Experts Tips on Obtaining Peak Performance at the Majors

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406 – October, 2016

by Erica Greathouse

We’ve all heard the old adage, “it’s a marathon, not a sprint.” Although this particular saying is important in many aspects of life, it’s paramount when it comes to preparing horses and riders to peak when it really counts. For many trainers and exhibitors, the fall show schedule with many top shows scheduled back to back makes it easy to get stressed and overwhelmed. In order to withstand the pressure that comes along with competing with the best of the best, it takes a combination of hard work and meticulous planning throughout the year. We interviewed top industry professionals to see how they structure their programs to meet the demands of the grueling fall show schedule.

MIKE HACHTEL – WESTERN PLEASURE

Mike Hachtel of Collinsville, Texas, owner and operator of Espuela Ranch, is no stranger to the winner’s circle. He has trained numerous APHA, NSBA, and ApHC World Champions in Western Pleasure. Hachtel’s program is a well-oiled machine when it comes to getting horses and riders to peak at just the right time. According to Hachtel, the key to his success is consistency and a lot of hard work, yearround. “I think it’s all about maintenance. Maintenance is a word you can use for a lot of different scenarios; it’s not just medical. As trainers, we are paid for more than just training. We’re responsible for maintaining horses both mentally and physically all year around, and each horse’s program must be tailored to the individual in order to set each horse up for success,” he says.

Although Hachtel keeps his horses in shape at all times, springtime is when he starts to ask for a higher level of fitness and gradually amps up the training process as the bigger events approach. “I start asking for more gradually. You don’t want your horse to peak too early. It’s definitely a balancing act to get a horse to peak at the right time. You want that horse to give you a reason to ask for more. If you ride a horse every day and ask them to give one hundred percent, that’s where your mistakes are going to happen.” Additionally, Hachtel stresses that a horse not peak for an extended amount of time and there has to be a rest and rejuvenation period between big events to allow the horse to reset, both mentally and physically. “I like to give a horse a week or two of rest to freshen up after a demanding show. Rest consists of turnout time, stall rest, and minimal work. No matter what the horse is doing, we’re always maintaining their physical appearance and keeping their farrier work up to date. It’s important to keep these things consistent even when horses are on a break,” he says.

Click here to read the complete article
406 – October, 2016