Fitness question

[scattymare]

How quickly does a horse lose fitness? I'm used to riding P nearly every day for 1 -2 hours each time so he's pretty fit. However this week due to the heat we've not been out since Sunday, and last week we only went out 3 times for about an hour each. I really don't wan't him to lose the fitness we've been building but it's just too hot to do anything at the moment.
Whats everyone else doing for excersise in this wheather? Riding early mornings not really an option (unless I fancy a 5 o clock start!)

[joandlad]

I can't find the study I was looking for on H&H. It's referred to on here though:

www.horseandhound.co.uk/horsecare/1374/106350.html

From memory the original study pretty much said that the horses came back after 10 weeks and showed no decline in fitness levels. So I wouldn't go worrying about the odd day off here and there.

As for me, I'm really lucky that I do flexi-hours at work so I've been riding at 7am and going in to work a bit later than usual.

[scattymare]

Thanks Joanlad. I don't feel nearly so bad now.