Are there any exercises you can do to stop your legs from being sore after horse riding?

Question

I used to go horse riding for years and never had much problems, then I stopped cos of school. I've gone a number of times since then and every time after my legs are killing me! Are there any exercises I can do to stop this? Honestly - I think I sprain the ligament at the top of my thigh. VERY painful. Any ideas?

Answer 1

You should do a warm up before riding, i.e plenty of stretches to get your muscles warmed up...then a warm down when finished to help relax muscles...just repeat stretches you done at start.

Same as any sport you should limber up beforehand and it will reduce risk of pulling a muscle or feeling stiff afterwards.

Hope it helps and happy riding!!

Answer 2

Perhaps wear padded jhoddys.

Answer 3

Today I went horseback riding and my leg KEPT getting stiff! Id stretch my leg and wouldn't work! What I suggest is before you ride walk a little rub it exercise it. Afterwords walk a little. Rub it some more and maybe it will help!

Answer 4

Drink lots of pure water before and after.

Answer 5

If the times in between your most recent rides are far apart and in general you haven't ridden in a very long time the problem is you are unfit. You can try stretching or some exercises with weights where you start with your legs apart and the close them ( I forget what the machine at the gym is called). Mostly the only way to get rid of that soreness is to ride regularly. No other sport really uses those inner thigh muscles the same way.

Answer 6

Muscle soreness comes from lactic acid.  When your muscles burn sugar instead of oxygen, it produces lactic acid.  Stretching brings oxygen to muscles and helps to eliminate the lactic acid and the soreness.  Make sure to stretch the sore muscles before and after riding as well as later on when they feel sore.

Answer 7

When your riding stretch your legs. I crushed my knee when i was riding a young horse, so I have pains just like that. when you are just walking your horse point your toes. There are also stirrups that you can find on this website. My mom uses them and they make her legs fell better when she rides.  

Web:  http://www.barrelracers.com/Merchant/mer...

Answer 8

more riding-you are out of condition.

Answer 9

Stretch before you ride. My dad is older, and is always sore after a ride if he doesn't stretch before and after. There are also a number of stretching and suppling exercise the rider can do while mounted, like taking your feet out of the stirrups and flexing your ankles.

I have a horse and ride her 6 times a week, however friends who have just started riding complain of soreness a lot. I also notice that if I take some time off from riding I am sore after the first ride back. Take some Advil, and keep riding! It will probably go away with time!

Answer 10

You should probably do some exercise to strengthen your legs for the horse riding, squats and cycling will train your leg muscles for endurance, making them stronger and more stable.

Make sure you stretch often and have a good warm up and warm down.