Fitness & Conditioning for Summer Heat

As temperatures climb around Ashurst, timing your rides for early morning or late evening not only protects your horse from the worst of the heat but also lets you enjoy quieter bridleways. Launching into work before the sun peaks—or once it dips—means cooler footing underfoot, less glare, and reduced risk of heat stress. You’ll often find the local trails gloriously empty at dawn or dusk, giving you uninterrupted miles through the woods and fields.

When it comes to conditioning, interval training offers an ideal balance of effort and recovery. After a gentle warm‑up trot, alternate short canter or gallop bursts with walk breaks to lower the heart rate and clear heat from the muscles. A typical session might include five minutes of steady canter followed by three minutes of walking, repeated three or four times. This approach builds cardiovascular strength and muscular endurance without pushing your horse into exhaustion or prolonged overheating.

Never skip a thorough cool‑down hack. After your final interval, ease into a long, slow walk—ideally back to the stable or a shady paddock—so your horse’s temperature, respiration, and heart rate can return to normal. A proper cool‑down helps prevent stiffness, aids muscle recovery, and cements the fitness work you’ve just completed.

By riding in the coolest windows of the day and structuring workouts around smart intervals and cool‑downs, you’ll keep your horse healthy, happy, and performing at their best all summer long.