is effective. Above all, it's about evaluating the horse and its physical qualities, using stress tests to determine whether training is effective and the horse is progressing, or whether it's over-trained or under-trained...
" The new connected tools allow access to a small part of their 'inside', a mine of information! " - Dr. J. Guillaume
See you soon!
-The Seaver team
