Conditioning Archie for hilly cross-country courses in the off-season

When the eventing season winds down, Archie gets a quieter few weeks, but he does not become a paddock ornament. Hilly cross-country courses ask for a particular kind of fitness: enough aerobic capacity to keep going, strength to climb and descend safely, balance on uneven ground, and the confidence to stay in front of the leg when the track changes beneath him. I use the off-season to build those qualities gradually rather than trying to create them in the final month before a competition.

Our work is shaped by the Australian calendar. Summer heat can make a midday conditioning session unsafe, while winter ground may be firm, slippery or saturated depending on the region. The tracks available to us are often a mixture of sandy lanes, clay paddocks, bush trails and compacted roads, so I have learned to treat every surface as part of the programme. A useful hill does not need to be part of an official cross-country course.

Archie is a willing horse, which can make him feel fitter than he really is. He will travel forward with enthusiasm, then quietly lose strength through his hind end when a climb gets long or a downhill asks for control. My job is to notice those small changes early, keep the work varied, and finish each session with enough left in the tank that he remains pleased to go out again.

Starting with a useful baseline

Before increasing the workload, I spend a couple of weeks finding out where Archie is physically and mentally. We begin with long, relaxed walks, some easy trot on level ground and familiar schooling exercises. I pay attention to his rhythm, how freely he swings through his back, and whether he returns to a normal breathing rate promptly after a short effort. His attitude matters just as much as the stopwatch. A horse that becomes tense or dull is giving me information.

I also check the practical details that can be overlooked when the focus is fitness. Archie has his regular farrier appointments, and I assess his feet after work on rough or stony tracks. I keep an eye on his weight, back comfort and coat, particularly during hot weather when water intake and appetite can change. Before a larger conditioning block, I ask my veterinarian or equine physiotherapist to look at anything that seems unusual rather than assuming it is ordinary post-exercise stiffness.

The first baseline sessions are deliberately unglamorous. We walk around the property, trot large loops, and use gentle transitions to see whether Archie stays straight. I want a clear picture of his current strength before adding hills, poles or faster work. If he is uneven on flat ground, a steeper track will only disguise the problem temporarily and then make it harder to resolve.

Building strength without drilling hills

Hill fitness starts with basic strength work, not endless climbing. In the arena, I use frequent transitions between walk, trot and canter, keeping them quiet and accurate. A few steps of lengthened trot followed by a balanced return to working trot encourages Archie to push from behind without allowing him to run. Canter transitions are especially useful because they ask him to organise his body and lift his shoulders.

Poles help us develop coordination without making every session feel like a serious schooling day. I place them on the ground in the arena and occasionally use raised poles when Archie is moving comfortably. Walking over poles encourages him to lift his feet and round through his back, while trotting poles help with rhythm and joint flexion. I keep the exercises simple, because the aim is to strengthen his way of going rather than create a complicated puzzle.

Backing up a few steps, stepping over a single pole and moving laterally from the leg are also part of our routine. These exercises make a difference on a cambered track, where the horse must adjust his balance from stride to stride. I am careful not to overdo collected work, as Archie needs an athletic, forward response for cross-country rather than a tired horse that has spent the week being compressed in the arena.

During the off-season, I usually alternate a schooling day with a quieter conditioning day. After a more demanding session, Archie might have a long rein walk, a gentle hack or a day of relaxed turnout. Australian horses can look fresh in the cool part of the morning while still carrying fatigue from the previous week, so I do not use enthusiasm as my only guide. The recovery day is part of the training, not time lost from it.

Making hillwork specific

Once Archie is comfortable with regular flatwork, I introduce gentle slopes at a walk. We start with a gradual incline and repeat it only a few times, allowing him to find his balance. On the way down, I keep my weight centred, soften my hands and ask him to take shorter, thoughtful steps without pulling him onto his forehand. Downhill work is often harder than the climb because it requires control, strength and confidence together.

I progress to short stretches of trot uphill, followed by plenty of walking. The uphill trot encourages Archie to use his hindquarters, but I avoid letting him charge. If his rhythm becomes hurried, we return to walk and try again later. On steeper sections, I may stay in a light seat so he can use his back, while on a mild slope I sit quietly and focus on a consistent connection. My position changes with the terrain, but my intention remains the same: forward, balanced and calm.

The best tracks near us are not always available. Some are closed after heavy rain, and during the Australian summer I avoid bush areas when fire danger is high. Fallen branches, loose stones, rabbit holes and unexpected cyclists are real considerations on a trail ride. I check the route beforehand, carry a phone, tell someone where we are going and choose the cooler early-morning hours. If the forecast is heading towards a scorcher, the session becomes a walk rather than a test of bravery.

When we can access a suitable hill, I use short intervals rather than trying to make Archie gallop up and down repeatedly. For example, we might walk up, trot on level ground, walk down, and then take a long recovery stretch before repeating the pattern. Later, I add a brief canter on a safe, even incline. The effort should resemble the demands of a cross-country course, where a horse works hard for a short period and then needs to settle before the next question.

Keeping Archie sound and fresh

The surface determines how much work a hill can provide. A soft grass slope may allow a little more trotting, while a hard, baked track calls for walking and careful monitoring. This is particularly important in many parts of Australia, where summer ground can become unforgiving and winter rain can turn a paddock into a slippery patch of mud. I would rather finish a session feeling that we could have done another repetition than push Archie into a sore back or tired feet.

I watch him during the hours after exercise as well as during the work itself. A shorter stride when leaving the stable, reluctance to step down a slope, a change in his usual expression or an unusually high resting respiratory rate can all signal that the plan needs adjusting. I keep notes about the route, weather, footing, duration and how he felt. Patterns become much easier to spot when they are written down instead of left to memory.

Recovery includes a proper cool-down. After a more energetic session, Archie walks until his breathing settles, then gets access to water and a chance to dry before returning to his normal routine. In hot weather, I use the coolest available part of the day and avoid wrapping him heavily while he is still warm. His feed remains steady, with any changes made gradually and in consultation with the professionals who know him.

Regular bodywork has also become useful. A session with our physiotherapist can identify tightness around the lumbar area or shoulders before it affects his way of going. I do not treat massage or stretching as a substitute for correct training, but they help me understand how Archie is coping. A horse that feels comfortable is more likely to develop strength evenly and stay mentally willing.

Turning fitness into cross-country confidence

As Archie becomes stronger, I bring in small pieces of cross-country technique. We walk and trot over banks, step through shallow water and ride away from the arena so that each question feels ordinary rather than dramatic. I keep the fences modest during this phase. The goal is to practise the approach, the rider’s position and the getaway, not to prove anything by jumping a large obstacle in the middle of a fitness session.

Hilly courses require a different pace from a flat track. On a climb, I want enough impulsion to keep moving without wasting energy. Over the top, I let Archie rebalance before asking for more. On a descent, I ride with a steady upper body and allow him to look where he is going. I practise these changes on hacks so they become part of our conversation rather than instructions that appear only at a competition.

I also build in short schooling sequences that imitate a course. Archie might canter on a safe stretch, walk through water, trot up a slope, jump a small log and then walk for several minutes. Another day, we might repeat a simple combination after a hill, because arriving at a fence while slightly winded is a realistic part of eventing. I finish before his technique deteriorates. Confidence grows when the horse remembers successful efforts, not when he is drilled until he is uncertain.

Travel is part of our preparation too. A trip to a venue around Werribee or another Victorian eventing ground can involve loading, standing on the float, changing surroundings and working after a long drive. I make those outings low-pressure when possible. A walk around the grounds, a short ride and a calm return home can teach Archie as much as a formal schooling day. The familiar Australian habit of packing a esky, filling extra water containers and leaving before the traffic builds is part of my competition routine.

Our season also gives the training a wider purpose. Eventing communities often support fundraising rides and charity competitions, and I enjoy taking part when the schedule allows. At suitable events, I have supported Jump for the Children because the atmosphere reminds me that horsesport is connected to people, families and causes beyond our individual results.

By the time the new season approaches, Archie does not need to be worked hard every day. He needs to be prepared to travel forward, recover well, think on uneven ground and trust my decisions when a hill changes the feel of the course. The off-season has given us a foundation of strength and experience, while the lighter days have preserved his enthusiasm. That balance is what lets us start a hilly cross-country round with a useful reserve of energy and a horse who still feels like my teammate.