Staying in Riding Shape this Winter
As we examine our horsemanship goals at the beginning of each year, no matter what those goals are, in order to achieve them a good horseman has to be physically, mentally, & emotionally fit. Most people who own horses don’t have the luxury of an indoor arena to ride in all winter. Even though upon occasion we make it to an indoor arena to ride, many of us may be out of riding shape when the ground thaws and we can start riding on a more regular basis. Therefore it would be wise to use our time during the winter months to keep in shape physically, so we are prepared for spring riding. The better physical shape we are in the more in tune we will be with our body and the more control we have over it. When we have better control over our body we can ride our horse even better. We will feel more connected with our horse’s movements when we are more connected with our own bodies. Even though your entire first couple of months of the year might not directly address your ultimate goal, it will focus on something you know will help you down the line.
I recommend finding an exercise program which fits your personality and time schedule. If you will commit to a program for at least 6-8 weeks, then you will be more motivated to keep on track. And I suggest you pay for all 6-8 weeks up front, because you will make more effort to keep going so you get your money’s worth. I do my exercise program by myself at home, because I live near a small town in central NE and the closest health club is 100 miles away. I have some DVD’s, a body ball, and I cross country ski. I rotate these programs so I don’t get bored, but I do them consistently during the winter. I can’t say I do them on a consistent basis when the weather is nice, because then you will find me on the back of a horse. If you are a self motivated person there are 100’s of DVD’s you can purchase for a home exercise program or just turn on the TV early in the morning and you will find a host of programs to choose from. I like Pilates on “Veria” channel 9575 on Dish TV.
I prefer Yoga, Pilates, Marshal Arts, or any type of program which focuses on how to achieve good posture and healthy body movement without stress and strength. By participating in one of these exercise programs you will develop better concentration and awareness of body movement which will carry over to riding. Your ability to concentrate better will improve your focus while riding thus your communication will be clearer to your horse. Improved awareness of body movements will help you to focus on one aspect of your horse’s movement and still be able to maintain a sense of the whole horse.
It is important to choose a program which helps you strengthen your inner abdominal core which is essential to your safety, performance and effectiveness while in the saddle. The core is more than just your stomach muscles, it is the whole abdominal and lower back area. I can’t stress enough this kind of bodywork for riders, because a deep strong core will also keep your back healthy and pain free while riding. Other benefits include better control over all your body movements leading to better balance and posture which are critical to riding with an independent seat. Better balance and posture will improve your ability to move with the horse and absorb the concussion of the horse’s gaits. When you are riding this way the cues and aides you give the horse will have better timing and they will also be more consistent and precise. With timely, consistent and precise cues there will be less confusion and more harmony between you and your horse. A weak core or a person who has no awareness of how to use their core will greatly affect their riding and therefore the performance of the horse.
If you don’t want to join a health club or buy a DVD, go to Wal-Mart and purchase a body exercise ball. They are between $10 and $20 and come with an exercise chart. I do the exercises on the chart plus some I have come up with. I am sitting on the ball as I write this article. I also sit on it while watching TV. I do pelvic circles where I just move my hips in tiny circles with my knees and shoulders held still. I move my hips from side to side in a slow fluid motion. I roll the ball forward and backwards by pushing my belly button toward my chest which causes the ball to move forward and then arching my back very slightly to move the ball backwards. Sitting on this ball is a great way to find your balance point and straighten your spine which is necessary for good riding. You can do exercises with this ball to develop your core and gain more flexibility in your pelvis and lower back which is important for riding. I instruct people at horsemanship camps with other exercises they can do with this ball to improve their riding, click on www.heartinyourhand.com to discover more.
Now it is up to you. All you have to do is choose a program and make a commitment to stick with it. You are the one who has to find a way within yourself to stick with it. Here is one idea to help you. Take a minute or two to write down three honest, selfish and real reasons why you will benefit by making such a commitment so you can refer back to it for motivation whenever you consider quitting. If you need encouragement or support, don’t be afraid to call me, I will help you stick with it, if you are serious.
Happy Trails,
Sherry Jarvis
Instructor/Speaker/Writer
Heart in Your Hand Horsemanship
www.heartinyourhand.com
sej@carrollsweb.com
