Hill Work Plan

Hill work can be such an awesome way to get great benefits for your horse without taking a ton of time. It can be beneficial for horses of all ages in helping them build their top line and strengthen their core as well as getting them balanced onto their hind end.

I use hill work for all of my horses no matter what discipline they do. It is a great way to break up the monotony of being in the arena and is an easy and fun way to help condition your horse. Keep in mind that you want to start slowly and build so that you don’t strain your horse. Also be careful of the footing of your hill to make sure that you don’t get into a slippery situation.

Here’s how I do hill work with my horses:

Start with walk up and down at least once and have a set starting point and transition point from where you start to come down. The beginning of the slope down will be your transition point. 

When you are first beginning hill work trot and canter sets will be up only and walk down the hill until your horse has the balance to first trot and then canter down the hill. 

Hill work sets for beginning hill work:

4 trot sets up - walk down 

2 canter sets up on each lead - walk down 

Hill work sets for intermediate hill work:

6-8 trot sets up, begin to curve for your downhill, walk before the slope begins and walk downhill 

4 canter sets on each lead, trot the curve until the downhill begins, walk the downhill 

Hill work sets for advanced hill work:

6-8 trot sets up and 4-6 trot downhill keeping your body balanced up and back 

4-6 canter sets on each lead, canter the curve, and trot the downhill 

Everyone’s approached to hill work varies, but this is what I do that works for my horses.