33 Strength and Fitness Workouts for Horses

A reference guide for riders and trainers seeking to improve horse conditioning through strategic, engaging, and fair methods. Fitness is essential for both performance and longevity across all equestrian disciplines, from trail riding to competition. The effectiveness of any exercise depends on dosage—how it is applied, its duration and frequency, and how it fits into a weekly schedule. Jec Aristotle Ballou provides 33 workouts designed to eliminate guesswork from fitness training. The workouts clarify exercise duration and frequency, and show how to combine exercises for optimal results. These 33 workouts help riders achieve common performance goals by avoiding physical and mental tension that can undermine conditioning efforts. By providing appropriate stimulus while preventing boredom, fatigue, and repetitive neuromuscular patterns, the workouts produce positive physiological gains. The book includes methods to assess current fitness levels, guidelines for active and passive rest, basics for stretching and mobility work, groundwork exercises, hill hikes and terrain tests, and suggested schedules for basic fitness goals and special considerations for young horses and trail riders. Step-by-step instructions and illustrations support implementation of these training plans.