To maintain the current level of muscular strength, it is only necessary to perform strength training exercises once per week. Because horses cannot be trained to lift weights or work resistance machines, we must be somewhat innovative in devising strength training exercises that load the relevant muscle groups in an appropriate manner. Gradients, gymnastic jumping, repetitions of sport-specific movements, the application of additional weight and working the horse in deep sand have been used to good effect. In other words, the recovery periods should five to six times longer than the work periods. Gradients Gradients vary in steepness and direction.
Uphill gradients develop power in the hindquarters.
This type of exercise is more relevant in the early stages of training when one of the goals is to develop the horse's propulsive ability. An IT format is used for strength training on steep, uphill gradients, the ascent at a walk or canter is the work and the descent at a walk is the recovery. Steep downhill slopes should be negotiated at a walk because there is an increase in trauma to the bones and joints at faster gaits that precipitates the development of arthritic changes. A gradual downhill gradient is sometimes used to deveolop a high degree of collection because the effort required to establish and maintain collection on a downhill slope is exaggerated compared with working on the flat. When the horse goes back to working on the flat, the work seems much easier.