Equestrian Fitness
As riders we spend much of our time and money on our horses with trainers, bit specialists etc, which is great but quite often the most basic of elements is over looked. Could your horse go better, be happier if you were lighter…? Could YOU perform better, be happier if you leaner, stronger, fitter…?
I specialise in equestrian fitness. I real terms that means I’ve seen riders dressage scores go from 6/7s to 8/9s. I’ve seen riders with bad posture, due to years of mucking out and carrying buckets, go to standing up straighter with correct alignment. I’ve seen riders struggling to walk up the hill to catch their horse to sprinting up it!
Ask yourself…
Are you red faced and more out of breath than your horse during a schooling session (I know I have been in the past!)
Do you lack security in the saddle and fall off?
Do you have the stamina and core strength for cross country?
Can you engage your glutes to perform lateral exercises?
Does your instructor shout ‘sit up!’
The ideal body fat range is between 18-25% (men a % or 2 less). Their are also many other points to consider when it comes to what YOU can do as a rider to help your horse. Develop your core strength; at correcting your posture because no matter how many times your instructor shouts at you to sit up, until you strengthen the areas of weakness and stretch the areas of tightness it’s a losing battle.; work on your suppleness, particularly in the hips and hamstrings; work on your cardio vascular health; improve your vO2 max.
