Loosening up before riding

[Jenna]

I was schooling Lui yesterday, and I was concentrating on the best way to warm and loosen him up before I asked too much of him, and it got me thinking about me. I don't do any sort of warm up or loosening exercises before I get on him - and perhaps I should.

Does anyone else do this? If so, what do you do, how long does it take, and do you do it every time you ride, whether you're schooling or hacking, or only when you're going to be asking a bit 'more' from your horse?

[jakeandbarneysmum]

I don't do anything in particular, but by the time Jake's groomed, the tack's been brought out of the house, rugs off & stored in garage, horse tacked up, stable skipped out etc, I'm probably warmed up enough!!

I'll always warm Jake up - when hacking, won't trot until we've been out for about 15 minutes. When working in the field, will do groundwork first, including some long lining at trot, before getting on.

[rifruffian]

I always do a personal warm-up, in (my) old age it is mandatory but may not apply to the majority on here. My body above the waist probably warms up whilst preparing around the horse. I then spend around three minutes stretching and swinging to loosen up everything from the waist downwards. Its also a little bit of a confidence booster to know you are less likely to suddenly pull/damage a muscle. (I don't think younger people need think about this)

[iceberg]

I must admit the older I get the more I need to stretch a bit before I get on - it really does help! If I dont, I find I can easily twang something or get cramp - so a few stretches go a long way imo.x

[Amanda Seater]

Yes I stretch. getting to old not to! Do the grooming etc etc warms me up and then I do a series of stretches takes about 5 mins. I find that I am with the horse from the start then. iThis makes me feel less vulnerable afte quite a few ops in the last year or two.

New years resolution is to drop the weight I have gained recovering and get back my fittness to a place where i can at least run 2 miles without dropping in a wheezing heap!_ Shame on me!

Idealy to be totally relaxed a glass of wine, a hot tob and then some stretches before riding but ......

Mind you I could promote that for part of a riding holistic holiday!

[Kitty McSpeilberg McGormley]

I would say warming up before you ride is a MUST! riding is a sport, and in sports you should make sure your muscles are warm and elastic before using them. It will not only make you feel better but it will also make you sit better, and be better then for the horse. The amount of pressure we put on horses bodies to make sure they are fit for us, i think we should put just as much emphasis on making sure OUR bodies are fit and ready.

Itll only take a couple of minutes, to stretch out your arms, stretch your hamstrings and quads, hips, remember the warm ups they used to make you do at school? do that, DO IT NOW INFACT! come on, fitness is VERY IMPORTANT

[Kelly Marks]

Oh no, just when I'm having a peaceful browse ... a reminder that Kitty McG will be back here soon and is already threatening to make me go running again oh no

[Catrin]

Huh! So walking in mud for ten minutes, to exercise the upper thighs, crouching and stretching around vertical obstacles whilst moving hands vigourously back and forth, bending at four different different orientations whilst holding small weights and rotating the elbow and shoulder, followed by vigourous sweeps of the arm and flexing of the wrists for ten minutes, then carrying weights and holding eighteen inches above your head, more stretches above the horse's head and under the chin and around the horse's front legs and finally knee bends and stretches to raise the body a metre off the ground is not enough exercise for Katie Gormely.

Does she have a groom to fetch Brenda from the field and get her ready for a ride if she has to do exercises as well.

Where's my inhaler? No wonder she calls me Grumpy Gran!

[mags]

Im with catrin. I reckon by the time youve mucked out, treked down the field, groomed and tacked up your pretty warmed up!