is your horse fit enough? Are you fit for purpose?
help any injuries you do incur to heal much quicker. If you want to be properly fit to ride, consider including some activities such as skipping, running, cycling, swimming and weight training into your schedule.
Suppleness and balance are also essential and once you have those under control, your horse will thank you, as he will not have to carry a rider who is slouching and thumping about in the saddle!
Is your core strong? Your limbs can only be as strong, effective and independent as your core tone allows. Your core is not just your tummy – it’s your whole trunk –and controls the position of your hips, seat bones, shoulders and posture. So you can see why it’s essential to balanced riding.
Are you aware that many people favour one side of their body and will, therefore, unconsciously lean slightly to one side? This in turn can mean that the problem the rider thinks the horse is having with his ill-fitting saddle could in fact be down to said rider not putting equal pressure on the stirrups, due to their body position.
If you are unfit, then it doesn’t matter how much time and effort you put into developing and maintaining your horse’s exercise regime, your horse will not perform well, as you will not have the strength or stamina needed to ride him correctly. However, on the up side, a fit and balanced rider can help a horse to improve.
One fitness ‘system’ recommended by many riders is Pilates, as it develops good core muscle strength, which is turn helps to achieve and maintain good balance and alignment. Yoga is also recommended for improving flexibility. Classes
www.theequinesite.co.uk
are available country-wide at village halls and fitness centres, and there are also many DVD’s and Apps available for those with busy schedules.
Balancing on an exercise ball in a riding position while watching TV can aid balance and improve core tone. Plus you could learn a lot about your riding faults too. Do you roll to the front, side or back and which side do you favour, right or left and what muscles to you have to stimulate to steady yourself?
Try this exercise next time you’re on your horse. While he’s at halt stand up straight in your stirrups – no leaning or hovering – and maintain your balance. Then progress to walk, trot and canter whilst still standing!! You’ll certainly put those core muscles through a workout. Also why not have a go at mucking out on both sides, to help even your body up.
Finally - how many of you have experienced that Saturday/Sunday ‘morning- after’ feeling when you can’t remove your head from the pillow, but you know you have to get up to see to your horse as you have a lesson booked later? A large glass of wine, or pint of beer, contains around three units of alcohol, while a glass of spirits is one unit.
As an example, if you weigh 60kg (9st 4lb) and partake of that glass of wine, you will almost be at the UK legal limit for driving, plus it will take three to four hours to get out of your system. Two glasses and you will be having fun and slightly tipsy, but the alcohol will now take more than five hours to clear. However, when you become intoxicated, maybe drinking around six glasses through the evening, you will remain legally drunk for the next ten hours. Plus….you can be charged with being drunk in control of a horse!!
Spring is here and we are
delighted to show you our new collection.
www.nobleoutfitters.co.uk Equine Page 21
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64