I'm going fit- anyone want to join me?

[Kylie Chamberlain]

Hey all.
In order to become a more effective rider i have decided to begin a fitness program, this time for myself. I came across the idea when i was laughing about how much my horse (cheque) hates exercise and loves standing still! I realised that i too am far too lazy and if i am going to get my darling fit, then it is only fair that i too get into shape.
At the moment i am just getting up at 6:30 every morning and going for a jog around the local sports oval, going to work (will be school when term starts again) and riding in the afternoon. I will add more to the program, but at the moment my muscles are pleading weakness and fatigue after two days.

So anyway I am trying to get fit to become a better rider, anyone want to join me?

Or have you done similar? if so are you still sticking to your exercise routine?

[G.Gracious]

I already swim 6 times a week (training, i do it competetively) :eek: If i did stop swimming i would DEFINATELY join an athletics club or just go running because i know how unfit i can get :o lol

[Waikato Valuta]

I jog around the oval when ever I remember (not very ofter).

I also swim and do home yoga.

There is no way I could get up that early. I have a tough enough time getting up at 8:30 to drag myself to school by 9:00

G.Gracious
How many laps should a non competitive person do to get some fitness benifit?

Thanks

[kedwards]

I haven't been on top of things lately, but I used to run and go to the gym regularly. I keep meaning to set up a schedule to get back into it regularly. Since I have a fitness center where I work, I really have no excuse.

[G.Gracious]

Originally posted by Waikato Valuta
G.Gracious
How many laps should a non competitive person do to get some fitness benifit?

Thanks

It varies from person to person. It depends on how fit you are just now, how fit you want to get, etc. When i train we can do up to 5000 meters but obviously you wouldn't want to do that straight away!! My advice would be to get in the pool and do 5 laps, if you feel OK, do another 5, if you feel OK after that, do another 5, and so on. Swim until you feel you've put some effort into it but aren't absolutely nackered!! This could be after 10 laps or it could be after 50, and the more you swim the more you'll be able to do. If you want any more help with the swimming just PM/email me :) Hope i helped!! :D

[jUmPingIsLifE]

on weekdays i wake up a half hour early and lift weights and do differant excersizes for my abs (tryin to acheive a flat tummy). I do that every morning except sunday, saturday i do extra then i let my muscles heal sunday :)

i also run 3miles at least twice a week, then at least a mile all the other days of the week. on the weekends when i have more time i will do a 8 mile walk (with one of the horses). in the summer i do a lot of swimming and biking, i do a lot of skating, and play hockey whenever i can. i cant stand to be still so im allways doing things hehe. i study for midterms while on the tredmill.

[NZhorserider]

I think pilates would be fun! We could run NR pilates classes! Actually I'm thinking of buying the dvd:D

[entreat]

I haven't started fitness (yet), but I've started coordination work - my biggest issue!

Have you ever been out on a hack for a couple of hours & find the saddle is sitting to one side (and you're sure you put it on straight)?!! I'm right footed (and handed), so I find after a while (particularly when riding on hills) the saddle will sit to the right, so to even up my body strength & coordination, I've started doing the following exercises: (in each excersise, start basic & then build up)

1. Easier than it sounds...
Draw a star or pattern with you dominant hand, then copy the image on a new piece of paper with your non-dom hand. You can progress to the alphabet, paragraphs, and even self-portraits!!

2. Harder than is sounds...
Throw a tennis ball against a wall with your dom-hand & catch with both hands. Repeat 10 times without dropping or fumbling, then repeat with the non-dom hand.
Then catch with one hand only! 10 times, then swap throwing hands.
Then Throw & catch with the *same* hand... you're getting the picture!!

3. Haven't done this yet, but...
Kick a basketball (or netball/soccerball/volleyball) behind you to simulate the motion of kicking a horse. Eventually you'll be able to aim the ball at a wall & have it bounce back to you.

I'm always looking for more things like that to do 'cause my left side is as weak as a kitten!!

[Mazpup]

I'm constantly telling myself to get fit but it just doen't happen. However I've managed to keep my new years resolution of walking to school every day (mile and a half) and I do various bits of sport throughout the week.
entreat i need to stop being so one sided as well but I'm not sure which side is more dominant. I sit to the left when riding and I think I'm often more left dominated, but I'm right handed and still am right sided in many ways... I confuse myself lol

[james]

I cycle 100-150 miles per week and stretch my leg and back muscles for about an hour a day.

[Ryoko]

wow :eek: fitness freaks galore! lol (joking no offence intended!!) my weaker side is my left side. especially my left leg due to a riding accident 2 years ago which affected my lower back and nerves and altered the muscle on my hip bone. i have tried pilaties to strengthen my hip and abdonminal muscles but i havent stuck to it due to finding it not very...rewarding(adrenaline junkie *points to self* ) i like to feel the burn in my legs like i get when cracker bucksand plays up and/or we ride out all day. so over the last week i have taken up jogging around the feilds. (all up hill here in wales >.<!) with many strange looks from the horses. i'm hoping this will correct my muscle balance in my legs and back. i am thinking of swimming alot too but i cant seem to get my sister to swim with me and set a date. i also cant get myself anywhere without bugging a family member to drive me ! i cant wait until i'm 17! :mad: i wish i could ride cracker and tie him up there lol! i have let myself slack since i left school and dropped out of college and now i need to get myself back into a routine. i used to do karate twice a week until my leg got injured. the only time i feel really good is when i can barely move and my whole body hurts :D lol!

[FreedomStar]

I suggest that you sign up for an aerobics class! We're doing an aerobics unit currently in physical education at school, and it's actually pretty enjoyable. A very good workout.

[NZhorserider]

You guys can share around my dog! With the amount of walking he likes, you'd get really fit!

He's only a little pug cross, but he has so much energy. 'Walkies' and 'leashies' are lethal words, he gets all excited, then you really have to take him!

[epcd3000]

Originally posted by NZhorserider
You guys can share around my dog! With the amount of walking he likes, you'd get really fit!

He's only a little pug cross, but he has so much energy. 'Walkies' and 'leashies' are lethal words, he gets all excited, then you really have to take him!

Lol!! When I was at my co-op placement at the vet office, there was a pug named Bonnie that would always come in for medical boarding for like a week at a time. The question, "Wanna go for a walk?" was the lethal phrase! :D

[*charlie*1989]

woah!! just reading about all of u and ** excercise is making me feel tired!! im 14 and i try and run at leat 4 times a week and swim once, and thats hard enough 2 keep up with!! my horse is 30mins away from my house, so i dont get out there enough either!! i should really make more of an effort!! has anyone got aol? AIM or email me (darknessgirl1989@aol.com)!!

[shaka]

I have always had a fitness program, but recently I havent been sticking to it, so have put on more weight then I would like, so am trying to lose it! What I do is, in the morning once I've woken up I do the following:
10-25 pressups (depends)
25-35 sit ups
30 burpees,
30 mountain climbs,
35 star jumps
20 tuck jumps or skip for 5 minutes.
When I can in the evenings, I like to run on the travellater upstairs for about 10 minutes, cycle for 10 and do weights for 5. When at the yard I tend to run round the school and jump the jumps, I also do this in my garden! I used to run round the block on Sunday mornings before breakfast at like, 7, but dont anymore. I also dance.

[NZhorserider]

:eek:

Shaka, you make me feel tired:D

[DAR7771]

When I bought my first horse a year and a half ago, I stopped working out b/c I didn't have time. The rec center was too far to drive and my horse was even further away in the opposite direction. In July, 2003 I decided to buy a membership at the Fitness center which is located in the same building as my Job.

You see, I noticed I wasn't very strong when riding. I couldn't keep my balance, my back wasn't strong enough and my horse would pull the reins, forcing me to loose my balance and fall forward. Not to mention, I gained weight. I decided to workout again. It was amazing how much the Strength training was helping with my riding. My horse didn't pull as much or if he did, I didn't loose my balance.

I do cardo workout on Monday/or Tuesday and Thursdays and Body Sculpting on Wednesday and Friday. I then ride on Monday, Wednesday and the weekend. I feel like I'm getting slimmer, but it appears my weight is either the same or getting higher. I like to think that I'm just getting stronger...=)

Now, my goal is to stretch my horse before and after our workout. I think that will help me stay even more fit and keep him flexiable.

[*charlie*1989]

what is your horse like? do you have to travel far to get to it? it takes me 30mins by car to get to my pony and its really annoying cos i cant see him as much as i'd want to! And as for not losing weight, remember - muscle weighs more then fat!!

[Ryoko]

lol wow that dog sounds exhausting!
I suggest that you sign up for an aerobics class!

yep tried that but it isnt my kinda of exercise! horsies, boxing karate, swimming and running are my area. i found it embarrasing to do aerobics and the lady who did its daughter went through my bag at riding camp and i told her off (the daughter) she deserved it...chucking my undies everywhere! :eek: what posseses someone to do that...just coz she lost her coat...and i have to say i would have been glad to loose it...80's tracksuit jacket! so i'm afraid i have rather been put off aerobics :rolleyes: oh well ridings fine isnt it?!:D

[Equisgurl]

I'm out of shape as well...lol but even riding once a week leaves me with somewhat aching muscles, but good news I will be joining local YMCA in couple weeks, really looking forward to that:p

[T-bred]

Hi,
To keep fit I ride my horse, I do pilates and I dance 7 hours a week. I do tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, lyrical, and pointe.

Anna

[T-bred]

But I don't think that I am to overweight I weigh 125 pounds and I am 5 foot 5inches.

Anna

[james]

If you join the YMCA, is dressing, singing and dancing like the Village People required or optional?

[*charlie*1989]

lol james. do u have a horse or what? wb

[james]

Charlie, no I don't (sadly). I would like one, but its the time involved. Have you got one?

[*charlie*1989]

yeah, ive got a 12.2hh(lil i know bout im only lil!!) welsh gelding called Scout. you can see a pic if you want at http://uk.f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/darknessgirl1989/detail?.dir=/1917&.dnm=5dbb.jpg (sorry it's long!) do you ride at all then? a/s/l? talk to you later

[james]

I ride at least 2x a week (lessons at 2 local yards) and sometimes borrow a friend's horse to go hacking. In the summer 1 of these lessons also gets converted to a hack as the yard owns 60 acres of woodlands with a stream, improvised jumps, etc. Beats school work any day!

[NZhorserider]

Originally posted by james
If you join the YMCA, is dressing, singing and dancing like the Village People required or optional?

Totally required :D

[*charlie*1989]

woah, lucky you james!! i dont get to ride that ften in winter coz my horse lives at my grans farm which is 20miles away, so i have to get my mum to take me!! i go and stay with her in the hols tho, so thats fun! i hack and ride in fields mostly, i havent got a school. my gran has 50acres so im pretty lucky too!
NZhorserider, i love the pic!! a/s/l? (well i guess your from New Zealand?!) talk to you later

[octavia 100]

to keep fit I run three times a week spin classes 4 times a week walk dogs to many times a week swim every day ride a tandem with husband when ever we can and ride twice a week. Riding is the hardest though and recently have started doing more resistance work (husband thinks it should include no spending money but thats no fun)

[NZhorserider]

Hey Charlie,

I'm 16, female and obviously from NZ!:D

[Waikato Valuta]

I havn't been on thi8s thread for awhile but just wnated to say

Ryoko I have exacty that problem with my left hip from a ridding accident 2 years ago. Freaky. :D

[*charlie*1989]

kewl NZhorserider, im 14/f/england!! wots ** name? ttyl

[NZhorserider]

I'm Grace

btw, threads aren't meant to get chatty, so pm or email would be more appropriate. Sorry if I sound like a cow, but it's better than one of the mods saying it.:)