Fit to ride.....I'm not!!!!!!!!!!

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I have not ridden all Winter.....alot of it is due to loss of confindence and nerve's (There not good,all going on in my tiny brain!
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) However,plan to get woking with the fat one slowly... *Yippee* and have come to the conclusion that even when I went into canter I would knock myself out in 60 seconds flat,all my puff gone!
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So do you believe that you really need to be fit to ride(cos' I'm most certainly not
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!!!!! ).......even for basic schooling and hacking.....and do you have a keep fit routin,be it running,gym,swimming or whatever........Because at the mo I feel about 120 with no 'puff' or energy....Thankies for reading!
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I don't think you need to be fit for hacking, but you will definitely feel it afterwards! You do still need to be aware of your position, though, which might take it out of you at first.

When I came back to riding after my accident last year, I was surprised at how much fatty could do. I had huge problems tensing up, though, even though it wasn't my horse that I went turf-surfing from.

I do have a fitness routine, now, but only started that in March. 3 x a week in the gym at work, for about 30mins each time (cardio), plus a little abs/weights if I have time. However, I don't cry about it if I miss a session!
 
I agree with FranSurrey, I don't think you need to be too fit go hacking, and I usually don't feel quite as tired as when I've been riding in the school. But I also don't think going to the gym really helps your fitness when it comes to riding. I used to be a right gym addict, and I used to go every day and also ride on top! But I often found I ached a lot more after riding than I ever do from the gym! But this could be because I don't stretch out properly before and after riding. But I also think riding uses a lot of different types of muscles that you might not always use whilst at the gym. But people do recommend doing yoga and pilates, (which I find really hard to do!) so maybe that's something I need to work on to get my riding fitness in top form!
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Between work, horse and home I'd never find time for a fitness regime. I do try and walk as much as possible though.
I did think I was reasonably fit until I did a hunter trial yesterday. I was worried about my horse's fitness but he finished barely puffing while I was red in the face and took 10 mins to get my breath back - maybe I should be finding time for the gym!

Seriously though, I'm sure as you get back into riding your suppleness and riding fitness will improve which I think are the main things for schooling or hacking.
 
i am seriously unfit in the saddle - as 45min lesson showed yesterday! Yet I can easily do 40mins on a rebounder, walk miles, cycle etc and not be anywhere near as out of breath. Riding definately uses a different level of fitness. I would love to be able to get on my horse and have a lesson without a glow and feeling stupid having to give myself a break
 
I think that the harder the work you expect your horse to carry out, the fitter you need to be. I also think that includes hacking, going out for a short plod doesn't require much effort, but if you are going longer or faster , you don't want your horse carrying a sack of tatties round, riders should be able to use various muscles to support their own weight in part.

Hunter trials are the test though!!. Beginning of last year I went to a little hunter pace and oh my god, I thought I was going to die. I was glad when my horse stopped at a fence 3 quarters of the way round as it gave me an excuse to stop for a second and recompose.

However after starting exercise cycling 3-4 times a week (half hour in the morning), what a difference in no time. At the end of last year, we flew round an Intermidate RC course and barely broke sweat!.

It's cardiovascular exercise as well as muscle toning stuff you need to do. I found cycling great because I get bored at the gym and i find I don't push myself, whereas if you set your self a route for cycling, you need to push yourself to complete in a certain time. A lot of peeps at our yard run regularly, but I have dodgy knees, but it seems that running or cycling is the way to go.

Good Luck!!
Fi x
 
I do not do any kind of fitness related activity other than those that are horse related, and I have never had a problem! Even when I was jumping, I didnt go to the gym or do anything other than ride, and I never felt I was lacking in fitness. I'm completely the other way round to Samp though: put me on a bike or make me jog and I cannot last a minute, give me a horse and I'll last all day! Dont know what that means really...
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I have seen riders doing hunter trials and ODEs at my yard who are well short of the required level of fitness. It is not fair on the horse if you cannot complete 6 mins of low-moderate activity (horse should be doing the work) without looking like you have just run a marathon.
 
that's the problem with my horse if she's not forward going I(which is mopst of the time) I feel that I am literally carrying her around. It is not her fitness levels more the fact she can be lazy
 
I have the opposite problem - all my effort goes into trying to stop the bugger running off with me. Although it would help if I remembered to breath as well!
 
me too! Had a jumping lesson on friday (first in a long time|)and felt sooo unfit!!! Probably something to do with lolling about for the last 3 years after having my youngest girl! Def need a different kind of fitness/suppleness for riding!
Need to strengthen my core muscles
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