How do I keep from getting so sore after riding a horse?
21.February, 2009
We're going on a 3 hour horse ride while we are on vacation. Is there anything we can do to prevent being so sore?
We are getting in the car and driving about 5 hours after the ride. I know that isn't going to help.
This will be a leisurely ride, correct? Odds are you won't be putting alot of stress on your muscles. Sore thighs come from holding onto the horse tightly with your legs. At a leisurely pace, you won't be holding very tightly unless you are going up and down steep inclines.
Do some loosing up before the ride for the muscles on your inner thighs. Your legs may be spread wider than you are used to. Just a few minutes will be fine. Arrive early enough so you can walk around before getting on the horse, then walk around after the ride to stretch out.
The stirrups should be high enough so that when you stand in the stirrups, you should be able to get your seat out of the saddle but not so high that you'd be able to clear the saddle horn.
It's better for the saddle to be too large for you than too small. If the saddle feels too tight in your seat, ask for a larger one. You probably won't encounter that; rent lines tend to have saddles with larger seats so they fit more people.
Most people realize they shouldn't wear pants that are too tight, but wearing pants that are too baggy can also cause problems. The cloth can bunch up under your seat, causing raw spots on your skin. Yep, saddle sores.
Lastly, don't stay seated the whole ride. Every now and then, stand up in the stirrups. Not only does this give your seat a break from the saddle, it gives your leg muscles an opportunity to move rather than being in the same position for three straight hours.
Some other things to consider . . . .
A hard, slick seat on a saddle is more comfortable for long rides than a padded, sueded saddle. Kind of ironic, but true.
Lactic acid can be one cause of muscle cramps. Lactic acid occurs when your body digests lactose, the sugar in dairy products. If you are not used to using your legs at least a little bit, you may want to minimize the amount of dairy products you consume for the 24 hours prior to the ride.
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21.February, 2009 um 2:51 pm
Well, i know the soreness tends to happen in the upper thigh area after riding if you dont do it frequently.
If you dont want to be too achey, try doing exercises which work that upper area. Also, you could book maybe a couple of short lessons before the holiday to build up resistance to it which may make the soreness a little better.
It shouldnt be tooo awful if its not a particularly hard and fast ride but either way, you will probably experience some if you arent frequent riders.
References :
Personal experience
21.February, 2009 um 3:23 pm
This will be a leisurely ride, correct? Odds are you won't be putting alot of stress on your muscles. Sore thighs come from holding onto the horse tightly with your legs. At a leisurely pace, you won't be holding very tightly unless you are going up and down steep inclines.
Do some loosing up before the ride for the muscles on your inner thighs. Your legs may be spread wider than you are used to. Just a few minutes will be fine. Arrive early enough so you can walk around before getting on the horse, then walk around after the ride to stretch out.
The stirrups should be high enough so that when you stand in the stirrups, you should be able to get your seat out of the saddle but not so high that you'd be able to clear the saddle horn.
It's better for the saddle to be too large for you than too small. If the saddle feels too tight in your seat, ask for a larger one. You probably won't encounter that; rent lines tend to have saddles with larger seats so they fit more people.
Most people realize they shouldn't wear pants that are too tight, but wearing pants that are too baggy can also cause problems. The cloth can bunch up under your seat, causing raw spots on your skin. Yep, saddle sores.
Lastly, don't stay seated the whole ride. Every now and then, stand up in the stirrups. Not only does this give your seat a break from the saddle, it gives your leg muscles an opportunity to move rather than being in the same position for three straight hours.
Some other things to consider . . . .
A hard, slick seat on a saddle is more comfortable for long rides than a padded, sueded saddle. Kind of ironic, but true.
Lactic acid can be one cause of muscle cramps. Lactic acid occurs when your body digests lactose, the sugar in dairy products. If you are not used to using your legs at least a little bit, you may want to minimize the amount of dairy products you consume for the 24 hours prior to the ride.
References :
25+ years of riding, sometimes up to ten hours/day