Do you stretch before you ride?

[only_me]

curious

Since horse-riding is a form of sport, do you stretch before riding?
We usually all stretch before any other form of exercise, running/gym/basketball and we are all taught that it would reduce injury.

Therefore, if we did stretch before riding would we be less sore afterwards? ie. would shoulders be as sore?

 

[Katie__Connie]

I stretch my back because my physio said i have to... other than that no... probably should though..

 

[whizzica]

Does warming up doing all the yard work count?

if so yes, I warm up religiously everyday before riding

 

[Ashleigh_]

wow i've never even given it a second thought! I think i might give it a go and see if it makes any difference, no doubt get a few funny looks!
Can you imagine, yoga mat out in the sand school! haha

 

[russianhorse]

Nope - never lol

 

[BFG]

I think i warm up while i am warming my horse up, not sure if that is right but i havent pulled anything yet (not counting falling off)....

 

[Jaii]

No, although I suppose tacking up is a form of stretching, my horse is quite tall

I didn't know you were supposed to warm up for running, I thought running was a warm up Maybe that's why I'm useless at it.

 

[Ashleigh_]

[ QUOTE ]
No, although I suppose tacking up is a form of stretching, my horse is quite tall

I didn't know you were supposed to warm up for running, I thought running was a warm up Maybe that's why I'm useless at it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Jaii welcome to the forum!

pfft! I warm up for running and i'm still rubbish at it! haha

 

[only_me]

Oh yes, always stretch before you run, then you get stronger muscles and they are less likely to rip/tear/cramp up!

If you stretch before and after you shouldnt be stiff the following day

I dont know if mucking out before you ride would count as warming up, certainly warms me up but maybe not so much muscle stretching

Think stretching properly may actually be very good before we ride, but then what stretches do we do?

 

[Katie__Connie]

You shouldn't do static stretches before physical activity... you should do dynamic stretching (we have a whole programme for tennis) and then after the session you should do static stretches (just going on what tennis coach and physio have said...)

 

[Charmaine18]

No, unless you count yard work. Mind you, I should probably stretch before yard work! That's when I get the most sore muscles!

The only muscles that I generally find ache sometimes after riding are on the insides of my thighs (groin area) because Scooby is quite wide... I was in agony the other day after riding for the first time in 2 weeks! Not sure what kind of stretches would be good for that area.

 

[tangoharvey]

the only stretch I do is to stroke her ears after a good ride!!

 

[SonnysHumanSlave]

no cant say i have... although quite a few times it would've helped to stop the john wayne walk after!! haha

 

[Persephone]

No, don't do any formal exercise. Just like others have said yard work first.

 

[kerilli]

[ QUOTE ]
Oh yes, always stretch before you run, then you get stronger muscles and they are less likely to rip/tear/cramp up!

If you stretch before and after you shouldnt be stiff the following day

[/ QUOTE ]

i don't think this is right - you shouldn't ever stretch cold muscles, as they're far more likely to tear. you should warm up gently and then do the stretches when the muscles are warm.
personally, i hate to see people pulling horse's front legs out as far as pos before getting on...

 

[humblepie]

I had at one point got into doing things like shoulder raises/drops, some arm exercises etc before I rode but it didn't last for long.

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

nope,never.probably should but lets face it,you get home from work, you go in to the warm to get changed and then go back out in to the cold to get horsey ready, are you REALLY going to go through the rigmarole of stretching before you ride?!
call me idle but i most certainly cant be bothered! having said that i do do a long walk warm up for the horses benefit and often do that without stirrups, which must to some degree be warming me up slowly (the best way).
not sure i see the need for it tbh, but willing to be corrected!

 

[LeneHorse]

no, but if I'm having a lesson I like to do pilates the night before as I think it helps with my position and balance (and believe me they need a lot of help!).

 

[MrsMozart]

Yes, a few stretches. Makes me sit deeper

. It also means I can walk and bend and move the next day

.

 

[Gorgeous George]

no, not in a formal way, but I always give George a good groom, pick out his feet etc before riding and walk for 5-10mins when I first get on so that probably is ok!

 

[SarahX]

Oo havn't ever thought about stretching!

 

[Lobelia_Overhill]

If I think about it, I will stretch my legs and back before I rider, I generally stretch my back and legs after I've ridden and I walk around for a few minutes to make sure my hips don't give me gyp...

 

[Tharg]

I've thought about this, will have to ask my phsyio as I have an old back injury.