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Permalink Reply by Barbara F. on March 6, 2009 at 5:27pm

Oh my gosh, this is a great question!

I do karate! It keeps me really fit mentally and physically. In terms of affecting my riding, it works my core really well and has improved my balance enormously.

The really important thing to remember about your core is that you have to work your back as well as your front. A really simple exercise is to be lying on your front, hands over your head and straight. Lift your chest a bit off the ground and repeat several times. Keep your head in alignment. You can then lift one leg and one arm, then the opposite leg and other arm. Is my description clear? The point is that for all of the crunches you do, you also must do something for your back muscles in order to fully work your core. Also, finishing with alternating cat and dog pose if fabulous for your back. Do people know what that is? If not I can attempt to describe it! :)

As far as improving your balance (actually it's proprioception, but I'll call it balance because it's easier to relate to). Simply stand on one foot, then the other and count to see how long you can keep your balance. Try to extend that period of time, try bringing your knee up to you chest and keeping you balance, try grabbing your foot and stretching it behind to touch your bum. In other words, get out of your balance comfort zone on a regular basis and your balance will improve on and off the horse really quickly.

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Permalink Reply by Dorothy Schauer on March 6, 2009 at 6:34pm

I walk about 5 miles a day and I ride 3 to 4 hours most days, the rest of the time is work, but it helps to keep me fit.

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Permalink Reply by Dorothy McDonall on March 7, 2009 at 12:16am

I do weight training and cardio at least twice a week; work on my new interest in Karate daily (which is great for all the reasons Barbara described); throw in the occasional yoga routine (more good core training); I power walk my two dogs twice a day; and ride my very athletic horse three times per week, minimum. And every time I ride him I appreciate the fact that I'm putting the extra effort in to build and maintain my own fitness -- I don't think it would be possible to ride him otherwise ... he's just so darn powerful.

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