Around The Traps

ABOVE: Vahlinvader at the 2018 Sydney Royal. Aaron was awarded the E. S. Playfair Perpetual Trophy for Most Successful Rider thanks to Vahlinvader and Easton’s combined wins and places (Image by Jenny Shepherd). BELOW: Easton and Aaron jump into 2nd place in the Mini Prix at the 2019 Sale World Cup (Image by Gone Riding Media). competing because I find it’s good for my breathing, so I think that it’s the same with the horses. Galloping and exerting their lungs after they’ve been back in work for a while opens up their airways. I’ll finish up by taking them up the hill three times a week, but I’ll gallop them only once and trot them on the other days for a lower intensity, low impact training.”

Of course, Aaron also includes flat work in his horses’ regime: “Getting them to move off my leg, doing all the basic aids, listening, responding, flexion, as well as going long and low to muscle them up. Then, depending on the horse, I start jumping them around the three to four week mark, usually starting them over a grid. Jumping usually only happens at the weekend because I don’t have time during the week. Although since COVID I’ve been jumping the younger, less experienced horses twice a week, starting small and gradually building up, to progress them a little bit faster. The older horses, Vahlinvader and Easton for example, know their job so I only put them over cavalettis to keep them loose and supple.”

The other issue to take into consideration is your horse’s weight. Aaron explains: “If I feel a horse is carrying too much weight, I look at their frame and make a decision as to what might be an optimal weight for that horse to reduce the impact on their bodies once they’re competing. I’ve been told at times that my horses are too fat, and yes, we do feed them well! So that’s something I have to be very aware of as I bring them up to fitness.”

The take home message?

Slow and steady wins the day. Create a plan to suit your horse’s temperament and physical condition, and don’t rush things. Besides, if Aaron, despite time constraints and multiple horses to work, can give each one of them the attention they need to come back to fitness injury-free, then so can you!

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