Show Ready Strength: A Full Body Exercise Routine for the Busy Equestrian
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By Erica Greathouse
Any successful equestrian will agree that consistent practice leads to trophies and titles. In addition, any successful partnership is strengthened through time spent in the saddle. But another integral piece of the puzzle is the physical fitness of not just the horse but also the rider.
It’s imperative that a rider stay fit in order to ensure proper position in the saddle. In addition, a rider must have the endurance and stamina to withstand many hours in the saddle.
Any athlete will agree that without proper physical conditioning, there can be no athletic success. Whether your horse is close to home or far away, putting in the hours to ready your body for the show arena is part of the recipe for success. With that in mind, we have enlisted fitness instructor and amateur exhibitor Madison Ketchem of Grand Junction, Colorado to design a workout to help exhibitors gain strength. This workout can be easily incorporated into daily life, because it requires no equipment and can easily be modified for small spaces and a short window of time.
Exercise 1: Planks
(3 rounds of 60 seconds on with 30-45 second rest between each round)
This move targets the core, as well as incorporating the shoulders and back. Your elbows should be directly under your shoulders and your back should be flat while engaging both the core and glute muscles. Think about relaxing your shoulders down your back while pushing back in your heels. For an added challenge, alternate taking your knee to your elbow. This challenge will activate the obliques and quadricep muscles.
Application: Plank work stabilizes accessory and deep core muscles that can be hard to target. In turn, this exercise helps to stabilize the upper body for events like Showmanship, Horsemanship, and Equitation. The plank also helps with posture and minimizing movement in the upper body, which is ideal for pattern classes.
Exercise 2: Wide Second Squats
(3 sets of 16 reps with 30-45 second rest between sets)
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