58/ MARCH/APRIL 2013 THE RIDER Off-Season Training


With winter baring down upon us, now is the time to start off-season training for show season.


Especially if you don’t have an indoor arena, it is important to get your horse back in shape now for when you can start doing proper show work whether it be bar- rels, jumping or dressage. At this time of year, after having some time off for the winter, your horse’s muscles may have atrophied (decreased in size and strength) and his or her cardiovascular system has dete- riorated. While rest is benefi- cial to heal injuries from the past season and to give your horse a mental break, it is also important to make sure he or she gets back into work the right way.


Starting training too hard or fast can lead to muscle and tendon injuries that could put your horse out for the season. Going straight back into work like high level jumping without doing conditioning can cause back, hock, and tendon issues. Each discipline has its own injury threats if not well condi- tioned. Muscle strains are one of the most common injuries with this mistake. Asking a horse to use atrophied and cold muscles can easily cause this type of injury.


There are some simple ways to get your horse back in shape after having time off. All of them are time consuming, but none of this type of work should be ignored. Some hors- es may need to start very small and work their way up. You


should judge your horse’s abili- ties and not push too hard at the beginning of this regime. Some horses will need to start with simply walking with your weight on his or her back. Snow Walking: Walking through snow, over poles or even in long grass will help prepare the muscles to trot, canter and jump. The theory behind this exercise is that most horses will lift their legs higher to avoid dragging their feet through the snow. The snow will also add resistance, making movements more diffi- cult. This action increases the intensity of the activity and actually makes it quite diffi- cult. It is a great way to improve the horse’s cardiovas- cular system as well as improve muscle tone in the shoulders, core and hips. This exercise can be duplicated without snow by using ground poles or small cavelettis. Simply place the poles relatively close together to force the horse to lift his or her legs and take shorter steps. The cavelettis will make the horse lift his or her legs higher. This version of the exercise does not replicate the resistance created by the snow.


Interval Training: Walk and trot intervals are another good way to improve cardio- vascular fitness as well as upward and downward transi- tions. You will need a decent amount of space for this exer- cise. It can be done in an area, on the road or trails with con- sistent footing, or even on a lunge line. Intervals improve


the horses’s ability to recover quickly after work, and his or her stamina, or ability to con- tinue to work. Additionally, the transitions aid in training and help the horse learn to use the hind limbs for propulsion and impulsion.


Start with two minutes of trot, one minute of walk and work your way up to a five-to- one interval over five or six sessions. Again, judge your horse’s ability and readiness for these exercises. Eventually, you can work up to doing can- ter, trot, walk intervals. For these, do thirty seconds of can- ter, two minutes of trot, one minute of walk. You can then increase the time of the speed intervals while keeping the same walk time.


Training Massage: Espe- cially if you have limited space, training massage can be extremely helpful in condition- ing. This type of massage is quite vigorous and improves nutrition to the muscles and raises the horse’s heart rate. Massage will burn calories dur- ing and for up to two hours after the session, and prepare the horse’s cardiovascular and circulatory system for more work in the future. At this time, your Registered Equine Mas- sage Therapist can also tell you where your horse’s strengths, weaknesses and pains are. He or she can help you develop a training program specifically designed for you, your disci- pline of choice, and your horse.


Continued on Page 62 Equine Canada Announces


New Chief Executive Officer The Equine Canada Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Jean-Christophe Gandubert, as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Gandu- bert, former managing partner of P3 Strategies & Synergies Con- sultants, will assume the role on March 1, 2013.


“The search committee considered many extraordinary candidates from around the world during the search for our new CEO,” states Michael Gal- lagher, President of Equine Canada. “Jean-Christophe brings more than 25 years of experience in private and public sector administration and has earned a reputation as a trusted and respected leader.


“We are impressed with his experience developing internal talent, his understanding of the role that culture plays in an orga- nization’s success and his wealth of knowledge in the entire spec- trum of sport policy and organi- zational management.”


As the Senior Policy Advi- sor, International Affairs for the Office of the Secretary of State (Physical Activity and Sport), Mr. Gandubert provided strategic policy advice to the Federal Min- ister responsible for physical activity and international sport policy. In this role he was instrumental in the creation of the National Sport Policy and the Canadian Strategy for Ethical Conduct in Sport. During his tenure, he also initiated the development of the Canadian Hosting Strategy implemented by Sport Canada, the internation- al bid strategy to host the World


ning and delivery of programs. During that time, a re-branding of the Club increased sponsor- ship investments and new part- nership agreements.


Prior to this, he was the Executive Director of a provin- cial sport organization, and while there he tripled the federation’s membership, and brought in more than one million in spon- sorship revenues. Although he grew up in Ottawa, Mr. Gandu- bert attended Laval University in Montreal, and has been working in the Toronto area for the last 10 years.


Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in Montreal, as well as being responsible for relations with international sport federations and the International Olympic Committee.


A skilled negotiator and communicator, Mr. Gandubert has successfully implemented several public-private partner- ships (P3s) to build community facilities ranging in value from $10 to $50 million with sports organizations and municipal governments. Intrinsic to this work was recommending mar- keting and sponsorship policies to generate revenue to support building the facilities.


Mr. Gandubert is no stranger to managing large sport organizations. As the Chief Administrative Officer of the Oakville Soccer Club, the biggest club by athlete and vol- unteer base in North America - with over 11,000 athletes, 22 full-time and 30 part-time staff and thousands of volunteers - he resolved regulatory, operational and business issues for the plan-


“I am delighted to join Equine Canada at this juncture in time with the challenges it is fac- ing, the expectations set out in the new ‘One Vision’ strategic plan and the great opportunities ahead,” states Mr. Gandubert. “Building strong relation- ships with our provincial / terri- torial governing bodies and with a diverse and dynamic industry, which has such a large impact on Canada’s economy, will be key to our collective success and our ability to embrace and imple- ment change,” he states.


“I know the task ahead is huge and can only be tackled through a shared commitment from staff and volunteers to excellence in everything we do, at every level of involvement, in every discipline we cover, focus- ing on quality training and val- ued services while keeping horse welfare always at the cen- tre of our concerns and actions.”


About Equine Canada


For more information visit www.equinecanada.ca


For a complete list of Dealers and info: 905-985-7992 • www.brooksfeeds.com


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