What is everyone doing if they can’t get to the barn? I’m trying to walk a minimum of 5k/day, working in my hip flexor stretches and trying to build my upper back muscles and core strength at the suggestion of my trainer.
Anyone else?
Running outdoors 2x a week and walking on other days. So far, my small, not very busy gym is still open, so I’ll go 2x a week. If they close down, I have kettlebells, a Bosu ball and barbell in the basement that I can accomplish most of my gym workout with.
Still going to the barn and not anticipating that we’ll be locked down or the barn will be closed, but who knows.
Our barn is not closed —we decided that when we are riding or handling horses—we already practice social distancing. I noticed you get even more space if you have a mare! :lol: One of my mares makes it quite clear how much personal space she requires from other riders and horses!! Not to make light of it because I really am grateful I can still ride—otherwise I really would go stir crazy.
What has been a challenge is that I used to do my workouts at the work gym and now we are required to work from home. It has been 3 days WFH now and I need to get into a workout routine. So far—it’s just been long walks with the dog. Tomorrow I’m going to dust off my “Success in the Saddle” DVD set and try doing one of those workouts. They are only 20 minutes long and they really are targeted towards riding fitness. I did them at one point for a while, but then got out of the habit when my work gym started classes. I’m posting this partly to keep myself honest—so that I really do this tomorrow. I also like to do random stuff as a break during the day: planks, walking lunges (with kettlebells) and wall sits are good too.
So far I can still go to the barn.
Otherwise I still walk or run with the dog everyday. I have a spin bike in my house that I use now that the gym is closed. I also have a mat for abs, stretches, yoga, etc. So while I am not lifting heavy weights, I can get by with this for now.
I think the key is not to sit around and eat :lol:
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You can find most exercise programs and classes on YouTube and some are doing daily videos on Facebook.
The OrangeTheory YouTube channel will have daily exercises, and a bunch of other programs are posting free videos on their websites - check with Beach Body, Les Mills, Daily Burn, etc. You can also get free 14-30 day trials with several of the streaming workout programs.
I have one gym program that uses weights and a resistance tube, but now is the time to really focus on form since I don’t have those at home.
If the weather ever improves, I might see if a few fellow gym friends might meet in a park and do some sort of bootcamp and/or hike.
I really like the YouTube channels BodyFit by Amy, FitnessBlender, and HASFit. Plenty of variety, and workouts from 10 minutes to over an hour. I also like AthleanX because he is a PT as well as a trainer, but it’s mostly informational. I use it to check my form or if I’m looking to swap an exercise.
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I am still able to go ride as my barn is not closed. My gym along with all gyms in NJ are closed. I’m working from home now so I do have more time to take my dog for walks. I am going to start doing some of the weight bearing exercises I do with my trainer at the gym. Any thing is better than nothing!
My barn is closed, as is my gym. I’m doing the BBG program at home - found the week plans on Pinterest. It requires minimal equipment (aka weights and a mat) and you can modify all the exercises until you’re stronger.
I like that it’s 3x a week (28 min workout) and 2-3x a week easy cardio. Once the weather is warmer, I will leave my house and go walking.
It’s hard to stay motivated. Especially when my DH is in good enough shape that he can nap the afternoon away eating chips!
I will try some of these suggestions. I tried a high intensity one with my teenager today and nearly threw up lol
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Back in the 80s there was an effective workout routine called Callanetics. Somewhat a combination of dance, Pilates, yoga, etc. Somewhat unique and targetted. I am returning to that plus adding walks with dog and recumbent stationary bike.
best of luck. Our barn here is closed until the end of the month, maybe longer. I drove past the farm yesterday just to see the mare’s pretty face in her paddock from the road. So much for the best therapy during these times. :(.
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I have always had a whole gym set up in my basement. I have a stepper, a climber, a treadmill, a life rower, an exercise bike, free weights, a balance board, a balance ball, an inclined weight bench, a thigh master, a chin-up bar, and resistance bands. I also do floor exercises. I mainly am working on range of motion (stretches), core and gluteal strength, cardio, and balance.
Wow. Barns are closing? It’s my best time to get out and exercise & get some fresh air My sympathies to any who’s barns are CLOSED – ye gods! I’ve recently heard of closing barns to clinicians or traveling trainers – I think that’s extreme, too. It’s not like we’re sitting in a closed conference room watching “how to improve your riding” videos together.
Me, I’d be climbing the gates, crawling through fences, whatever it took to see my horses. It’s not fair to the animals to stop their training and exercise.
You apparently don’t fully grasp how a virus spreads, then. My barn is closed to the public, and the only horses here are my own. No lessons, training, or clinics at this time.
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Of course I understand how a virus spreads. If it’s YOUR barn, and all the horses are yours, then I don’t see the problem. You can ride any time you want. If you happen to give lessons on your horses or have clinicians come to your barn, then that’s your decision alone and you bear the financial hit. Your choice.
I see this as a hardship on boarders, students, and horses who are not getting “face time” because a barn owner closes the facility. And it’s NOT like we’re in a small enclosed space. Most of us at “my” barn ride outside anyway.
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I haul to a small, private barn with plenty of space and not too many people so I’m still able to ride… But riding isn’t enough to stay truly fit so I supplement with yoga and hiking. I’m still hiking because the 4 mile loop off my property is all but deserted and the dogs need to run. My yoga studio is closed so the last two weeks have been rough without that, but starting this week they’re doing virtual classes on Zoom every day until the studio is able to open back up. The more advanced class that I prefer isn’t one they’re doing but the intermediate class will be virtual so I’m really looking forward to getting back in my yoga routine!
I’m surprised to hear that boarding / lesson barns aren’t closed everywhere, knowing what we now know.
We may not be in close quarters with our fellow boarders, but we are all touching the same gates, stall latches, counters, crossties, doorknobs, sinks, toilets and more. They were legally required to close under a provincial state of emergency law where I live but I would think the effort to minimize risk and the number of people leaving their homes would be SOP in most places by now. It’s got nothing to do with fairness and everything to do with limiting activity only to what’s ESSENTIAL.
What else is still open in your city / state? Am genuinely curious to see how this varies across the country.
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I live in the central valley, CA.
As far as I know boarding facilities remain open in my area. I went to my local Fleet Feet store to get some shoes I ordered a week ago but they have closed. The donut shop a couple doors down from them was open. They had a line outside and of course the people were all standing right next to each other.
I work in a hospital and right now we are extremely slow. All elective surgeries have been cancelled and the ER is not nearly as busy as it usually is. One floor of the hospital has been reserved for Covid patients but so far no positives here.
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The only people allowed at the stables are trainers and grooms. Every horse is in at least a grooming/turn out situation so all horses are getting exercised. I can only afford twice a week rides but they have two Eurocizers, so he gets some exercise daily.
At my former barn, there are many horses not in a grooming program, so those owners are allowed 45 minutes a day to get their horses out and may only use their own halters and grooming supplies.
The thinking is that if even one of the grooms or stall cleaners got infected, the entire crew would be quarantined. Then who would care for the horses?
Horses do just fine in stall rest or rehab, so they’ll be okay.
As for me, I have a stationary bike and Netflix. Plus jogging and a Pilates dvd. I’m also looking for other ideas in a thread in OT.
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https://ontarioequestrian.ca/stateme…irus-covid-19/
https://ontarioequestrian.ca/ontario-equestrian-facility-closures/
This might help to explain the situation here, outside of what we as responsible citizens are doing in doing our part.
Not happy times for anyone, but for the greater good, I miss my pony incredibly but know she is getting the best care possible. We are fortunate. Yes. It is hard.
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Big Mama, I’m in Colorado. Restaurants, bars, theaters (movie and live performances), concert venues, are closed. Grocery stores, pharmacies, pet food stores, big box stores like Lowes, Home Depot, Best Buy are still open, though Best Buy reserves the right to limit how many custormers can enter the store at any one time.
I’m probably in greater danger at my local grocery than at my barn.
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