Once you have completed Fitness you will be able to:

1. Discuss the reasons a fitness or training programme should be implemented, including:

   • physical fitness. 

   • for health. 

   • educational purposes.  

   • behavioural reasons. 

2. Explain and have knowledge about the different factors influencing a fitness programme, including: 

   • conformation.

   • injuries.

   • work levels. 

   • equipment, environment and external factors.

   • type, breed and temperament. 

   • the horse's age.  

3. Talk about how to assess the horse's health and fitness at various stages of the programme:

   • prior to the fitness programme. 

   • during the fitness programme.

   • maintaining fitness after the programme is completed. 

   • behaviour during the fitness programme. 

4. Describe how to care for a horse after strenuous exercise, including: 

   • why the cooling down procedure is essential.

   • the purpose of monitoring the equine's vital signs during cooling down. 

   • immediate methods of care after strenuous exercise, during hot or cold weather, and following a long ride.

   • care on arrival home.

   • care of the horse the following day. 

5. Discuss the uses of a horse walker, including:

   • the features on different walkers. 

   • the objectives of using a horse walker. 

   • how to initially introduce a horse to the walker.