Physiological demands on horse/rider in SJ/DR/XC - a little discussion

viola

viola

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 August 2005
Messages
1,887
Location
UK & Europe
aspireequestrian.wordpress.com
Hi there, I wonder if some of you would like to help and take part in a little brain storm session...I am working on my assignment and although the text will be elite riders focused I would love to read about your thoughts/opinions/experiences.
What I am interested in is:
1) Which of your muscles/parts of your body tire the most in which disciplines (sorry only SJ/DR and XC phase considered - no offence to other sports);
2) Which discipline requires the rider to be the fittest (or which phase takes up most of your energy if you are an eventer);
3) How high would you rate (1 in 10 - one being ineffective 10 being necessary for success) an input of a non-specific training (gym,pilates,swimming etc) into your riding fitness?
Let's say, if you are a dressage rider do you stretch, do any core stability exercises?
If you are a jumper, do you work on your cardio fitness and muscle strength?

Many thanks for any thoughts!
 
I think this is an interesting subject and am interested to hear what other riders have to say too.

For me:

1) I do predominantly dressage and for me my lower back and hips seems to suffer the most chronic pain. I have problems mainly in my sacrioilliac joints.
2) I think all disciplines require a degree of fittness but focuss on different parts of your body. For dressage I think core stability is the most important aspect. After I do XC I find that my upper arms and thighs are very sore.
3) I don't have time for much other exercise other than riding as I work during the day but I find for me pilates/core training is a 10. I have a weak lower back/hip joints so it really helps to stabolise me. If I had more hours in my day I would also do more cardio exercise as I find the fitter I am the more stamina I have.
 
Very interesting indeed.

For me:

1) Dressage i tend to ache in my upper back and shoulders but I think this is most likely due to tension. I quite often get stiches in my side whilst doing sitting trot as I dont do it that often and this could be linked to my core strength perhaps? or maybe because forget to breath sometimes!
grin.gif
During/ after SJ/XC my upper back tends to ache which might be due to my horse pulling my arms out! And my hips and thighs hurt occasionally and I do have a problem with my hips as they're slightly uneven so my weight is never quite equal no matter how much I try.

2) Agree with katiejaye that different disciplines require different degrees of fitness. I find that XC takes the most out of me mainly due to me not having the stamina especially at this time of year when im just getting back into it so im not up to my usually summer fitness.

3) At the moment I dont do any other exercise than riding but im sure if i did, it would help! I have little execises given to me by my osteo to try and get my shoulders and upper back more supply though I have to admit that I havnt been doing them recently and should be. I am also going to start doing some small amounts of running/cycling try and improve my cardio fitness and muscle strength. I did used to cycle down to the yard quite a bit but now ive passed my driving test, im always driving so that hasnt really helped!
 
1)Dressage wise - when im training i often get stitches - dont know why - just do - never in a competition environment though! Sometimes my upper arms burn when im working really hard dressage wise - otherwise i never ache unless of course ive fallen off!!
wink.gif


2)agree with Katiejaye and Flic that different sports require different types of fitness though i think that possibly the eventers have to be the fittest as its a day of endurance the the XC phase requires full concentration on a powerful horse who may through you about a bit
blush.gif
wink.gif


3)I have 2hours of hockey training on a monday night, and approx 3hours of P.E. lessons a week. I also run occasionally too - i event and i think all of this helps my endurance levels
wink.gif
 
1. Dressage My thighs tend to ache, mainly because I hate riding in long stirrups! My lower back can also ache. SJ I don't tend to have problems with apart from my arms (she pulls alot jumping!) XC My arms, and back mainly from pulling!
2. XC definatly! It requires alot of concentration and pulling, trying to prevent the mare from rushing at jumps and getting her strides wrong. Also XC courses are also very technical, and require a great degree of concentration!
3. I go swimming occasionally and I would give that a 5. I also do dance classes and I would give that a 9
shocked.gif
 
well because its GCSE P.E. we have done everything from badminton to netball and volleyball so a bit of everything. Also forgot to say i do circuit training for 1/2hour at school every Friday
wink.gif
 
What about the adrenalin factor though?
Whilst I agree that the XC phase is the most phyiscally demanding for me I find fitness level to actually complete a phase more important in dressage. This is due to doing in cold blood as it were. Never notice being tired on an XC course until about 5 minutes after I finish but always run out of energy during dressage warmup.
Which does raise the question about fitness to compete vs level of fitness required to compete and not do physical damage / improve recovery time.
 
My main problem areas are knee and lower back pain....caused predominantly by previous injuries in those areas. I compete soley in SJ'ing, and although the cardio-vascular side of things used to be a problem (when i first started back after a 20 year break), that side of things is now pretty much sorted
smile.gif
 
1) Which of your muscles/parts of your body tire the most in which disciplines (sorry only SJ/DR and XC phase considered - no offence to other sports);

I dont really tire much, however if i had to say anything it would be my inner theighs (i do dressage).

2) Which discipline requires the rider to be the fittest (or which phase takes up most of your energy if you are an eventer);

I havent evented much, however when i did on a previous pony (just RC level) it was always the x country that tired me out the most (probably because i swear i used to hold my breath the whole way round!!!!)

3) How high would you rate (1 in 10 - one being ineffective 10 being necessary for success) an input of a non-specific training (gym,pilates,swimming etc) into your riding fitness?

I dont do any of the above mentioned, as i dont have time!! I walk to work everyday tho so thats more exercise for me, plus my two horses are on DIY. I have however just ordered myself an 'elypitcal (sp!) trainer' which i shall be using 3 times a week to help get more strength in my lower leg.

Let's say, if you are a dressage rider do you stretch, do any core stability exercises?

no stretching, i dont have time!!

If you are a jumper, do you work on your cardio fitness and muscle strength?

n/a for me!!!!
grin.gif
 
Thank you everybody! It's very interesting what some of you say about dressage being a rather hard part! It does require an enormous muscle tone (at least on the elite level) - when I finish my work I will try to post a link to it so if someone is interested it would be available to read
smile.gif


P_G - could you tell me more about this 'eliptical trainer' ? Any on-line info??
 
1)
SJ/XC: Top of my legs and back.
Dressage: stomach & legs

2) Which discipline requires the rider to be the fittest
XC
(3) How high would you rate - 4. I do long distance running, when I stop doing it, I find jumping harder, but not so much dressage.
 
I only do dressage so can only cooment on that. I get aches in my lower back after doing a lot of sitting trot and I get terrible cramp in my left hip also when doing sitting trot. I dont get tired when riding but I do get very tired on a night.

I think the concetration thing is a big factor for me with dressage, you always have to be 1 step ahead and feel everything the horse does. Different muscles are used in different disciplines. With dressage it is more thighs and stomach whereas X country I would say it is more calves and thighs.

I dont do any other exercises even though I know I should. I do at lot of walking and will be on my feet walking for 8 hours when I am at work. My YO is trying to get me to do sit ups but at the mo it isnt working.
 
Thank you all yet again
smile.gif

nat1003 - I would not recommend sit ups - they are very demanding on your lower back and with dressage that's the part you need to look after the most. You could instead try to do sort of 1/3 of a sit up: you lie down on the floor with your lower back pressed gently against the floor(this imitates pelvic tilt to a natural one as required when riding), breath in and lift your shoulder blades only above the floor (can place your hands on your neck); breath out and lie down again. You should try to lift your shoulders with your abdominal muscles only - your thigh muscles should be relaxed; feet on the floor, knees bent and whole body relaxed. After 100 a day your abdominals will be much stronger. Tried and tested
wink.gif
 
1) SJ/XC - i run out of breath, but i forget to breathe around a course!!! which is more the issue. But recovery very quickly breath after fininshing which i've been told is sign of fitness?
DR - inter thigh muscles and abbs

2) i would say it's dressage for me as i need to work my horse in for nearly an hour
shocked.gif


3) i've very lazy i only rider but i have good general fitness. I muck out 2 horses twice a day and run around yard from fields etc...
tongue.gif
tongue.gif
but i do hunt/BD and BE, so i'm always on go doing some sort of training.
I've just been skiing and didn't have any muscle problems at all and never skied before. I also popped into local baths for swim and did 20 lenghts straight off....
But i have had a 6month break from horses and then i did find that i had to do extra exercise to build up fitness level. So I swam and play netball
So in general ask to you question fitness is a must and if i was running out of stammer or aching some where need i would swim as i think it's better all round fitness for ggs
 
1) I only do dressage, I have a bad back from an old injury so after a hard session, my bad will start to seize up.
2) I think you have to be fittest stamina wise to go XC, however think high level Dressage riders have to be fit to enable them to push their horses and achieve what they have to- movement wise.
3) 10 I suppose -it figures the more exercise you do the fitter you will become and the better you will ride. For me cycling for stamina and pilates for core strength.

I stretch off and on , mainly if back playing up.

I cycle for 30 mins a day- and ride 1 horse for 40-45 mins 5-6 times a week.
 
100 a day
shocked.gif
shocked.gif
shocked.gif
shocked.gif

Im far too lazy for that! Think I might retire to my rocking chair with a cup of tea and a packet of biccies
grin.gif

I do have very strong abdominal muscles anyway from riding neddy everyday.
 
1) In the dressage phase, my back gets flippin' sore as do my shoulders (due to my crap posture probably!) but not tired as such. In SJ, I dont really get tired or sore although the day after the inside muscles of my thighs are sore. XC I usually get a bit tired half way round, my legs get a bit jelly like!

2) XC definately takes a lot out of you. Well, I think so! Because its fast and you do have to keep your balance over any land / fence for a good 5 mins or whatever etc.

3) Id say the fitter you are the better definately - your more effective. So 10 I guess, although I dont have great fitness I must admit. When I do work out I tend to work on my leg strength for my XC more than anything else. I think a general all round fitness is needed as well as suppleness
 
Hiya!
grin.gif


You know about my problems in depth but, so not sure if i can add anything-

Not sure I can answer muc as I only do dressage but I really like the idea of doing pilates, core stability smimming etc but its just not something I have time to fit in
frown.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Spring is slowly on its way and the sun is always good for aching bones (or is it?)
smirk.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Or......does it just make the ground harder for when you fall on it
tongue.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top