Getting your string of polo ponies fit for the season
These are a few tips and suggestions to help keep you and your horses healthy for the entire season. Don’t wait until it is too late. As our season approaches, get your horses into a fitness routine so they will be ready when the season starts.
If you don’t give your horses enough time to prepare, they likely won’t last the season. Injuries are much more likely to occur when horses are not fit enough. Imagine not exercising for months then deciding to jog for 10 days before running a marathon. It is equally ridiculous to play a horse that has only had a week or two of exercise. Why risk injury to begin your season? Getting horses fit is an art not everyone completely understands. It is also one you could debate as everyone has his own ideas.
There are, however, some common aspects that most people would agree upon. Most of your horses have been turned out for 4-6 months, which means you will need at least 3 months to get them into proper shape.
The following exercise program is a great example of how to get your ponies in playing condition.
February
Week 1 (7-10 days of work) – Walk 20mins
Week 2 (7-10 days of work) – Walk 15mins Trot 5-7mins Walk 10mins
Week 3 (7-10 days of work) – Walk 15mins Trot 10-12mins Walk 10mins
Week 4 (7-10 days of work) – Walk 10mins Trot 10mins Walk 10mins Trot 5mins Walk 5 mins April
Week 5 (7-10 days of work) – Walk 10mins Trot 20mins Walk 10mins
Week 6 (7-10days of work) – Walk 10mins -In circles, spiral in/spiral out 5mins each direction Trot 30mns -In circles for 15mins each direction Walk 10mins Trot 10mins Walk 5mins
Week 7 (7-10days of work) – Walk 10mins -In circles, spiral in/spiral out 5mins each direction Trot 20mins -In circles, spiral in/spiral out 10mins each direction Walk 5mins Trot 5mins Slow Canter 5mins Walk 5mins
Week 8 (7-10days of work) – Walk 5mins Trot 20mins Slow Canter 10-12mins Walk 10mins
This two month/80 day program is a great way to get your horses muscled up to start stick and balling along with adding in short work. For the next month before the season starts you will want to add in a little bit more canter. Remember some people think that you should break your trot or slow lope routine into two segments during one outing. That is, you would trot two intervals of five to 10 minutes as opposed to one interval of 10 to 20 minutes.
The overall point is basically the same. Start out slow and ease into a routine that actually builds fitness levels.
NOTE: Walking –Stretches and warms muscle Trotting – Builds muscle Canter – Builds lungs If your horse is coming back from a prior injury it is a good idea to wrap their legs with polo wraps or boots to give them extra support.
That being said when you start your horses do not wrap their legs, this is why we start so slow. Adding the polo wraps will not allow their tendons to strengthen while you are toning them up. Add them when you start to canter, do circles or short work. During the Season (Exercise) By now (May) your horses should be fit and toned up and ready for the season. With a few club practices under their belt they should be back to normal. Happy 2022 polo season!!