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Re: [RC] Rider weight - heidiYes, lighter is better, but no one has addressed the training issues that are key to a horse carrying a heavier rider. You can help them immensely by doing gymnastics to strengthen their abs (and back muscles) and teaching them to round up and carry themselves properly. <snip> so how about some training discussion on how to help the horse as well as the rider, instead of rider-bashing. cavelletti anyone? butt-scrunches? belly-lifts? Right on, Becky! You named some good exercises, and I would add slow, collected downhills to that. In addition, simply RIDING the horse, and doing lots of slow miles, is a must. He can't acclimate to your weight if he doesn't carry it. Also, heavy riders can gain fitness by exercise (as you mention) even if it does not result in weight loss. Horses can far more easily carry FIT weight that stays where it is supposed to as opposed to flyweights that flop all over the saddle. (And BTW, this can really BE an issue on the other end of the spectrum--being SO thin that one lacks strength, one dehydrates more easily--yes, fat folks are easier to hydrate--etc.) Heidi =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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