This book is full of information about getting horses fit both mentally and physically for all types of horses from event and endurance horses through to those used for hacking. Topics include assessing your horse, health and conditioning, feeding, tack and equipment, travelling, lunging, poles, and fitness of the rider.

This book offers step-by-step tips on preparing and getting your horse fit. It explains about the horses conformation and provides feeding advice, discussing suitable feeds for different types of horses and the work they are doing. It includes a guide to make your own training plan with diagrams and exercises, and also outlines different training aids that can be used to help your horse.

I really enjoyed reading Getting Horses Fit it was a pleasure to read and not difficult to get through. This book has plenty of information on real life situations, which most of us appreciate, and great tips for you as well as your horse. Illustrated in full colour with useful diagrams and pictures to explain the text, it makes an interesting read.
Plenty of facts are hidden in this book, with interesting case studies from the likes of showing producer, Lynn
Russell, and endurance rider, Linda Hams. The case studies outline their training programmes and how they get
their horses fit.

Not only does it talk about the horse's fitness, it also touches on us the rider and includes a step-by-step guide to find your BMI to see what category you fit in (underweight - very obese).

Over all this is a really good book, with plenty of in-depth but easy information. It's a great book for people who want to buy a horse, and for those taking exams, e.g. BHS, NVQ, or for anyone who is currently getting a horse fit. You will learn a lot!

Rhian Burrell
Training for BHS Stage 3 and Horse Owners, Yale College
(currently on placement at Legacy Riding School, Wrexham)