Getting back in to riding

[suestowford]

For various reasons I haven't ridden regularly for about 10 years. I haven't done more than just sit on a horse for a couple of years, but I am finally going to start riding again, at a riding school nearby. I have half an hour lesson to begin with but my aim is to go out hacking with the school, once I am fit enough.

What I'd like to know is, are there exercises I can do at home to help my riding fitness? I'd imagine strengthening my core would be top of the list and I already have some exercises to do that, but if anyone has any suggestions for other things I could do I'd be grateful.
My general fitness is not bad as I do still have two old ponies at home so still doing all the associated mucking out/hay shifting that goes with keeping ponies. But I am not a young person any more, so I have slowed down somewhat.

 

[Burnttoast]

Hip stability is very useful (allows you to relax and drape the leg while also being functional) - side-lying leg lifts, clam, charleston and similar exercises are good, keep it slow and controlled.

 

[Spotherisk]

Pilates!

 

[Skib]

I hope you will have a lovely time and dont let the RS make you feel inferior.
I started riding aged 62.
I read Mary Wanless and bought an inflatable exercise ball. It remains now uninflated in its box, unused. When a friend and I met Wanless at a demo, she admitted that neither of us would be phycially capable of riding her way.
I am not an athlete and did no exercises.
It turns out that riding, even only in walk, is in itself an exercise that creates balance. I went to the local BHS riding school and had twice weekly school lessons for a year in which my only ally was the RS horse. The communication (fondness) between me and that horse was the most valuable thing I learned.

But at my next RS I learned that when you ask a horse to do something, you first need to have the horse in a situation where it can carry out the request. Knowing stuff and understanding stuff turned out to be more important than any physical fitness. If you like readng, read books.
Reading a whole library of different books about riding and horses meant a lot to me. When my old share was difficult (which she often was, so I was her only rider) I would tell her that she might be stronger than I was but I always going to be able to out think her.

I too wanted to hack and am a hacker. But I had school lessons too. And I recommend that, for safety, really. Dressage was a preparation for horses going to war and I think it beneffited me to ride and control canter, riding dressage tests in the school.

 

[catkin]

Pilates - though make sure the instructor knows you want to improve your riding as they can then recommend the most suitable exercises.

If the school has a lunge horse then some lunge sessions too.

 

[HJJ]

This is a good book: https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/lin...VNJZQBh3aigFSEAQYASABEgIzpPD_BwE#GOR006323349

There are also loads of excellent pilates and yoga sessions for horse riders on YouTube worth giving a go.

I found all of these really helped when I came back to riding after a 23 year break.

 

[suestowford]

Thank you all so much. I think I am going to start with some very simple stretches and easy muscle work, I can do the more difficult once I'm better able to manage them. Some of those things look hard!
Where I am going they do a lot of RDA work so they are used to people who aren't fit, and they know I am coming back after a long break so I expect they will be gentle with me!
Many years ago I had a yoga-on-horseback session and it was the only time I've ever got off a horse feeling younger than when I got on

 

[suestowford]

I had my lesson today, and I feel quite encouraged. It was half an hour and that was quite enough for me right now, by the end my head was buzzing with all the instructions. The instructor was really good too and I have booked my next lesson. I remembered which diagonal I should be on, and where some of the letters are, and kept my feet in the stirrups too!
My legs are feeling it now so I have just borrowed a dog from a neighbour and taken a brisk walk round the fields in the hope that it will prevent me from feeling too stiff tomorrow. It was a brisk walk too because there were rabbits - she's only a small dog but she is mighty so I had to hustle to keep up

 

[Kunoichi73]

Lovely to hear that your first lesson went well. Good luck with your return to riding.

 

[snowangel5]

I had my lesson today, and I feel quite encouraged. It was half an hour and that was quite enough for me right now, by the end my head was buzzing with all the instructions. The instructor was really good too and I have booked my next lesson. I remembered which diagonal I should be on, and where some of the letters are, and kept my feet in the stirrups too!
My legs are feeling it now so I have just borrowed a dog from a neighbour and taken a brisk walk round the fields in the hope that it will prevent me from feeling too stiff tomorrow. It was a brisk walk too because there were rabbits - she's only a small dog but she is mighty so I had to hustle to keep up

Glad the one to one went well what was the horse called

 

[tda]

Rider Pilates Club do a free week online course every so often, you can see if you like it before signing up

 

[Time for Tea]

I’m a good age now, and I find walking briskly uphill is very good for leg fitness. And possibly a bit of jogging, joints permitting.

 

[suestowford]

Glad the one to one went well what was the horse called

Henry, and he was lovely.

I’m a good age now, and I find walking briskly uphill is very good for leg fitness. And possibly a bit of jogging, joints permitting.

It's all hills around here, so taking next door's dog out will be good for that.
Jogging...well, sometimes I take the old pony out for a walk and we have to do a bit of running to get to a passing place on the lane. That's always uphill! And I am usually a spluttering mess by the time we reach safety

 

[Time for Tea]

Ah well, more running with the pony, you will be super fit before you know it! Well done for getting back to riding, I’m not sure I could do that if I had a long break. I do know I enjoy riding more if I have kept my muscles strong, you just feel so much better and more balanced. You feel safer and more confident, and it’s better for the horse too. My bike doesn’t care if I am a sack of potatoes, my pony definitely doesn’t appreciate it!