From Rusty to Ready: Getting Back in Shape to Ride

Whether you’re an experienced rider or just getting started, you’ve likely felt the physical demands that come with horseback riding. After a few days off, it’s common to feel the burn in your legs and muscles, a reminder of how much strength and endurance the sport requires. Riding isn’t just about skill—it’s about fitness, too. Flexibility and muscle strength are key to maintaining control and balance in the saddle. If you’ve taken an extended break, it’s normal to feel a bit off physically, but don’t worry! With a little time, dedication, and consistency, you’ll be back in shape and feeling comfortable in the saddle again.

I’m currently on a fitness journey, one that feels long overdue. After having my daughter in September, I realized how much time I’d spent away from riding—not just during pregnancy, but even before. With Moose retired, the demands of a full-time job, and the daily care of two dogs and three cats, it became nearly impossible to make time for riding. While I would’ve loved to get back in the saddle, Moose’s medical expenses left little room to consider buying another horse. As time went on, I noticed myself falling out of riding shape, and that’s when I knew it was time to make a change. Here are some of the most important lessons I’ve learned on this new journey:

1. Start slowly! Unless you’ve only taken a short break from riding, it’s important to consider that physical fitness is something that has to be built on. Don’t feel like you have to start with high-intensity training right away! There are so many different ways to get yourself active again, ones that don’t require a gym membership or any other type of financial investment. You definitely don’t have to spend money on this if you don’t want to! I started out by going for walks and increasing the distance each time. If you live in a colder climate like I do, malls or indoor tracks can be a great way to get your walks in on days when it’s not so nice outside. If you can, doing barn chores is also a fantastic way of getting shape!

2. Be consistent! Even if it’s just for a few minutes every day, it’s so important to stick with your activity or exercise. This can be difficult if you’re busy, as most of us are, but try to give yourself at least 5-7 minutes a day. This can be no easy feat, as I’ve found myself having days where I seriously lack the motivation to exercise, especially on days where I was up all of the night before with the baby. I had to remind myself on those days how important it is to me to get back in the saddle confidently and feeling physically fit. I honestly feel that it might’ve been easier if I were taking care of horses, but I’ve found that even just 7-20 minutes out of my day every day has helped me not only lose the baby weight but also feel sharper and energized!

3. Use a program! One of the things I use to hold myself accountable for exercising on a daily basis is a workout program. I was a little bit overwhelmed when I first started looking into these because there are so many out there, both free and paid options. Again, this is not something you should feel like you have to spend money on if you don’t want to. There are options for free on YouTube, there are free apps (although they generally also have paid options within them), and there are sites that will let you download PDF workouts for free. I didn’t really look into the last option when I began my fitness journey as I didn’t think it would motivate me enough. I found an app, Workout Women by 7M, and I absolutely love it (no commission earned, I just really love this app!). It provides a number of different workout programs and standalone exercises tailored to your fitness level and interests. I’m currently using the Postpartum Body Rewind program and it’s really working for me. The daily workouts are short enough for me to do when the baby is napping but the exercises aren’t too easy (or too hard!). I do use the paid option for Workout Women because I figured it would help me stay committed. There are so many apps like this out there, I highly recommend checking them out.

4. Change it up! If you feel like you’re getting bored with your chosen exercise, try something different. Walking around your neighborhood might not be stimulating enough so try another location or a different exercise. Using a combination of things can help keep things from getting mundane as you’re working on being committed to your fitness journey so you can get back in the saddle!

All in all, being in good health is important regardless of whether or not you’re returning to riding, but as I said earlier, our sport does require strength. Don’t be afraid to start riding while you’re on your fitness journey, either, as riding is great exercise and works out all the right muscles for-well, riding! Just make sure you don’t push it past your level of comfortability and you’ll do great. Enjoy your fitness journey and getting back on the horse!