Warming up - the horse or you? (m)

[Nimbus65]

I know the answer is "both" but I've been struggling with who to put first . . . ideally, I'd like to warm up with no stirrups to get my hips open, my legs lengthened and my seat deepened but I know that's not fair on the horse and have found that most of the horses I ride work much better with little or no contact and me off their back in warm up, but then I'm not working on me . . . I guess the logical answer would be to spend the first few minutes allowing the horse to work in and go forward and "be damned" with my position and then work on me once the horse was soft through it's back and worked in.

What do you all do?

N

[teabiscuit]

i do a few stretches before i get on, touch me toes, pull my foot up to my bum and push my knee back to stretch the front thigh muscles, do a really sad and pathetic attempt at the splits.

once on board a few arm swings, a few knees up and gently back, then i warm the horse up

[Mehitabel]

i've never found much benefit from doing the initial walking work off their back - i sometimes do when we start trotting and cantering, but i tend to do 5 or so minutes walking, practicing transitions, obedience, responsiveness and bend first - that can certainly be done stirrupless and i often do, to put me in a better position.i normally just take my feet out, i donlt cross them - then i can just slip them in to trot and take them away again for the walking.

[funkyfilly_sos]

I do streaches on the floor (working from my head down to my legs) before riding. I like doing work without stirrups to warm me up aswell but I always stick by the rule: 'If your going to warm up on the horse you should warm the horse up first, If you warm up on the floor, warm yourself up first.'

[*Sez*]

I tend to find that I warm up as I ride. I always start sessions by walking on a loose rein, gently working my calves and thighs to get the muscles working and encouraging a good free walk from the horse. A bit of walk on both reins, then a rising trot on both reins, a few large circles, and by the time my horse is starting to soften in his mouth and actually listen to me, I find we're both pretty ready to begin working.

[Shadowlark]

I usually do my stretches while the horse stands initially saddle - then check my cinch and get on. That way my attention is on them for thier warm up and I am already good to go.

[Peanut]

Golly, I just get on and ride. Never thought about warming myself up!

[Lucyad]

I have to hack to get anywhere, so I just do the first 5 min on a long rein and the same on the last. It takes half and hour and walk and trot to get to my RI's yard so we are both ready to do some proper work by then, though we sometimes aim for a nice outline for the last 10 minutes of the hack as well. Never bother stretching though - possibly that it why I am so inflexible!

[Hero]

...I don't warm up???? :D..But i make sure my horse does.

[Lolo-b]

I don't always, but I find that just in walk going large, I bring my knees up to my chin, then stretch down long, repeating. Then still whilst mounted bring my feet up behind my bum! Circle my ankles, then with my arms I stretch up and down, making large circles to loosen my shoulders, rolling forwards and back. I gets you stretched whilst the horse is also warming up!!! Very useful!!;)

[booboo]

i never warm up might have to start though might stop me aching after long ides and hard jumpin lessons!!!
xxx