Reduce Back Pain and Chance of Injury While Riding with Core Exercises


Posted by Sabrina Creekmore

Riding horses

We have seen the people who embrace horse riding with perfect balance and poise, flowing together with the horse in perfect harmony. How can something seem so simple to some, and out of reach for the rest of us?

The secret is core strength. Strong abdominal muscles are the key to reducing back pain and the chance of injury while riding. Since balance on horseback is achieved from your abdomen, seat and legs, it only makes sense that if your core muscles are weak you will flop around in the saddle, have poor mounted posture, and be unable to avoid a fall. Low back pain is the result of trying to maintain your seat with a weak core; your back will take the brunt of keeping you straight in the saddle. Strengthening your core muscles is an important step to achieving any horse riding goal, whether it’s a safe trail ride or the challenges of endurance or jumping.

Many exercise programs address strengthening core muscles. Yoga and pilates are two that focus on balance and strengthening abdominal and lower back muscles while promoting greater flexibility. The most basic exercises in these programs help increase your balance and reduce back pain while horse riding.

Ab belts such as the Flex Belt are another way to strengthen your core; these use electronic nerve stimulation to contract your abdominal muscles, providing a targeted workout. Use these in conjunction with programs such as yoga and pilates for quicker results.

Not only is exercise important while horse riding for your safety, it is also extremely important for your horse. Equine back injuries can result from a horse compensating for the lack of balance in his rider.

You can achieve balance and safety in horse riding by strengthening your core muscles as part of your training program.


Clothing for the Mongol Derby


Posted by Eleanor Horan

A couple of years ago I took part in a charity event called the Mongol Rally, an epic road race from the UK to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.  When, after 50 days on the road, I finally arrived in Mongolia, I learned that the rally wasn’t the only Mongolian event going on at the time. 

The Mongol Derby, organised by the same people who plan the Rally, is the longest horse race on the planet.  In fact, just a few months ago this claim was finally recognised by the Guinness Book of Records.  The two week event pits expert riders from around the world against each other in a 1,000km race across the Mongolian steppe. 

Mongol Derby

Now, I’ve only ridden horses in Mongolian once (great fun), and I have little interest in a long distance horse race, but the Mongol Derby holds a place in my heart due to the fact that I met my beautiful girlfriend, Otgontsetseg, while she was working as a translator for the Derby in the summer of 2010.  

Now, the thing about the Mongolian steppe is that the weather can turn in an instant.  Several times while out on the steppe I’ve been caught in sudden duststorms and blizzards that seemed to come out of a blue sky.  Luckily for me (as I’m a soft, pampered westerner) I had the refuge of my vehicle, but when you’re out there on horseback the situation is entirely different.  

Riders, then, have to plan carefully for the trip.  They have to think about the weather conditions they will face.  More than that they have to think about what the horse can comfortably carry.  The race is all about saving weight, so riders can’t take along several coats to suit every type of weather they will face.

After speaking to riders from the Mongol Derby from 2009 to 2011 I’ve come up with a couple of ideas for clothing and accessories vital for a ride like this. 

Canada Goose Freestyle Vest

The first is the Canada Goose Freestyle vest.  I wore this one myself in the late fall of 2010, surviving 24 hours on the steppe after crashing my car in the middle of nowhere.  The vest is a great, lightweight solution for those times when you really can’t wear a bulky winter jacket.

Woolrich Mountain Parka

Next up is the Woolrich Woolen Mills Mountain Parka.  Again, this is a lightweight cotton jacket that provides maximum insulation with minimum weight.  The winning rider on the Mongol Derby 2010 recommended this jacket to me.  I tried it out around Ulaanbaatar just recently and found it to be an incredible coat.  

Nautica N14536

Finally, I have to mention the Nautica N14536 Chronograph.  This watch seemed to be a favorite among the riders – perhaps because it was one of the only decent watches available in Mongolian stores, and partly because, at a little under $100, it was a great watch that could be destroyed by the rigours of the race with too many tears shed.  In the weeks following the end of the 2010 Derby I bought one of these for myself and one for my girlfriend, and despite the -40 degree Mongolian winter, the regular sandstorms of the Gobi Desert and the fact that we throw our watches around with little care or attention, the Nautica chronographs are still in perfect condition.

So, if you’re looking to take part in the Mongol Derby or any other endurance horse race you should check out these three items.  They all come with the highest recommendations, and they all look just great. 

Happy trails, folks!


Riding Boots – Cowboy Boots


Posted by Angelica Harvard

A few decades ago, just about the only people who wore riding boots and cowboy boots were people who actually rode horses. Today, however, boots are super popular, even for those who have never even been on a horse. In my opinion, much of this popularity was due to the Western craze, which in turn was somewhat inspired by the Urban Cowboy movie. All of a sudden, even city dwellers were donning cowboy boots, cowboy hats, and big belt buckles. And while the hats and buckles have, for the most, part faded into obscurity, cowboy boots are still alive and well, as are English riding boots.

If you’ve never worn a pair of cowboy boots, you owe it to yourself to at least give them a try. if you take your time and find a well made pair that fits well, the boots are surprisingly comfortable. If you have wide feet, especially across the toes, you might be happier with a pair of cowboy boots that have a rounded or square toe, instead of the traditional pointed boot toe. Another advantage of cowboy boots and other riding boots is that they’re warm. Even in the coldest winters, they can keep your feet warm, especially if your choose a pair of insulated cowboy boots or English riding boots.

 


Tips For Helping Your Horse Control Heaves


Posted by JPolack

One of my favorite horses, Honey, has come down with heaves according to the vet.  She is an Arabian mix and as you probably know these are famously had to care for.  Like highly bred dogs, by crossing blood lines over the years in order to get the desired physical attributes the Arabian has developed several common problems.  Heaves is one of them.

If you are wondering about the symptoms of this respiratory problem, coughing is the main one.  Usually it is a very deep hacking that just shakes the entire horse.  They are trying to cough up the phlegm that develops in the chest.  A classic symptom is the heave muscle.  These are the two abdominal muscles that run up from the belly to the back bone of the horse on both sides.  They can be found right at the bottom of the rib cage.  If this muscles protrude then that indicates the horse has been coughing a lot which is exactly what heaves is.  The horse tries to heave the irritation out of its lungs.

Dealing with this problem involves getting control of all dust in the horses environment.  This includes wetting down the hay before they eat it.  By wetting the hay you will control any dust that may have been picked up in the field and you will also keep any mold spores down.

Another important thing to consider is the floor of your stall.  A dirt floor is not a good idea because of the dust.  You are much better off to add a concrete floor but then you need to coat it of course to protect the lower bones in the horses legs.  An epoxy paint is best because it is long lasting and offers some cushion.  If you don’t know which product to use for your situation then read several garage floor epoxy reviews to help you make a decision.

The thing is you need to implement these changes soon.  The longer you let the heaves continue, the harder it is to control.  Honey will probably be on anti-hystamines for the rest of her life which need give her twice a day.  It seems that the irritation in the lungs never goes away totally.


Can Inversion Tables Help Get Rid of Horse Back Riders Back Pain?


Posted by Angelica Harvard

If you have been dealing with back pain while riding your horse and you have tried all the possible ways to get rid of it to no avail, then maybe it’s about time that you consider inversion. The practice is most popularly known as inversion therapy which simply involves hanging upside down so that the downward pull of gravity is reversed and its negative effects are minimized. This practice has been around since the 400 BC where it is used to treat back pain and various ailments. However, it is only recently that its other benefits are known and it is most widely practiced because it is more conveniently and comfortably done these days than it was before using inversion tables. 

How Do Inversion Tables Work?

With inversion tables, inversion has never been easy, convenient, and comfortable. As such, it can never be denied that they really work in providing you the wonders of inversion therapy. Inversion tables’ work by allowing you to hang upside down securely and comfortably without having to worry too much about the cost because there are cheap yet quality inversion tables inversion tables in the mark. However, to make sure that inversion will work well in allowing you to enjoy inversion benefits, it must be come with a good quality, standard yet efficient features and it must be safe to use. Click here for more information about the best inversion therapy tables: bestinversiontablereviews.org.

Here’s a video that also describes some of these benefits that riders can enjoy from inversion therapy: