Me, My Horse, and ChatGPT

I got Ghost in April. A freshly 5 year old OTTB who had been lightly restarted and had a great brain for timid old amateur me.

Getting a third horse was quite literally not in the plan, but after lots of vet visits and many tears it was concluded that my other OTTB, Corky, had become a pasture potato. That's a story for another time.

Ghost is amazing. He popped right off the trailer on a warm Sunday morning and aside from having a full blown meltdown over the existence or our mini donkey, Waffles, he settled in quickly. He is immensely athletic, quiet, cuddly, and absolutely loves to jump. Like many OTTBs, he came to me race fit and since he is also still growing in height, he's got some weight to put on and muscle to gain. Since I hadn't been riding much prior to getting Ghost, I, too, had some muscle to gain (but no weight needed here...).

I spent the first few weeks getting to know Ghost, tweaking his diet, treating him for ulcers, and letting him get used to his new small herd. Every ride I was all smiles but also all out of breath. I was amazed the day I was able to trot 10 whole laps around my rather small riding area. I knew it was time to take some lessons since Ghost is still green and I am very much an amateur. The trainer I found is great, and boy am I glad I found her.

I don't know if I warned her well enough about how unfit I was or how green Ghost was. But she showed up, patient and non-judgmental of my many, many, walk breaks, and helped me hobble through a 45-minute flat lesson. Needless to say the first lesson was...humbling. And I realized I need to get a serious plan in action to build up my stamina and also to help Ghost start putting on some topline and hind end muscle.

Queue hours of research, scouring Reddit and Facebook for tips and tricks on building horse (and people) muscle. My bodyworker told me walk, walk, walk. And I thought, sure, but how long? Will it actually help? What else can I do? I was kind of frustrated by the many opinions online, and I am very much a plan person needing details on how to get results. Plus, unlike Virginia I had no hills accessible to help build muscle. So I asked our all knowing, all powerful, friendly AI, ChatGPT. I said, listen robot, I need a plan to help my horse build topline and hind end muscle. I have ground poles, cavalettis, no hills but one deep sandy area and one flat grassy area. Ghost needs to improve picking up his left lead canter and lead changes and I am not very fit and right now I ride for 30 minutes max with walk breaks. And, as ChatGPT does, I was provided a detailed 4 week progressive conditioning plan.

I've just finished week 4, which was technically my week 5 because I decided to repeat the week 3 plan before moving on to week 4. But, I thought I would share the plan with you and recap how it went.

Week 1–2 (Foundation Weeks)

Goal: establish marching walk endurance, core activation, and basic balance. Ride time: 30–40 min.

• Day 1 – Flatwork Schooling (30–35 min)

  • Warm-up walk (5–7 min, stretching, loops)

  • Trot/canter focus: big circles, transitions within trot, short canter sets on both leads. Work on correct left lead departs (from a well-balanced trot, slight inside bend).

  • End with 2–3 easy pole lines at trot.

• Day 2 – Long Walk Ride (30–35 min)

  • Sandy footing walk (2 × 5 min sets, flat walk breaks in between).

  • Pole work: 4–6 walk poles in a row, repeat a few times each direction.

  • Transitions within the walk (free, working, collected).

• Day 3 – Canter & Strength Focus (30–35 min)

  • Trot/canter transitions, focus on left lead departs.

  • Add shallow loops at canter (teaches balance + lead preparation).

  • Finish with 1–2 small jumps or cavalettis for fun (keep it light, under 2’).

• Day 4 – Long Walk Ride (30–40 min)

  • Mostly walk, but include a few short trot stretches (30–60 seconds each).

  • Add in lateral work at the walk: leg yield, shoulder-in (just a few steps each side).

  • Finish with a stretchy walk cool-down.

Result

Ghost already has a quite nice "marching walk" naturally, and I already like to spend 7-10 minutes warming up a the walk, so this was an easy transition.

Day 1 was pretty similar to how I already rode, but helped me push to ride for 35 minutes and actually focus on having a balanced trot before picking up the canter, instead of rushing into it. I also worked on trotting forward and then collecting a bit which helped us set up for the left lead much better.

Day 2 was a change of scenery for me because I had not ridden Ghost in my sandy area yet. It's really just his field, which because we live on a smaller property in Florida is essentially a giant dry lot, but has its uses. The two walk sets in the deep sand felt surprisingly effective. It's like when you're walking through sand on the beach, it uses different muscles and definitely seemed to tire Ghost a bit. Then we did Ghost's least favorite activity, walking over ground poles. I'm not sure if it's boredom, laziness, young horse clumsiness, or some combination of the three but Ghost despises walk poles. He'd rather face plant than actually pick his feet up over them. But, after the sand it seemed like this actually helped him consider picking his feet up more (after stepping directly on some poles the first few times...)

Day 3 I had no clue what the robot meant by shallow loops. It was not a term I was familiar with and honestly I don't know if ChatGPT made it up to mess with me or if it is just something I bypassed the entirety of my 20 year equestrian career. So, I asked for clarification and it seemed like it meant to leg yield off the rail and then back to the rail at the canter, like a simple serpentine. So, that's what I did. It felt pretty silly but made me realize Ghost responds really well to leg aids in this way, and helped me gain some confidence in steering at the canter. You know, one of those pesky important tools you need when riding a 1,000lb animal. Finishing over two jumps was of course Ghost's only enjoyable part. We trotted two crossrails because I am a chicken, and as usual Ghost was perfect. This was also the day that the neighbors behind my riding area decided to start letting their goats and donkey out against our fenceline. I think they're cute. Ghost thinks they are terrifying because we have a privacy fence and all he hears is sketchy footsteps in the leaves. I stayed on, though.

Day 4 was another long walk ride and this is around the time I realized, I needed a watch. If you had asked me 10 years ago if I would want to do 2 walk rides a week I'd laugh at you, but honestly these became really enjoyable. But, I did get sick of pulling my phone out of my pocket to check the time. This was also when I first really started doing lateral work with Ghost, and he was pretty good at it. The shoulder-ins were a bit rocky, but he leg yields beautifully each way. After doing all the lateral work, we picked up the trot and it was a world of difference. Normally he takes a bit to come back to me and frame up when we start trotting, but the lateral work made him immediately supple and rideable at the trot.

We repeated days 1 - 4 for week two, and I definitely saw improvement with picking up his left lead and with the shoulder-ins and lateral work overall. I was feeling pretty good about this so far.

Week 3 (Building Endurance & Balance)

Goal: extend ride time to 40–45 min, more sand and pole work, more transitions.

• Day 1 – Flatwork + Transitions (40 min)

  • Walk/trot transitions to sharpen response.

  • Canter: 2–3 short sets each lead, focusing on correct left departs.

  • Add simple change (trot for 3–5 steps, then pick up other lead).

• Day 2 – Long Walk Ride (40 min)

  • Sand: 3 × 5 min sets, with flat walk breaks.

  • Pole line at walk + trot (4–6 poles).

  • Lateral work at walk.

• Day 3 – Canter & Cavaletti Day (40–45 min)

  • Canter poles on the ground, 3–4 strides apart.

  • Work on balance and adjustability within canter.

  • Add 2–3 small jumps/cavalettis (still under 2’).

• Day 4 – Long Walk Ride (40 min)

  • Focus on transitions within walk (free → working → collected).

  • Add a few trot poles and 1–2 walk–trot–walk transitions after poles.

  • End with long rein stretch.

Day 1 was a good flat ride. One thing that was nice about this plan is that it kind of jogged my memory of a few things. Like, Rhys, why are you trying to work on flying changes when you haven't even ever asked your horse for a simple change? Hmm. Ghost has flying changes in progress, but working on simple changes was definitely helpful for picking up our leads and working on transitions. I had also not considered cantering in short sets, I normally picked up the canter and went for 2, maybe 3 laps if I could muster up the energy, and then called it quits. Short sets was kind of a game changer for working on the left lead and our transitions. Since I get so winded, it let me actually practice the transitions before being completely out of breath and control.

Day 2 adding in trot poles was fun. I measured them out and Ghost also normally doesn't love to pick his feet up at the trot either, but this exercise combined with the lateral and sand work at the walk was super helpful. I was able to figure out in this ride that trying to get Ghost to go more forward, or giving him his head more, were not conducive of going over trot poles nicely. I figured out once we got a nice, floaty, balanced trot after lateral work that he essentially needed me to hold his hand over the poles. This was the first time I felt him actually flick his toes and go through trot poles using his core. It was a great feeling and I was so excited about it. We did not make it to the 3rd walk set in the sand though, because my neighbor came by to visit with her mare and interrupted our workout plan (sorry, ChatGPT).

Day 3 what's harder for a horse than trot poles? Canter poles. Well, at least for me and my horse. This was tricky for us because I feel like Ghost has just figured out how to be adjustable at the trot, so adjustability at the canter (largely due to my inability to canter for very long...) is definitely a work in progress. However, I did feel we got something accomplished because I was able to balance him out of the turn to meet a good stride to the poles a few times. I cantered a couple jumps (I know, ballsy, right?) and he must have been feeling extra good this day because he just about jumped out of his skin over a tiny crossrail.

Day 4 was the first time I had to figure out the difference between a free walk and a working walk. I took exactly 1 dressage lesson as a teenager and this was not a topic that was covered. But, it was interesting and turns out Ghost is a pro at collecting within the walk. That also helped with working through transitions at trot poles and again I was able to work on balancing up to them which saved us from any face planting festivities this day.

I felt like we needed more practice on adjustability in the canter so I thought it would be best to repeat week 3 again.

Day 1 Ghost aced all the simple changes I asked of him. This was an improvement over last week. I think the walk/trot transitions beforehand really helped with that, it felt like I had great control and lots of adjustability with him.

Day 2 we did 3 sets of 5 mins in the sand which I could tired Ghost out quite a bit. Then we did some leg yielding which he has gotten super good at. We also did some shoulder ins which he again was great at. I threw in a haunches in to see what he would do and that definitely needs some work. We finished with some walk and trot poles and he really started using himself there.

Day 3 Ghost had had a few days off after losing a shoe, but he was amazing. So supple and quiet on the flat. My footing was getting pretty dry and sandy plus I'm not sure he got the right pad put on from our stand in farrier so he did trip a few times. We cantered some poles which I confidently set at a 4 stride but turns out it was an easy 3 - I am for sure out of practice at setting lines. We finished over a couple low jumps and cavalettis and a nice stretchy trot.

Day 4 transitions within the walk and the poles were definitely some homework we needed. We had 1 near-face plant with the poles, but I attribute this to Ghost being extra sleepy this day. I even caught him passed out UNDER Corky in the field later this night at 11pm which caused me to jump out of bed to run and make sure he was still with the living. He was. Anyway, this ride was fun because the very second I picked up the trot, my neighbor decided to start chopping weeds with a scythe. Very horror movie-esque. Ghost was not a fan. But I did manage to get the flicky-toe trot poles that I was looking for.

Week 4 (Strength & Suppling Focus)

Goal: 45–50 min rides, more canter balance, introduce counter-canter prep, increase walk conditioning.

• Day 1 – Flatwork + Canter Balance (45 min)

  • Warm-up as usual.

  • Left lead canter departs, add shallow serpentine with simple change across the middle.

  • Lateral trot work: leg yield, shoulder-in.

• Day 2 – Long Walk Ride (45 min)

  • Sand: 2 × 7–8 min sets.

  • Walk poles + trot poles.

  • Transitions every 2–3 minutes to keep him engaged.

• Day 3 – Cavaletti & Canter Focus (45–50 min)

  • Canter poles on a circle (helps with balance, lead departs).

  • Simple changes through trot, work toward smoother balance.

  • Finish with a fun little course of poles + 1–2 small jumps.

• Day 4 – Long Walk Suppling Ride (40–45 min)

  • Lots of bending lines, serpentines, and lateral work at the walk.

  • Add backing up in straight line (3–4 steps, repeat a few times).

  • Relaxed cool-down stretch.

• Optional Day 5 – Hack/Field Variety (30–40 min)

Day 1 we warmed up as usual and I did a bit of lateral work at the walk to start. I had not really tried leg yields or shoulder-ins at the trot but honestly, Ghost was pretty quick to pick that up. Not as sharp as the walk but definitely a start! I'm not entirely certain about the shallow serpentine-to-simple change combo so I did these separately. I pretty much just moved Ghost from the rail to the quarterline and back at the canter each way. He was a bit up this day and we had a couple bobbles picking up our left lead but he got a few simple changes really nicely each way. Again, he is feeling so much softer at the walk and trot especially.

Day 1-B was actually my first lesson in quite a while. We worked on mostly my position and also on adjusting Ghost at the canter to some canter poles. My trainer was impressed with Ghost's muscle and weight so that was great to hear!

And then Ghost pulled a shoe again, because apparently when I pleaded with him to keep his spare shoe on until the lesson, he took that very literally.

And then, after he got new shoes he decided to scare me with a (thankfully mild) colic episode.

And then it was time for his 6 week bodywork session. Which was great because my bodyworker got to see his progress.

So after about a week off it was time to get back to it.

Day 2 I ended up switching around with day 4 because it rained last minute this day so my "deep sand" area was no longer fluffy enough to ride in. We did lots of big serpentines at the walk, some leg yields and shoulder ins, and worked on backing up a little bit. That's probably an exercise for a different time because right now our reverse is pretty rusty. And by pretty rusty I mean we back up on a circle, not a straight line. But, Ghost was an angel for having a week off and we had a nice long walk to cool out.

Day 3 was humbling. I think ChatGPT had quite a bit of faith in us thinking that we would be able to canter poles on a circle and also that I am capable of setting canter poles on a circle properly. Ghost was understandably fresh this day and I thought I'd start by trotting the poles on a circle. He was thinking a few steps ahead and decided he'd rather canter them which he actually did fairly quietly. From there, though, the 5 yo brain cells took over. We got a nice simple change each direction but when it came to popping over a few jumps Ghost decided he'd rather run straight through the cavalettis. Ended on a good note though and honestly it was a great reminder that he is in fact, just 5 years old.

Day 3-B was the last ride before a horse show so I just hacked around and jumped a couple small courses. Ghost had gotten out of his field with his brothers and had a nice joy ride around the farm so he was a bit tired and pulled one rail. However, his trot and canter were so supple and he was very straight and under me for jumping which was great. I did a couple simple changes which were much smoother than yesterday.

Day 4 we did ChatGPT's day 2 and did a 7 min set in the sand followed by some nice walk/trot transitions and polework. Then we worked on some reversing between two ground poles to work on straightness. We ended with an 8 min set in the sand and I could tell Ghost was tired!

Overall, this started out as a way for me to add some more structure to my rides and experiment with the best ways to build muscle and topline for Ghost. Honestly, it turned out better than I ever could have anticipated and while I will be leaning on my trainer more now that Ghost and I are more fit, I will definitely be taking some notes with me. Walking in deep sand seems to be the best alternative to hill work since no hills are available to us. Additionally, the exercises here are great to throw in to hack days with Ghost moving forward.

Honestly, the results speak for themselves! My bodyworker said he looks like an entirely different horse, and my trainer and vet both think he looks great. So, thanks ChatGPT! Maybe AI isn't so bad after all.