STAYING IN SHAPE

One of the secrets of Laurel’s successful, active lifestyle is staying physically fit. “It’s ironic to me that even though we spend all day on the back of a horse doing strenuous things, parts of our body still aren’t strong enough to hold our skeletons correctly,” she says. “That’s been a revelation to me, that we need supplemen- tary workouts. I’m trying to avoid a knee replace- ment, plus I had back surgery in 1990. “It makes me think of our horses,” she goes on, “and how injuries affect them. If I have a sore knee, then pretty soon it’s my hip hurting, too. That’s why maintenance and staying in shape are so important.” Her routine, done faithfully every morning, has been professionally mapped out. “A physical therapist showed me how to work on core strength, which helps both my knees and my back. I also do squats and side planks on balance pods, those squishy rubber discs that are so great for enhancing a move.” As dedicated as she is to fitness, she still has to push herself at times. “It’s difficult, because you know what you have in front of you for the day, so the last thing you want to do is more exercise. And yet, as we age, our muscles become less strong. Barry and I laugh about this—I’m fighting the aging process tooth and nail! But I do want to stay at the top of my game—and able to go down the fence—so I just do it.” She sums it up philosophically. “You have to take care of what the good Lord gave you. Working out may seem boring, but the rewards are great.”