Hip exercises for riding

[Walkn'HorseLuvr]

Someone told me that english riding opens the hips? Well, the last time when i rode for a while you know for a lesson or camp, my hips would hurt like i hav to stretch them, when in the saddle, so is there any exercises that are good for the hips?

[Tatooed Lady]

OH bought me an exercise ball for Christmas (I picked it out, it's not something he'd have chosen for me!), and it's nice because not only does it help get a feel for balance points, but it can be sat on with more or less positioning of being in the saddle. I've been working on stretching out my hips, back, legs, etc. LOTS of stretches. ;)

[Cobgirl]

Lots of leg lifts and stretches. Pilates is good for stretching those muscles. Lol, I rode yesterday and did lots of rising trot and extended trot, today, my inner thigh muscles are giving me grief, so much for leg lifts and pilates!

[Walkn'HorseLuvr]

I've been doing - every other day - Core Rythms which is exercises that are routines focused around latin dancing, like the ones u see on tv that have partner competitions? well these are for by yourself exercises. And its really fun. U think that'll help with riding muscles?

[Walkn'HorseLuvr]

I've been wondering about lesson horses, when u get a lesson horse, do u keep that horse throughout all your lessons or do they change it every lesson? Cuz my lessons are gonna be every Wednesday night.

[Cobgirl]

I've been doing - every other day - Core Rythms which is exercises that are routines focused around latin dancing, like the ones u see on tv that have partner competitions? well these are for by yourself exercises. And its really fun. U think that'll help with riding muscles?


All stomach exercises are great for riding, building up those inner core muscles. Whatever is best for you really - I love Pilates so I do that:D along with sit-ups and lots of leg lifts. I am 57 years old so I need everything going to keep me fit!

[Cobgirl]

I've been wondering about lesson horses, when u get a lesson horse, do u keep that horse throughout all your lessons or do they change it every lesson? Cuz my lessons are gonna be every Wednesday night.

I ride my part loan horse when I have lessons, but when I rode RS horses, I could 'request' a particular horse. It is good though to ride a variety of horses, tall ones, chunky ones, slow ones, forward ones. It will be good experience. I rode a Haflinger, 16.3 TB X, part shire x TB, plus of course, my part loan cob.

[R_Andy]

YOUNG KIDS CLOSE YOUR EYES!!!!


Have a nice passionate session with your OH or someone handy!!:eek::D

my ex always said it was good for loosening up the hips and groin:D:eek:

[cvb]

Someone told me that english riding opens the hips? Well, the last time when i rode for a while you know for a lesson or camp, my hips would hurt like i hav to stretch them, when in the saddle, so is there any exercises that are good for the hips?

OK - getting serious here - what exactly was aching ? when you work on flexibility it is often about the muscles that work around the joint, rather than the joint itself. If you are getting actual joint pain, you might want to think about checking with your doctor ?

I'm doing a "health for life" course at the moment in spare time. One of the things they talk about in the second module is how to structure an exercise session properly. Yet we rarely do this for riding. It should look something like this

- warm up session which covers: pulse-raising exercises, mobility exercises, stretches, and then any final preparation for the main event (e.g. specific moves your sport involves)
- your main exercise session
- cool down which reduces the warmth of the body, reduces pulse rate, breathing comes back to normal, keep joints and muscles loose, helps remove waste products of exercise from the muscles

Now we do some kind of warm up or cool down for the horse... but what about us ?

How many of us do a proper warm up before we get on a horse ? I have seen it suggested in magazine articles a couple of times over the years - but how many people who ride at a riding school have ever had someone suggest stretches or rider warm-up ?

I do Pilates as part of my non-riding exercise. There are exercises in there that work on flexibility that then helps with my riding. (but no, I haven't yet got in to the habit of a proper warm up :o)

[~*sugarlump*~]

HOOLAH HOOPING!! :D:p

yep, loosens your hips a dream.

i also do alot of street dancing which has loosened my hips alot

ETA: both also help with your muscles and flexibility, you might just look like a five year old when doing the hoolah hooping though... but hey, its fun :p

[Walkn'HorseLuvr]

YOUNG KIDS CLOSE YOUR EYES!!!!


Have a nice passionate with your OH or someone handy!!:eek::D

my ex always said it was good for loosening up the hips and groin:D:eek:


huh?! what's that mean?

[R_Andy]

never mind:rolleyes:

[Walkn'HorseLuvr]

u gotta keep in mind i'm from United States, and might not know what ** talking about. :o

You got me curious now. :p
I'm 18 so i don't fall under the "little kid" category :P

[LMS]

Don't forget to warm up your hamstrings too. It's been proven that in riders (& figure skaters), they shorten over time because of our position in the saddle.

[Walkn'HorseLuvr]

is there a place up here that tells u what some of these abbreviations you all use? Cuz i keep getting confused, like what's OH? RS?

[LMS]

OH = Other Half (the person you are in a relationship with)
RS = Riding School
RI = Riding Instructor
YO = Yard Owner
DH, DD, DS...= Darling husband, Darling Daughter, Darling Son...

[Walkn'HorseLuvr]

I would've never guess OH was that, thank you so much LMS! :cool:
What do u think R Andy was talkin about? Sounded really intimate about something :confused: but how does that hav anything to do with horses and riding?

[Pink's lady]

What do u think R Andy was talkin about? Sounded really intimate about something but how does that hav anything to do with horses and riding?

ROFLOL:D You're HOW old? Not sure if you're serious or just taking the proverbial;)

I have lax ligaments in my hips but stranglely enough find riding has no effect - it walking that kills my hips - I hiked up a hill once and couldn't walk the next day:(

[Walkn'HorseLuvr]

Yeah i get it, i'm not the type to fool around so i can't take that advice

[Tatooed Lady]

Actually, as far as warm-up, exercise and cool-down go, most riders have at least 2 of 3 every ride.
Warm-up - bring in from pasture, scrub the mud and muck out of horse's hair, pick hooves, tack up.
Exercise = riding.
Cool-down......well, how about un-tack, pick hooves, groom some more and turn back out?
:D Yay! 3 out of 3!!!!

[Walkn'HorseLuvr]

lol that's funny ;)

[cvb]

Actually, as far as warm-up, exercise and cool-down go, most riders have at least 2 of 3 every ride.
Warm-up - bring in from pasture, scrub the mud and muck out of horse's hair, pick hooves, tack up.
Exercise = riding.
Cool-down......well, how about un-tack, pick hooves, groom some more and turn back out?
:D Yay! 3 out of 3!!!!

nice try - but it doesn't fit the spec for "safe and effective exercise" believe me !

Of course if horse decides not to be caught, a quick jog around the paddock might just help ?