Riding significant distances is an intense sport that requires (and produces) a high level of physical fitness. One can become a better rider by conditioning muscles used for riding with weight training, aerobic exercise and stretching.
However, there are only 24 hours in a day. Efficiency demands that in addition to having a sound body one should have super conditioned riding muscles. Riding uses different muscles depending on the gait one travels and the saddle one uses (english or western.)
Fortunately it is possible to identify particular muscle groups that the rider needs to condition by simply trotting and cantering to the point of the rider's total exhaustion. Within 24-48 hours after such a ride a deconditioned rider will experience significant muscle soreness in muscle groups that need conditioning.
This can be a tremendous short cut to reaching optimal fitness levels. Those muscle groups can be emphasized in training with weghts, etc.
Don't blow this suggestion off--it is an important one.
(Another great photo by Tom Crockett. He should be photographing your horses too.)
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