Re: riding position a different problem

["Sarah McIntosh" <smcintos@rapidnet.net>]

Wow! that's a lot of leg work.  This is very helpful information.  It's
interesting to see the progression of riding longer and longer distances,
and then working on becoming a better rider to make the ride easier for
horse and rider.

Many thanks,

Sarah

----- Original Message -----
From: Linda Cowles <kadence@ix.netcom.com>
To: Sarah McIntosh <smcintos@rapidnet.net>
Cc: ridecamp <ridecamp@endurance.net>; Lif Strand <fasterhorses@gilanet.com>
Sent: Friday, July 07, 2000 8:52 AM
Subject: RC: Re: riding position a different problem


> I distribute at least 90% of my weight throughout my upper leg. I very
> rarely feel my seat bones, and have little to no pressure on my foot...
>
> I have incredibly strong legs, so this isn't tiring, even riding hard on
> 50's. The "secret" is three  leg machines at the gym. The incline leg
> press, the adductor (abductor?) machine and the inner glute machine. The
> last two have complementary scissors motion. On one you sit with your
> legs spread and pull them together, the other you force them apart.
> Strengthening these muscles makes an incredible difference in your
> riding. It's gotten me to the point where I can do long conditioning
> rides bareback (no pad) on a skittish horse...
>
> I press between 180 and 250 pounds, up to 60 reps in three sets. On the
> scissors type machines, I use 130-160 in weights for up to 60 reps. It
> took me 60 months to work up to that point, and is easy to maintain.
>
> It's amazing what even a little weight training does for legs.
>
> Back extensions and ab exercises help a lot too.
>
>   -- Linda
>