Riding after a day in the office

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hombreacaballo

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How do those people who have to slog out the 9-5 before going to the yard keep loose? I struggle with tension as it is and need some hints for getting that holy grail of suppleness and trying to keep balance at the same time. I always ride better at the weekends after a day of moving about but sat at a desk this is not possible. Tried doing yard work before riding and it's doesn't make much difference.

Any lightbulbs moments that people might have had would be very helpful.
 
I know what you mean, but sadly I haven't found the answer yet! My instructor shouting at me - "hips and knees!" does tend to scare me into relaxing a bit...
 
I just find a good long gentle warm up soon gets me back into it. You can do this out hacking or in the school, just lull into the rythm and feel of the horse, don't worry for the first 15 minutes about your (or your horses) position.. There's nothing to stop you stretching like they do for athletics before you get into the saddle, I've never done this but it makes sense to.
You could also do discreet physical relaxation exercises at your desk for the last half hour or so at work - clench and release type thing from the tips of your toes all the way to your scalp.
 
I dream of working 9-5! Usually more like 7.30-6 at least so I tend to be pretty tense and stressed.

I like to do lots of walk work to start with, focusing on something simple and doing lots of deep breaths to clear my tension. Things like focusing on controlling the walk with your seatbones so you really "plug into" the horse. Lots of serpentines to get me and the horse bending and supple, spiralling in and out on circles. All of this in a long, relaxed outline with little pressure so we both chill! Then I know how we're feeling and how much to do that evening.

Re: tension in your hips, my RI did make another client swap her desk chair for a Swiss ball, which apparently helped hugely!
 
Hiya,

I had similar problems, especially in my back, neck and shoulders. Also, problems with stiff hips. As well as sitting in an office from 7.30am, I also have to drive quite a long way too so always arrive at the yard in a bit of a state! Since ditching work doesnt seem to be an option at the moment I've tried all sorts.

We are lucky enough to be able to ride around the fields on our yard and if the weather permits, I do this before schooling. It loosens us both up, and if the ground is good, a nice strong canter really helps getting the horse forward before schooling starts. It also stops me from fixating about roundness and shape whilst we are still warming up.

Also, I have tried pilates for horse riders. It's brilliant and has improved mobility, suppleness and self awareness (a lot of my problems are caused by slouching!) as well as straightening me up in the saddle. Agree with the posts above, try to stretch and get moving as much as possible before you get on.
 
Not office but I sit in front of my laptop for 10 hours a day.

I never found grooming to help, however I do find that walking just before riding does help me personally - when I was lucky enough to have my horses a short walk away from my house, I felt much looser and more supple once in the saddle. Now that I have to drive to the yard I am trying to recreate that by leaving the car at the bottom of the hill instead of in the car park! But more often than not am too lazy / don't have enough time to do that.

My friend swears by stretching exercises once in the saddle, in walk (stretching up, going forward with your back so your back is parallel with the horse's neck, and lying down on your back on your horse's bum!) but apart from the fact that you'd have to be extremely flexible in the first place (if the back of my head actually touched the horse's bum I would never be able to get back up again!!), I think you need to have a super safe horse too, Rauti would have a heart attack.
 
I know exactly how you feel! I also find riding first thing in the morning just after i get up is a nightmare. I very recently bought a pilates for horse riding book and this recommends some stretching exercises to do just before you get on. I was a bit dubious at first and thought " i haven't got time for that", but i have persisted and it only takes a matter of a few minutes and it most definitely makes me feel better and more relaxed. Infact this morning I felt very stiff when i got up and thought it would be useless in the saddle, but i did a few stretches and was much better.

Simple stretches as follows:
- stand with feet hips width apart and pelvic floor muscle engaged. Drop your head forward and gently roll your spine forward with your arms reaching towards the floor. Roll down slowly vertrbrae by vertabrae and then roll back up - repeat about 4 times.
- side stretches - stand as above and then raise right hand above your head and reach over to the left. Drop left hand down your thing. Keep pelvis and hips stable - this should stretch the waist. Repeat with other arm.
- push shoulders towards your ears and then drop them back down.
- turn to look over each shoulder.

All quite simple but do help.
 
When I worked 9-5 or when I'm in college I prefer to ride in the morning before it all, then sets me up for a lovely day! and everything seems better at 5.30am!! :D
 
Lots of lunges and stretches before you get on...and arm rolls and shoulder shrugs when you're on. I used to find riding after work actually really helped me loosen up as made me aware of my posture and where I was carrying tension etc. I really miss it :(
 
Can't say I've ever noticed it as a problem tbh, I don't ride straight away anyway by the time I've mucked out, made up feed, cleaned and refilled water buckets and groomed I'm more than ready to ride...shattered and rather go home to Coronation Street and a drink but certainly not stiff. ;)
 
When I was on the corporate treadmill I used to find it was the mental stress/tension that had the most influence on my body and caused the tension/stiffness. I could do limbering up exercises until I was blue in the face but if somewhere in the back of my mind I was still thinking about the prat ealier in the day who had done whatever to cause problems then this would cause blocks in my body that then prevented the horse from performing optimally.

In the end I gave up riding after work and used to get up at some ungodly hour in the morning........it worked!
 
music! i'm lucky that we have a PA system in our indoor arena that the YO sometimes plays music through for us.. but the same effect can be achieved through your ipod.. classical always helps me.. pretend that i'm doing dressage to music :)
 
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