07/05/2025
Cross training.. you may or may not have heard of it in the human world but what about in the equine world?
We all know all around horses are great, but what about utilizing different disciplines to enhance conditioning?
I believe in the power of a rounded horse. I have a barrel horse, but I also do a variation of ground poles, low jumps, even here utilizing my retaining wall on my arena. I also do trail riding, work often on foundational riding advanced maneuvers like rollbacks, lead changes, two tracking, lateral work.
How can this enhance our performance?
Think about muscles and how they all contribute to a movement. If we do that movement repeatedly it gets toned, trained and ready for the action. If we do different training we are challenging the muscles to work in different degrees. We are asking for more beyond what we are doing competitively. We train harder than we expect in competition so the competition becomes easy.. making sense?
When you include different training you are challenging proprioception. You are challenging your horses stamina and endurance. You are challenging their brain, their rapid fire muscles, their mind to muscle connection. You also are keeping things fresh for them, so they aren’t getting bored or lazy doing the same things.
Think about what you could do to include purposeful cross training into your routine!
Instead of boring trail ride, can you ride over logs? Weave the trees? Back down a trail?
Instead of endless boring circles in the arena, can you work on half pass? Flying lead changes? More advanced maneuvers that increase flexibility and athletic performance?
Instead of lunging without meaning, can you do ground poles? Set up little jumps? Find a hill to lunge on.
There are many things out there you can come up with to get creative.. implementing these are non-negotiable for my horses. I believe it makes them well conditioned, prepared for anything, and the ability to stay supple and sound.
