07/21/2025
Are Workouts Really the Key to Better Riding?
Lately, I’ve been seeing and hearing a lot about workout programs designed to make you a better rider. And while I’m all for being healthy and staying active, I’ve got some thoughts.
First off—yes, being fit helps. But riding well isn’t about brute strength. You don’t need to be super strong to ride a horse correctly. In fact, trying to muscle your way through a ride usually does more harm than good. Good riding is about softness, feel, and moving with your horse—not against it.
When you brace or stiffen up, you actually make it harder to stay with your horse’s motion. If something unexpected happens, a tense rider is way more likely to bounce around or even come off.
Let’s be real—no one is strong enough to control a 1,000 to 1,500-pound animal by sheer force. Riding isn’t about overpowering your horse. It’s about communication. A responsive horse should listen to your seat, your hands, and your legs—not your grip on the reins.
That brings me to something I hear a lot: riders thinking they need to “hold” their horse up. But the term self-carriage exists for a reason. The horse should be carrying itself, not leaning on you. If you’re constantly holding the horse together with your hands and legs, that’s not training—that’s a tug-of-war. And spoiler alert: the horse will always win.
Again, ask yourself—can you really hold back a 1,500-pound horse? Think about when someone tries to lunge a horse and ends up getting dragged around the arena, despite bracing with their entire body. If you can’t hold a horse back from the ground, why would it work from the saddle?
I’ve had people ask me what gloves to buy because they’re getting blisters from their reins. And my answer is always: if you’re getting blisters, you’re probably gripping too tight. That tension travels up your arms, locks up your body, and suddenly you’re using your abs just to stay in the saddle. That’s not riding with harmony—that’s riding like a statue.
It’s like trying to drive a car with the emergency brake half on. You’re forcing the motion, and both you and your horse are going to end up tired and frustrated.
So yes, being in shape is a good thing. It can help your balance, endurance, and maybe even your confidence. But don’t fall for the idea that a killer workout is the secret to great riding.
Riding well isn’t about being strong—it’s about being smart. Work out for your own health, train your horse to be light and responsive, and most of all—enjoy the ride.
