Is this riding exercise really necessary

Member since: February 17, 2007

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kate cahill

S Is this exercise really necessary?

I ride in a English riding school in Mexico. A new teacher is teaching a 1-month intensive course for mid-level adult riders. She comes 2/week for 1 1/2 hour each time. For the 1st 2 weeks she's had the riders walk 15 minutes elevating their upper body (like a jumping position). She says that it helps them build muscles and get them used to squeezing their knees and drop their heels. I have been riding since age 4, I am now 35. I don't understand how this exercise teaches riders to ride better. She does also have the riders play with their reins to get the neck of the horse arched. And has them do volts/semi-volts using their shoulders to turn rather than their legs. These riders are paying her a lot of money for this 1 month accelerated course and I still don't see any of them being able to control their horse if they wer

Oh I hated those exercises. I thought they were stupid but trust me, they really do make a difference.

I used to have to do a whole lesson ( 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours) in my 2 point position. It honestly makes a huge difference in your and your horses balance. You learn the feel of your horse much better and you are more capable of learning to read their body language, which can be very important if you ever train a young horse.