how to bring fit for riding?
what excersises can I do to prepare myself to go riding 2-4 days a week in the summer. something quick and straightforward to do every day even during the holidays thanks
Yoga, strength training, and areobics are 3 types of things you can do that will really help. you can do all three within a half hour per day.
I love yoga, and pilates is all the seethe with dressage riders these days. My ideal workout would be alternating days of yoga and pilates. Yoga for stability, flexibility, and coordination. Pilates for strength, endurance and coordination.
While classes are the best option for results, those are sometimes way external the budget time and money wise. There are a bunch of good workouts on video for each, and while express yoga workouts are complicated to find, there are several 20 minute pilates express workouts available.
I've heard some people enjoy gotten good results from belly dancing classes and video. This will also work your core.
If you want to go traditional, work on abdominal strength (sit ups and variations on sit ups are good) as well as leg strength (particularly hip adductors requirement work) and upper back/shoulders/arms (rowing is a good option).
Answers: Here are a few that work good.
Satires
squats
bike riding ( whether able)
fast walking in sand(if able)
stiff leg deadlift
side lunges
Tons of barn chores, :P Lift hay bales down from the loft muck stalls carry feed loads :]
There's tons of real exercises you can do as well. sit ups and crunches for sure.. some wall sits, sit against a wall next to your leg bent in a 90 angle for 1 minute take a break and do it again. run anything that's going to make you stronger really.
bike riding for your lungs, and walking, briskly, straight up and down really steep hills for 20-30 min a day. my horses vet recommended this for him, and I hold been walking along with him, instead of riding. it WAS really hard at first, for both of us...but we are getting stronger every week. it's right for your butt, legs, lower back and even you stomach.
sit ups, push ups, planks, the "windsheild wiper" which is where you tale on the ground and put your legs in the air and put them side to side. if im not proverb it right, sorry. just do the first three.
squats!
build up your leg muscle!
I agree...SQUATS! Your legs are one of the main parts of your body that wants to be strong. Also sit-ups because when riding you use your abs! Good Luck :)
until that time you go to sleep lie on your bak and put your legs in the heavens half way, and hold them there for as long as you can and afterwards move them up and down, not touching your bed, with your arms by your sides =]
star jumps and squats aswell
