Are You Fit to Ride?

 You’ll be able to gallop around an entire cross-country course without wheezing if you skip on the spot at least 20 times during your regular exercise sessions.

Don’t worry if you don’t have a skipping rope, a long lead rope will do fine.

3. Grab hold of the back of a chair. Slowly raise each of your legs behind you, lifting them as high as you can. Point your toes and keep your legs as straight as possible.

Raise each leg up 10 times.

This exercise strengthens your legs so you can use them more effectively on your horse. It also tones up your tummy so your breeches won’t feel so tight!

4. The dreaded sit-ups! Keep your feet together—hook them under something solid if it helps. Put your hands behind or next to your head and slowly move your upper body forward.

Don’t try to touch your nose to your knees, just lift your back off the ground.

Sit-ups are good for your abdominal muscles and back. You’ll be able to do more sitting trot and bend easily over a fence if these muscles are strong. See if you can manage 10.

5. Time to work those thigh muscles because they help you to sit securely in the saddle. Sit down with your legs apart. Point your toes. Stretch forward with your upper body and arms and try to touch your toes, one leg at a time. Do it slowly, don’t strain anything! Do this 10 times with each leg.

6. Running strengthens your leg muscles and improves your stamina.

After you have finished the other exercises, you should be warmed-up enough for a short run. Run your horse’s field one or two times. Remember, you’re not in a race so you don’t have to gallop around at top speed. Stick to a human trot.