Fitness coaching for riders – opinions please!

[scatty_mare]

I am a personal fitness trainer and diet and lifestyle coach and am looking into the possibility of tailoring my services specifically for the riding market.

From reading the recent post about overweight riders in CR it seems that there are several riders on the forum who recognise that improving their general fitness, core strength and perhaps losing a couple of pounds would benefit their riding.

I think this could apply to riders anywhere on the spectrum, from weekend riders looking for ways to strengthen ‘riding’ muscles during the week to competitive riders wishing to improve their performance at the top level.

What I am not sure about is

1. If people would be prepared to part with hard earned cash to get these results
2. If enough riders recognise that this could benefit them.

We pour vast amounts of time, money and professional help into ensuring our horses are physically fit and mentally prepared for what we are asking them, but it seems that people are not always so keen to use the same resources for themselves.

I am thinking of running exercise classes specifically for riders, working on activating and strengthening the core muscles as well as all round toning and general cv fitness. Just trying to gauge interest really – how many of you would be interested in attending that sort of thing and how much would you be prepared to pay for an hour’s class (6 – 10 people)?

I am also considering offering a remote coaching service, via email and telephone, to help riders devise fitness plans, and give support and motivation to help them stick to them. Would anyone be interested in that?

As a personal trainer I obviously will continue to offer 1 to 1 sessions and support, and this is targeted to each individual’s goals so that sometimes includes riders anyway.

Thank you for your opinions –if you think it’s all a bunch of ott twaddle please tell me I’m wasting my time!

PS Mrs Mozart I would love to hear from you!

 

[ERB]

This sounds like a great idea but I for one would struggle to find the extra cash (every time I think I have some to spare the horse manages to spend it for me!) and as we are going into winter I wouldn't have the time. I do tend to find that mucking out, riding etc can be a bit of a workout in itself! Summer might be a bit of a different matter as no mucking out but again time might be an issue if riding after work.

 

[Llewellyn]

Think for most people the luxury is the horses and they can't afford a PTI ontop especially when many of them also lack time.
Think it will apply to the more affluent riders. For less affluent people I think classes could work better but I would expect to travel to groups of ladies.
might work if you could get a whole livery yard involved!

Good luck

 

[scatty_mare]

Thanks for your replies. I do agree that horses eat money and time so that will probably be most people's issue - that's what I am most worried about.
Anyway, I will definitely look into starting an exercise class, something low cost and fun might generate some interest.
Thanks!

 

[Kat]

I would be very interested but couldn't afford a private trainer.

I already have a book on rider fitness with suggested exercises and my William Micklem book has rider exercises too. I bought the book because when I was getting back into riding after a bit of a break for uni I realised that my "riding fitness" was lacking a bit and the gym coaches weren't very helpful.

I'm sure a lot of people would be interested and I would suggest targeting the more serious riding school client. I'm currently one of these and I think all of the adults in our group and many of the uni students who ride after us would be interested. I think this type of rider is more likely to have the spare cash than a hobby rider with their own horse (obviously the very serious competitive amateur and pros would be worth targeting too). I think many riding school clients struggle to build and maintain their fitness with limited hours in the saddle but want to be fit enough to really get the most from their lessons as they are paying quite a lot for them and they tend to be pretty intensive (compared to schooling on your own horse).

I think it would be easy to target this type of rider too, you'd just have to advertise at and maybe even run a few clinics at some of the bigger and better riding schools and equestrian centres.

 

[Kat]

Forgot to add, taking the example of the group of adults I ride with, the majority pay gym memberships or for exercise classes already so you wouldn't be struggling to convince them that they need to spend money on fitness, just persuade them that your classes are better that the alternatives.

 

[Sol]

I'd be interested, although I think that most people my age (teenagers!) probably wouldn't. I think as long as the class wasn't too long, an hour maybe, once a week, and not -too- costly, I know I probably couldn't afford anything probably over £10 a week max. given that with horses + school I have no time to work!
Think it would be good also if you could be given 'homework' - specific exercises that you spent no more than 10-20mins on a day (10 in the morning, 10 in the evening?) that would help but wouldn't take too much time

 

[Happy Hunter]

i wouldnt mind attending a clinic - or a couple of starter ones - Followed by an email plan or something.
I just need the idea, then a good kick up the bum everyonce in a while!

Its when i get to the end of the riding lesson and im more sweaty than the horse I think 'I should really start running!'

Living where I do,(30mins from anything!) and having a full time job - For me personally I wouldnt find the time to attend anything more than once a week.

Oh the dreams of not having a 9-5 job and being able to pop to the gym and ride all day!