Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
If this isn't an over-done topic, I don't know what is. Every equestrian magazine in the world does a rider fitness article at least once a year, probably even more. It's an issue we all face and (I think) hate equally. Even so, here I go ... My weight goes up and down every few years. It's not like I get really heavy, but I am definitely two sizes more than I'd like, and on a 5'3" frame, that means tubby. Carrying that extra weight is frustrating because both my husband and I already maintain a very healthy lifestyle. There's not a lot I can just cut out to easily drop five to ten pounds. We live an active lifestyle and eat really well: no fast food, no sodas, no coffee, I eat a healthy protein breakfast every day, I pack a lunch, and I cook dinner nightly.
The only way for me to drop some weight is to move more. Like everyone else, I already use all of the minutes in my twenty-four day. I leave for work around 6:00 a.m. and get home from the barn around 6:00 p.m. I cook dinner, spend an hour or two with my husband and the dogs, and then it's off to bed. That means that if I want to increase my exercise, I have to do it at 4:30 a.m. So that's what I am doing. I got back on the treadmill in mid-January and have been slowly increasing my speed and distance. my goal is always to keep my average pace at 6 miles per hour, a 10-minute mile. In the beginning, I ran for 15 minutes, slowly bumping up my speed until I was running at least one 10-minute mile during the time frame. I am now up to 2 miles in a shade under 20 minutes. I just reached that goal today (yesterday I did it in 20:15). Next week, I'll be running ten miles a week (I run five days a week). I know I am getting fitter, and I am definitely feeling stronger through my core, but the pounds aren't coming off. No matter what the scale says, I am certain my horses appreciate a fitter rider. Do you have a fitness routine that is outside of the barn? Gym? Home? Walk the dog? Just don't tell me it's running 20 miles a week - thinking about the 10 is already depressing!
Hahaha! When I was unemployed I ran 30 miles a week. That's the only time I could find time for it! Right now, I'm running 10-15 a week. I'd like to bump that back up to 18 (I run short distances, 2-3 miles, before work 3-4 days a week, and longer runs on the weekend). I also go to the gym 2-3 days a week, and ride 1hr 4-5 days a week. I walk a TON on top of that. 3/18/2016 08:34:20 am
I am laughing soooo hard! Of course I consume too many calories. LOL! :0) 3/21/2016 06:52:25 am
I really like to cook. For a little while I was also doing a food blog. I would love to revive it, but it's hard enough writing seven posts here a week. 3/18/2016 07:06:37 am
My New Year's resolution was to stretch and either ride or interval train on the eliptical EVERY SINGLE DAY. It was really hard the first month but now it has become more habit and so quite a bit easier. My other resolution was to cut back on carbs a bit, because that helps me so much with junk cravings and maintaining weight, and that has been more of a work in progress. But I figure two out of three isn't bad, and at least I'm fitter right? 3/21/2016 06:33:32 am
I always tell myself that something, anything, is better than nothing. :0)
Emily Conforti
3/18/2016 07:21:21 am
Steady state cardio won't burn fat - and beyond 20 minutes your body will begin to catabolize muscle and preserve fat. HIIT is preferable to steady state cardio for anything other than cardiovascular endurance. 3/21/2016 06:36:50 am
Well, unfortunately a trip to the gym isn't going to happen. Truthfully, if I really wanted to lose weight, I would reduce my calorie intake. Running for 20 minutes on the treadmill is more about keeping my joints moving and being fit enough to do barn chores, travel, and hike. Fighting inertia (the desire to sit on the couch and not get up) is more my goal. :0) 3/18/2016 09:00:10 am
I run but not enough to really do anything except exercise my lungs and legs. What I found to be EXTREMELY helpful was getting some kettlebell training. I then bought a kettlebell and (with proper instruction because you can wreck your back) do that several mornings a week. That has greatly improved my core and helped with trimming down. At the end of December I was really snug in my favorite pair of jeans and now they fit just like they should. 3/21/2016 06:37:54 am
That's about what I run for - just to keep everything moving and prepared. :0)
jenj
3/18/2016 09:03:09 am
Yeeeeah... so this is something my husband and I are working on. I hate doing exercise for the sake of exercising, but I'll happily take the dogs on a 6 mile hike because it's for the dogs, right? We're trying to do at least 10-15 mins of yoga every morning, walk the dogs at night, and I ride a horse every day. I'm also trying to fit in 30 mins of walking at lunch in our office gym, but so far that's been hit or miss. 3/21/2016 06:39:59 am
I think you're right - age is the number 1 thing working against me. It is just harder and harder to lose as I approach 50 (omg - 50?!?!?!). The number 2 thing working against me is the love of the good life (good food and good wine :0).
Val
3/19/2016 05:50:15 am
I agree with others that you deserve major props for exercising at 4:30 am. I get up early, but waking up to exercise that early just isn't going to happen. 3/21/2016 06:42:51 am
I hear you, Val. There are only so many minutes in the day. Right now, I have a bout 30 minutes to give: a few to slip into some running shoes and clothes, run, and then a few minutes to cool off be fore I hit the shower. And those cool off minutes, I am feeding the dogs. And doing it at 4:30 in the a.m. is absolute hell. Mike and I have started really truly working out. We bought a stationary bike for cardio (I can't take the impact of running since I broke my leg). I do an hour on the bike, five days a week (about 15 miles). We also lift, and Mike designed a workout for me. He's amazing at the working out stuff since he was a big time baseball player and spent a lot of time working on strength and fitness. I'm feeling a difference already in my daily life. Like you, I struggle to find the time to do it. I rarely get home before 7:30pm, and by the time we take care of the animals, work out and eat it's 10pm, and I'm exhausted. To be honest, I find it hard to get motivated, but I'm doing it anyway. Mostly because I want to do longer distances in endurance this year, but also because I look like a slob and want that to change before I fit into a wedding dress this fall. *faint* (So, long comment short, I don't think this topic is over done and thank you for posting it!) 3/21/2016 06:46:24 am
I would be in Heaven if someone would give me a "plan" and then help me do it. My husband uses the treadmill in the afternoon after he takes the dogs for a run/walk (4 month old puppies don't cover much ground). I would go with him, but he does the dog walk while I am at the barn. 3/19/2016 02:12:04 pm
Lucky for me to still have a young person metabolism. I made it more of a priority to get fitter and stronger this year. It started out wanting to be strong to advance in vaulting, but once I started dressaging it became more about riding, and cardio became more important now that I'm struggling at the end of my 45 minute lessons. I'm nowhere near as consistent exercising as I'd like to be, but I try to go to the campus gym once a week to do strength work, and at home I focus more on cardio. I HATE cardio with a passion, so I don't use our elliptical, but I do have an old zumba fitness game for the wii, so I usually do a long, high-intensity class and then stretch. Whenever I have a really busy week at school, I let exercise slide to the back burner a bit, but I'm doing better than I have in the past since I've started to see how useful it is for stress relief 3/21/2016 06:50:35 am
Age definitely plays a part. I don't want to be one of those old ladies sho is stooped over and can't do things for herself. I am okay being a few pounds tubby. I mostly want to maintain my flexibility and cardio vascular health.
Ronnie
3/21/2016 12:29:38 pm
I've known for ages that I ride better when I'm fit. I look like a little munchkin on my big redhead, basically a kid on a giant pony! Unfortunately, working full time and riding creates a lack of time, especially over the winter with the short daylight hours. I finally bit the bullet and sucked it up. Added Crossfit to my life. Man that has added so much strength, especially in my core. It has made a huge difference. So I am doing that 4-5 days a week and just added running back in (10-12 miles/week). I think that is a little bit overdone for you =) but my horse is slightly larger than Mr Speedy!!! Comments are closed.
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About the Writer and RiderI am a lifelong rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010. Welcome to my dressage journey. About Speedy GSpeedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
About IzzyIzzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
National Rider AwardsState Rider Awards
State Horse Awards
Working Towards:
CDS Sapphire Rider Award Third Level: 63.514% Third Level: 62.105% Fourth Level: Fourth Level: 2023 Show Season
Show Rating (***) CDS/USDF/USEF (*) CDS (s) Schooling (c) Clinic (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic 2023 Show Schedule
TBD 2023 Completed … Pending 2023 Qualifying Scores
Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Training Level 3 Scores/2 Judges/60%: Score 1: Score 2: Score 3: Archives
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