Wobbly bits boot camp

[Sprat]

It is high time for me to start to get to grips with my wobbly bits - flappy lower leg, poor core and wibbly wobbly hands. I have been living in relative blissful ignorance, however after watching a video of my tests at the weekend, I am cringing with how unsecure my seat is, so I need to do something about it.

I like a plan, with set activities / exercises to do daily or on a timetable so hit me up with any recommendations? I am going to start pilates again; I used to do this very regularly but have let it slip so that's a start. I'm dying to get back to the gym as I've also let that go, so I'll incorporate a few gym sessions a week. What does everyone recommend in terms of on the horse work? For example, no stirrups work, how often / duration per week would you recommend?

We have just completed our first BD elementary which was wonderful, and I'm so so chuffed to have come first in my section with 66.61%, but gosh I felt like a sack of spuds riding round the warm up with lots of svelte elegant riders. I would like to make some improvements to my seat before we head out to do another.

 

[McFluff]

I follow the activate your seat programme (on Instagram and Facebook). I’ve been lucky enough to have sessions with her (pre-COVID) but I gave myself a boot up the bum after watching a video and feeling rather dis-heartened with my lower legs and moving hands.
if I’m strict and do at least four sessions a week (10 mins each) it makes such a difference. I just feel I’m on the stride and in better balance. Less flapping. Assuming your kit all works for you being fitter definitely helps.

 

[Sprat]

I’ve seen the activate your seat programme but not looked massively into it. Is it pricey? My only reservation is having to do the exercises with the bungee, I’m not sure I really have anywhere at home to use it

 

[McFluff]

I have the bungee and just attach it to a door handle. I think it was £50, but you can do all the exercises without.

 

[dixie]

Actively following this post as I’m putting weight on now I’m over 50 and after being skinny most of my life it’s not great. And I have a smaller horse now so need to keep it down. However I hate the gym and am inherently lazy ?
Activate my seat sounds interesting.

 

[Bernster]

Actively following this post as I’m putting weight on now I’m over 50 and after being skinny most of my life it’s not great. And I have a smaller horse now so need to keep it down. However I hate the gym and am inherently lazy ?
Activate my seat sounds interesting.

me too! Although in my case I haven’t been skinny since I was in my 20s ?

 

[Goldenstar]

You need to work on riding with the correct position ever single second you sit on a horse .

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

If you can use a yoga ball instead of your office chair it does wonders for the core and posture

 

[Sprat]

You need to work on riding with the correct position ever single second you sit on a horse .

Yes agreed, and great in theory but no matter how much I try I cannot seem to keep my legs still, even if I'm trying my very hardest so something needs to change - I just don't know what yet!

 

[Goldenstar]

You probaly should get to a trainer who works on position of the rider , this a little out of fashion at atm.
They can give you some help to have simple aims and corrections that you can practise yourself .
I loved teaching position it’s so rewarding because it turns pupils into their own trainer and once people realise they can progress themselves you are flying .
With riding practise makes permanent not perfect .
Lots of people say get lunged yes lunging helps but not if the teacher does not have a good grasp of how to develop position .
You have to practise the right things that’s the knack of learning and the route improvement .
You just need the right trainer to help you .

 

[McFluff]

Yes agreed, and great in theory but no matter how much I try I cannot seem to keep my legs still, even if I'm trying my very hardest so something needs to change - I just don't know what yet!

This will sound bonkers, but I find the same, and I find if I try, I end up tensing and causing more issues. So if I can stop my overactive brain interfering I get on better - so in effect, I was better to stop trying!

I also agree that there are some position checks that a good instructor can give that can help - for example I find holding a stick across my hands makes me more aware of my twisting wrist issue.

 

[LEC]

I personally love kettlebells - I think it works really well for horses because effectively you are moving a small weight around dynamically which means several parts of your body have to work together to stabilise the weight which is effectively what riding involves. I also do Yoga to try and keep supple but I am not super disciplined about it. I probably should do more as the fitter I am, the better I ride.

 

[stangs]

When I was motivated to exercise, I would follow random core workout, dance and yoga YT videos. Sometimes I did specialised equestrian workouts but I subscribed to the theory that if my general fitness improved and if I focused on functional biomechanics, that the rest would figure itself out with the help of a good instructor.

Otherwise, I like to warm up without stirrups in walk and then bring them back for the trot. Nothing to do with you OP but I hate when people do lots of no stirrup work to improve their position/sitting trot - unless you've got the core strength for it, all you end up doing is bouncing on the horse's back until your body learns how to compensate for your weakness. The only exception for this is lunge + equicise lessons.