c h r o n o f h o r s e . c o m ja n ua r y/ f e b r ua r y 2 015 39
Even if you're not a
professional athlete, your
horse deserves a fit rider.
geT
FiT
arnD
bronkHorST
PHoTo
let's face it: is is the personal goal
almost every American sets (and re-sets, and sets
again) at the beginning of every new year. it's dull,
it's difficult, and more often than not, it's doomed
for failure.
As riders, we have even more impetus to stay in
shape than the average American: we owe it to our
equine partners, who carry us around day in and
day out, often over large obstacles. in fact, most of
us spend countless hours plotting and fretting over
our horses' fitness (does he need more trot sets? or
more hills? should she get some swim sessions, or
spend some time on the aqua-treadmill?), so com-
mitment to physical training shouldn't be a foreign
concept. why, then, is personal fitness either an
afterthought or a discouraging perpetual struggle
for most of us?
e key, as most experts will tell you, is refram-
ing the way you think about your goal, long before
you start your first workout.
Progress Equals
Success
first of all, saying that you're going to "get in shape"
isn't a long-term goal. e idea is that you continu-
ously improve your level of fitness.
