So I got to ride for the first time in more years than I like to recall on Monday. nothing too fancy, walk/trot, tacking, etc as part of my "evaluation" to see what kind of a horse person I am. Yesterday was done by the wife which is why it was pretty easy. Today the husband had the chance to "evaluate" me, which is akin to torturing me and proving everything I know is wrong. Which meant I got quite a work out and now I am sore beyond belief. Which brings me to the point:
Does anyone have any exercises they do to stay fit and limber for riding? The set of muscles you use for riding I had to break in at 11 years old is reminding me I forgot about them. I know I used to have a book about being fit for riding, but I can't think of any of the exercises. I know lots of people get back into riding as adults, so someone must have some ideas on how to make my legs more limber so I don't get stuck sitting on the toilet/sofa because it hurts too much to get up.:p

I can't give you any specific excercises, but since you're constantly getting hit in the midsection, wouldn't doing something like the odd leg stretches or a few squats be a good idea before getting on?

I did stretch before getting on, including the dozen stalls and manure pile trips prior to riding, lol. The problem is I can't recall how to engage the muscles used for riding as opposed to walking or sitting. Its a different set of muscles, which is why it hurts. I walk and clean and work outside in the garden all the time, but you just don't use the same muscles. Its mostly some in the inner thigh, my calves felt fine. But other than straddling my sofa I can't think of anything that will stretch them before getting back on again.:p

I don't really follow what muscles you're having trouble with - you're stretching your backside, you're stretching your calves, you're stretching your thighs, but what're you having trouble with?