We love delving into the daily routines of the people who are building amazing brands in the equestrian community. Juggling horses, riding and running a business is no small achievement. But what about 4 horses AND staying in enviable shape whilst helping other riders improve their fitness?! Clare Gangadeen, founder of RiderCise, takes us through how she squeezes it all into a day and gives us some insight into her current rider fitness challenges. Let’s go behind the brand at RiderCise!
Waiting hand and foot on four Friesian mares
Like all horse owners, my life revolves around horses – oh, and 3 cats and my partner Adam! I am fortunate that I now have the horses at home, which saves me so much time previously spend travelling to and from the yard. However there is one tiny downside – the girls have worked out exactly WHERE I LIVE! If you have seen my Facebook videos you would have seen naughty Imke escaping and coming to the house! The result is that they are now waited on hand and hoof – there are downfalls to everything! But I really do love having them at home. It means I get to see the babies growing up and spend time with them without always wanting something but I now visit them at least 5 times per day!
I have 4 beautiful Friesian girls:
Annick – a 2nd Premie Star Mare who is 12 years old and my Queen, my inspiration, the face of my Brand.
Rana – a 3rd Premie Mare who is also 12 years old and my first Friesian who started this addiction I now seem to have.
Zeva – a 2-year-old filly who is just massive but the gentlest girl. She loves attention, treats and galloping.
Imke – a 2nd Premie Filly, 2 years old who is probably the sweetest and cleverest horse I have met. She is an escape artist extraordinaire! Just head over to the RiderCise® Facebook page to see ALL her videos.
Clare and her beloved Annick
An early start to a busy day
I typically get up at about 6:30am, feed the cats and then go feed the girls, turn out, muck out and fix whatever Imke has destroyed. It takes me about 1.5hrs to do four boxes and prep them for the evening. I then head back in to do my cardio. I normally do between 30-60mins on the cross trainer whilst making calls, responding to emails and going through my diary.
At the moment I am busy recording for the new RiderCise® On Demand Platform. That means that after my cardio, I’ll have a shower and then record 1 or 2 routines before a late breakfast at about 11am. I then head out to ride the two older horses. I try to alternate between Annick and Rana but of course, they are horses so that doesn’t always go to plan and they sometimes get left longer between rides depending on how they felt when previously ridden.
Both Annick and Rana are slowly improving their fitness as I don’t typically ride much through the summer. They just don’t cope well with the heat and, as always, there are ongoing challenges with horses. They are individuals, nothing is plain sailing and there are often more downs than ups!
Behind the scenes of RiderCise®
At about 2pm I normally have some lunch and then sit down. I start looking through my client’s updates on the RiderCise® current platform, responding to questions and queries. I then typically start editing videos (which takes forever!) until about 5pm. Despite the girls having access to grass there isn’t anything in it at this time of year. That means they are often bored and want to come in, so off I trot to the yard to bring them in and feed.
After feeding I head back to my office and continue editing videos. Then I do the majority of my client calls who are on Custom Designed Programmes. I often finish at about 8:30pm, sometimes later if I have a webinar or am speaking to clients in another time zone. Then, I start making my dinner and usually have a glass of wine. I do love wine and it helps me shut my mind down, especially when working so late. Just before I eat, I go check the girls. I top up their hay and give them their sweets for the night.
Fitness to ride supporting her horses
Rana has slipping stifles, something she has always suffered from and she needs to work a lot more through her body. She has a tendency to drag herself rather than push herself and she doesn’t have much focus. She would much rather be watching what everyone else is doing instead of her feet, which doesn’t help her stifles. With her, I work on forwardness mainly, long and loose, she must find her balance and learn to use her body properly. We do lots of transitions, serpentines, zig-zags to keep her focused. I also pay particular attention to my body posture, balance and control so she doesn’t have to worry about dealing with me as well as herself.
Annick hasn’t been right for a while. She was caught on our CCTV playing in the field, bucking and landing upside down on the floor! She needs to lengthen and strengthen her muscles (as with most of us riders) so, whilst I need to work her, she often needs bigger recovery gaps. It will often feel like she is going 4 steps backwards and then has a really great session. Annick also has to work more proactively from her hind and find her own balance. She also needs more support from me, to help pace her (she will rush if allowed) through my tempo and encouragement to go forward with impulsion with my energy and seat.
A total body approach to fitness
I keep a total body approach with my own fitness, but at the moment I am personally focusing on the control of my body for both horses. It’s important that I’m in control of what my body is doing. It enables me to stay as light as possible in my seat, not leaning or collapsing through transitions whilst still having the strength to create impulsion to drive them forwards. For Annick, I need the strength in my legs to wrap around her and support her when needed and release when she has rebalanced. I also need the strength in my posterior chain to control the pace of her trot through the tempo of my posting.
I’m constantly looking at ways I can improve myself for the benefit of my girls. Small changes in the way I ride can have huge positive impacts on their ability to move beneath me. Focusing on rider fitness truly has changed my life!
Learn more about RiderCise®
Clare’s message that rider fitness is just as important as horse fitness has truly resonated with riders around the world. Rider fitness is not just for elites, it’s for anyone who cares about their horse! Riding is a partnership and we have to hold up to our side of the bargain.
Keep an eye out for the launch of the RiderCise® on Demand programme when it launches later this month take a closer look here.
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I would love to hear your views so do not hesitate to contact us, subscribe to our newsletter for free, or click here to get in contact for any questions or queries you may have. Keep up to date with the latest content by following our Social profiles on Facebook, and Instagram.
by Tracy Thompson, Endurance Rider since 1990. Tracy suffered a spinal injury in 1998, but with the continued support of her fellow riders and husband, Tracy has been able to compete alongside her son, Jamie and complete yet another 160km.
Many years ago I worked in a trekking centre and was stunned by how much difficulty people could have trying to get on the horses, with the more mature amongst them saying things like” I have lost my spring”. At the time I couldn’t comprehend what on earth they meant and suspect I was far from sympathetic but their words have now come back to haunt me and I realise I owe them an apology!
I have mobility problems as a result of a spinal injury in my thirties but have been fortunate enough to be able to continue to ride. The horses have been my sanity and provide me with the freedom to go places that I could never reach on foot.
Through my love of Endurance Riding, I have been able to explore lots of the British countryside and I am very fortunate that my fellow Endurance Riders are a great group of people and are all too willing to open any gates that I can’t manage from the horse.
Over the last few years, I have noticed a marked decrease in my range of movements and mobility. One of the biggest issues is getting on the horse. (When I say horse I actually mean 14hh pony but let’s not split hairs). I use a mounting block and provided the pony stands still I can just about launch myself into the saddle. This is a far from an elegant procedure and often involves a little swearing and cursing. If for any reason I have to get off I am completely stuck and have to hover about hoping some well-meaning hiker will take pity and hoik me into the saddle.
At the start of 2019, I was feeling pretty despondent about the whole situation and was beginning to wonder what I could do to remedy things. A friend mentioned RiderCise® and suggested it might help.
RiderCise® is the brainchild of Clare Gangadeen who is a rider, Soft Tissue Therapist and a Personal Trainer with much experience in the Fitness Industry. Using all her skills, knowledge and real-life experience with riding and training people Clare developed a series of programmes that are specifically designed to improve fitness, strength, mobility, stability and balance in the saddle. RiderCise® provides Online Programmes to riders at any level, in any discipline across the world, making Rider Fitness Easy and Affordable.
It sounded too good to be true but I contacted Clare to learn more and she explained how you can access her training programmes via an App on your phone and given my individual needs she was able to adapt the programme and was always available to help.
January 7th found me starting on the RiderCise® 9 Week Rider Challenge, which is something that Clare offers riders to allow them to see how easy it can be to improve their Rider Fitness, totally Risk Free! Not only do you get direct access to Clare for help and guidance when needed but you can cancel anytime.
Despite being useless with technology I found it very straightforward. The ‘Challenge’ starts at Foundation level and begins with ten minute sessions that are easy to fit into your day. There are a set of exercises with written instructions and a step-by-step video of how to do them properly; there are also a range of stretches. As the programme needed to be adapted due to my mobility issues, Clare took a very detailed medical history so she could customise the programme. She plays a very active role in the ‘Challenge’ and regularly messages to see how you are getting on. I have been amazed that despite messaging her at some random hours she still responds very quickly.
At first I found some of the exercises nigh on impossible but was surprised to find that each week they became a little easier. They focus on quality rather than quantity and gradually you increase the repetitions. They are something you can do almost anywhere, which makes it easy to fit into a busy schedule.
I did encounter a slightly embarrassing moment when I was doing the” Bear Walk”. This involves walking along on all fours and I was doing my best Grizzly impression around the kitchen floor. I had not put in my hearing aid and so did not hear the arrival of the delivery man. I had my back to him as I wandered around the kitchen on all fours and it was only when I turned round I spotted him standing at the door looking somewhat bemused. I inelegantly hauled myself to my feet and thought I owed the poor guy an explanation.
I told him I was doing an exercise programme and that it involved Bear Walking. There was a look of horror on his face as he practically chucked the parcel at me and shot off muttering” bloody hell, naked exercising whatever next?”
I was bent double laughing at the thought of him going back to the depot with tales of crazy women.
On a more serious note I can’t believe what a difference a few minutes a day can make. I feel suppler and my posture has improved, as my core muscles have got stronger. I love the way that the workouts can be moved around to fit in with your life and that the exercises are very varied so you don’t get bored. Clare manages to find something to challenge you and is so supportive. It’s like having a personal trainer at your beck and call.
Horse riders spend a great deal of time and money getting horses fit but we are inclined to be a bit lax when it comes to our own fitness. Recent studies have shown what a dramatic impact the rider can have on the horse’s way of going. Injuries and weakness in riders often cause them to sit unlevel and this can have a very negative impact on the horse. Perhaps we owe it to our horses to try and sort out our own niggles as well as looking at their problems.
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On the 17th – 19th May 2019 the 53rdGolden Horseshoe Ride (GHS) took place in stunning Exford, in the heart of the Exmoor National Park – one of the most beautiful places to ride in the UK.
Whilst beautifully stunning, Exmoor National Park is vast with a total of 267 square miles of varying and challenging terrain from deep wooded valleys, high sea cliffs, fast flowing streams and large areas of open moorland which together give can the sense of remoteness and wilderness in its true form.
Historically the Golden Horseshoe ride started in Exmoor with the first ride taking place in 1965, the ride then took place at different venues throughout the country before returning back to Exmoor in 1974.
With the challenging terrain and the weather system of Exmoor the ride requires a very fit horse and experienced rider to cope with the demands of the sport but over the years, organisers Barbara Wigley, Jo, and Andrew Chisholm have worked hard to broaden the ride’s appeal and to attract non-competitive riders who wish to explore the beauty of Exmoor by providing a pleasure ride and wide range of classes from 24 km to 160 km.
Although there were low entries for the longer distance classes, whereas previously these places were sold out well in advance, the smaller classes were well attended from riders around England and Wales.
RiderCise® attended the GHS as a sponsor and provider of Rider Therapy in aid of the Air Ambulance Service for Dorset, Devon & Somerset. I spent much of my time wandering around, getting in the way and asking lots of questions so I could learn as much as possible.
With so many riders today taking part in ‘Leisure’ riding in the UK, I wondered why there seems to be a lack of younger riders participating in endurance riding in general and why they were not participating in such a ’Signature’ ride.
Everyone was so very very helpful, yet totally focused on ensuring that the horses were fit and sound and riders were prepared.
Before the first day there was a briefing from Barbara who previously organized the ride, but now maps out to the rides personally by horseback and by foot well in advance of the ride in May, well, it is 160km! Barbara gave an encouraging and insightful talk on the North and South Ride routes, pointing out the going of the terrain, possible areas of concern and detailed information about the beautiful scenery on route. A truly invaluable briefing to help prepare riders so not only did they complete, but so they could enjoy the journey too.
The briefing was repeated on the evening of the first day, prior to the second day also.
With the riders having attended the briefing and armed with maps, it was down to the horses passing their initial vetting where they must be presented sound prior to being allowed to ride.
The ride routes were marked extremely carefully to ensure that riders stay safe, these included a number of watering holes but during the rides, crews (groups of your fan club, supporters, mums, and dads) were able to meet you at specific points to provide water and feed for you and your horse and anything else that may be needed. A horse can quickly become exhausted and overheat with the challenging terrain and the Exmoor’s ever-changing weather. It is also especially important that riders ensure they are taking on food and liquid, something I fear is often forgotten or not deemed important (us riders have a habit of caring so much for our horses that we sometimes forget ourselves, but remember, without helping ourselves, we can’t help our horses!)
On return from either a circuit or the total distance of the ride, the horses had a period of up to 20 minutes before they must be presented a sound and have a heart rate of 58bpm or under. You can present your horse anytime you like but If the heart rate is too high you can only re-present once more within the 20min slot. If they did not pass the vetting they were eliminated from being graded.
Throughout the ride, the organizers communicated extensively with each other, the vets and the trail bikes out on the course who look after the riders. This Endurance ride is orchestrated beautifully, with the welfare of horse and rider at the forefront.
With such a community feel, horse and rider welfare the first concern, beautiful surroundings with routes chosen for their beauty and challenges why are numbers declining for this ‘Signature’ ride in the high distance classes? I don’t have the answers but here are my thoughts.
Points win Prizes
Many who take part competitively are looking for points accrual, completing the rides easiest for them and their horses, whilst gaining the maximum number of points counting towards mileage awards, in the form of rosettes or trophies.
Riders can gain the same amount of points from a local, less challenging 160km ride which seems to be, in my opinion, a huge contributor to the decline in riders for the higher classes of this signature ride. With this factor alongside the cost to attend such ride where you are no able to stay on site due to permissions and the extreme weather of Exmoor, meaning that you also need to pay additional costs such as stabling and accommodation, it makes a very expensive, high-risk ride.
Being such a challenging ride, it only makes sense (to me) that the GHS should award more points than another ride at the same distance on easier terrain. However, I can understand that this may be a difficult feat but feel that an adjustment in the rules which grades the rides not only on distance alone but also on difficulty due to the climate and terrain would help distinguish rides such as the GHS and give them more stature and appeal.
The Future of Endurance
This is my personal view, as an outsider, looking in and contemplating taking part.
I LOVE riding my horses and there is nothing better than taking a ride on amazing routes with beautiful scenery!
Why you should take up Endurance Riding?
They have the most amazing community of people who all have the welfare of horse and rider at heart (yes, there are some that don’t, like in any other discipline but I want to focus on the majority, not the minority). They have access to some of the most beautiful riding areas in the UK, which you may not get to experience otherwise, and you can make some amazing friendships with a sense of belonging.
The sport feels a little being the times in that in any other discipline there are awards of monies or sponsorship opportunities when a rider wins an event, championship or class. I think many people used to compete at Endurance for the love of it but unfortunately, times change. Especially as owning horses, training, traveling and taking part in such events cost so much more money today, there needs to be an incentive or reward, other than just for the love of it and a rosette.
However, I feel this is a chicken and egg situation as, without the support of members and attendance at events, Endurance rides are not in a position to attract sponsors and obtain prizes in forms of monies and formal sponsorships, making them more competitive aspect of Endurance even more appealing
Many of us spend our time wishing and/or complaining that there are not enough events or opportunities to get our horses out and about in a welcoming environment where horse and rider welfare and enjoyment is paramount. For this reason alone, I personally will be joining Endurance GB, with my two Friesian mares to show my support, even if I do just enter the pleasure or low level/distance rides and I can’t wait to get out and about and experience some of the amazing routes on offer!
To enable these events to be provided to us, we must show our support – will you?
What part will RiderCise® play?
I believe that there should be a greater focus on bringing Endurance riding up to date and in line with the other disciplines.
Whilst there are still many competing in Endurance riding, there appear to be few younger riders who are interested in Competitive Endurance riding and for the sport to continue and grow it needs to appeal to today’s younger generation who need greater incentives and rewards to work hard and invest their monies in training and competing at these events.
Endurance riders spending hours in the saddle at a ride at a time, working with their horses to get them through safe and sound. Riders who understand more so that if they hinder the horse through their own lack of body control, condition, and fitness they could cause undue additional stress or strain in an already challenging sport. The commitment to the welfare of the horse in this discipline is why RiderCise® became the Title Sponsor of the Endurance GB Championships.
I hope that with the sponsorship of RiderCise®, not only will we be able to provide riders with the knowledge, support, and guidance on Rider Fitness and Conditioning Programmess needed to improve their performance and success but we will be able to offer the incentives, rewards and prizes to encourage more riders to take part competitively.
RiderCise® Vision: To improve the Fitness, Performance, and Recovery of Equestrian Riders.
Get in Touch
I would love to hear your views so do not hesitate to contact us, subscribe to our newsletter for free, or click here to get in contact for any questions or queries you may have. Keep up to date with the latest content by following our Social profiles on Facebook, and Instagram.
