Rider fitness for showjumping

[littlebea]

My young mare is coming on well, and next year I want to start compeating her in showjumping competitions. So to give us the best chance of doing well I think that I need to get in training too (not just my horse!).

I have been riding for 4 years now, but have yet to start compeating seriously.

So, how fit do people think a professional show jumper should be (I am not a pro, and not sure I could get that far, but like I say, I want to give my self the best chance).

Does any one have a fitness routine they follow to keep them selves in shape for showjumping? if so what do you do, and how much do you do it.

To give you an idea of where I am at fitness wise, I am 5'10" and weigh 11st7lb, I do not do any obvious regular excersize at the moment (going to gym, running, etc) but I do the usual daily mucking out and active things like that!

Thanks for any help.

 

[MandyMoo]

well, i compete bsja (not very big, maximum is 1m05 at the moment). And i am usually out competing most weekends, and usually take 2 to compete (will be 3 once dani is back sj again) and take each in 2 classes usually..plus their warmups...

and with all that i am perfectly fine, i dont get shattered or anything, i am fit enough (i suppose i am an 'athleticy' build ...5ft10 and 9stone 10)...but the only exercise i do is walking back from college everyday (1 mile ish?) and obviously riding my 3 horses nearly everyday...schooling/hacking/jumping... i do no running etc

im not really a running type...

so i keep my fittness by just plenty of riding and the obvious mucking out, grooming, fetching in/turning out etc etc and i think im perfectly fit enough

but obviously if you compete at 1m20's + like on 6 horses twice a week...then i thin more fitness is needed...but for me its enough. xxx

 

[Decision_Tree]

I feel that you do need to make sure you are fit to ride and I think that if you do increase you fitness levels you will ride better.

LittleBea: I do a bit of everything with my horse. Ive found that jumping and in particulat XC improve greatly when I am fit and also strong to ride. I used to work as a personal trainer and I think the most important thing to get started is to be motivated which you sound like you are. Next is to find an activity which fits into ur lifestyle - going to a gym, swimming, walking, running, taking a fitness class? The first few weeks are the hardest and then once ur in a schedule and ur fitness level is up then its alot easier. Alot of strengthing exercise you can do at the yard too which makes it easier - Water buckets I find are ace for doing arms and also ur oblique muscles which increase ur core strength and stability, fab for riders.

I run about 3 - 5 times a week depending on if I am competing or not (if not do some extra to keep levels up) and then do stengthing exercises a couple times a week on top. For me, I ride so much better when fit.

Sorry for uber long post!

 

[teddyt]

I used to go swimming twice a week to improve my fitness. I hate the gym and would never go running. Swimming improved my lung capacity, I didnt even do that many lengths each time and sitting in the jacuzzi afterwards was great! I found my muscles were much less likely to pull and i recovered quicker after competitions.

 

[littlebea]

Thanks every one for answers so far. I think I need to loose a little weight - would be good to get back below 11 stone again, and actually just do something rather then nothing! I have never got on with swimming (I sink), but I think I am getting a plan to gether.

I think if I can work up to running 2 or 3 times a week (probably 1 -3 km to begin with) and then go to the gym a couple of times a week I should be fine, but will not over do it either to begin with lol. Oddly our local library has a gym!

I dont think I need to improve my strength, more just staminer, recovery time and suppleness.