| A 3000 year old fitness program for horses offers | | | | under saddle, the horse should be led at the canter |
| modern trainers the opportunity to improve horses' | | | | (from a vehicle or other horse) for a set period of time |
| fitness while keeping them sound and happy. | | | | (that is, over days or weeks) prior to this (and so on). |
| The program was named after its creator, the | | | | Kikkuli even led horses at the gallop. This way the |
| Mitannian Master Horse Trainer Kikkuli, whose horse | | | | horse's system will adjust to the work without the |
| conditioning techniques helped establish a militaryempire | | | | stress of weight and without the psychological stress |
| in around 1345 BC. By following the instructions laid | | | | of dealing with a rider. By following this Kikkuli Principle |
| down in the Kikkuli Text, you will be able to produce a | | | | there will be no weight-bearing stress on the horse in |
| superb equine athlete without the use of drugs or | | | | the initial training. |
| expensive feed additives. | | | | If leading more than one horse, make sure you get the |
| Performance horses and racehorses as a whole | | | | order right. Some horses like to lead and some horses |
| continue to be trained by tired old conventional | | | | like to follow. The horses led from the front of vehicle, |
| methods. Race times for horses have barely improved | | | | from the front doors, will need to move out wider to |
| in the last few decades (unlike the great improvement | | | | allow for the vehicle to turn around corners and bends. |
| in times for human athletes) and lameness disqualifies | | | | Horses that like to kick other horses will obviously need |
| potentially outstanding endurance horses and eventers | | | | to be led from the back of the vehicle. When leading |
| at the beginning of their careers. Kikkuli's Method | | | | five horses, place a horse which likes to kick, in the |
| addressed all these problems. | | | | middle of two horses behind the back of the vehicle. |
| Kikkuli used Interval training based on several principles. | | | | This is the place which offers the least movement. I |
| Once of these techniques was that whatever he | | | | always lead stallions from the driver's window so they |
| intended to do under saddle, he did first by leading the | | | | are in easy reach. Some horses can became |
| horse (not in the same day - this is as a principle). That | | | | competitive with the vehicle, and at times will try to |
| means that if the horse is to be trotted under saddle, | | | | race it or bite it. Do not worry about this, this will cease, |
| the horse should be led at the trot (from a vehicle or | | | | or at least only happen from time to time, when the |
| other horse) for a set period of time (that is, over days | | | | horse becomes more used to the leading. |
| or weeks) prior to this. If the horse is to be cantered | | | | |