Best ways to improve my riding (out of the saddle)?

[Momateur]

I’m feeling newly invigorated to “up my game” after being a lazy ammy for a couple years. I have a nice horse, a good trainer, great barn, and opportunities to show/clinic. Now I just have to get off my keister and put in the work.

Obviously, saddle time is the #1 way to improve one’s riding. But I only have one horse and limited time, so. What do y’all recommend to further my riding out of the saddle?

Fitness is important; I know that. I’ve started to work out & already look/feel better!

What else? Are the masterclass videos helpful? Would groundwork be beneficial for the rider as well as the horse? Books? Podcasts? Mental skills coach? I’d love to hear peoples’ thoughts.

[Willesdon]

Thai chi, Pilates and yoga all help balance, suppleness and body awareness.

[JenEM]

Yep, I noticed a huge difference in my riding once I started doing pilates. The core strength really helps with position and balance.

[showy]

Ooo I love this and just “upped” my game in an effort to improve as much as I when I left a longtime trainer who basically told me I couldn’t improve.

Physical fitness is huge. I realize how important it is now with a long hours desk job. I found lifting weights to really benefit my riding. I am 5’2 and needed that extra strength. I also upped my endurance through cardio. I do orange theory to combine them. Yoga and Pilates are wonderful too if you need body awareness.

Educate yourself! There’s so many free resources out there. I love Karl Cook’s ride reviews on his Instagram. Watch the big grand prixs online (or hunter classes). I also found reading Mary Wanless’ book to be life changing even though she is more dressage focused.

Be accountable and set goals. I keep a riding journal that I update after every lesson or show round. I talk about what went right, wrong, and what to work on. I set goals that weren’t “jump in x height class” and instead “no amateur pick pick pick on the reins to no distance/ ride of my leg and seat.”

[anon55755751]

While you could come up with a big list of all possible things you could do, it is important to do a personal inventory on where your own strengths and weaknesses are. I have spent years going nowhere (not just in horses) despite intense sweat equity because i lacked intention in my day-to-day effort. E.g. exercise is great - do you need to improve cardio, strength, or balance most? Let that guide your priorities. Are you one-sided (we all are) - I have made headway on this when running/walking just by being conscientious about how i am leaning in my gait. Do you need help with theory? Distances? Confidence? Rhythm? I have rhythm problems and use xc helmet cam videos to practice not getting ahead of the rhythm on approach to a jump. Anyway, if you can make a big list of “needs” for meeting your riding goals and evaluate your strengths and weaknesses in meeting those needs, you can come up with some creative out of the saddle ideas to work towards them that may even already fit into your everyday life with small changes. Since we have a few more weeks of winter, i will also throw out xc skiing as a great exercise for whole body balance and stability, and cardio if you so choose!

[Bogie]

For me, swimming has made a huge difference in my core strength, cardiovascular fitness, and flexibility.

[Tini_Sea_Soldier1]

Orangetheory has helped a ton. The endurance on the treadmill, the leg and core strength of the rower, and the weights and floorwork for strength and lean training have made me feel stronger and stay leaner.

[gertie06]

@showy

Ooo I love this and just “upped” my game in an effort to improve as much as I when I left a longtime trainer who basically told me I couldn’t improve

Wut? Geez, what an arse. I’m cheering for you!

[Bristol_Bay]

I also swim and do Pilates mat classes (Zoom classes on Yogaworks). For Christmas I bought myself a spin bike. My blogger friend inspired me. I have to say the third position stuff where you hover over the saddle is so helpful for core strength. It’s two point on steroids.

[SuzieQNutter]

The answer is really anything you do will have benefits.

I have started putting bread up in the mornings 6 days a week.

This has improved my seat in canter on a horse, so really has improved my seat for all aspects of riding a horse. This is from squatting to put the loaves on the bottom shelves. I can now squat and stay down there and get up and I have never been able to squat before in my life. It must have also increased my strength as I am picking up over 100 crates of bread per shift.

As others have said pilates will help with all parts of your body, strength and fitness although you are not actually moving from your mat or lifting anything.

Walking and riding a bike to deliver pamphlets has worked on my fitness and leg muscles.

What I need to work on is eating healthier. Yeah right! I don’t wanna.

[MapleBreeze]

Lunges. Weighted lunges to drive through your heel.

Planks - but more like plank builds.

Squats. Weighted with a ton of weight.

[hoopoe]

Pilates really helps to call up awareness of being out of strength balance . We all have strong sides and Pilates can help balance you. It leads to better core strength and effective balance and use of legs.