Crystal System Dressage – Chapter 4
“Out of clutter find simplicity, from discord find harmony, in the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity” – Albert Einstein
“DEFINE – Are you FIT? If the answer is yes, that’s a really good start but we need to delve deeper, examine the standards by which you are making this judgement.
There are many aspects to being fit for riding dressage:
- stamina
- strength
- agility
- flexibility
- balance
- co-ordination
- reaction time and of course your
- general health
If the answer is no, then that’s also a good start. We all have to start somewhere, right? Let’s take a look at all the elements combined that will define you as an equestrian athlete, fully able to cope with the rigours of dressage riding and your effectiveness in the saddle.”
” … Without core stability the lower back is not supported from inside and can be injured by strain caused by exercise. It is also believed that insufficient core stability can result in lower back pain, poor posture and lethargy. However and here’s the bombshell, there is little support in research for many of the benefits attributed to specific core muscle exercises. Trunk or core specific exercising has failed to demonstrate preventative benefits against injuries in sports or indeed to improve sports performance. What has been proven is that at best core stability training has the same benefits as general, non-specific exercise like, would you believe, walking? There it is, to improve your core strength, get walking (briskly) and whilst you are walking, breathe. Yes, simplicity IS the key to brilliance. Clear? “
” … Who would have thought that Dressage required so much stamina and fitness? Now you know how fit, or otherwise you might be, before you go setting yourself goals to be a superfit, gymnastic, speed demon of an athlete with a rippling six-pack consider the purpose of your fitness. The next chapter brings it all into perspective, by helping you to identify just what is the purpose and how far you need to go.”
Patricia – The Dressage Tipster
help@likecrystal.com
that is something I did not want to see for a long time – dressage riders are athletes! and we must train like athletes! for sure, we are amateurs but how can we expect our horses to perform while sitting on them like a bag of rice?! that said, I need to get off the couch and get my blackroll to do some fascia exercise!