- Short on time? Climb some hills.
- Want to strengthen your horse’s thigh and gaskin muscles? Trot uphill. Long and slow.
- Would you like to build muscle in your horse’s hindquarters and forearms? Climb some hills.
- Horse short on cardio strength? Well…up we go! Think steep!
- Would you like to improve your horse’s overall coordination? Sideways on a hillside (both directions).
- Want to maximize without injury? Easy and gradually increasing difficulty over time as fitness allows.
Source document: Conditioning Horses with Hill Work by Heather Smith Thomas | 1/9/2001
Do not underestimate the conditioning potential of hills. Slow, fast, sideways, up and down. Pick one day a week to utilize hill work in your horse’s conditioning regimen.