What conditioning method is commonly used to improve a horse’s speed?

The conditioning method that is commonly used to improve a horse’s speed is sprint work or galloping. This technique directly targets the horse's ability to accelerate and build upon their natural speed. Sprinting engages fast-twitch muscle fibers, which are essential for rapid bursts of speed, and helps to improve cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength.

When a horse participates in sprint work, they learn to develop their muscle power and improve their overall stride efficiency. This kind of training also enhances their anaerobic capacity, allowing them to maintain higher speeds for shorter periods, which is critical in performance scenarios like races or timed events. In contrast, the other options tend to focus on different aspects of conditioning. Long-distance trotting and steady cantering are more suited to building endurance, while walking on hills primarily strengthens muscles and can improve overall fitness, but does not specifically target speed.