Rider Fitness

This is not my favorite topic. I know that the better shape I am in the better rider I will be. That being said I often lack the commitment and dedication to exercise regularly. This year that is more apparent than ever!

Last year I got this crazy idea that my roommate and I should run a half-marathon, which was 13.1 miles of rain and cold wind (running in wet tennis shoes for almost three hours is not fun! I ended up saying good bye to several toenails). So the point of this is, when I started riding again last spring I was in pretty good shape. Plus I had my maintenance job with the park service to help keep me in shape.

Now this year is a different story! I have not spent my winter running and cross-training with bike riding and yoga. So when I was in the saddle for the first time in months, or rather after I got out of the saddle I was in pain. My thighs protested in every movement. I also do not have my physical labor job this summer to help me gain some physical fitness.

So I decided that I needed to come up with a plan to improve my fitness level. I have decided to break my bike out and log some serious mileage that way (I would run but that is harder on my knees and my half-marathon experience reaffirmed my hatred of running). I also plan to do some Pilates and yoga to help strengthen muscles as well as work on flexibility.

To help me with these goals I purchased a Pilates book provide me with some exercises. I decided on "Pilates For Equestrians" I really like it so far it has a lot of good information on the benefits of Pilates in strengthening core muscle groups used or riding. It also has very clear photos of what the different positions look like (although I do wish there was a DVD so I could see the movements).       

But since Notch's fitness is also very important (and I didn't want him to miss out on the fun :) he got a book too!! "Equine Fitness: A conditioning Program of Exercises and Routines for Your Horse" It has a nice selection of exercises to do with your horse, I already new most of the ones that were in the book but it is nice having them all in one place.













Well now I suppose I should get off the computer and do something productive!

1 Step Forward, 2 Steps Back

That is how about Mr. Notch right now after having pretty much the entire academic year off. Sure I went out and visited him during the winter and lunged him periodically, but it was not enough. We were having some problems towards the end of the summer resulting in me being thrown twice in one night (did wonders for my confidence NOT!). This bucking at the lope I latter determined was due to an ill fitting saddle (Saddle fit is a whole other story).
Anyways...
During the summer we had spent a lot of time on simple things like turning and stopping. He was really good at turning his head one way and going to other direction. We had made quite a bit o progress and he was working off my aids much better. Then he had way to much time off and it is like we have gone back to square one! It makes me wish I could have boarded him closer to where I go to school instead of 2 hours away. And winter in WI was not helpful even though we had a fairly mild winter compared to other years it always seemed to be at its coldest when I was home. My toes and fingers threatened to fall off and Notch acted like a crazy beast when I lunged him, see example below. Alright I'm rambling I will stop now.

Notch with A LOT of pent up energy