Rider fitness

I just ride I think that alone can be a good workout, I ride almost everyday and do a fair bit of schooling so I think this keeps me fairly fit, if I dont ride for a week when I do I ache so must be working the muscles.

Also wanted to add getting on the muck heap throwing it back is a good workout, brilliant for the abdominal muscles:)
 
Last edited:
I run around like a crazy person all day, constantly incorporating exercise with work on the yard. I'm always knackered by 6pm so it must work. I'm allergic to the gym and fitness classes. I also have no idea when I'd find the time as my three are at home and my husband rarely helps... HeHe
 
No time, money or inclination for the gym I'm afraid - it bores me to tears!

I like walking, particularly hill walking; bike riding; horse riding & I do strength and suppling exercises prescribed by my physio a few times a week
 
As well as riding i muck out, walk my dogs, go to the gym (i do classes for core strength mostly) and go running.
 
I think it depends on the level you're riding at and if you want to be fit purely for the demands of riding or generally. If you're just a leisure rider doing the odd competition riding itself is pretty good exercise. If you're competing regularly - especially XC which can be hard work, it's worth building your cardio capacity in particular and toning those muscles.

Since June, I've had a personal trainer once a week (expensive but it's only way to guarantee I'll do something at least once a week) try to run or swim another two mornings a week and ride about 4 times a week. I don't think I feel any different riding than I did before although I know I'm fitter generally. I do all my exercise in the mornings as we have a rota to put the horses out on our yard so only turn out one weekday morning. I then do all the riding in the evening and at weekends.
 
This is a key topic for me. I lost my riding position during a break and felt rubbish in the saddle I was sitting crooked etc so went to a Rider Physio she assessed me and I have a raft of exercises to build my core strength and improve my balance.

I feel so much better in the saddle and my legs are much much more effective. The exercises are Pilates based.
 
Some leisure centres will do a swim only package much cheaper than the gym membership if you only want to swim. Unless going a few times a week it's probably just cheaper paying each time you go to the class/swim.
 
Don't waste money on a gym membership - check out this website www.hasfit.com - all the workouts are free and you can do them in your own home at any time. Some are only 10 mins long. You don't need equipment just a pair of dumbells (baked bean tins). It's very basic but it works. No travelling to the gym, shelling out for gym membership. There are hundreds of different workouts and workout plans fit differing levels of fitness.
The other thing I've done is download a free 'Couch to 10k' running app so when I've time to run I just plug in and go (sometimes just round the paddock!). The app eases you into running so you don't knacker yourself out first time and injure yourself or get put off. Again it's free (loads to choose from) and you can do them at a time of day to suit you.
 
I run, ride, poledance and do aerial hoop and silks. The pole and aerial is great for core strength but makes me quite muscular so I can get a little tight riding sometimes. I climb as well. Anything you enjoy and stick with is good.
 
I'm a member of a gym,but my attendance is pretty sporadic. By the time I've done the horses, and work full-time, sometimes I just can't be bothered. But recently I've noticed that my riding isn't as balanced as it should be and I didn't feel strong enough through my core. I've had a programme done by one of the fitness instructors at the gym which focuses on building my core strength and stability. Not sure whether it's helped yet as I've only been doing it a couple of weeks, but I did have a lesson yesterday and horse went beautifully and I didnt' get too many comments about being lopsided!
 
AA&B said:
How do you motivate yourselves to run? I always have the intention to, but never get round to it ...
Click to expand...


Make yourself a decent playlist to listen to, and just run! The endorphin's that get released make you feel great afterwards, also I tend to run on footpaths, parks etc as I don't like to run on the road :) Could you enter yourself into a 5k to have something to work towards?
 
biggingerpony said:
Make yourself a decent playlist to listen to, and just run! The endorphin's that get released make you feel great afterwards, also I tend to run on footpaths, parks etc as I don't like to run on the road :) Could you enter yourself into a 5k to have something to work towards?
Click to expand...


Sounds like a plan! ;) I usually run the race for life every year, but i don't really train for it, I just turn up and run
 
So many runners I know end up with kn*******d knees! no matter how expensive their running shoes. It's the one thing that really puts me off. Riding with knee pain would be, well, a pain:(
 
I do weightlifting mainly. I do some pilates at home and force myself to do cardio an hour a week.

Weightlifting has done miracles for my posture. My lower back especially no longer gives me any grief at all when riding. Heavy lifting stimulates bone density, so if I do come off, I'm slightly less breakable than I was :P
 
I generally dislike gyms - definitely don't do running machines or step machines or stuff like that - they bore me to tears. I found a little local gym that does circuits - weights, machines and cardio - you go round the circuit twice, 1 min on each apparatus, adding in core work with gym balls and other exercises - the staff are uber helpful, always looking for ways to help, suggesting exercises if you want to do something specific. Its the only gym I have found that I actually enjoy. 30 min work out and Im knackered and feel like I have worked and its not the same boring thing the entire time. Also doing the couch to 5k to get me back into running - have a 10k and a 5k obstacle run booked for next year so working towards that - actually enjoy running out in the forest or back roads around my area :)

I found the core work at the gym has made a difference in my jumping - I am a lot more secure in my saddle when I just now - so must be doing something right
 
I figure the better your body works, the better rider you'll be. So increased cardio fitness, strength, flexibility and body awareness are all a plus.
I'm a big fan of yoga and Pilates for riders - will improve all of the above - especially body awareness - a knowledge of where your body aligns itself in space, and how to change it - so that when an instructor says something vague like "move your shoulder back and down" or "tilt your pelvis forward" you can actually feel the problem, and the solution.
If you get the chance - ballet is also great for all the above as well.

Don't just rely on the treadmill/bike etc - won't touch the strength side of the equation, which gets overlooked by a lot of women.
 
Cragrat said:
So many runners I know end up with kn*******d knees! no matter how expensive their running shoes. It's the one thing that really puts me off. Riding with knee pain would be, well, a pain:(
Click to expand...

Knee pain is generally a result of poor alignment. The knee is essentially a hinge, any muscle that tries to pull it to one side it the other of its straight line will cause a twist through the hinge and eventually pain. I assess people by getting them to squat several times. Those with knee pain usually find their knees draw together as they go to sit, often a problem with riders due to strong inner thigh pulling knee in and weak glutes and abductors unable to counteract. I give these people exercises to correct the imbalance according to the cause, before they start a running plan.
 
I've started going to the gym at lunchtime in work. I always loved the gym sessions and running before I became a full time horsey mother 3 years ago and then went into shock and couldn't fit anything else in with working full time. But now I do the gym at lunchtime I feel like I've returned home again! :-) love it! I do need to try Pilates though to build a better core for riding!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top