Ready to “giddy up” your workouts? Here are a few resources to get you going:
- A couple of good fitness books are geared specifically for horseback riders.
The Rider’s Fitness Program by Dianna Robin Dennis, Johnny J. McCully and Paul M. Juris presents a 6-week training program geared to help strengthen the muscles used by riders. Appropriate for riders of every level, The Rider’s Fitness Program includes 85 exercises for home or gym workouts.
Rider Fitness – Body and Brain: 180 Anytime, Anywhere Exercises to Enhance Range of Motion, Motor Control, Reaction Time, Flexibility, Balance and Muscle Memory in the Saddle by Eckhart Meyners presents a wide variety of flexibility, range of motion and strength exercises to help riders improve their performance in the saddle.
- Would you like to incorporate yoga moves into your riding regimen? These DVDs should help:
Yoga & Riding: Volume 1 – Balance and Symmetry Techniques for Equestrians
Yoga & Riding: Volume 2 – Breathing and Relaxation Techniques for Equestrians
Both discs will help you improve your overall fitness, strengthen your core, and help riders of every level develop better handling skills.
- Did you enjoy riding the penny pony at the supermarket when you were a kid? Coach did — and she sure could have used this nifty piece of equipment when she was she was a youngster longing for that horse. Move over recumbent bicycle – how about adding a horseback riding machine to your home gym? The Sunpentown Giddyup Core Exerciser is affordable, great for strengthening core muscles and improving balance, and causes less physical stress to the joints than other cardio equipment.
- It’s refreshing when athletes at the top of their games share the tips that put them there. In this short video from Men’s Health Magazine, champion bull rider Austin Meier shares some his simple workout regimen – and it’s no bull!
- For a quick reference on getting your riding game on, check out this wikiHow on “How to Get Into Shape for Horseback Riding.”
COACH STACY'S HEALTHY U 