Improving riding fitness....without riding (much)!

[Widgeon]

As above, really - I've started riding again after a few years off, and at the moment it's just 45 minutes a week at a local riding school. My balance is now unrecognisably better than six months ago, and things are dropping back into place at a satisfying rate, but I'm starting to find that my muscles are holding me back a bit and I can't work as hard as I'd like to because my thighs / bum / entire core (etc. etc.) just start to give up towards the end of the lesson. Are there any ways I can work on this when off the horse? (Other than tightening *all my muscles* when sat at traffic lights, because I've thought of that one already, feel free to laugh). Any suggestions?

 

[JulesRules]

I know a lot of people swear by pilates. I prefer yoga which would probably do the same job.

 

[Pilatesclare]

As a pilates teacher I will obviously say Pilates! But any form of exercise will help.

 

[Vodkagirly]

I've started swimming and it's really helping my core muscles, would definitely recommend.

 

[wingedhorse]

I try and run twice a week, swim twice a week, walk 10,000 steps a day and find that helps.

 

[FestiveFuzz]

I swear by pilates. I used to also run a fair bit until my sports physio suggested it was the cause of my tight hips. Sure enough, since stopping I've not had anywhere near as much trouble with my hips.

 

[Wimbles]

I thought that swimming had really helped me regain my fitness after not riding for 7 months............until I did two ridden sessions in one day and I couldn't walk for three days after! Maybe I need to try pilates!

 

[Archangel]

Cycling is good for stamina - I had a really challenging horse to rehabilitate and he got to know my burn out point so I took to my bike. I took up Tai Chi as well for all round suppleness and balance. That was a different kind of tiring.

 

[Girlracer]

I do ride regualrly, however I have recently purchased a dressage saddle and it brought to light some real floors in my riding due to lack of strength/fitness. I am not very keen on the gym but have signed up to a few classes a week, Zumba, Pilates then one called PiYo which seems to be like a high intensity Pilates. I start next week so can't comment on whether it has helped but here's hoping it does! I can't seem to stay sat right in riding trot nevermind thinking about sitting lol!

 

[Durhamchance]

I thought I was fairly fit, I walk everywhere (at least 10,000 steps a day) and I do Zumba every week, but 30 mins of rising trot left me sweating, puffing and unable to walk for 2 days
I'm starting to think the best way to get fit to ride is to ride! But I might try some Pilates too

 

[Pilatesclare]

I thought I was fairly fit, I walk everywhere (at least 10,000 steps a day) and I do Zumba every week, but 30 mins of rising trot left me sweating, puffing and unable to walk for 2 days
I'm starting to think the best way to get fit to ride is to ride! But I might try some Pilates too

You're probably not breathing properly when you are riding and therefore making you feel more out of breath.

 

[Widgeon]

You're probably not breathing properly when you are riding and therefore making you feel more out of breath.

I know that's true of me - when I get tired, I start to tense up and my breathing goes to pot - then it's downhill from there!

 

[milliepops]

I'm starting to think the best way to get fit to ride is to ride!

suspect this is truer than many of us acknowledge... I know I can ride my 2 in the school back to back so about 2 hours of decent work in the saddle, then scurry away to do some others without really noticing, but when I help other people with their schooling I have to factor in regular breaks or they go a funny shade of beetroot and look like they will topple off

Keep at it OP, it'll get easier any exercise will be good cross training but I think only riding will really work yer riding muscles

 

[Durhamchance]

You're probably not breathing properly when you are riding and therefore making you feel more out of breath.

Oh dear, as a teenager my instructor would make me sing as I rode because I had a tendency to hold my breath. I was hoping I might have outgrown that habit

 

[Farma]

Rider fitness is quite specific, I can do a few spin classes in a row no problem which is very high intensity and still get tired riding at times!
its not just strength, its balance, suppleness, cardio all in one! I would also add that although you are at riding school working on keeping your horse in front of the leg so they take carry you forward is important as if you are having to work to keep them going everything else is much more difficult x

 

[Apercrumbie]

Agreed that riding is quite specific - I can run 15k, do a few power yoga sessions a week as well as gym but as I'm riding less at the moment, I feel like a wibbly wobbly mess when on a horse. I really feel it after a ride now and find it hard to maintain a proper schooling session for long. Quite embarrassing really as I'm supposed to be quite fit!

 

[Farma]

Agreed that riding is quite specific - I can run 15k, do a few power yoga sessions a week as well as gym but as I'm riding less at the moment, I feel like a wibbly wobbly mess when on a horse. I really feel it after a ride now and find it hard to maintain a proper schooling session for long. Quite embarrassing really as I'm supposed to be quite fit!

Invest in lunge lessons for a while

 

[Widgeon]

Rider fitness is quite specific, I can do a few spin classes in a row no problem which is very high intensity and still get tired riding at times!
its not just strength, its balance, suppleness, cardio all in one! I would also add that although you are at riding school working on keeping your horse in front of the leg so they take carry you forward is important as if you are having to work to keep them going everything else is much more difficult x

Yes, keeping him in front of my leg (and therefore doing the work) is surprisingly easy once I've cracked my own position - the problem is it's difficult for him when I'm tired and start sagging onto his back or sitting somewhere off one side of the saddle. It's pretty satisfying though when I do get it right and suddenly everything goes nice and soft and forward moving. In twenty years of riding I've never really ridden a decently schooled horse before so every time it all clicks it's like a revelation! I'd also never realised how much of a difference relaxing your ankles makes....and everything is so much better without stirrups. I'm worried I may never be able to ride with stirrups again!

 

[amandaco2]

I run about 20miles a week, do spinning a couple of times a week and pilates, and I climb 3-4 x week and swim 1-3 x week too.


I think the most important thing is the amount of effort you put in which ever exercise you do really....if you do an hour of swimming which consists of bobbing about by the side of the pool the majority of the time, you wont get any benefit! whereas 20mins of really pushing yourself will be much better.

 

[CrazyMare]

I ride up to three a day, but even so, I find Pilates and swimming to be a massive help. Unfortunately I'm just massively short of time at the moment and am struggling to ride more than 2 a day let alone the other bits!

 

[Jamesy123]

I have tried to get myself fitter/healthier for eventing over the past two years. I started with an at home fitness DVD (when I was strapped for cash) - 10 minute HIT workouts and worked up to the whole DVD. Now I'm a member of the local gym so I swim and go on the cross trainer/rowing machine a few times each week. It's helped LOADS..... even if it feels horrible at 6am

 

[atropa]

I run about 20miles a week, do spinning a couple of times a week and pilates, and I climb 3-4 x week and swim 1-3 x week too.


I think the most important thing is the amount of effort you put in which ever exercise you do really....if you do an hour of swimming which consists of bobbing about by the side of the pool the majority of the time, you wont get any benefit! whereas 20mins of really pushing yourself will be much better.

Oh my goodness, do you mind if I ask your rough weekly schedule to fit all that in? I'm seriously impressed!

 

[Apercrumbie]

Invest in lunge lessons for a while

Ha it would be very entertaining to watch! It has really shocked me how quickly my riding fitness has gone though - I was well used to riding 2-3 horses per day with all the chores alongside with no trouble. If you had asked me to do any other exercise I would probably have collapsed in a heap! Now it's the complete opposite. I just make sure to be very disciplined with myself when I do manage to ride!

 

[amandaco2]

Oh my goodness, do you mind if I ask your rough weekly schedule to fit all that in? I'm seriously impressed!

I get up at 5.30, check ponies then get to gym by 6.30, do my stuff there and leave by 8...then after work I pop in to gym on way home...i do a lot more in winter as the horses only get worked at weekends so I may spend a few hours at the gym after work...30-60min run plus climbing...its very easy to do 2 hrs climbing!u loose track of time as u concentrate on not falling off haha