Rider Fitness: Building Strength Astride

Riding instructor Kari Sullivan believes that no matter what the discipline, good riders are fit riders, and since their horses are their performance partners, it makes sense to build strength astride. Sullivan’s student roster ranges from children as young as age 5 to men and women over 50. “Balance and leg strength are things riders can build in the saddle,” says Sullivan, owner and trainer at High Hopes Stables in Monticello, Ky.

No Stirrups
Sullivan promotes these tenets by asking students to drop their stirrups and ride two circles around the arena at a walk. More advanced riders perform this task at both sitting and posting trots, too, and later at a canter. Gaited horse riders go sans stirrups at the walk and their alternate gait

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“No-stirrup work forces riders to not only keep their balance, but to wrap their legs around their horses for long muscle development,” she says. She kicks the challenge up a notch by asking students to lift themselves out of the saddle a fraction of an inch and ride a circle or two in this position at the walk to build inner thigh strength.

Two-Point
Sullivan helps her students build lower leg strength by asking them to ride in the two-point position, first at the walk and then at a slow trot. “The two-point position builds calf muscles quickly, stretching the muscles that keep the heels down, and prepares students who ride hunt seat for jumping,” she says.

Leg Lifts
Finally, Sullivan’s classes end with mounted leg lifts designed to stretch inner-thigh and hip muscles one last time prior to dismounting. With their horses standing still, riders hold their reins in their left hand and lightly grip the saddle pommel or horn with the right hand. Next, they drop the right stirrup, and with their right leg in the basic riding position — knee bent and heel down — move the leg away from the saddle and back, keeping the foot parallel with the ground. The exercise is repeated 10 times with the right leg and then the left leg.

“Being able to perform simple exercises in the saddle not only builds strength, but confidence, too,” Sullivan says. “However, riders should do mounted exercises at their experience level.”

Read on for core-strengthening groundwork exercises.
View a video of groundwork exercises.
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Back to Get Fit to Ride.

11 years ago

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View Comments

Cassie says:
April 25, 2009 at 1:07 pm
That's an interesting way to do it...
Katie says:
December 19, 2009 at 7:28 am
interesting
Kaylee says:
March 12, 2012 at 4:10 pm
I have done the first two exercises, and I must say they help a LOT!
I would also suggest riding bareback, at the walk and trot (canter only when you are balanced and relaxed at the trot). While riding bareback, doing some posting and 2-point can help build strength in your thighs and lower back. Be careful not to pinch with your knees or do any other "bad habit things".
When your horse is saddled, try this exercise: Stand up in your stirrups. It is harder than it sounds! Although you will need to rely on your stirrups for this exercise (against the rule that you are supposed to rely on your thighs and seat) it will, however, help improve balance and help you figgure out the correct leg and foot position. Once you find your balance (not falling over the horse's shoulder or falling back into the saddle), sink slowly into the saddle without changing your leg or foot positions. It may feel wrong the first few times if you were used to an incorrect leg position, but if someone were to take a picture of your "new" position, your ear, shoulder, hip and heel should now be aligned. I still use this exercise a lot, especally when trotting.
Galadriel says:
January 25, 2014 at 11:33 pm
These look great.