With the 2025 eventing season kicking off this weekend, most event horses who will be out competing in March are already fit, schooled and raring to go. For equines who prefer better ground (or with owners who don’t have the time or facilities to get them fit enough during the cold and dark of winter), fitness programmes and training clinics are ramping up now that we have lighter evenings. Whether your horse is set to make their seasonal debut soon or you’re waiting a little longer, this blog is packed with tips to help keep your horse sound, healthy and happy throughout the season. A well-planned approach to fitness, recovery and variety in training can make all the difference, so here are some ideas for keeping your horse in peak condition so you can enjoy a successful and injury-free season.
Tips for fine-tuning their fitness
After putting so much work into the pre-season, you want to ensure that you and your horse can enjoy competing without risk of injury. That means maintaining those fitness levels is key – Eventing is a demanding sport, and maintaining a high level of fitness is key. We recommend gallops sessions where you measure your horse’s speed over set distances to ensure you can meet the metres per minute speed for your BE level. If you’re able to get your hands on a heart rate monitor, you can make extra sure your horse maintains peak fitness in the run up to events! Remember, interval training, gallops sessions and hill work are all excellent ways to keep your horse fit throughout the season.
Cross-training for mental and physical benefits
Planning in a mixture of different disciplines and formats into training sessions will help keep your horse mentally engaged and help to reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries. Here are some of our top picks for cross training event horses:
- Water treadmill sessions provide low-impact conditioning, improving cardiovascular fitness without adding stress to joints and tendons.
- Polework and gridwork are incredibly useful for communication, balance, core strength and adjustability, as well as engaging the horse’s mind.
- Hacking! Never forget how beneficial hacking is for your horse, giving them a change of scenery, the chance to work over a variety of surfaces and building stamina all at the same time.
Balancing training with rest and active recovery
Horses, like us humans, need adequate recovery to perform at their best. Managing workload and rest days is just as important as schooling and fitness work, and if you plan to compete from March to October, don’t forget to plan in some lighter weeks to give their body and mind a rest. Plus, regular sessions with an equine physio can help identify minor stiffness before it turns into something more serious. Including some stretching into your weekly routine is also a smart move!
A day standing still in a box isn’t great for any horse, let alone a fit event horse, so make sure they get turnout on their day off. Active rest days might also include a walk under saddle or some gentle loose schooling to keep muscles loose while giving them a mental break. If you have a holiday planned during the eventing season and don’t want your horse to lose fitness, why not send them here for holiday livery? We can keep them ticking over so that you can stick to a full season of eventing and still enjoy some time away from the 9 to 5!
Post-competition recovery
After an event, some light work such as walking on the water treadmill, long reining or an easy hack helps clear lactic acid and reduces stiffness. Regular post-competition sessions with an equine physio can help identify minor stiffness or issues before they turn into something more serious. Care for their legs after hard training and competitions with ice boots or cold hosing to support recovery and reduce the risk of swelling.
Supporting performance with wellbeing
Small discomforts can quickly turn into performance issues, so regular check-ins on your horse’s tack, teeth and general wellbeing are essential. Regularly visits from your saddle fitter will prevent soreness and muscle imbalance, especially as your horse’s shape changes throughout the season. Don’t forget to keep up with dentist appointments too, even if they fall during the busy competition season, to ensure your horse’s teeth are comfortable and in good shape.
A happy, engaged horse is more likely to perform well throughout the season. Mixing up routines can help prevent mental fatigue and keep them feeling their best. So, say yes to a fun clinic with friends, a beach ride in the early morning or an impromptu schooling session in our cross-country field when it opens. If you’re interested in visiting to use any of our facilities during the eventing season, take a look at our dedicated page here for more details and prices. And keep an eye on our social media for details of our cross-country field opening (when it gets drier and warmer!).