Exercises to help while riding.

[JenniferN]

Help! I've been told by my instructor (and I believe her!) that I'm much stronger on my right hand side than on my left, and that as a result, my leg aids with my left leg are no where near as clear or controlled as those with my right leg, and I tend to drop my left arm all the time. Any suggestions for useful exercises I could do OFF the horse to improve my control for when I'm ON the horse?
Jen

[Somethingroyal]

lift weights maybe?? And use one of those exercise machines that you lay on one side and put a bar under your leg then move your leg up and down.

[Dizzy]

Are you right-handed?. If you are are, your natural reaction is to use your right more strongly than your left, because it is used to sort of taking charge of your actions and movement, this is a natural instinct.

I'm very like you, (I think, please don't take offence if I'm wrong) but when I go to walk upstairs, my right foot leads. Anything strenouous involving my hands I do it with my right hand. I am also an awful sloucher (I'm not including you in this) but I do. What I do is try to be more aware of what I do, sit up straight, use my left hand, eg for picking things up, and when going up stairs use my left leg. Doing this makes you more aware of what you what you are doing, instead of using instinct.

Another thing my instructor taught me is to stand with your feet apart, have a ear, hip, heel line and learn to put your wieght above/through each heel. You can refine this using a stair and drop your weight through each heel, bounce your wieght and teach yourself how to move your hips and stay in balance.

Hope this helps

Lesley

[floppy]

funny that..if you right handed your right hand side of your body tends to be stronge.r.im right handed too but i notice the other day i had an itch inbetween my shoulder blades and i coudlnt reach it..well i could if i lifted my arm up in the air over my shoudler...but i couldnt reach it if i bent my arm up behind my back ...but i can reach it with my left arm no probs.
hehe i think it has somethign to do with the fact im a bit cac-handed(sp?)

[Meghan]

I've heard that the stronger side is often shorter since the muscles are tighter and less flexible.

I know I am right handed and I cannot reach nearly as far up my back with mt right hand as I can with my left hand. But I can push more against my back with my right hand to try and massage or pop my back. I cannot do it all with my left hand even though I can reach more areas.

[floppy]

hehhe ok at least i know that im not the only one with a more flexible left arm

[JenniferN]

Thanks for the suggestion Dizzy - I'll give the stair thing a go. I am right handed, so I guess it is natural for me to be more aware of my right side. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that also, when I stand straight with my heels together, my left shoulder is about an inch lower than my right shoulder! weird! I suppose there's nothing much I can do apart from try to think more about it while I'm in the saddle (oh no! not another thing to think about!!!). Jen

[floppy]

mayeb if your leg side is weaker you could buy some of those 'sandbag' weights that you use to work out...strap one onto your left ankle and one onto our left arm and when you at home walk around like this..or join a gym adn tell them you want to make your left side stronger an dthey will giv eyou good advice

[Dizzy]

I have a book by Sally Swift called Centred Riding, its one of the most interesting books I've ever read, she teaches you to be very aware of what every part of your body is doing, and how it contributes to your riding. My instrutor has taught me (and stll does) to ride, using the Sally Swift methods. She teaches that you should ride with your bones, be very aware of your anatomy

The 2nd exercise I suggested, is about opening your hips, and turning your femur so that the fleshy part of your thigh is in contact with your horse, this also turns your knee and lower leg towards the horse, giving a much better leg contact. When I sit naturally, my knee caps face outwards, when I do the exercise my knee is turned towards the horse, as is my calf and toe. Its an absolute killer to do, and very tiring at first, but once you've stretched the surrounding muslces and your leg sits comfortably the difference is amazing.

SS recomends that we ride with our bones, meaning that if our skeletal position is in place, our muscles have less of a job to correct our position. So imagine your a skeleton (pretty hard for me, too many chips!) put your bones in the correct position on the horse in and mould your flesh and muscles around your bones. Doing this, thinking of your body as a balanced set of bones, and concentrating on how you use your bones, will help you to be aware of using one side more strongly than the other. The muscles you need to ride in the correct position will stretch and build.

The book is great, you'll probably be able to get your local library yo get it for you.

Lesley

[Dizzy]

Yes I do, I haven't seen the video but would love too. As I've said my instructor teaches me (or did before F & M) using SS methods. I have found that knowing exactly what each part of my body is doing, helps me to break down my aids. This has helped me when I am riding young horses who've been newly backed and don't fully understand what you're asking. But on the whole has improved my riding no end.

I must admit some parts are tedious, and the exercises she reccomends very painful if I've had a long break from riding. But they do correct my position, and get quicker results.

She also gives good detailed explanations of how to balance and give the leg/hand aids, when I watch people kicking and pulling the reins to get thier horses to move forward and change direction, I think to myself 'how can they go any further in thier riding, when they are already 'shouting' at their horses', thier only alternative is crops, spurs and stronger bits. If they were taught to ride using SS and Heather's methods they'll learn to whisper and ask using only thier body.

I rode for quite a time using kicks and pulls, until I met my instructor and I know the difference it has made to me.

So once again I think the book is great.

Lesley