Getting Fit After a Break: What's Realistic? 

After a holiday break (for you, your horse, or both), the key is consistency, not intensity. Exact timelines vary by age, baseline fitness, workload history, and soundness.
A sensible guideline for many combinations:

• 2-4 weeks to feel generally "back in routine"
• 6-10 weeks to rebuild meaningful fitness for consistent competition work
• Longer if there were injuries, long layoffs, or major fitness loss 

The 3-Phase Return Plan

Phase 1 (Weeks 1-2): Re-establish basics

• Easy schooling, correct basics, lots of walk work
• Mobility and suppleness focus
• Keep sessions short and positive 

If you're rebuilding confidence and structure, simple tools can help you keep sessions purposeful without overdoing it-think ground poles and basic training aids to guide straightness and rhythm. 
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Phase 2 (Weeks 3-6): Build capacity

• Gradually increase duration
• Add poles, hill work, transitions
• Introduce short controlled canter sets if appropriate 

This is also when small support items start to matter more-especially if you're increasing workload on firmer ground or adding poles and hills. If you normally ride with leg protection, this is the point where it's worth checking you're properly set up with boots and bandages for the work you're doing. 
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Phase 3 (Weeks 7-10+): Specific conditioning

• Discipline-specific work
• Increase intensity carefully
• Practice show routines (warm-up, travel, recovery) 

As intensity rises, recovery becomes a performance tool, not an afterthought. This is a natural place to reference coolers and recovery rugs-especially if you're riding in colder weather, traveling, or doing higher-intensity sessions.
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Don't Forget Rider

Fitness A fitter rider improves balance and reduces strain on the horse. Our next blog will dive into rider fitness priorities and a rider friendly fitness plan!