Conditioning through cross-training and varied exercises improves a horse’s fitness while keeping him engaged, which fosters confidence and adaptability. Photo by Erica Larson

Straight off the racetrack, Thoroughbreds are athletic and full of potential—but conditioning them for a new career takes time, strategy and careful management.

From building strength and endurance to preventing injuries, a well-planned conditioning program sets them up for long-term success whether they’ve recently retired from racing or have been off the track for a while.

In this article you’ll learn how conditioning affects a Thoroughbred’s body, signs the workload might be too much and the best exercises to safely build fitness, strength and stamina.

Equine Conditioning 101

Just like a runner uses a conditioning plan for an upcoming race, conditioning horses involves applying training methods that improve a horse’s overall fitness.

“It is essentially the process of getting the horse ready for the demands of the performance you are going to ask them to do,” says Cristobal Navas de Solis, LV, MS, PhD, associate professor of cardiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s New Bolton Center, in Kennett Square, whose clinical specialties include exercising testing. “Conditioning affects all of the horse’s body systems: muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, heart, lungs, etc.”

While Thoroughbreds are naturally fit and boast impressive endurance, they still need proper conditioning to prepare their bodies for the demands of their roles without causing injuries.

“Conditioning is a term that means to gradually build strength,” says Michael Willham, a 3* eventer and USDF Bronze medalist based in Medina, Ohio, who has won best-conditioned horse honors at classic long-format events. “For example, you can’t jump a horse new to jumping over a 1.50-meter (4.92-foot) course twice a week without causing an injury. The bone density, tendon and ligament strength have not yet been built up over months and years of careful strengthening to perform at that level.”

This conditioning not only makes horses stronger and more capable but also prevents injury from overstressing musculoskeletal structures that aren’t ready for the strain.

“A common type of conditioning for eventers is focused more on the cardiovascular fitness, as well as the horses muscling and balancing,” he adds. “Conditioning in this form is building the horse’s fitness up for this type of performance so they don’t get fatigued galloping around a six-minute cross-country course with 24 jumps. Or, at the top level, an 11-minute course with 40 jumps.”

Considerations When Developing a Horse’s Conditioning Plan

Thoroughbreds’ physiology uniquely shapes their natural fitness and conditioning needs.

“Thoroughbreds have a naturally high percentage of Type 2 muscle fibers (fast-twitch muscle fibers used for short, powerful bursts of energy), allowing them to respond quickly to a progressive conditioning program and maintain fitness longer than some other breeds,” says Nicole Rambo, PhD, an equine nutritionist at Tribute Equine Nutrition, in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, who is also an OTTB owner and eventer.

“This is why Thoroughbred blood is mixed into Warmblood breeds—to increase the fitness and stamina aspect of the horse,” explains Willham. “You can see an example of this in the history of eventing. Back when it was the long format, where the emphasis was on endurance and stamina, Thoroughbreds dominated the sport. Even when I feel a horse with significant Thoroughbred blood starting to get physically fatigued, he happily keeps pushing himself and even recovers quickly after a short walk break. However, I must be more aware riding him and not to do more than his muscles, tendons and ligaments can handle because he will absolutely keep going if I ask.”

Another important concept to consider when creating an OTTB’s conditioning plan is how the horse’s body adapts to exercise. The fitness goal should align with the level of work expected.

“I think a good way to think about it is to bridge the gap between where you want to be and where you are,” says Navas de Solis. “You need to know the demands of the test you will ask of the horse. For example, the demands for how well an advanced-level eventer is conditioned will be quite different than the demands for a trail riding pony or a barrel racer. Then, you need to know where you are now. How many years of training does the horse have? Are there previous injuries or not to consider? Has the horse been on stall rest recently or continuously exercising, etc.? From there, make a plan to bridge that gap.”

Proper nutrition is an essential part of developing an effective conditioning plan, especially for hard-keeping Thoroughbreds, because it ensures the horse’s body receives necessary support.

“As horses go through a conditioning program, their nutritional needs naturally increase to support the additional stress on their system,” explains Rambo. “Energy demands rise, as do requirements for protein, key minerals like calcium and phosphorus and essential vitamins such as E and B-complex. For hard keepers, incorporating more fat into the diet provides a longer-duration energy source that helps optimize performance. For easy keepers, however, this may require careful balancing to meet nutrient needs without excessive calories. Ensuring a horse is in a positive energy balance is critical—without enough fuel, they won’t build muscle efficiently or recover properly during conditioning.”

Consulting an equine nutritionist while following an intensive conditioning plan might be helpful—especially when working with extremely hard-keeper horses.

How Much Work is Too Much When Conditioning Thoroughbreds?

Naturally forward-thinking Thoroughbreds with seemingly endless energy can make it harder to gauge how fit they really are.

“A Thoroughbred is typically forward-thinking in nature, which can sometimes create a false perception of fitness,” explains Rambo. “Just because they feel energetic doesn’t mean they are fully conditioned for a new job. It’s important to monitor respiratory and heart rate recovery closely and ensure their skeletal and muscular strength is developed gradually—especially when transitioning an off-track Thoroughbred into a new discipline.”

If the workload is too much too fast, overtraining syndrome can lead to problems affecting the horse’s entire body.

“The biggest danger of too much work is injury,” says Navas de Solis, most commonly musculoskeletal injury. “Another concern is overtraining syndrome. This is an ill-defined syndrome in which too much work affects the horse’s whole body—hormones, nervous system, etc. This causes horses to feel stale and unable to perform well.”

In addition, a horse’s confidence could suffer if facing a workload or task without an incremental buildup.

“Pushing a horse too much can physically injure them, either by overuse of soft tissue or bone or because they don’t clear a jump, trip, fall, etc.,” explains Willham. “However, you can also mentally injure them by destroying their confidence in their abilities, sometimes in conjunction with the physical limit.

“This commonly occurs in jumping disciplines if the horse is asked to jump too high when they aren’t ready, potentially ruining their willingness and mental confidence for jumping because of pushing too much,” he continues. “Keep in mind even the best riders in the world only get a horse to the Olympic level by age 10, and that is … just their introduction to the top level of the sport.

“Try to stay in tune with your horse and notice the small things,” Willham adds. Take notes, notice patterns and experiment with what you are doing. Most horses want to please us and continue pushing through something because we ask. Be careful and be attentive to the small cues that show your horse is needing some time off or that you need to scale back the intensity or duration of the workouts.”

Exercises for Conditioning Thoroughbreds

Regardless of riding discipline, progressively increasing work intensity is key for any conditioning exercise. However, riders should mix up the exercises instead of relying on repetitive routines. This enhances fitness while supporting the horse’s mental well-being and willingness to work.

“I cannot advise enough to make sure you are cross training,” says Willham. “If you are a dressage or hunter rider, get out of the ring. Ride in fields, up and down hills, or go on trail rides. Eventers typically do this already—we are training for three different disciplines, so we are essentially forced into cross training by design.

Willham says cross-training benefits your horse’s physical strength and health while exercising their mind, as well. “Horses can mentally shut down if they are made to do the same thing repeatedly—both within the same ride, as well as from day-to-day,” he says. “Making their conditioning workouts interesting and keeping them mentally engaged will result in a much happier, more willing and much more physically capable riding partner.”

However, remember that each horse is an individual. Knowing your horse will help you determine the best conditioning exercises, depending on your riding discipline, your horse’s preferences, and his or her fitness level.

“Some horses do better being kept on their toes,” says Willham. “These types of horses need to be kept engaged by changing up your daily routine—even your warm-up routine.

“Other horses do better with more consistency, particularly if they are a more anxious type of horse,” he continues. “Having the same warm-up routine, such as doing serpentines, then cantering, etc. can help them relax. Just be sure to cross-train and gradually expose them to new things. They still need to be well-rounded for when you decide to ask them to ride outside, trailer off property, ride in a clinic, etc.”

Take-Home Message

Transitioning a Thoroughbred from the racetrack to a new career requires a strategic conditioning program to build strength, prevent injuries and ensure long-term soundness. While naturally athletic, these horses need progressive training tailored to their discipline, along with proper nutrition and workload monitoring to avoid overtraining.

Thoroughbreds’ high energy levels can create a false sense of fitness, making it crucial to assess recovery rates and physical readiness. Cross-training and varied exercises keep them engaged while fostering confidence and adaptability. With patience and careful management, Thoroughbreds can successfully thrive in their new roles.