How do you maintain your fitness?

riderroo

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 November 2008
Messages
190
Visit site
Hi – I was just wondering if any of you do anything in addition to riding to maintain your fitness.

I need to work on improving my stamina and my core strength but don’t really enjoy exercise, work full time and can’t afford to join a gym as I own a horse! Anybody have any suggestions…..?!
 
I get uo at 6am, put anything between 2-6 horses out do 2 stables, work 9-5pm, go ride between 2-3horses, walk my dog, go to the gym/ running/ exersize bike.
Nakered but have to think - only a few more months before summer - thats what keeps me going.
smile.gif
 
I find that running really helps my fitness (damit!) but i also work full time and when it is cold like this, the last thing i want to do is go running in the dark after work (i have promised myself i iwll start again once the evenings lengthen! i do however try to do sit ups and press ups (about 30 each) a night which i find helps a bit. And i try and walk everywhere i can. I only get to ride T/M about one weekend a month and have a lesson once a week so really struggle to keep my riding fitness up.

When i was a student i used to help out one day a week at an eventing yard (when the other staff had the day off!). Now that helped with my fitness no end! I did a lot of shoveling s**t and chasing after youngsters.
 
I do an aerobics class once a week and go to the MiL's once a week to go to her lil' home gyn (rowing machine, strider, bike and now a sit-up board). Yoga is supposed to be good for core strength - maybe if you could find somewhere that does classes?
 
I do the foals twice a day, feed and water 4 out in the fields in my lunch hour (not all mine - help my friend). MY field is off the road so i wheelbarrow all my stuff up a lane to field gate, i see this as hard work!! I also play rugby and train weekly, I must say, since playing rugby, falling off a horse has stopped hurting!! In the summer i cycle a few miles to work and back and before i sold my horse i would swim half a mile everyday. IMO swimming is the best thing for all round fitness. I couldn't stand the gym!
 
I open Horse and Hound each week together with lifting a wine glass , but now its a pamphlet my workout is smaller and my liver a tad healthier.
 
COre strength, do pilates on a ball but I have to say that with mucking out two horses, lifting wet hay to field, doing field and then riding my beasty every day I dont have time for the gym and hate any form of inside excercise! Though I actually think Sarahgema deserves a medal! WOW. and I thought my life was busy!!!!
 
I try to power walk or jog everywhere i go!

Even at work i power walk people must think im a looney. I also muck out 7 days a week, poo pick (good for the arms) once or twice a week and try to exercise Jed everyday.

You should invest in some work out vidoes too. Im planning on getting some as you can do them at your own pace, at home and there not too expensive. I know a few people who have had really good results with them.
smile.gif
 
I am going to buy a hula hoop! Its meant to be very good for you, and means I can still watch tv and don'thave to go outside in the cold. At the moment I am on a bit of a mission as going snowboarding in a week, but I'm doing 50+ sit ups at day (50 in a row, then may do more reps), 15 proper press ups, tricep dips, and about 70+ squats (increasing by the day!)

I would like (well not like, but you know what I mean
smirk.gif
)to go running, but its very hard at the moment as is too dark and cold
smile.gif
 
Wow thanks for all of your suggestions, I think some of you are super human!! I'm not sure I can be quite so motivated! But I am going to have a go at some of your ideas, keep my fingers crossed and try really hard :-)
 
I never used to because I was on DIY and it kept me fit enough, along with all the walking in my old job (sales rep). Horse now on part livery so no stable jobs for me, plus new job involves a lot less activity. Now I do have to do other things to keep my fitness
frown.gif


I run/go on cross trainer 3-4 times a week, am up to half an hour (varied terrain, lots of up and down hills), and I started a Pilates class yesterday.

I hate running with a passion but I'm told it's the quickest way to get fit and stay thin!
 
I beagle and follow foxhounds on foot/bike during the winter, during the summer I play cricket once or twice a week and whip in to a pack of minkhounds...I'd like to get back into a regular gym workout to improve core muscles, but they are soooo expensive!
 
I have a Wii with Wii Fit and balance board

Keeps me fit, sorts the balance out and its fune too!

Only costs about £250 for everything but I got my free with my mobile phone free upgrade!

Do this at home when you get up or when you get home loads cheaper than the gym and you can spend more time doing horses or on the Wii as you don't have to travel to the gym
 
Top