This week I focused on building Merlin’s stamina as well as the muscles that make up his topline (the muscles along the top of the spine) by doing lots of trotting in 20 to 30 minute increments on four different occasions. Towards the beginning of the week he was quick to tire and I was lucky to get a twenty minute ride out of him since trotting is the gate that requires the most effort for any horse. However, by the end of the week he was much more willing to move and wouldn’t start to tire out until it was closer to the end of the ride.

This upcoming week I will start to walk him up and down hills in addition to trotting  laps in the ring in order to engage the muscles in his hindquarters and to continue working on building up his topline as well as his stamina.