Riding Against The Grain

Because fitness should support your riding — not compete with it.

Let’s be honest — most of us didn’t become riders because we wanted to spend more time in the gym.

But we do care about strength, balance, endurance, and keeping our bodies in it for the long haul.

So what happens when your trainer says you need more core stability, your coach recommends more cardio, and your legs are still sore from yesterday’s ride? It’s easy to feel stuck between two priorities that both matter.

I’ve been there. I am there.

I ride multiple days a week, I’m in the gym regularly, and I work a real job on top of it. What I’ve learned is this: your fitness routine doesn’t need to be fancy — it needs to be functional.

🐎 Riding Is Already Athletic — So Train to Support It

One of the biggest mindset shifts I had to make was this: riding is not the reward — it’s part of the workload.

Your body doesn’t care that barn time is your happy place. It just knows what you’re demanding from it.

That’s why the gym shouldn’t be a punishment or a second job. It should fill in the gaps that riding alone can’t cover.

👉 If your riding is strong but your joints feel sore? You probably need mobility work.

👉 If your cardio fades in a jump-off or gallop set? Time to work on endurance.

👉 If your upper body collapses on the flat? Core and back training will change everything.

🧠 How to Avoid Burnout: Energy Management > Time Management

Here’s what I wish more equestrians knew:

It’s not about having more hours. It’s about spending the ones you have more intentionally.

Try this 3-part framework:

Anchor your week around your rides. Riding is your sport. Everything else should support that, not sabotage it. 👉 Hard leg day right before a lesson? Bad idea. 👉 Light mobility or core work on an off-day? Perfect. Train with structure, not volume. You don’t need 6 days in the gym. You need 2–4 smart sessions that target what matters: posterior chain, core, mobility, stability. Listen to your nervous system. Some days, you’re fried. That’s not laziness — it’s feedback. On those days, trade intensity for intention: Go for a walk. Do yoga. Breathe. Stretch. Sleep.

💪 My Go-To Gym Splits That Work With Riding

I’ll rotate between a few splits depending on my riding schedule. Here’s one I use when I’m riding 3x/week:

Day 1: Lower Body (Glutes + Hamstrings focused)

Day 2: Upper Body (Back + Core)

Day 3: Mobility + Conditioning (Short + supportive)

I adjust based on how my horse is going, how I’m feeling, and how close we are to events. It’s flexible — because it has to be.

🌿 Real Riders. Real Life.

You don’t have to be a full-time athlete to treat your body like one.

But you do have to stop ignoring it.

Fitness is one of the few things in your control when you’re trying to be a better rider — and the right kind of training pays off in the saddle.

So if you’re feeling stuck between the barn and the barbell, know this:

You don’t have to choose.

You just have to plan better — and train smarter.