I think that barn chores are the best
exercise. I replace weightlifting with mucking. My speed walking
consists of walking around the farm and cleaning it up. My legs get
enough exercise riding. The problem is my stomach and hips, let’s
just say the childbearing years of long ago took a mighty toll. This
brought me to do my sit ups and my elliptical. Now if I can just quite
smoking. That too will change some day.
From: Pvan19@xxxxxxx
[mailto:Pvan19@xxxxxxx] Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2006 3:45
AM To: teri@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx;
ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Exercises for riders -
Curves
wow Teri - am much impressed!!
My work outs consist of the actual barn
chores, stretching to find stuff up on shelves, squats for lifting hay bales
and cardio while pushing a wheelbarrow thru deep mud... some ducking to
get to feedbin without young birds in nest up in rafters crapping on my head,
hand eye coordination exercises trying to move horse which is standing on my
untied shoelaces without dropping feed bucket and finished off with some
shuffle-jogging in paddock trying to get fly spray on horses without hitting a
tree or losing shoes (mine)
our usual morning
routine: crawl out of bed on all fours ( had a slight disagreement
with horse yesterday resulting in us parting ways in an unexpected manner, than
had to run after fat retired poney for 45 mins over very bad ground to catch
and worm him), go down stairs one step at the time holding banister all
the way, climb back up trying not to spill coffee, have 3 coffees in bed with
hubby also quite sore from having trimmed very old horse with arthritis
yesterday, spent 15 minutes comparing bruises ( I have more) climb back down,
shuffle to stables, feed horses & chickens, kneel down to count new chicks
and pull oneself up with help of conveniently placed tree trunk, shuffle back
to house, have two more coffees and 2 Advil, decide against washing hair as
cannot lift arms higher than shoulder height - sit at computer dreading moment
I have to get up again
My regiment consists of 25 situps in the morning before I go out to do the
barn chores. While the horses are munching on their grain I do 10 to 15
minutes on the elyptical (sp) machine. Then I go to work. In the
evening
while the horses are munching on their grain I do 10 to 15 minutes on the
elyptical machine. My machine is inside the barn area. Then before
I go to
bed I do 25 situps. I guess I am a tightwad and don't want to spend the
time or money at the gym. If you make yourself do it every day, by week 2
you feel guilty if you miss one day. It is an easy habit to get into like
brushing your teeth.