Riding: how many times a week is ideal to really develop your riding?

[Cheryl]

Hi,

I wondered how many times a week is ideal in terms of someone developing their riding skills, riding "muscles", seat, position, etc? Or would you say it is quality (i.e. lessons, etc) rather than quantity that matters?

I have potentially got an opportunity to ride up to 4 times a week, which is really exciting...just worrying about trying to fit everything in (home life, work, gym, etc) but also aware that it may be a wonderful opportunity to really take my riding to the next level (as well as enjoy getting to know some wonderful horses)...

What do you guys reckon?  how much do you aim to ride?

Cheryl x

[OliverG]

As much as possible!

Its a bit difficult to say though - its like the gym, you will find people who go to the gym and spend 40 mins 3 x a week doing the RIGHT exercises, and they look great, and then you have the lady in the baggy t-shirt, with beetroot cheeks who slaves on the treadmill for an hour every day!

Its all about doing the right work. It will be about the horses your ride, even the tack you ride in!?

But if you WANt to ride, then ride as much as you can - blow off the gym if you have to!

[Nettie]

Hear Hear OliverG

If you are actively riding, as opposed to being a passenger, you will probably find that you wont need to visit the gym. If you are mucking out/sweeping up/grooming you will get plenty of aerobic exercise as well.

[lisaNW]

then you have the lady in the baggy t-shirt, with beetroot cheeks

Hey, what are you doing spying on me at the gym  

who slaves on the treadmill for an hour every day!

Ok..not me then...

[sandpiper]

I'm not sure there is a 'set rule' but the more you ride the better your position/balance/fitness will be.  If you rode four times a week then there is no reason to believe you wouldn't improve greatly - if you are riding correctly.

I'm not qualified to comment really as I don't ride anywhere NEAR the amount I should (life generally gets in the way nowadays) but I do know that whenever I ride Remy I get as good a work out as I would in any gym!!    I don't get hung up about how often I ride though, only that I know it's down to me how fast Remy will progress!

I used to ride nearly every day when I had Pip and not only did it improve my fitness but also my confidence. I didn't need to do any other exercise as apart from riding I would also muck out/poopick other yard duties.  Now I don't ride as often but poopicking is a daily chore in summer (at least two barrows per day all through the growing season) and I try and fit in other exercise such as long hill walks with the dogs (but now winter is coming I don't suppose I'll be doing much of that  ).  I don't think you'd need a gym with riding four times a week 

[Claire]

As much as possible

[Heather]

Agree totally, as much as possible, but a minimum really of an hour a day six days a week to allow you to stretch down into the position.

[crdodgeon]

I'm doomed... I try and ride once a week, but doesn't always fall out like that. I try and have an hour with Lee at least once a fortnight, but it's not always easy to schedule.

So what are the best ways of compensating for those of us who can't get the time on board? Yoga/pilates etc for core strength and suppleness?

[Naiad]

I'm doomed... I try and ride once a week, but doesn't always fall out like that. I try and have an hour with Lee at least once a fortnight, but it's not always easy to schedule.

So what are the best ways of compensating for those of us who can't get the time on board? Yoga/pilates etc for core strength and suppleness?

After I was on the ventilator in 2009, I needed to rebuild 20 pounds of lost weight, plus muscle. I was very weak in the saddle when I started to ride again. I added in swimming 2x a week and it did wonders for my core strength and my aerobic fitness and even my basic muscle tone. I think that swimming builds up the kinds of body strengths needed for riding based on my experience. I have since stopped swimming, but to take my riding to the next level, I've decided to begin swimming one or two times a week as last time it made a HUGE difference.

[crdodgeon]

Thanks for the tip, Naiad.
I've got tight hip flexors which I'm working on atm so swimming's bound to help with those too.

[Naiad]

Thanks for the tip, Naiad.
I've got tight hip flexors which I'm working on atm so swimming's bound to help with those too.

So I went for my first swim in about 6 months. And it felt great. I noticed that cardio was pretty good and my legs were strong. But my arms got a bit tired, so I think that they need work. Also you can really feel the upper abdominals at work while swimming so this has got to do good things for my core strength. I will try and swim about 1 or 2x a week on top of riding. Sadly, the temps here have dipped to -20c so even the indoor arena is too darn cold to ride, so for this week it will be swimming and no riding. 

Let me know how it goes if you manage to get in some swimming!

[crdodgeon]

Will do - mind I'm tempted to get some lessons as I tend to stick to breastroke and crawl's probably better (and I'm never very good at that!). -20 C... Brrrrrrrrrr! (closest emoticon to wearing a woolly hat!)

[Nix77]

I found i get better the more i do riding wise. So, when i was riding don 5-6 times a week, and riding 3 other peoples horses once a week, my riding was pretty good. Now, after a break of 6 weeks or so, i am rubbish!

But when new pony comes, both don and new pony will be on 6 times a week, that is a lot... i expect i will get better again quickly.