working on core strength, better balance

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littlefluffball

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What can I do outwith riding to work on my core strength, posture, better balance?

Anyone do yoga or pilates? I see pictures of when I was younger with a fabulous seat and position then pictures now where I have this annoying tilting forward habit grrrrr

I am getting as much saddle time as i can between my share horse, jumping lessons, stirrupless lessons, hacking etc etc but I want to know what I can work on when not in the saddle

Also does anyone take supplements for joints etc? When i do any lengthy riding eg common riding, fun rides etc my knees blooming ache - also dismounting from any great height (like my friends clydesdlae) isn't quite as easy and comfortable as it once was....
 
I'm really interested in the replies to this thread as I'm also trying to work on my core strength and posture. I started yoga after I was unable to find a local equine pilates group but so many people dropped out it wasn't viable to run : ( I think yoga or pilates would both be really beneficial for building strength and flexibility. A good instructor would hopefully address and one sidedness too. I tilt forward too and feel like I have developed a bad seat, especially compared to pictures of my riding just two or three years ago.

I have been told sitting on a gym ball with my feet off the floor will be beneficial to building balance and core strength. I'm intending to sneak one in at work so I can sit on it at my desk. I also bought 'The Dressage Seat' by Anja Beran which has a range of exercises inside. I've really used the book as I started yoga but while the yoga class is on pause I have no excuse for giving it a try.
 
I've done pilates for the last ten years, now doing equipilates. I find it very helpful in keeping my core (reasonably) strong but really I should do more work between classes. I hve some lower back problems and find using a Back Friend and a human tool seat have improved my posture as they stop me slumping.
 
Second pilates/yoga! I also do a core specific class if I have time in the week. There are also a number of tutorials on YouTube with exercises recommended by riders for riders.
 
I am interested to learn of the human tool seat - thank you. I sit at the computer all day on a Hag chair similarly like a saddle.
Balance is important for riding and for not falling in old age. But as an elderly rider it depresses me how often the emphasis on this forum is on what a rider looks like on a horse. One cannot reverse the degeneration in one's spine, Oldie48. And tho I dont suffer from arthritis, others do.
Good lunge lessons preferably with an instructor experienced in RDA will possibly enable more people to continue riding into old age without aggravating the inevitable crookedness and infirmities. As will strategies for mounting and dismounting.
Perversely (having had a year's break from riding) I am now convinced that, rather than needing to keep fit in order to ride, it is riding which improves my fitness, weight and balance in everyday non-riding life. I feel years younger since I got back on a horse - plus the horse is a dream which is so good for morale.
 
As an older rider with a history of back injury, I find Pilates (with a physio who is also a rider) and yoga have made a huge difference to my strength and flexibility both on and off horse.
 
As much as I dislike it, going to the gym and working with a PT has transformed me and my riding.

I do core exercises as part of a full exercise and fitness programme, core is very important but so is everything else IMHO
 
Skib said:
I am interested to learn of the human tool seat - thank you. I sit at the computer all day on a Hag chair similarly like a saddle.
Balance is important for riding and for not falling in old age. But as an elderly rider it depresses me how often the emphasis on this forum is on what a rider looks like on a horse. One cannot reverse the degeneration in one's spine, Oldie48. And tho I dont suffer from arthritis, others do.
Good lunge lessons preferably with an instructor experienced in RDA will possibly enable more people to continue riding into old age without aggravating the inevitable crookedness and infirmities. As will strategies for mounting and dismounting.
Perversely (having had a year's break from riding) I am now convinced that, rather than needing to keep fit in order to ride, it is riding which improves my fitness, weight and balance in everyday non-riding life. I feel years younger since I got back on a horse - plus the horse is a dream which is so good for morale.
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I also find riding really helps my back (not jumping though) as it loosens my lower back. I have a tarlov cyst which was diagnosed more than 30 years ago because of back pain, goodness knows if I also have arthritis but I have less back pain now than I did 30 years ago so I'm pretty pleased considering there was a time when I was considering surgery. the other thing I'd recommend is regular visits to a chiro/Mctimoney practitioner, this really helps to keep me straight and more supple than I would be.
 
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