How To Stay Motivated To Work Out At Horse Shows

I work out twice a week by going to classes at a fitness place near where I live, but when I’m away at horse shows I have a hard time feeling motivated to do it. I think it’s because when I’m traveling I don’t have a class on a set day and time, and I don’t know how/what exercises to do on my own, especially since I don’t have access to a gym or workout equipment. Help! I’d love some ideas. I hate missing my routine when I’m away from home.

As you reference in your question, the nice thing about a class is that you can just show up, you don’t have to figure out what you’re going to do for your workout, you just do what the instructor presents.  I find that making your other workouts, whether at home or on the road at a show, into a bit of a game makes them much more inspiring and a whole lot more fun!  Here are my top three ways to rev yourself up for a workout on your own:

1. How fast can you do 50? (Choose an exercise, preferably something that works your entire body, like a burpee, and see how long it takes you to do 50 reps. Make a note of your time then try to beat it the next time you do it.)
2. How many in 5 minutes? (Choose an exercise and see how many you can do in 5 minutes. This is way harder than it sounds! Choose one exercise like push ups, sit ups, squats, or something harder such as burpees.  Make a note of your number then try to beat it the next time you do it.)
3. Blow & Go (Run a little and do a few reps, then run a little more…  If you have 20 minutes available, you could break it up like this: run for 3 minutes then do 10 burpees, then run for 3 more minutes then do 25 squats, then run for 3 more minutes then do 20 push ups, then run until your overall 20 minute clock runs out.  You can break it up anyway you like.)

The biggest thing to remember is to make it fit and make it fun!  Whatever you choose to do it needs to fit with your other priorities of the day, especially at a horse show, and it needs to be fun, because if it is, you’re a lot more likely to do it!  For more ideas, information, and demonstrations, please check out my segment on Equestriancoach.com called “Staying Fit on the Road.”

Happy horse showing!

If you’d like more personalized help, I offer virtual training to riders everywhere, so I’d love to hear from you!

For more information on virtual training, visit my website: blackjackfarmsandiego.com

Happy riding!

Robin

“A true horseman will only ask athletic feats of his horse if he has his own body under control.”

– from The Principals of Riding/German
National Equestrian Federation