Ride Strong with Riding Strong's Fitness Tips

Sarah Ostrand of Riding Strong Ltd. is a “Fitness Coach for Horseman.” She has “been horseback for most of [her] life and a fitness professional for the last 7 years.” 

Today, she is sharing her top tips for a fitness routine for horsemen. 

Sarah would like to start off by saying, “So you’re a cowgirl and you’re ready to work on your fitness! Yay! I am so happy for you! Congratulations on starting your fitness journey… Every person has a unique fitness journey. But by tailoring it to you and your goals, it will be a smoother ride. And remember, being fit shouldn’t be a miserable experience, it’s all to enhance your life and the life you want to live in and out of the saddle.”

So without further ado, here are her fitness tips!

• “Don’t try to change everything overnight. Just like when working with a colt, learn the foundation first and grow from there. You don’t need to be #fitnessinfluencer in your first week and be living the social media worthy lifestyle. Find a routine you are comfortable doing, something you can be consistent in over a long period of time, and then grow from there.”

• “Find what works for you. Just like how in the horse industry we have many different disciplines (hello babes who rodeo, show, ranch and more), there are so many different options to becoming fit. If you love classes, try CrossFit, Zumba, Barre, or what your gym has to offer. If you love the weight room, make that your domain. If you like having accountability, hire a coach. And if you are on a ranch far from town, don’t be discouraged! There are so many fun and unique options to getting in shape with objects around the ranch and house. Whatever it looks like for you, make it work and stay consistent. If you don’t love it, you’ll never stick to it.”

• “But....incorporate some form of resistance training. Resistance training strengthens our muscles and other soft tissues (think tendons and ligaments). This is important for us cowgirls because riding is a physically demanding sport. From the actual riding, handling horses and livestock and daily chores, we need to be strong and athletic. Doing movements with barbells, kettlebells, dumbbells and your own bodyweight will help you far more in your fitness than machines. Including resistance training is also important when considering injury prevention and recovery. Get comfortable with them! If you aren’t there yet, hire a trainer or attend a class that can teach you.” 

Stay stylish working out with this adorable activewear!