How I build Archie’s stamina with hill work twice a week

Building Archie’s stamina has been less about making him gallop for longer and more about teaching him to keep working steadily when his muscles begin to tire. For an eventing horse, that matters across all three phases. Dressage needs strength and concentration, show jumping needs enough energy left for careful efforts, and cross-country asks for rhythm, recovery and sensible decision-making over changing ground.

My regular answer has been hill work twice a week. I use the slopes near our agistment for a mixture of walking, trotting and short uphill efforts, with plenty of easy work between them. The aim is to develop Archie gradually, rather than turn every ride into a fitness test.

Australian conditions make this type of training particularly useful. At home, we often deal with hard ground, long distances between venues and hot weather that can make a seemingly ordinary ride much more demanding. A horse that feels fit on a cool morning can have a very different afternoon after travelling to a competition and standing around in the sun.

Archie’s programme has changed as his strength improved, but the principles have stayed the same: use the hills with purpose, monitor his recovery, and give him enough time to adapt. I have found that the best results come from consistency, not heroic sessions followed by a week of stiffness.

Why hills suit an eventing horse

Hills make a horse work harder without requiring high speed. Walking uphill encourages Archie to engage his hindquarters and lift through his back, while trotting uphill develops pushing power and cardiovascular fitness. The slope gives the session a natural structure, so I can ask for effort without simply chasing a faster pace.

Uphill work also helps build the strength needed for jumping. A horse has to organise his body when approaching a fence, land with balance and push away again. The climbing muscles developed on a steady incline support that process. I am not trying to create a bodybuilder; I want Archie to feel able to carry himself when the course becomes longer and the terrain starts to change.

Downhill work has a different purpose. I keep it slow and controlled, usually at walk, because it teaches Archie to place his feet and manage his balance. I do not use steep descents for fast trotting. The controlled walk home is valuable conditioning, but rushing downhill can place unnecessary strain on joints and soft tissues.

Our local hills are not dramatic mountains. They are the sort of paddock slopes and bush tracks many Australian riders can find near home. Even a short rise can be useful when it is repeated thoughtfully and ridden on suitable footing.

My twice-weekly routine

I usually schedule the first hill session early in the week, after Archie has had an easier day. We begin with fifteen to twenty minutes of walking on level ground, including large turns and a few transitions. Once he feels loose, I ride up a long, moderate hill at a purposeful walk two or three times, allowing him to stretch his neck while keeping a steady rhythm.

After that, I add several short trots uphill. The efforts last around thirty to sixty seconds, followed by a walk back on the flat or down a gentle section. Archie is expected to stay straight and forward, but I do not chase his head into a fixed outline. I want an active hind leg and a calm breathing pattern rather than a hurried shuffle.

The second session is usually lighter and more varied. It might include a longer walk over rolling ground, a few controlled trots and some transitions on the incline. If Archie is carrying fatigue from flatwork, a competition or travel, I turn this into a walking session. Hill work is still conditioning when it is done at a quiet pace; it does not need to leave him blowing.

During hot Australian months, I prefer an early start, before the ground radiates heat and the flies become unbearable. The word “arvo” can mean cooler temperatures in some places, but in summer I would rather finish before the afternoon heat builds. Water, shade and a sensible pace are more important than completing a planned number of repeats.

How I increase the workload

I change only one part of the session at a time. I might add one uphill repetition, extend a trot effort by ten seconds, or use a slightly longer slope. I do not increase duration, speed and incline together. That makes it much easier to see how Archie is responding and reduces the chance of overdoing the work.

For the first few weeks of a new block, most of the climbing is at walk. Once Archie finishes without stiffness the following day, I introduce short trots. Later, I may link two hills with a flat recovery section, which teaches him to settle after an effort and start working again without losing his rhythm.

I keep a simple training diary with the date, weather, surface, duration and how Archie felt. Australia’s ground can change quickly from firm and dry to slippery after rain, particularly on clay or grass. A route that was safe in the morning may be too greasy after a storm, while a dry summer track may be harder than it looks.

The diary also helps me avoid confusing enthusiasm with fitness. Archie may feel fresh because he is excited to leave the gate, but that does not mean his muscles are ready for a larger workload. I would rather finish with him thinking the session was manageable than have him struggle through the final repetition.

Keeping the sessions eventing-specific

Hill work is most useful when it connects with the demands of a competition. On the uphill sections, I practise keeping my upper body balanced and my hands quiet, much as I would when riding towards a cross-country question. I use transitions before and after the slope so Archie learns to respond even when his body is working hard.

Sometimes I ride a short route that includes a hill, a stretch of open grass and a few poles or small natural obstacles. The fences are never the main fitness tool. They simply add focus and remind Archie to look where he is going when he is a little tired. I keep the jumps small enough that he can stay confident and technically correct.

For dressage, the benefit comes from improved carrying strength. After a hill session, I may use a short flatwork ride the next day with frequent transitions, leg-yielding and large circles. I am looking for a more connected feel, not a forced frame. Archie’s ability to keep his back swinging when tired tells me more than how impressive he looks for the first ten minutes.

Show jumping also benefits from this approach. At a competition, Archie may warm up, stand around, jump a round, walk back to the float and later complete another phase. Building a reserve of strength means he can remain careful instead of jumping flat or losing his shape late in the day.

Reading Archie’s breathing and recovery

I monitor Archie’s breathing during each effort and after we stop. He should recover into a comfortable rhythm during the walking break. I am not looking for a particular number every time, because heat, humidity, excitement and surface all affect the result. I pay attention to whether his breathing settles in a similar way from session to session.

His attitude is equally important. A horse that begins to drag his toes, shorten his stride, lean heavily on the reins or lose straightness is giving useful information. I bring the work back to walk and finish quietly. Fitness improves during recovery, so pushing through poor movement does not prove anything.

I also check Archie later that day and the next morning. I run my hands over his legs, notice any filling or heat, and watch him walk out of his stable or paddock. A little tiredness is normal after a new exercise, but persistent stiffness, reluctance to go forward or an uneven step means the plan needs to stop and be reassessed.

This is where good professional support matters. I have my coach watch Archie periodically, and I involve my vet or bodywork practitioner when something does not look right. Hill training can be excellent conditioning, but it is not a substitute for checking saddle fit, hoof balance, nutrition or an underlying injury.

Choosing safe Australian ground

I select hills with firm, even footing and enough room to make a safe turn. Grass is often ideal, although dry paddocks in parts of Australia can become hard and rutted. I avoid hidden holes, loose stones, deep sand and slopes where Archie would have to scramble. A short, reliable hill is more useful than an impressive track that carries too much risk.

After rain, I inspect the surface before riding. Wet clay can become slippery, while sandy ground may deepen unexpectedly under the hoof. In bush areas, I also keep an eye out for fallen branches, washouts and loose rocks. Kangaroos, motorbikes and dogs can appear without warning, so I choose quieter routes or ride with company when appropriate.

The local climate affects the plan as much as the terrain. On a hot day, I shorten the session, carry water where practical and give Archie time to cool down properly. If he has travelled in a float, I do not add a demanding hill workout simply because the calendar says it is a training day. Travel itself can be tiring, especially when a venue is several hours away.

At home, I use a saddle pad that dries quickly and check for rubs after sweaty rides. Archie gets a thorough cool-down, a drink and his usual feed routine rather than a sudden pile of extras. Good management around the work helps him arrive at the next session ready to learn.

Fitting hills around the rest of the week

Twice-weekly hill work only works because it is balanced with other training. Archie usually has a mixture of flatwork, pole exercises, jumping practice, hacking and easier days. I avoid placing the hardest hill session immediately before or after a demanding jumping lesson, particularly when the ground is firm.

An example week might include flatwork on Monday, a stronger hill session on Tuesday, an easy walk on Wednesday, dressage or poles on Thursday, a lighter hill ride on Friday and rest or gentle movement over the weekend. That pattern changes around competitions, and I reduce the workload as an event approaches. The goal before a show is freshness, not one last exhausting fitness test.

I also consider Archie’s mental energy. Some horses become stale when every ride follows the same route and structure. I vary the direction, use different hills and sometimes hack with a sensible companion. A relaxed walk through the bush can improve his confidence and balance without feeling like a formal workout.

When we are preparing for a particular event, I make the sessions resemble the venue where possible. If the course is expected to be hilly, I include longer steady climbs. If the ground will be flat, I focus more on transitions and sustained rhythm. Events around Australia can vary enormously, from open grass venues to sandy coastal grounds, so preparation needs to reflect the conditions rather than follow a rigid template.

The changes I have noticed in Archie

The clearest improvement has been in Archie’s recovery. After a period of consistent hill work, he settles sooner after a canter and returns to a comfortable walk without feeling mentally scattered. He also feels stronger through transitions, particularly when moving from a forward pace back to a balanced one.

I notice the difference most during cross-country schooling. Archie can keep a more even rhythm up a rise, and he is less likely to lose his balance when the track bends or the ground changes. He still needs riding, of course, but I am not having to manufacture every stride. That extra reserve gives me more attention for lines, fences and the terrain ahead.

His jumping has benefited in a quieter way. Late in a session, he is more capable of making a neat effort instead of launching over the fence with his shoulders hollow. In dressage, he can maintain a better connection after more active work, which suggests the strength is carrying across rather than existing only on the hill.

The biggest lesson has been that stamina is built through repeatable work. Two sensible hill sessions each week have given Archie stronger muscles, better balance and improved recovery without making training feel like punishment. When we arrive at an Australian event with the float unpacked, the flies buzzing and a full day ahead, I want him prepared to do his job with energy left in reserve.