As the day and classes continue, the horse's performance becomes less desirable. Some horses will become more heavy on their forehand. In other words, their front feet tend to hit the ground heavier. They lack the smooth action which they exhibited earlier in the day. At higher levels and intensity of performance, horses must be better conditioned.
Several problems occur when horses perform beyond their physical capacity.
They become fatigued, which can result in serious injuries. Fatigued horses are also more likely to stumble causing injury to the rider. Unfortunately, some owners think that training the horse to perform a pattern or routine is conditioning. It is best not to train a horse until it is properly conditioned. When an unconditioned horse starts to tire, its ability to be trained successfully decreases.