serious discussion number 3

OwnedbyChanter

OwnedbyChanter

With out my boys life would be bland
Apr 16, 2009
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Raininghamshire
Sorry dont mean to hi-jack your thread but this topic made me think about us the rider.

Much talk is given to the outline/fitness/suppleness of the horse but how many riders upset the free movement, restict the horses back and neck cause damage both temp and perm through our general fitness and lack of suppleness.

I have witness riders 'banging' down on the horses back, pulling reins hard to the side to turn as the rider is not supple enough through the hips to turn their horse using their seat etc

and before any one yells I am not refering to over weight riders as I know plenty that are in tune and ride in one with their horse. I am refering to all shapes and size of riders.

As owne we can be gulity of over feedind, over rugging, over stabling, wrapping in cotton wool yet the biggest abuse of all is our personal lack of fitness.

discuss....
 
ME:D I TOTALLY hold my hands UP..

I didn't realise just how 'riding' unfit I was until I went out hacking
with Cookster the other week.

Luckily we were only at walk and trot but blimey I have to get my
act into gear before backing Sioned to be fair to her.


I am yard fit, no doubt about that, but must get more 'riding fit'
Hopefully I will be getting in a bit more Riding before then:)
 
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My biggest worry is that due to old age (60 now:mad:) and back probs - damaged dics, nerve damge, athritis - I just can NOT ride as sympathetically as I would like to.:eek:

But I so want to carry on riding - am I being unfair on my horse? Do try very hard to keep myself as light as possible both in the saddle and with my hands - sort of try to do 'not enough' rather than too much if you know what I mean? Figure thats the least damaging for my horse:eek:
 
cortrasna

At your age and still riding you have been something right! being aware is the first hurdle.

After my accident (see other thread about pain and fractured arms) I have not been allowed to train. I normally train everyday circuits,spinning and running and I believe that allows me to 'do more' with my lad as I dont tire out easierly (sorry spelling) even after a days work,gym, dogs and house hold chores.

By not training my energy levels have dropped I dread getting back in the saddle next week as I know my core will not be as strong which will effect my riding....poor pony
 
A great many riders do upset the horses balance and it is a revelation to both parties when this stops happening. I blame poor teaching as when taught properly the results are amazing. It is like partners dancing, but one is doing disco and the other something else completely.
 
I am learning centred riding, that will harmonise me and my horse:)
I am having to scrap all that I have learnt (only the last 15 years:eek:) and start again... My first hurdle is to re-learn how to "sit" in the saddle, and corrective positioning of my legs.... plus "listening" to my horse's way of going..
First lesson, was an eye opener.. I could actually "feel" where my horse's hind legs were in walk, through my legs, and relaxing my shoulders I could also "feel" the back and forth movements of his head.
We are both re-learning everything, and despite the lesson being based on my position, the difference it made with the way he held himself was amazing!
He "looked" for the bit, and gave naturally to my light hands.. his trotting was more elevated, and he seemed top enjoy this new experience:)
 
This is something I'm very conscious of, but I'm not sure I do enough about it, not in terms of getting any tightness of wonkiness ironed out regularly anyway. I think I'm OK on the fitness front though, a combination of yard work and riding seems to do that OK even though I don't do a lot else these days.

I do try and ride in a way that interferes as little as possible with the horse, I read Heather Moffett's book when I first got back in the saddle and it made a big impression on me.
 
Yann said:
This is something I'm very conscious of, but I'm not sure I do enough about it, not in terms of getting any tightness of wonkiness ironed out regularly anyway. I think I'm OK on the fitness front though, a combination of yard work and riding seems to do that OK even though I don't do a lot else these days.

I do try and ride in a way that interferes as little as possible with the horse, I read Heather Moffett's book when I first got back in the saddle and it made a big impression on me.
Click to expand...

Look for a centered riding instructor, and you'll be at the start of a great new experience:)
 
Hmm - I have three of my clients on food diaries - to let them see if there is a pattern that can be altered or a food they are eating too much of - bringing more awareness of self, which Centered Riding is all about.

Sitting pudding like on a horse is not riding. You need a body that is toned and relative fitness in order to be able to control your body so as to control the horses movements.

Food for thought . . .
 
Rabo said:
Hmm - I have three of my clients on food diaries - to let them see if there is a pattern that can be altered or a food they are eating too much of - bringing more awareness of self, which Centered Riding is all about.

Sitting pudding like on a horse is not riding. You need a body that is toned and relative fitness in order to be able to control your body so as to control the horses movements.

Food for thought . . .
Click to expand...


I would be seriously upset if my instructor started telling me what to eat ... as I would if she told me I ought to be going to the gym to get 'toned'. We can only work from where we are - none of us is perfect It's not the physique we have - it's what we do with it that matters.
 
I have always thought that a lighter rider who bounces about on the horse, almost fights the horses every movemement is far worse than a sympathetic heavier rider.

I think it is true that we spend massive amounts of money on receiving instrution to improve the horse. Part of the reason we dont always see the development we want is because he horse cant physcially do any better due to rider.

Like any sport, we should be ensuring we are fit enough to participate properly. I have started going to the gym for both upper nad body work and have found a difference, however I will be looking for an appropriate instructor as Tyler has all the schooling you could wish for. Get some one who knows what they are doing and we have flying changes, half pass etc (but rusty,but its there).

Alot of people have it in there head that the horse does all the work, so it should be ffit, but 'we just sit there' thus dont have to do much!!!

They would have an arguement on there hand after a 2 hour hack requirung log jumps, STAT (scary tree avoidance technique) and 'lets the chase rabbit'!!!!

Jen
x
 
I don't ride as a sport and don't have ambitions.

Obviously I worry about what I do affecting my horse's well being however I adjust her work (when she does work) to reflect the level we are both at.

I don't feel that when I carry shopping or other heavy loads that can't balance themselves that I shouldn't be doing it, I just make a decision about what can be acheived without issues. I do the same for my horse.

Tbh I think a lot of us will wholeheartedly agree that the fittter and leaner you are then the better control you will have over your own body be be able to co-ordinate responses more easilly.

However, I won't be losing sleep over this or going all self rightous about what ought to happen in a perfect world. I do what I do, end of! I'm nowhere near persect and if I went through life trying to be and not accepting who I am then I'd be a very unhappy person with even less self confidence than I have now.

My goal is that my horse and I enjoy what we do together. I certainly do and she obviously does as those that have met her will appreciate. Therefore I'm not going to worry about perfection and will leave those that do want to to get on with it. I won;t crisise them, I would hope they would show me the same courtesy:p
 
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Like Cortrasna I am 'getting on a bit' :D and am very aware that I lack the suppleness and speed of reaction I used to have. I don't think it is an issue as long as you recognise your limitations and ride accordingly.

I see a lot of 'fit and lean' experienced riders being totally unsympathetic to horses and definately many 'not so fit' riding in total harmony. In a perfect riding world we would all be long legged, lean and supple....life is not like that.

Rabo ... I would suggest things that riders could do to improve suppleness and body control but from my understanding of 'Centred Riding' it has its origins in helping improve the average, not coaching the athletic ,so I think diet monitoring is a step too far. If your clients like it thats great but I hope your comment does not put people off what is a great teaching approach.
 
I have been going to a yoga class at my gym for a few months and can tell a difference in my riding and even my RI mentioned it yesterday!

My yoga instructor is the best I have ever had. She has a plan for each class for strength building and makes sure everyone does the postures correctly and tells you what muscles are being worked with every pose. I love it when she says that if you just sat the whole hour and breathed right, you would get more benefit than doing all the poses and not the breathing.
 
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