It’s difficult to assess fitness for riding because it contains so many components-one being a wild animal. Others being experience, technical ability and then the question as to whether you are fit for intro Dressage or Badminton as they would be different levels of fitness.
However Jockeys have to pass a fitness test to gain their licence so I thought I would have a look at what that entails-ignoring the fact I eat too much food to ever make weight as a female jockey!
There are various different tests for muscular endurance, core power and cardio fitness-The Bleep Test, for which I still have psychological issues with from school and I’m not ready to tackle those demons yet.
However muscular endurance I reckon I could give a crack.
So just for fun (ok I have different ideas of fun) I picked out these two tests from the Jockey fitness Test.
You get a score out of 100 based on the time you achieve.
Stupidly I did my first attempt at these after a heavy training session so I was nowhere near fresh! However I managed a 2 minute plank which would be 50% so not great p. The leg repetition and hold I managed the full 2 minutes though so I was pretty pleased with that; I’m not going to lie it burned like hell!
Plank -on Forearms and toes for up to 4 minutes.
60-25%
120-50%
180-75%
240-100%
Exercise Ball leg repetitions and hold.
Squat with gym ball behind you for 20 reps, then hold a 5kg weight and hold with thighs at 90 degrees for up 2 minutes.
30-25%
60-50%
90-75%
120-100%
Why don’t you challenge your yard friends and see how you score!