Mounted exercises for the rider

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blob
Bringing Life to the DDBB
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Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2018 9:37 pm

Mounted exercises for the rider

Postby blob » Mon Dec 24, 2018 9:41 pm

MM managed to get a cut at the base of her ear last week. It's nothing serious, thankfully, but she's very sensitive around the area and unfortunately it's right where a headstall would sit, so bridles and even halters are a no-go right now.

I gave her the weekend off hoping for some miraculous healing, but alas it is still very much there. So, I figured I could try to make the most of the situation. So, today I rode her bridle-less and without stirrups so I could focus on torturing myself some. So, given that I'm looking at a few more rides ahead without her bridle, I wanted to reach out to see if folks had ideas for mounted exercises to do to focus on rider fitness/strength and position. In particular, I'd love to focus on core strength (MM is a leg mover and very smooth, so just sitting/influencing the trot or canter isn't much of a core workout).

I'll have my hands free, so I'm open to exercises that require hands/arms to do things other than holding reins. I can also do walk, trot, canter, and transitions bridless and some turning, but smaller circles and lateral work are not so easy.

Any ideas of how to torture myself while MM heals?

piedmontfields
Bringing Life to the DDBB
Posts: 2735
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2015 4:41 pm
Location: E Tennessee USA

Re: Mounted exercises for the rider

Postby piedmontfields » Mon Dec 24, 2018 11:07 pm

(Poor MM) You are so funny! How can I hurt more?!

I do think riding real collected and lateral work off the reins (or on nothing or just a neck strap/balance rein) takes a lot of core---even on the comfy horses. Be safe and have fun!

p.s. How did she cut herself do you think??


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