If you’ve had the winter off from riding, then you’ll probably be feeling pretty rusty when you get back into the saddle this spring. Want to get yourself back into riding shape faster? You can do these exercises from the saddle and soon you’ll be back to riding-fit.

Work Without Stirrups

One of the best ways to quickly get yourself fit for riding is to ride without stirrups. Start at the walk if it’s been a while since you’ve been in the saddle, but for a truly excellent workout, progress to the trot. Work on sitting the trot at first, then try posting the trot without stirrups. If you’re really up for a challenge, work your horse over cavaletti or give the canter a try.

When you work without stirrups, be sure to either draw your stirrups up or cross them over your saddle if you’re riding English. Allowing your stirrups to hang freely while you ride means they could bang into your horse’s sides, startling him forward.

Stand In Your Stirrups

To quickly bring back your balance in the saddle, stand up in your stirrups as you ride. Focus on maintaining a balanced position where your weight is distributed evenly across both stirrups and where you are balanced from front to back. If you find yourself wobbling around, focus on keeping your head up and really sinking your weight down into your legs and your heels to better anchor you.

Ride in Jumping Position

If it’s been a while since you’ve gotten into jumping position, you may find that riding around in your jumping position is far more difficult than it was the last time you rode. Riding in jumping position is easier at the trot, so begin this exercise at the trot. If you’re up for a challenge, then try riding the walk in jumping position. Remember to stay close to the saddle and to keep your heels down; this will give you greater stability in your position.

Ride Bareback

One truly great way to get back into riding shape is to ride bareback. Please don’t try this technique if your horse has had the winter off and is just returning to work under saddle. If you have a trusted mount who is on the calm side, then riding bareback can quickly help you to regain your balance and to build up the muscles you use for riding.

When getting yourself fit for riding, be sure to also take the same care in conditioning your horsefor work. The more you take your time with the process, the less of a chance there is that you or your horse will be injured or sore.

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Original source: Exercises to Get Fit for Horseback Riding