The Riding Doctor: A Prescription for Healthy, Balanced, and Beautiful Riding, Now and for Years to Come

by Beth Glosten

Overview

After leaving horses behind for many years to pursue her medical career, Dr. Beth Glosten decided it was time to ride again only to discover that, as a middle-aged woman, she struggled with tension, awkwardness, and an aching back. Dr. Glosten’s own frustration with riding prompted her to apply her clinical research skills to figure out what it would take to not only create the harmonious picture of horse and rider moving together, but also feel good while doing it. In this book, Dr. Glosten shows others how best to improve their posture and position in order to prevent unnecessary physical degeneration, ensuring they can ride, and ride well, for many years to come. Readers will find basic rider anatomy that is easy to understand, as well as over 50 step-by-step exercises geared toward developing riding skills. Plus, Dr. Glosten has developed a systematic “Rider Checklist” to help you keep track of your position and function in the saddle. Throughout, case studies share rider stories that illustrate the kinds of physical challenges experienced in the saddle in midlife, and how they can be met with proactive, pain-free solutions. The result is a remarkably valuable book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781570766640
Publisher:	Trafalgar Square
Publication date:	06/10/2014
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	10.20(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

After leaving horses behind for many years to pursue her medical career, Dr. Beth Glosten decided it was time to ride again only to discover that, as a middle-aged woman, she struggled with tension, awkwardness, and an aching back. Dr. Glosten’s own frustration with riding prompted her to apply her clinical research skills to figure out what it would take to not only create the harmonious picture of horse and rider moving together, but also feel good while doing it.

The result is The Riding Doctor, a book that sets itself apart with its remarkably clear and understandable explanations of riding anatomy and what our bodies “do” on horseback, as well as its applicability to riders of all ages, abilities, and equestrian disciplines. Dr. Glosten knows how our bones and muscles move and react when we communicate with a horse from the saddle. She is familiar with our compensatory patterns and movement tendencies via both her medical background and her own riding experience.

“I wear the label ‘riding doctor’ when I work with riders and evaluate their balance and functional challenges on horseback,” explains Dr. Glosten. “I do not diagnose medical disorders, but I use my background in medicine, movement, and riding to identify postural and muscle imbalances that can preclude effective riding, and cause or contribute to injury.”

With sections based on Dr. Glosten’s Five Rider Fundamentals—Mental Focus, Proper Posture,Leg Control, Arm Control, and Understanding Movement—readers are introduced to a sensible system of organizing the human body in the saddle. Throughout, “Rider’s Challenge” case studies provide a glimpse of the kinds of problems commonly faced and how to best solve them.

Then, Dr. Glosten—who is also a certified Pilates instructor and founder of the RiderPilates LLC fitness program—provides over 50 step-by-step exercises geared toward further developing the riding skills we need to be balanced, effective, healthy riders, now and for years to come.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Riding in Balance
My Story
The Five Rider Fundamentals
Overcoming Challenges
Exercises
Simple Exercise Equipment
More Nuts and Bolts

Fundamental 1: Mental Focus
Coordinate Your Breathing with Movement
Exercises to Coordinate Breathing with Movement

Fundamental 2: Proper Posture
23 What Is Balance?
26 Anatomy of Posture
Exercises to Align Your Spine
Exercises to Engage your Deep Abdominal and Back Muscles
Exercises to Strengthen Your Core
Exercises to Stabilize Spinal Alignment
Exercises for Symmetry and Lateral Balance

Fundamental 3: Body Control: Legs
Anatomy of Legs
Exercises for Gluteal and Hamstring Muscles
Stretches for Gluteal and Hamstring Muscles, and External Rotators
Exercises for Adductor and Abductor Muscles
Exercise for the Quadriceps Muscle
Exercises for the Iliopsoas Muscle
Exercises for Differentiating Movement in the Hip Joint, Pelvis, and Spine
Exercise to Learn Core Stability with Leg Movement
More Pain Issues

Fundamental 4: Body Control: Arms
Anatomy of Arms
Exercises to Connect the Arms, Shoulder Girdles, and Torso
Common Arm Position and Function Challenges

Fundamental 5: Understanding Movement
Exercises to Develop Independent Movement
Exercise for Supple Elbows
Riding Exercise to Improve Sitting Trot
Riding Exercise to Improve Transitions
Riding Exercise to Improve Timing of Aids

Final Comments
Learn More!
Quick Reference: Rider Fundamental Exercises
Suggested Workouts
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

The pictures and descriptions are wonderful. Many [exercises] have step-by-step instructions, and each exercise then relates directly back to how it affects your riding. … This book is broad enough to cover a variety of disciplines. … I found this book really fascinating and loved the visual representation of both exercises and issues. I can’t wait to see how it helps with my shoulders.” —A Gift Horse

“Gives you remedies and fixes for all the common rider issues, from locked elbows and stiff backs to body control and lateral balance. [Beth Glosten] brings us all a wonderful resource which identifies the problems many of us face in the saddle and gives us appropriate exercises and advice on how to improve. … A great book.” —TheHorseStudio.com

“Remarkably clear and understandable explanations of riding anatomy and what our bodies ‘do’ on horseback, for riders of all ages, abilities, and equestrian disciplines.” —Lone Star Horse Report

“Each exercise could benefit anyone, but Glosten’s instructions are laced with real-life stories and examples of how they create a better, more effective equestrian…sort of a Centered Riding for the rest of us.” —Equestrian Ink

From the Publisher