The Riders Fitness Guide To A Better Seat

With three full exercise routines for riders at beginner, intermediate, and advanced fitness levels, this guide helps you achieve a good basic riding position that is centered, aligned, balanced, and relaxed. There are clear explanations and photos of each exercise plus three tear-out workout guides, so you can exercise anywhere. An improved seat enhances your riding experience, helps eliminate back pain and post-riding soreness, lessens fatigue, minimizes the risk of injury, and improves your performance.

Here is the perfect book for beginning riders who are using muscles they never knew they had before, advanced riders who want to stay in top form (especially as they get older), and weather-bound riders who want to be fit when spring arrives. The Rider's Fitness Program details a fun and effective six-week program that strengthens the muscles riders use while improving overall balance, flexibility, and coordination. The book features more than 85 exercises designed to help new riders get over the aches and pains of getting started and experienced riders hone their skills and technique and prevent injuries. The routines are flexible, so you can customize the workout you need for jumping, dressage, reining, endurance, polo, or rodeo. The exercises are accompanied by step-by-step photographs that demonstrate how to perform each action properly (with an emphasis on safety). They progress from basic to advanced and are suitable for riders at all fitness levels. The authors also include fundamental information on diet, general health and safety, and clothing and equipment.

"Step-by-step instructions for rider exercises off and on the horse to better their performance and ability to communicate functionally with their horse"--

Horse riding is a fun and challenging sport which takes a lot of practice and dedication. Whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned professional, there is always something new to learn! Work on skills to help you in the saddle, such as remaining calm, improving your fitness, and practicing balancing exercises. It's also important to use the correct tack and to maintain a good posture while you ride. To get plenty of practice, ride regularly, work with different trainers, and enter competitions to gain experience. And this book will give you more exercises to become a better rider.

Widely known for her innovative teaching philosophy stressing body awareness, the value of "soft eyes," proper breathing, centering, and balance, Sally Swift has been a pioneering riding instructor for half a century. In book form for the first time, her methods enable horse and rider to achieve harmony, working together naturally, without pain. Unlike traditional teachers, Sally Swift does not believe in forced training techniques that cause stiff bodies and tense riding. Instead, through the use of vivid, unusual, and highly creative images that transcend mechanics ("Pretend you're a spruce tree; the roots grow down from your center as the trunk grows up"), plus a thorough knowledge of human and equine anatomy, this wise and inspiring teacher enables the conscientious equestrian to reassess habitual responses, in order to ride in natural positions, break through frustrating plateaus, and achieve ever-rising goals with comfort, vitality, and precision. Precise illustrations and photographs never before used in riding books explain anatomy and image work to give mind and body new and relaxed approaches to the inner process of riding. Centered Riding is for those with little experience all the way up to world class.

Get your horse in shape and maintain his overall fitness, regardless of his age or abilities. Equine Fitness will have your horse looking and feeling his best with a series of fun exercise routines specifically designed to enhance his strength, stamina, and agility. Clear step-by-step instructions and detailed illustrations make the exercises easy to follow, and the book includes a handy set of pocket-sized cards that you can use in the ring. Jec Ballou’s simple conditioning program promises lasting results for healthy horses and satisfied riders.

Riding does not constitute sitting on a horse's back, rather it creates a caring rider who moves in harmony with the horse, calculates steps and technique to carefully guide the horse, as if the horse's legs were his own and the two will become one. This book is a great resource for all riders who want to learn more and progress their riding ability. Filled with illustrations, photos, charts, diagrams and informative instruction on rider anatomy, movement, physical training techniques, yoga, pilates and many equitation schooling theories and personal fitness and nutrition program development as well as many exercises to help improve your riding!

Whatever your primary equestrian discipline, dressage is an ideal way for you to increase your riding awareness and enhance your relationship with your horse. Providing an overview of basic techniques and a series of helpful training exercises, Jennifer O. Bryant stresses the tenets of harmonious communication between horse and rider as she guides you through the graceful movements of dressage. With suggestions on how to find qualified instructors and information on necessary equipment, this comprehensive guide will inspire you to explore this exciting and rewarding world.

How do I learn the correct seat? Often, riders are forced into a posture which they are unable to master due to physical problems alone. The consequence is tension in the rider and horse. In this guide, the author describes, with the help of numerous exercises, how the rider can find his or her individual path to a balanced seat, to more delicate aids, and to a better communication with the horse.