Get to Hassle Free

In the real world, people have partners, children, aging parents, friends, etc., and things like work, travel, school, etc., that come into play. Most of us have a hard enough time finding time to ride our horses, let alone time to do these exercises.

Here are some tips on making these exercises Hassle Free.


Week One - Do the Belly Button Pull and the Pelvic Clock lying flat on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor every day for one week. This will take no longer than an extra 10 minutes a day.

Week Two - Do the Belly Button Pull while driving your car/truck and the Pelvic Clock lying flat on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor every day of week two. This will take no longer than 5 extra minutes a day because you can now do the Belly Button Pull at the same time you’re driving.

Week Three - Do the Belly Button Pull while driving or standing in line at the grocery store and the Pelvic Clock either lying flat on your back or driving your car/truck. Add One Stop Shopping as you get out of bed every day of week three. This will take no longer than 5 – 10 extra minutes a day because now you may be able to do both the Belly Button Pull and the Pelvic Clock while driving.

Week Four - Do the Belly Button Pull while driving/standing, the Pelvic Clock while driving/standing, and One Stop Shopping as you get out of bed. Add Knee Pickups while lying flat on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor everyday of week four. This will take no more than 5 – 10 extra minutes a day because now you can do the Belly Button Pull and the Pelvic Clock while driving/standing.

Now you have a basic foundation necessary for your abdominal muscles from the Pull, the Clock and the Knee Pickups. You also have the beginnings of flexibility from the stretch efficiency and thorough-ness of One Stop Shopping.

You are ready to go directly to the Exercise Menus. Begin with the Starter Exercises and then go to the Maintenance Exercises. After a time, you will pick and choose your own exercise menu based upon your own individual needs, strengths and weaknesses.

No matter which exercises I choose to do every day, I make sure that I do one or preferably two abdominal exercises every day. Abdominal muscles are the first to go and take the longest to come back.

Also, if I lose flexibility or fluidity in a particular part of my body, I exercise and/or stretch that body part every day in order to regain its looseness. For example, I may do the Foot Roll with a ball every night watching TV for a couple of weeks if my ankles feel like steel rods. Once my ankles become more pliable, I’ll do the Toe Curls maybe once a week in order to maintain their elasticity.

Critically important, if I have any kind of strain or injury on or off my horse, I go back to the basics, the Starter Exercises. Your body will trust you if you respect its Safe Haven. Do not push, stress, expect your body to go beyond its limits, particularly when your body is not at its best. Remember, you are the only person who can be kind to your body.

All that said, to get to Hassle Free

1. Build a basic foundation for your abdominal muscles.
2. Build the beginnings of flexibility.
3. Do 5 exercises that are specific to your individual body needs every day.
4. Do 1 or 2 abdominal exercises among the 5 you pick to do every day.
5. Check into and maintain your basic flexibility.
6. Progress at your own pace to develop your strength and balance.
7. Be kind to yourself.
8. Give yourself a big pat on the back every day for doing 5 exercises of your choosing daily.

Obviously, if and when you do have “extra” time to give to these exercises, do it. You’ll be glad you did.

Hassle Free Exercises for Riders and actual riding are inter-related. These exercises will point the way to your riding more effectively and your riding will point the way to the exercises you need in order to become more effective.

Let me hear from you with your comments, suggestions, questions.