Holy Crap...That's some good exercise

I was out at the barn with nothing to do the other day, so I grabbed one of the random horses that needed to be ridden.

If none of you know what posting is, it's basically standing up and sitting down to the beat of the horse's trot as you are riding...it is a great workout for your thighs and calves... did alot of that, then I thought it would be fun to try something new. Posting without stirrups...you wanna talk about feeling it  the next day, holy crap batman!

Since you don't have the stirrups under your feet to push yourself up, you have to use your thigh muscles to push your pelvic bone forward and back, all while trying to not slide off the side of the horse.

This all happened Monday, and I'm still feeling it like it happened yesterday.


OOO baby, make it hurt so good lol!


Edited to add: We have two new babies at the barn, the pictures are on my profile :)

As a person who, 30 years ago used to gallop (exercise) racehorses, I completely know what you mean. I couldn't even FIND a stirrup right now....so congrats to you!! Just think, pretty soon it won't be an issue at all for you. I'm awaiting surgery and hoping even at my age - 51- to get back in the racehorse saddle again.....of course with that is a little fear of injury where 30 years ago it never crossed my mind! But it would be worth it I think!!

And I hope you don't mind that I will have to have the same ticker as you when I'm ready! It's great!

Lisa J

I've been back riding for about 5 months, doing some hard core stuff here and there when time allows. I've never been a racing fan, I'm more of a pleasure and rodeo girl myself, along with jumping and dressage of course.. I'm into it all I guess lol. Horseback riding has been great both for my body and for my mind. It really builds up your self confidence, and it's such a good stress reliever. I'm in nursing school now, and that is quite the stressful undertaking. The only thing that is keeping me sane is being able to spend my weekends and free afternoons out at the barn with my critters.

Posting without stirrups-you rock!  I'm not there yet.  You win the horsey hero award of the week!  But, you got me to thinking now-because it would be much better on my bad ankle.

 

In my DoesMyButtLookBigInThisSaddle group one of the ladies (and yes, that's a real group) has an Equisizer-the thing that jockeys use to build leg strength.  It's basically a carpet covered rocking horse for adults and I was all excited about it till I saw the price.  So, now it's back to squats for me. 

It is great for bad ankles and joints in general, because it really doesn't feel like you are doing anything until after you are done :)

Not only is it great excercise it's great for your balance too!  Have you had someone put you on the lunge line yet with no stirrups and no reins?  I never realized how much I balanced on a horses mouth until I wasn't holding something in my hands!

My horse rides on leg pressure, so I can just lay the reins on his neck and guide him with my legs...It's great, cause I can ride with no stirrups, no reins, and with my eyes closed and not worry about falling off. My horse is a gem.

Is your horse spur stop trained?  I haven't rode one that has been trained that way but it seems to counter intuitive to me.  Sounds like your horse is definitely a keeper!

no, i just sit back and push my legs forward and he stops on a dime.

Way to go Michelle!