intervals again!

So..... after our XC school on Sunday and seeing how tired Flecky was.. it dawned on me that our fitness was lacking. Both of us! I was tired too. And sure, it was a lot of work... I made him jump that ditch and tarp about 15 times and then we did a few more jumps and then a course, but... we needed to do some fitness. However..... given his knees... I'm a little paranoid about it too. So we have come up with a plan.  Lots of LSD!! Hee hee... That's short for long, slow, distance! Which we've been doing.... Really, Ashland Farm opening up has been THE BEST thing ever because now... before or after every ride I can do some trails. Which means, he gets some LSD after just about every ride. I know Jimmy said you can walk them fit. But apparently we still need a little bit of some gallops too. The modified plan was lots of long walks, but adding in a tiny bit of canters. Not gallops.... soft happy canters. And only as long as he seems happy.

So I figured since he jumped Friday and Sunday... Monday was an LSD day with Dan, then Tuesday was dressage with Cindy... Wednesday would be a perfect interval day. Especially since he would get Thursday and Friday off because of work. So that was the plan. Of course he lost a hind show Tuesday morning, but... it was a hind and the footing was so good... we went anyways. It was great weather for it too. 
 

We started with a 30 minute trail ride, working on some leg yielding and shoulder giving and adding in lots of hills. Then we did a 10 minute trot around the field. Then a 3 minute break, then 3 minutes of the left lead canter, a 2 minute break, and 3 minutes of the right lead canter. And... he actually felt good... I was trying to keep it to a slow soft canter, but Fleck busted out a little bit of extra speed for a bit of it. Then he wasn't ready to stop at 3 minutes so we ended up going a little longer and I pulled him up. He was happy to keep going, but... I want to KEEP him happy to keep going. So then we did a 3 minute break and then another 5 minutes of trotting. Then we "hosed" his knees in the lake and went on another 20 minute or so trail ride. Next time I'll up the canters to 3 three minute sets... or 2 four minute sets.. We'll see. And I'm not too worried about the "trot sets". That boy could probably trot for an hour straight and not be concerned. It's his wind fitness I'm really worried about... He could trot all day long I think, and while it's not quite as pounding as a canter... I'd rather work on his wind at the canter and his other fitness at the walk. 

Afterwards we iced his knees and headed home. He seemed happy as a clam the next day too, so.... yay!!! Things are still looking up. :)

And... four weeks until Chatt hills! So we'll keep working smart and keep watching him closely and hopefully we'll still be sound and happy and game and have a great run at Chatt hills. Training level again.... we need to be happy and safe and confident. Then we'll reassess and decide what to do from there. Maybe we can still  sneak in a prelim every so often. :) 

Oh... and his new bridle!!! Check out that face!!! What a goof!! He's so... studly!!