Last time I rode a horse I got so sore that I had to walk down a mountain because I couldn't ride anymore.

Are there any specific exercises that a person can do to alleviate that situation.

You got sore muscles, or chaffed skin? Baby powder helps for the chaffing. Otherwise Ride, Ride, Ride. Stretches for your groin/inner thigh area should help, and that thighmaster things probably wouldn't hurt either. Squats will help strengthen your gluts, which you'll be squeezing to help cushion the bumps. Calves would be the other major muscle group to exercise. If you are going to trot or lope a fair bit, your abs are going to get sore also. Hope that helps, but riding a bunch would really be the best exercise.

Daniel

Thanks. I am trying to figure out how to replicate riding with an exercise I can do at home. Not being a horse person I had trouble walking for a week. But I sure enjoyed the ride while I was doing it, which makes me want to do it somemore!

Good points Daniel77!

If I might add?

My Uncle said you need to get back on and ride while your still sore. Not always practical.

Guiding horse hunts, what I have seen is a lot of people fighting the saddle and natural movements of the ride, don't.

Easy to say, i know. But just relax, keep your weight low in the saddle and go with it.

Just the idea that you wish to build strength suggest to me that you just might need to learn to stretch more as well?

When you get seated next time mounted, relax, lean all the way back in the saddle, lean all you can to the sides and front. Get a feel for how easy it is to just enjoy it and you will be robbing banks and out-running the posse in no time!

My motto: Horses are prof that God loves us and wants us to be happy!

Enjoy!

My wife keeps telling me, If I rode more often, I wouldn't be so sore.
Grizz

When I see a non-rider or casual rider, they usually tend to let the stirrups out too long and put the pressure on the bone rather than sitting on your butt. Shorten up, sit on your pockets like you're in a chair, not like you're sitting on a rail fence. I ride 8 hours a week, nothing will prepare you like riding hard, but an elliptical will help with calves and thighs. You have to strengthen your upper leg so you don't use your lower legs and knees for support. Most casual riders also put too much weight in the stirrups, creating sore knees, etc. That said it is like anything else, you can't learn to shoot by reading about it on the internet either, and you can't learn to ride without riding. There are a hell of a lot of people who have been on horses all their life who can't really ride either for that matter.

quote:

My wife keeps telling me, If I rode more often, I wouldn't be so sore.
Grizz

Bingo! I've found it takes 4 or 5 consecutive days of riding to get over the soreness. After that you are an old hand and can ride for days on end.

quote:

I've found it takes 4 or 5 consecutive days of riding to get over the soreness. After that you are an old hand and can ride for days on end.

I have now found out that it takes 4 or 5 1000 milligram Motrin to get over the soreness.

Ride, ride and ride again.
Before you get too sore, just get off and walk a little. Especially when going downhill very far. Keep it pleasant.