By LAURA CRUMP ANDERSON
For the last year, I have really enjoyed building my business and freelancing for professional riders. However, at the end of October, I decided to plant my feet firmly in the Adult Amateur category again. I accepted a full time position at a physical therapy practice that is roughly 40 minutes aways from my house and I often encounter traffic. Outside of that, I still have private clients that I train after work and on the weekends, and a 5 year old horse to work with and ride. I’m not always sure when I can make the time to exercise.
Something has to give. I am not riding as much as I would like to right now, and it’s is hard to shift from riding multiple horses almost every day to working a desk job. This is especially true during fall in Virginia when the weather is so nice. That being said, I definitely made the right decision for my family and I don’t regret trying to balance the privilege of having horses. What has had to give is my exercise program.
If you have read my fitness column before, this may come as a surprise to you as I have built a reputation of being Laura Crump Anderson “Equestrian Fitness Specialist.” When I am not exercising regularly, my body really does start to fall apart–so right now, I am making it a priority to exercise at least once a week. That being said, if your schedule is jam packed and you don’t even feel like you can add 20-30 minutes of exercise regularly… I have one exercise that is must do, for ALL equestrians, at least once or twice a week.
The Plank
- Start on your hands and knees
- Come down on to your forearms
- Come up on to your toes
- Make sure to maintain a straight line from the back of your head all the way to your heels.
- Hold this position for as long as your can, or until you reach the two minute mark.
If you are unable to hold a plank on your toes for over a minute (no one is judging), you will need to modify it so that you are on your forearms and knees.
Modified Plank
- Start on you hands and knees
- Walk your knees back
- Come down on your forearms, so you can maintain a straight line from you head to your knees, hold for as long as you can or for two minutes, whichever comes first.
- If you are only able to hold for less than a minute, do 3 of these planks.
Laura Crump Anderson is a lifelong equestrian and a personal trainer. Click here to find out more about her program, Hidden Heights Fitness.
