Rider health

[stormchaser]

Ok so you guys heard from me that I've decided to ride regularly.

Any tips, advice, suggestions on keeping myself in shape as a rider? My weight and build are ok, I'm small for my size but I worry a bit about getting aches or back or developing other related problems as I progress later. Any bad habits should I nip at the bud? I'm feeling a little sore all over, but I guess it's just because my first ride was also my first major exercise and placed a bit of strain on muscles I don't normally use.

Any good exercises to take up? I like ice-skating and roller-blading. I had quit tennis because my doc advised me to give my heels a rest. They don't hurt anymore though. Anyway the weather's too warm for skating, but enough ice on the streets that I can't roller-blade. What about cycling? Riding a bike helps in riding horses does it?

I guess warm-up exercises could help. Any suggestions?

Also, I'm curious about how much calories can one burn when riding? Whichs muscles will it help tone? The horse does a lot of the work, but what about the rider? Anyway I feel a bit exausted after a sesson and slept well at night. :)

FIY I'm 20 y/o. Thanks in advance for your replies!

[eventerbabe]

pilates. it seems all the rage in horsey mags at the moment and i find it very relaxing. its helped my position aswell. i don't do much else other than go to the gym when the mood takes me!!

my warm up to riding consists of either removing pooh from the field or mucking out!! :D

[Pickles]

I find swimming is a good alround exercise which helps if I can't ride regularly. If I have a strenuous lesson then a gentle swim the day after also helps to soothe any aches.

There's a good web site called weightlossresources.co.uk which has a database full of exercise and how many calories they burn. (think you have to sign up to a free trial to access it though).

It reckons 30mins in walk or 5mins in trot will burn about 40 calories.

[stormchaser]

Hmm-mm pilates is not so much of a rage here in Moscow and it's hard to find classes. Yoga, yes, but anyway I don't like getting too much into the 'New Age' stuff for religious reasons. :rolleyes:

[eventerbabe]

there are some good dvds/videos around. i have a great one at home. yoga is not good if you have back problems like me, it agrivated mine no end. stuff like general aerobics, spinning classes (sore on the bum though!) and even dance will all help overall fitness :)

[larryt]

Prompted by wife (to keep fit in my late middle age) and by my instructor (to limber up a bit) I took up karate. I was worried about the bowing, for religious reasons also, but accept it as a show of respect for the concepts of dedication, committment and respect for the teacher. It has certainly loosened me up a lot - I have a lot of aches and pains and stiffness from old biking injuries and the fierce exercise helps.

[roxycutie]

Riding requires much flexibity. I suggest you work on your flexibilty if you arent already flexible, and work on strength. I also do excersises at the gym which help with energy. :D

[laura jeanne]

larryt, how do you like karate? I was just thinking that it would be fun to try.

[larryt]

laura jeanne

My daughter started first as she wanted to 'know how how to fight' for the stories she writes. I joined for the exercise to save an extra journey to (eg) yoga. I am catching up with her - the movements for the kata (stylised combat movements) are like dance movements and require considerable control. Of a 90 minute session, we will spend at least 30 minutes exercising, sometimes circuit training, and vigorous stretching. There is some sparring which gets a bit more energetic (and frightening) as one moves up the grades - I am now thinking of getting gum guards - but at lower grades this is touch only. While not a Karate fanatic, I enjoy the exercising, and have put on a bit of muscle and am much more limber, despite the legacies of various biking injuries. It certainly limbers me up for my riding lessons in the afternoon - although the stiffness tends to catch me 48 hours later, on the Monday.

LarryT

[HorsieLuver]

Stormchaser, legs are really important in riding, so try to muscle up you legs. My instructor taught me some good exercises for legs a few years ago, and I still use them! Try standing on a step, with your heels off the edge so you're standing on the balls of your feet. Then raise up onto your toes, and slowly bring them back down so you heel is low. Try it, it works! Another good one is stand up up against a wall, with your feet about 1 foot in front of you, with your back leaning against the wall. Squat down into a sitting positon, with your arms in front of you. Hold it for a couple of seconds. As you progress, build up the time you hold the position to a few minutes. Have fun and good luck!
:D Lissa

[dancing-horse]

I do all sorts of things and Im a little overweight and I've been doing these things a little more often so that I can lose the little bit of fat on my stomach. My exercise, that I do, is effective for me and it makes me feel really good. I do swimming which is great for all your muscles (make sure to stretch your heels after). I also recommend bike riding. I do a little running in place around my house and room and stuff and I do stuff like leg lifts and sit ups which really work you thigh muscles and have helped sitting my canter immensely. Yoga is good and so are pilates. I might try doing a *buns os steel* tape or even one of those tia-bo or powerkicking tapes.

[denise42]

Horse Illastrated had the entire mag this month ( april ) dedicated to hores and rider fitness. It gave all kinds of useful information, I though.
I to need to crosstrain with something other than riding, and Core anything seems to be the ticket. Core Yoga, pilates, Swiss ball ....etc