Equestrian workouts to strengthen my upper body?
Written by admin on April 6, 2009 – 1:38 pm -I ride horses and im not too happy with my weight. im only 13 but i still feel self conscious and like I could be helping myself out more. I want to strengthen my upper body [arms, shoulders, back] along with my core [abs and what not] i know this is gonna be difficult but im up for it.
I was looking for exercises to help me gain all of that. On and off the horse.
I tend to ride once a week but when the time changes ill have more time in the afternoon to ride, so ill be more active with the horses soon.(:
You'd all be life savers if you could help out!
Okay so crunches (make sure you use your abs to pull yourself up and not your neck!)
reverse crunches (lay on the floor like your going to do a normal crunch instead use your abs to raise your bent legs up at about a 45 degree angle and slowly lower them–it works your lower abs)
ab twists—sit on the floor with your feet flat on the floor, spread about shoulder-width apart and holding a soccer or basketball slowly lean back, flexing your abs all the time. When you get about 1/2 way down to the floor stop and twist your torso to the left, hold for 1 second and repeat with your right side—after this lower yourself to the floor slowly and raise back up like a regular crunch…repeat about 15 times.
push-ups, bi-cep curls and arm lifts (with about 5-10 lbs weights) will stengthen your arms and shoulders..
Good Luck–also remember that lugging water buckets (full), saddles, full-wheelbarrows, hay bales, mucking stalls, etc are great ways to build arm strength and help out around the barn!
Good Luck!
Posted in Equestrian Life | 2 Comments »
By HorseLuver on Apr 6, 2009 | Reply
I recently decided to start a simple workout routine to get more toned and in shape. I started out with 15 sit ups and 5 push ups. Now I am doing 75 sit ups and 20 push ups 2 times daily. I can tell a big difference, I have four pack abs and I am stronger in my arms.
References :
By BarrelBabe on Apr 6, 2009 | Reply
Okay so crunches (make sure you use your abs to pull yourself up and not your neck!)
reverse crunches (lay on the floor like your going to do a normal crunch instead use your abs to raise your bent legs up at about a 45 degree angle and slowly lower them–it works your lower abs)
ab twists—sit on the floor with your feet flat on the floor, spread about shoulder-width apart and holding a soccer or basketball slowly lean back, flexing your abs all the time. When you get about 1/2 way down to the floor stop and twist your torso to the left, hold for 1 second and repeat with your right side—after this lower yourself to the floor slowly and raise back up like a regular crunch…repeat about 15 times.
push-ups, bi-cep curls and arm lifts (with about 5-10 lbs weights) will stengthen your arms and shoulders..
Good Luck–also remember that lugging water buckets (full), saddles, full-wheelbarrows, hay bales, mucking stalls, etc are great ways to build arm strength and help out around the barn!
Good Luck!
References :
10 yrs riding
8 yrs barrel racing (5 yrs NBHA/OBHA)
Showing Western Pleasure, Horsemanship, Halter, Trail, Showmanship
Training my 3 yr old AQHA
Riding English now and then for fun
Personal Experience
My parents own a boarding stable