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beauty_n_niqab April 28 2012, 02:24:18 UTC
i know where you're coming from..i just started riding again last year after a 12+ years hiatus...

if you have any exercise tips for rebuilding riding muscles that do not involve riding itself, I'd love to hear it.Well actually i do have some exercises..i do them everyday ( ... )

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gyri April 28 2012, 02:29:01 UTC
Yay! I always love to hear it when someone gets back into horses and riding! I can relate to your situation because I rode from the time I was little until 18, then didn't get back into horses until my early 30s! Good for you for not giving up your dreams!

Here are two books I have. They include easy to follow instructions and illustrations:

Rider Fitness: Body and Brain: 180 Anytime, Anywhere Exercises to Enhance Range of Motion, Motor Control, Reaction Time, Flexibility, Balance and Muscle Memory in the Saddle


and

The Rider's Fitness Program

And there are a number of "pilates for riders' guides out there, such as this one, and books and DVDs on rider biomechanics, such as this one:

Rider Biomechanics.

And you might check out The Chronicle of the Horse. It has online forums and classified sections. Unfortunately I can't help you out regarding riding opportunities in Ohio, as I am in Maine. You might try Googling "Ohio stable guide," or "horse riding lessons Ohio," (or the city/town you live in). More and more stables are ( ... )

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foalstory April 28 2012, 04:15:54 UTC
most DEFINITELY check the 'returning after a break from riding' tag added to this post as well as the adult rider one. Both have excellent entries w/ comments from people like you or similar enough to be a good starting point.

Good luck and HAVE FUN again in the saddle :D

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suffocationday April 29 2012, 01:15:05 UTC
Don't neglect your cardio! When I first started getting back into riding after taking a 9 month break, I found that I was huffing and puffing very early in the ride. Consequently my muscles were getting tired and I had trouble with anything that took a bit of leg strength (specifically two point and canter). It took me a long time to realize that it was cardio that I needed to work on, not muscle strength per say.

Super easy, fun beginner cardio: Every morning before I exercise, I put on a playlist of fun dance-y music (mostly early INXS for me!) and dance around my apartment for 10 minutes. I make sure I move my feet, jump around, do jumping jacks - whatever to get my heart rate up. It's fun and a great way to start the day. I started doing this because I HATE running and needed something fun to do in the winters. Once my heart is pumping and I'm in a good mood, then I start my pushups, squats and crunches.

So glad to hear you're back in the game! Have fun!

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charreed April 29 2012, 01:29:54 UTC

One idea I wish I knew about back when I was looking for a barn was to go to some local hunter schooling shows and just mingle and talk with people. Ask where they ride and how they like various barns in the area :)

You'll also have the advantage of knowing which barns partake in shows and which (obviously, because they won't be there) don't.

Good luck!

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cinestress April 29 2012, 16:13:30 UTC
Thanks for the tip! It looks like there are a few shows relatively close to me coming up.

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charreed April 30 2012, 16:39:42 UTC
Awesome! Glad I could help :)

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