Ride when you can in winter

Betsy Carter's horse column

Date published: 1/28/2005

THE LAST THREE WEEKS have been the true January blahs for riders. Unless you have access to an indoor venue, you probably have not been riding very often.

Even though freezing temperatures are a shock to the body of human and horse, you can "cowgirl up" to ride. But when the wind is howling and it's snowing, you can't.

Worse still than those two or three days of blizzard-like conditions is the aftermath. For another week or more, the snow covers a frozen ring, so even though the weather might improve, you still can't ride. Even the fields and trails are icy, so trail riding is out, too.

The only way to combat the riding-resistant weather is to plan ahead by riding whenever the weather is good enough because you never know when it's is going to get worse. During weather such as this, if you can ride once a week, you're lucky. And if you've ridden often before the bad weather started, a once-a-week ride will keep your horse fit enough until the weather improves.

In order to get the most out of those few-and-far-between riding days, stay as physically fit as you can. There is nothing worse than riding a horse who has been kept in its stall for several days when you are unfit. When your horse is excited and full of energy because of too many days off, it is likely to be unpredictable, speedy, bucking and/or shying. If this happens you need to be at your best in order to stay aboard.

The best way to stay on a fractious horse is to be physically fit--and it's especially important to be strong in your midsection. This muscle strength gives you the balance you need to stay in the middle of your horse even if it shies suddenly. Midsection strength also allows you to move your upper body independently with free-moving effective arms.

The second-most important aspect of physical fitness for riders is to be flexible, so you should work on stretching your legs and shoulders to keep them limber.

When you can't ride, you'll have plenty of time to exercise, with a few situps, crunches, leg lifts and various stretching exercises. Walking and jogging are good for exercising your whole body if your knees and/or back can stand it. Since many riders suffer from back and knee pain, you'll have to design your exercise plan around those problems.

Barn work is a good all-around exercise since it requires walking, lifting, bending and twisting. Since your horses have been in their stalls more that usual during the snowy weather, the job probably could use a couple of extra hands. Perhaps your exercise regime is just waiting for you to pick up that pitchfork and wheelbarrow and begin your fitness program.

BETSY CARTER can be reached at The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia St., Fredericksburg, Va. 22401 or by fax at 540/373-8455.

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Date published: 1/28/2005