50/ JUNE 2018 THE RIDER Rider Fitness: Improve Your Symmetry Both exercises train you


By Heather Sansom If you’ve had some is-


sues with symmetry, such as seat bone or jump landing weight shifting to one side, these exercises help you train your body to balance your weight. They also integrate core


strength and


balance...and you can do them without any particular warmup or time commitment. The exercises this month


are shown outdoors because so many riders that I have worked with, want to be out- side, where your horses are. Exercise ball work can be fun outdoors, if you can be sure that the ground is clear of items that might puncture or damage the ball. Of course, the exercises I’m sharing this month can also be indoors.


to stabilize your weight and keep it even by inte- grating your core. Your core holds your hips in place, while you attempt to throw yourself off bal- ance with an asymmetri- cal movement. This happens all the time while you are riding, and you only notice it some of the time because ei- ther the horse or the ter- rain (or obstacles) are constantly changing your


balance point on you. You want core muscle engage- ment, without stiffness. In these exercises, lifting


your leg or twisting your body will create a need for you to engage your core to stay even and straight on the ball. You also need to do it while maintaining a softness in the jaw and back (just like your horse!) to avoid stiff- ness. A secret to encouraging your neck and shoulders to stay soft, is to put your tongue on the roof of your mouth while softly wiggling your fingers. If you have trouble co-ordinating all that at once, don’t worry about it until you are comfortable keeping yourself balanced on the ball. For both exercises, sit up


tall with the top of your head (back of your head) reaching toward the sky, and your shoulder blades settling down your back. Lift one leg or twist to one side, hold for 3-5 seconds, return to your start- ing position and repeat on the other side. Repeat 5-10 times on each side. If you have a tendency to shift to one side, then reduce the height of the leg lift or the rotation of the twist until you can do it with


control, balance and softness. Only then are you ready to in- crease the challenge. The images show a pre-


vious client, Olympian Gina Smith, on the lawn of her


Dorothy Chiotti Continued from Page 49


Legacy is a supplement specifically designed for senior horses. Compounds proven to support the joint, connective tissue and soft tissue are featured in Legacy. Glucosamine HCI, MSM, Chondroitin Sulfate, and Yucca are key ingredients for healthy joint support. Ester-C and Vitamin E have been also added as Antioxidants. Made was Stabilized Rice Bran and pelleted for easy administration. Legacy is a cost effective way to care for your horse whether it's an old friend or a seasoned athlete. Features & Benefits: MSM, Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate for Joint Support, Ester-C and Vitamin E as Antioxidants. Pelleted with Yeast Culture and Rice Bran Based for Palatability


to share my passion for both photography and horses at Urban Gallery during a major photography festival was an amazing experience and op- portunity. And being able to celebrate women working in the horse industry was a bonus. These unsung heroines (along with their male coun- terparts) work quietly in the background to keep the eques- trian world’s engine running while most of the attention is on the riders and owners. I was a working student at a hunter/jumper show barn and riding school for a time so I know how grueling, tedious and dangerous the work can be. I was pleased to bring some attention to it. I also en- joyed receiving feedback on


training facility.


© Heather R. Sansom, www.equifitt.com Fitness, biomechanics and riding instruction. Online


my work. Many described my images


as photographic


“paintings,” which validates my own sense of them as fine art photography. I’m really grateful to Calvin and Allen for taking a chance on show- casing rural images in their in- timate Urban Gallery.


Do you plan to exhibit your photos anywhere else this year and, if so, where? A couple of local eques-


trian retailers have demon- strated an interest


in


displaying and selling my work and I’m looking into other exhibition opportunities. In the meantime, I plan to ex- pand my focus for the Barn Maven series and get out there capturing more moments of skilled and empathic women working with horses. When I submitted images to the Urban Gallery for considera-


Coaching Available Check out the 9 week rider fitness plan book- available in print or as a download!: www.equifitt.com/fit2ride/


tion last November my vision was just starting to open up. Now, the sky’s the limit. The welfare of the horse


is a cause near and dear to Dorothy’s heart. She’s pleased to announce that 10% of the proceeds from the sale of all “Barn Maven” series images on display during the Scotia- Bank CONTACT Photogra- phy Festival will be donated to Whispering Hearts Horse Rescue of Hagarsville, On- tario.


To learn more about


Dorothy and her photography, please visit www.aimwellcre- ativeworks.com You will also find a link there to her horse blog, Musings of a Horse Mom.


Glenda Fordham for THE RIDER


For more information Contact: a. L. distributing Limited 1-888-345-2351 www.aldistributing.com info@aldistributing.com


or stop by your Tack Or Feed Store


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