How do you feel physically following an AWESOME Lesson or show with your horse? Riding your big movers?

[penelopeandthecats]

I rode the trainer’s Intermediate Level are yesterday a lot of sitting trot and transitions, but she was a fantastic and obviously a bigger mover than my TB. My body/seat" actually cooperated, and we had one of those great lessons that we can only strive for. Nothing tight, just quiet and relaxed, staying centered, etc, … just being one /moving with the horse.

But I could only trail ride this morning with the young horse I am working with because I feel like I spent yesterday at the gym working out/lifting weight (which I do). Just curious, when riding the big mover, do others also get muscle fatigue in the lower back, pelvic girdle, and hip/legs as well. It is not lousy pain soreness, and cramping, just exhaustion?

[penelopeandthecats]

Apologies for the typo, should read, " I rode the trainer’s Intermediate Level mare," Sorry.

[Scribbler]

@penelopeandthecats

I rode the trainer’s Intermediate Level are yesterday a lot of sitting trot and transitions, but she was a fantastic and obviously a bigger mover than my TB. My body/seat" actually cooperated, and we had one of those great lessons that we can only strive for. Nothing tight, just quiet and relaxed, staying centered, etc, … just being one /moving with the horse.

But I could only trail ride this morning with the young horse I am working with because I feel like I spent yesterday at the gym working out/lifting weight (which I do). Just curious, when riding the big mover, do others also get muscle fatigue in the lower back, pelvic girdle, and hip/legs as well. It is not lousy pain soreness, and cramping, just exhaustion?

Yes absolutely. Do something new on a horse, ride a new horse, or push yourself on your own horse and you will feel it. Where you feel it depends on what you do and where your own weaknesses are. This is why gym and yoga or Pilates are recommended for riders especially ammies moving up.

[eightpondfarm]

well, since everyone on here has told me i do not have a clue what a big mover feels like…
edit: not sarcasm. I have taken this critique under-advisement.
I can undisputedly say that when i’ve had a particularly good lesson i’m high as a kite driving home, and when i get home, i take that high and go into one of my other horses’ realms and approach them with a nice confidence and usually accomplish something good. My body does many more things in a day that are more physically taxing, so…muscle-wise, i don’t think i feel any kind of a ride actually. Except when i’m riding with an injury…like rotator cuff that’s in heal-mode. Or a broken finger.

[Scribbler]

I also feel it the next day if I do a 4 hour back country trail ride or do a good 2 point trot fitness workout on our trails. Any time you push yourself either on a new horse or even your own horse, you will feel it to some extent. The good thing is if your baseline rider fitness is OK you can generally adapt quite fast.

Anything to do with lower back I would take seriously. I find if the dressage saddle seat is too small I will get lower back pain the next day. Not so much an issue in jump saddles where you are out of the tack.

[penelopeandthecats]

It feels like you are floating or “riding a cloud,” to me. You feel the power of the horse but it is very “peaceful.” You are doing “nothing,” because everything is right. You really get the feeling of the horse being on the bit and taking contact and it feels like you and the horse are " just holding hands," and the horse initiates the contact. You really feel those hind legs coming under you. Perhaps a little too “artistic,” but that is how it feels to me. There are EXPERTS here that can really describe that magical feeling when everything is perfect between horse and rider with the big movers, They can do a far better job than myself in describing the feeling. I defer to them. Sorry… its feels like magic but I am not the expert here.

[penelopeandthecats]

Same here, I celebrate the good lessons and beat myself up over the disappointing ones when I was not happy with my performance or had an off day.

[atlatl]

@penelopeandthecats

… Just curious, when riding the big mover, do others also get muscle fatigue in the lower back, pelvic girdle, and hip/legs as well. It is not lousy pain soreness, and cramping, just exhaustion?

Basically, I feel like a wet noodle. But it’s well worth it, IMO, for that feeling of OMG THIS IS WHAT IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE!!!

Second the recommendation of anything that strengthens your core, it makes a huge difference.

[Mersidoats]

Ah, yup, I remember that feeling. And, yeah, you kinda did spend a day weightlifting. Some days I still feel dead after a hard lesson. The old guy still moves like an international horse. Riding a big moving horse correctly can be physically exhausting. More so if you are not used to it. Much like trying to do a cross-fit workout if you’ve only ever done a little running and some yoga. Your body will be tired. The more you do it, the more strength and suppleness you will gain. And you will feel less exhausted.

The first few rides on the old guy destroyed my hips and core. Like, couldn’t-move-the-day-after destroyed. And I was riding two or three horses a day up to that point. It took a month to really build my strength. Funny, it was about a month in to our relationship that he started listening to my right leg… sometimes.

[penelopeandthecats]

Thanks to both of you, your response really helps. Yes, It was worth it and it was an AMAZING feeling. Feeling better now, no leg, hip, or lower back exhaustion but the overall body is still tired. I will be really working on the core this week. Thanks again.

[MapleBreeze]

I think its easier when you ride multiple horses per day. Also if you ride a really wide horse that makes a difference. You get numb to it when you ride a lot. But i get wiped out and need a nap if i ride 4 back to back in lessons.

[outerbanks77]

A few weeks ago I had a hard, “come to Jesus” type lesson on my 16.3 young warmblood. Of course it was tough for different reasons than riding a big moving but well trained horse. I went home and promptly collapsed and took a long nap.

She has been more more cooperative since then, and after riding her the past five days straight, I am definitely sore in my abs, even though I’ve been working out and riding my 2nd level mare just as frequently. I told my husband I’m going to have abs of steel when I start sitting her trot more.

[Foxglove]

Agree with @eightpondfarm. I hit the gym (basement at home) every AM for 20 Cardio and 40 weights. (Retired so I have time to do so). I rarely feel “stiff and sore”. Occasionally after doing something I rarely do: ie driving the tractor for six hours spraying a bumpy field, I will feel somewhat tight the next day. A pre workout stretch or foam rolling puts me right.

[EmilyM]

I had 4 great jumping lessons on Saturday which I haven’t done in over a month. I was so exhausted and the discs and my back felt so compressed I couldn’t stand and clean tack. I had to sit and ice myself. I’m still feeling that awesome type of tired, and it’s Monday. Luckily the physical pain subsided overnight w some wine and some Motrin Just not the tired.

[CanteringCarrot]

@EmilyM

I had 4 great jumping lessons on Saturday which I haven’t done in over a month. I was so exhausted and the discs and my back felt so compressed I couldn’t stand and clean tack. I had to sit and ice myself. I’m still feeling that awesome type of tired, and it’s Monday. Luckily the physical pain subsided overnight w some wine and some Motrin Just not the tired.

This is exactly why I rarely jump anymore and stick to dressage on my Iberian who is not a big mover at all. We jump occasionally (80cm) and I can get on a bigger mover and ride well enough but I have back and SI issues that feel better when I don’t! Generally if I keep up my weight lifting and stretches, it’s not bad. Since I’m not so old, I’m trying to minimize further wear and tear

My WB who was a big horse and had quite a bit of movement on top of not being the easiest ride sort of felt like a full body workout. Not soreness, but definitely like you did something! I can still feel a bit tired after a hard lesson on my current horse, but nothing in comparison to my previous horse (the WB).

[PonyApocalypse19]

We were just talking about this over the weekend at the barn! We’re very fortunate that our trainer has some big moving horses. I was lucky enough to hop on the Grand Prix horse to check my timing on tempi aides and to ride some piaffe and passage (swoon!). The next day I was like why do I hurt rolling out of bed? Hips were sore, abs were sore, and legs were tired. Our trainer makes him look so easy!
I have a big mover in that he’s 18hh all over and another that is like a bouncy ball. When the 18hh is on and feeling good I liken the feel to a well oiled machine - things just flow. You can feel the hind end pushing into your hand, the balance and bend are easy. I’m up there trying not to get in his way but also stay connected. He’s so sensitive so any seat movement is like an aide to stop, and after riding my trainer’s horse I realized how much I lighten my seat to give my horses a way out when the work gets tough. I’m still trying to work on that and oh boy - it’s a whole new level of core requirement!

[exvet]

Ditto…up until 7 years ago I was riding 4-5 horses a day. Having bred welsh cobs for years, the majority of my rides were very wide; but there were differences in how they moved, some larger movers/more back movers than others. It definitely kept me in shape. It wasn’t unusual for me to haul to a schooling show and have 8 or more tests to ride in a day. I would be tired the next day but rarely sore or stiff.

I then downsized significantly and now I ride two of my 4 almost every day. Because there is a big difference in size and barrel size between them, I still maintain a certain level of ‘flexibility’. Due to my age, I work out daily doing pilates, yoga and advanced hiit work just to be able to keep moving in the morning. After a particularly good or ‘productive’ lesson on one of my horses (or sometimes if I haul two out for lessons) I generally just feel ‘washed out’ physically but elated mentally. I think if I didn’t have to haul out to lessons, I wouldn’t get stiff or sore afterwards but an hour trailer ride after two full lessons back-to-back has me ‘sliding out’ of the truck not so gracefully anymore LOL. The cloud 9 feeling sticks with me though usually until I get on again…sometimes it continues if I can repeat what I got in the lesson or pick something new to do that ends well and sometimes it’s a feeling I chase

[BigMama1]

@penelopeandthecats

Just curious, when riding the big mover, do others also get muscle fatigue in the lower back, pelvic girdle, and hip/legs as well. It is not lousy pain soreness, and cramping, just exhaustion?

Literally feel like that after every schooling ride. I can’t do lessons two days in a row. And while my horse is a big warmblood, he’s really not an extravagant mover.

I had no idea how much more physical riding at Third / Fourth is than First / Second. Just can’t imagine the fitness and strength needed to ride the GP, let alone make it look effortless, when I’m often at risk from barfing in the saddle during my low level lessons.

Working on cardio fitness is helping. Doing Pilates twice a week with a trainer is helping. Working on my weight is helping.

[Jealoushe]

I did a 4 day show a few weeks ago, 2 tests a day. Scratched the last test on the last day, my body was DONE.

I was sore for a week after. I never feel that way after an event hahah. Dressage is HARD. Physically and mentally.

[Mersidoats]

Young/green horse riding is also extremely physical riding. It’s like you get a workout from ages 3-6, catch your breath at first level, and then the weightlifting starts again at 2nd level. There’s more instant gratification with the babies (yay! He can turn! We have a canter depart!) but installing the concept of loading hind legs, bend, and working into the outside rein is tough.