calves cramp up?

Question

my calves cramp up when i trot, so i have to stop every few minutes, i hate it because i hold everyone else on the trail ride up. by the end of the ride my legs are like jello! roughly 5 miles at a walk and trot. am i holding my legs wrong or am i just out of shape? any advice Thanks. only ride once a week, and just started back after ten years a few months ago.

Answer 1

Try a potassium supplement. Often cramping is caused by a lack of potassium. It also helps with growing pains in children. Make sure that you drink plenty of water and eat a banana. I most certainly hopes this helps you. good luck

Answer 2

I used to hate my riding instructor when she made us do this, but I totally understood it better when we would start jumping and riding at a two-point. You need to do this in both your bare or socked feet and the boots you ride in: stand on a step, not the bottom one, but maybe one or two up; it there's a handrail, use it; stand on the ball of your foot on the end of the step and with your heels, try to touch the step. Picture it like this: the top of the step you are standing on is like the bottom of an L that is turned upside down. You want to press your heels towards the side of that L.
I spent an entire class period like this one day. We'd break for like 5 or 10 minutes and go back to it. Do one leg at a time. It does hurt, I won't kid you about that, but what it does is it stretches out the back of your calf muscle which along with the ball of your foot and your heel helps absorb most of the shock from trotting, especially if you post to the trot. Do the stretches for about 10-15 minutes a day. You can even do them a couple times a day if you want to. If you don't have steps, I've heard of people using phone books. A curb works well too, but I like to have something to help me balance.
If you're trying to sit the trot, try posting instead. Even if you ride Western, I've found a lot of people that do are starting to post to the trot instead of trying to sit it.

Answer 3

Ouch, I can relate. To alleviate this problem, you can try several of these remedies, some or all of them are bound to help. Before you begin your ride, take plenty of time to do hamstring stretches and continue to keep that in mind when riding, keep your heels down, that will continue to do the stretching...Also, potassium and magnesium might be lacking in your system, try sports drinks that contain them, or green leafy vegetables and/or banannas...there are also chewables that you can take along with you on your rides...and remember to drink lots and lots of water. Instead of gripping with your legs so much, put more weight on the stirrups and if you feel that a cramp is coming on, just stand up in the stirrups (keep riding) and drop your heels as far down as you can...it keeps those hamstrings stretched and will really help with those cramps. On the days that you don't ride, continue with the stretching routine, don't skip it, nor the mineral supplements...

Answer 4

That's a lot of riding for someone who's out of shape! It'll take a while at only one ride a week, but should get better with time. You may be low on minerals to cause this cramping, also. A sports drink with trace minerals may help while you are riding.

Answer 5

It sounds like you are tense and that you are gripping with your calves. Try to relax and not grip with them.
Put your weight down into your heels and do not grip with your legs.
A sports drink or something with potassium may help as those can help with leg cramping.
The more you ride the more you will become used to using those muscles and it will get easier.

Answer 6

I had the same problem, but at horse shows when I'd jump. I did a lot of stretching and it's also important to stay well hydrated. If you stretch your calves and legs out before you ride, I think you'll see and feel a big difference.

Answer 7

Stretch them legs before you ride, Do some toe touches standing up and then site down and grab 1 ankle with both hands and slowly stretch your calves, it will make a world of difference on long rides.

Answer 8

Yes, unfortunately, my doctor said it's common. He said it may be a shortage of potassium or calcium. It got better for me (although I didn't start taking more of either of those). I just knew not to try to stretch too quickly, even in the night, or I'd get a terrible cramp.

Answer 9

I know what you're talking about. Try stretching your legs. I do that when my calves get cramped up. also make sure your heels are down when you are trotting. that may help a little.

Answer 10

When this occurred to me I later found I had circulation problems in my legs. If you are not that old or have other health problems that would cause this. It could be you are very out of shape.