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Table 1 Practical classic exercise training regimen for one year

From: Modulating effects of exercise training regimen on skeletal muscle properties in female polo ponies

Training phase

Training period

Exercise mode

Exercise frequency

Exercise duration (estimated min)

Exercise intensity

1. Basal activity (B)

1st -22nd wk

Resting in stable and pasturing in paddock during off-season

Graze in the paddock 2–3 h a day

-

-

2. Low intensity exercise training (L)

23th-26th wk

Walking only

Twice a day, 6 days/week

~60

Very low

3. Low to moderate intensity exercise training (LM)

27th-30th wk

Walking (25 min) → Trotting (15min) → Walking (20 min)

Twice a day, 6 days/week

~60

Low to Moderate

4. Low to moderate intensity exercise training plus match play (LMP)

31st-53rd wk

Walking (25 min) → Trotting (15min) → Walking (20 min) (LM session)

Twice a day or once a day on the day with competition.

6 days/week

~60

Low to Moderate

Training (TM) or official (OM) match play sessions

A horse plays 2–4 chukkas a day, 3–4 days/week

~7

Moderate to Very hard

  1. On competition days in LMP period (polo tournaments), horses trained at low to moderate intensity exercise (LM session) in the morning and participated in polo match play in the evening 3–4 day/week