How To: Stretches for Equestrians

[@graystonie]

Thank you so much! This doesn't just help with my Riding it helps to relax my muscles before bed! (I need to stretch before bed or else I feel stiff and uncomfortable)

[@tiamohudspeth3408]

Hey, thank you so much for this... Flexibility is something i really struggle with in my lower back and hamstrings.. I am a professional rider and I guess no one taught me to stretch... im 26 and i cant touch my toes, am i a lost cause?

[@jacquelinemichel8371]

Ugh same with me!

[@erinwelch1131]

Thank you! It was so good today when I went to riding!

[@miatreadwell1874]

Wow I’m so unflexible

[@stewie_mo]

Me: Forgets to do other side because she only showed one side

[@equestrianevelyn4892]

Can you do one specifically for knee pain?

[@TR-nz3ou]

My teacher has me do the two point at the walk and after 30 seconds my back hurts so badly I want to cry it litterly burns I really need to stretch

[@emotionalequestrian23]

so I stretch my inner thighs so much that they touch the floor because I do it so often lol

[@xxtapeciaraxx4610]

2019 ?

[@carlottatozzato3374]

2020!

[@opheliasouv]

@@carlottatozzato3374 2021 :)

[@jacquelinedavies4365]

I would have loved this video, if only....... if only you counted out the 10 second stretches with us and guided us through the whole exercise. To have to come out of my position and lunge for the screen to hit the pause every time you said ‘do this for 10 seconds’ or ‘and now do it on the other side’ was very frustrating.

[@lindaa8489]

Yes!! Exactly!!

[@lisatipping7226]

Heellooooo she does the position for over 10 seconds when she's explaining it!!

[@jacquelinedavies4365]

Lisa Tipping maybe she does, maybe she doesn’t, but she doesn’t tell us that’s the case! And so the lunging at the screen....

[@ellajohns245]

This isn't even remotely close to how extensive your stretching routine should be for riding. I ride upper level and I stretch up to 2 hours a day, and I stretch twice a day for at least 30 minutes each. Your back, ankles, hamstrings, hips, and feet should be as flexible and limber as possible. Riders should be able to stretch to full front and side splits, that's how flexible they should be - and they should be intensely working out 3-5 days a week on top of that plus riding. The standards and expectations for riders is seriously lacking. I know riders who don't even stretch at ALL.

[@jillianrose7844]

Ella Johns Could you then direct us to a more informative fitness video?

[@ellajohns245]

@@jillianrose7844 there isn't really a good one that I've ever seen posted. Most riders think that they can get away with not stretching correctly or extensive enough, and their riding definitely suffers, and it shows in the lack of information available on the stretching required as an equestrian.

[@Kasiak-gv2dj]

What?