Essential Elements

A training plan should include the skills the horse needs to develop and improve, in addition to how you will work on them with a specific action plan. The plan must be realistic for the time and resources you have available. While it may be ideal to train 5-6 days a week, that is not always feasible, especially if the horse is currently working in your lesson program. The training plan should be a living document with adjustments made as needed to suit the horse and their goals best.

The Training Plan (see Appendix 10) included in this guide will guide you in the creation of a training program for your horse. Figure 5 shows an example of a completed training plan. We will discuss each of the four sections of the plan.

Figure 5. Training Plan Example

Section 1: Basic Information

First, write down the horse’s name in the title, date the plan was created, and who made the plan. The individual who designs the plan should have a thorough understanding of training and conditioning principles and be familiar with the horse.

Write down the number of lessons the horse is typically involved in during the week and include the total time of these lessons. It is important to know how many hours a horse works during the week so that they are not overworked.

You can then determine how many weekly training sessions the horse will participate in. The duration of each session will be specified in a separate section of the plan. Each horse can tolerate a different workload. Some individuals perform better with more work, while others perform better with less. You will need to determine through experience how many lessons a horse can complete without suffering from burnout or excessive stress, as well as how many training sessions are needed each week to maintain or improve upon skills, behavior, and physical conditioning.

Section 2: Assessment Skills

The assessment tools serve as a foundation for training plans. The skills in each assessment should be developed during training. Training should focus on the lowest-scoring skills first (i.e., work on skills that scored a one, then skills that scored a two). If a horse has many low-scoring skills, determine the top priorities and spend your time on just a few to get started.

For each skill, write a simple action plan. The plan is how you will practice the skill. This short how will be used to devise a full training session. Remember, the end goal is for the horse to succeed in your lesson program, so it will be beneficial to practice skills in a way that mirrors how they will be used in lessons.

Section 3: Other Training Goals

Two conditioning goals should always be considered under the ‘Other Training Goals’ section. Additional training goals, if applicable, can also be added to this section.

First, consider the horse’s body condition score. An underweight horse will have a difficult time developing muscle and stamina. An overweight horse will struggle to perform required movements and could have other health issues exacerbated by the extra weight. A great way to monitor weight and determine if the horse is in a healthy range is by using the Body Condition Score Tool.16 Additionally, it is recommended that you consult a veterinarian and an equine nutritionist. They can assist with modifying a horse’s diet to keep them in a healthy range.

Second, consider the horse’s topline. The topline includes the horse’s neck, back, loin, and hindquarters. Riding puts pressure on a horse’s back. If their back and topline are not strong enough to hold up the extra weight, irreversible damage can be done. A ridden horse should have a strong, full topline; this is especially important if they are carrying unbalanced riders as many lesson horses do.

There are entire books and courses on topline development, but it is not this book’s purpose, so we will not get into specifics. What is important to note is that your training plan should include exercises that will strengthen and develop your horse’s topline and maintain a healthy body.

Section 4: Weekly Training Sessions

Write out a detailed plan for each training session the horse will complete in a week. It may be helpful to have two versions of some days, so that they can rotate week to week (e.g., Session 2 Version A for odd weeks and Session 2 Version B for even weeks). While a clear, detailed plan will make it easier to have multiple individuals assist with training, it is vital that the trainer adapts the plan according to the horse’s presentation and needs on a day-to-day basis.