Local dressage riders continue to keep fit at home
FOURWAYS – While there were few horse riding opportunities during the lockdown, riders found other ways to keep fit.
Top dressage rider, Siobhan Records has shared some of the exercise routines that have helped her stay in shape during the lockdown.
This, in light of there being no shows and few opportunities to ride horses outside one’s own premises. “I have been doing a lot of yoga because it builds strength and aids symmetry of the body,” Records said.
“I use Yogi Shelby, which has made their videos free to the public. They have only asked for any donations to go to the Highveld Horse Care Unit.”
Apart from this, Records believes skipping is an excellent cardio exercise and does reps of skipping between her other workout sets.”If you don’t have a skipping rope, you can improvise. Jump over something. Planks are also great for core strength, which every rider knows is important.”
Although her own workout routine is somewhat advanced, Records stressed it would be a long time before people got back to competing on horseback and should not rush to get either themselves, or their horses, very fit. This could cause an injury, which benefits no one.
Siobhan Records’ workout routine:Set one:
Dumbbell Romanian deadlift into curtsy lunge, 10 reps each side
Dumbbell wide sumo squats with 12 reps
Dumbbell split squat, 10 on each side
Dumbbell lateral lunge, 10 on each side
Dumbbell Romanian deadlift with 12 reps
Box jumps with 10 reps
Straight leg kickbacks, 15 reps each side. Do four or five sets of this.
Set two: Dumbbell squat and press with10 reps
Push-ups with 12 reps
Shoulder tabs with 10 reps each side
Abs plank bridge, 45-60seconds
Dumbbell bent over tricep kickbacks with 15 reps
Dumbbell Romanian deadlift to bent over row with 12 reps
Dumbbell lunge tricep curls into reverse lunge and lateral raise with 10 reps each side. Do four or five working sets.
Set three:
Reverse split squat into static squat, 10 reps each side
Lying hamstring curls 15 reps? Hammer curl into front raise 12reps
Reverse lunge with knee raises15 reps each side? Alternating side squats 10 repseach side
Elevated hip thrusts 15 reps
Single leg elevated hip thrusts. Do four or five working sets.
