Horse workouts and horse friends

Michelle_Padgett13
Michelle_Padgett13 Posts: 417 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Looking for horsey friends, as well as ideas for working out in the saddle.

Last year, I got on a horse for the first time in 6 years. After 10 minutes in the saddle, I thought I was going to die. That was my wake up call. If I can't ride, I don't want to live on this planet anymore.

So I started working out, and this past summer started logging food/exercise here on myfitnesspal. Only lost about 30 pounds so far, but in the last few weeks I've started riding again and I see a HUGE improvement over last year's ride. I can now go at least 45 minutes in the saddle. I can't sustain a trot or canter for very long, but I'm working on it.

I ride at a suburban barn with no access to trails. Mostly ring work. Hunt seat. And I don't have my own horse -- I ride school horses and friends' horses. I do all the standard lesson stuff: walking to warm up, 2 point circles in the corners, work transitions, sitting and posting trot, etc. But I'm looking to expand my workout routine and find new things to do to get stronger and better.

What do you do to work on strength and endurance in the saddle? Is there a phone app with workouts planned (I keep my phone in my breeches)?

Let me know if you want to talk horses (any discipline -- I've also ridden dressage and western pleasure).

PS I cross train with running, yoga, step aerobics and taekwondo. :smile:

Replies

  • buckeye600
    buckeye600 Posts: 2
    I've found that jumping has been a real workout for me! I also muck out my own horses stall and do her feed and water (I don't know what your situation on that topic is, but it's a fantastic workout!) I am also teaching my mare how to jog, that's been a lot a lot a lot of trot work! I also go for the occasional jog on foot in the riding arena, the sand really makes it a bit tougher to run on, but it's also better for impact, not as hard on your knees! I goof off with my friend and we set up a mini jump course and pretend to canter through it, it's a doozy!! Plus, I do some equestrian yoga! Look this guy up on YouTube, it's under yogamazing, yoga for the equestrian. It's helped me out a lot. :)
  • alipene
    alipene Posts: 945 Member
    Hi

    There's a whole load of us in 'horse enthusiasts' group

    :happy:
  • hoyalawya2003
    hoyalawya2003 Posts: 631 Member
    Your experience sounds similar to mine--I just took a lesson two months ago for my first ride in 7+ years. Hurt for almost a week! I do lessons at a suburban barn too. Ditto previous poster on the jumping--I am slowly learning how and it (plus lots of posting) is getting me in shape. I rode walking horses for years so the jumping thing is all new to me, and lots of fun!

    I am also doing c25k and weight machines, with plans to switch to body weight exercises and add in more yoga.
  • buckeye600
    buckeye600 Posts: 2
    Cantering is a great core work out too! Good workout for the horse as well haha
  • writer4him
    writer4him Posts: 225 Member
    Do your posting with no stirrups...that's killer! :)
  • joecmoore1
    joecmoore1 Posts: 87 Member
    I haven't rode on a regular basis in years.. Was just so heavy that it was difficult to even climb into the saddle and I didn't think it was fair to the HORSE! LOL...

    Now I'm down in the 250s and have been thinking about taking it up again because I know the exercise benefits and it would be nice to change things up from walking, jogging and cross fit.

    When I rode it was mostly doing ranch work and no competition stuff. My brother is big into roping and has facilities and horses, so that may be where I start up again. :wink:
  • emAZn
    emAZn Posts: 413 Member
    I want horsey friends just so I can be jealous of all your workouts and your profile pictures. I had to sell my horse a couple years ago.. :(

    But I second that posting with out stirrups and also sitting the trot are great for your core and balance and when I say sitting I mean you could hole a penny between your tailbone and the saddle... My dressage trainer had me practice that and I had abs of steel.
  • krs4747
    krs4747 Posts: 13 Member
    Out of the saddle, but I stripped and rebidded four stalls tonight - that was a workout!

    For riding, I find posting the BIG, long trot to be the best exercise to get my heart going. :-)
  • SMCLosesIt
    SMCLosesIt Posts: 45 Member
    Any work without stirrups is a great workout! Even going bareback - it's even harder and great for your core muscles.

    I ride endurance so just doing that keeps me very fit but I also run and do all the farm chores I have to do. Abit of weight training occasionally if I feel like it.
  • Michelle_Padgett13
    Michelle_Padgett13 Posts: 417 Member
    Thanks, y'all!

    I forgot about posting without stirrups! Yay! I mean, ow. I may need to lose a bit more weight and get a lot stronger in saddle before I attempt jumping again. I look like a sack of flour taped to the saddle when I jump. SO graceless. :ohwell:

    As for barn chores, those will come more and more as my relationship with the owner of this barn develops. Lessons are expensive (my 6 year old son gets a lesson while I ride), so I'm going to try to work out a barn-chores-for-lessons deal for me and the boy. I want him to learn all the groundwork like I did -- after all, people will be much more likely to let you ride their horses if you can do more than just ride.

    And YES walking all over the grounds in that thick ring sand is brutal. Especially wearing my boots (I wish I could ride barefoot! I know, I know, one flayed toe and I'd change my mind, but still -- barefoot!) Because my son is with me, and he's so young and so green, I end up doing a lot more walking and groundwork than if it was just me.

    If the owner lets me ride these beasts bareback, I am SO doing that. It's my favorite.

    I'm still searching for a horse workout app for my phone (android). I have the mapmyfitness app, but I don't really need a GPS map of my ring ride. I'd like something that either has specific workouts to follow, or logs time spent doing each thing: walking, trotting, etc. Does this exist? I can't seem to find one.

    PS I'm SOOOOO jealous of you, SMCLosesIt! Endurance riding is my DREAM. :love:
  • Kidostud
    Kidostud Posts: 307 Member
    Riding is a great workout and without realizing it, your muscles have to work very hard to rebalance with every step the horse takes. It's like sitting on an exercise ball. Everything about riding and working with horses is very physical - I don't have the luxury of a groom, so caring for my 3 horses are hard work. Carrying heavy bales, buckets with food and water, grooming and brushing the horses, saddling up (western saddles weigh about a ton!), just about anything you do with horses is good exercise.

    Bareback riding is awesome for core and balance as well as a good inner thigh and butt workout! I do that often when I just quickly need to check on the water or fence or something. I just catch one of the horses, jump up bareback and get the job done quickly.

    I do other workouts as well at home to keep my muscles strong and in good shape simply because it helps when I'm riding and makes it easier for me not to fall around on my horse. Anyone that tells me that horseriding is just sitting on the horse and he does all the work just gets the dirty eye from me!
  • Okapi42
    Okapi42 Posts: 495 Member
    I've recently bought my first very own horse (yay!) and plan to start doing orienteering/le trec, but at the moment, I'm having to train in the indoor arena, too. Doesn't mean you can't have fun, just keep it varied!
  • CulturedCowgurl
    CulturedCowgurl Posts: 136 Member
    Hi

    There's a whole load of us in 'horse enthusiasts' group

    :happy:

    I would love to join some horse groups. Horseback riding is a GREAT full body workout and I can not wait til the weather breaks so I can ride more often!

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