Create a deeper seat and an ideal riding partnership with your horse.
- Frustrated that your horse won’t respond properly to your commands?
- Having trouble keeping a stable seat?
- Feeling unusually sore and tired after a ride?
Imbalances develop over time, based on physiology, posture, and lifestyle. How you move when not riding – other types of exercise, the amount (and quality) of sitting you do at work, etc. – directly affects how you function on a horse. Resulting asymmetries greatly affect movement and alignment, resulting in impediments like:
- Rounded shoulders
- Tightness and curving in the lower back
- Tight hamstrings
Why Pilates?
Pilates exercises increase your body awareness and improve flexibility, balance, and strength in order to facilitate an optimal riding experience. Pilates helps equestrians:
- Lengthen the spine and strengthen the core, which stabilizes the body in movement
- Sculpt a stronger body with increased flexibility, strength, and balance
- Create a deeper seat and enhance the suppleness of the lower back
- Strengthen the abdominals
- Increase hip independence
- Increase leg and body length
Performance Benefits
With a strong core and increased flexibility, riders can:
- Freely and gently move arms and legs around a stable base
- Help clarify aids and hold jumping form
- Avoid collapsing and bouncing in the saddle
- Better absorb a horse’s movement
- Improve posture to help you deepen your seat
- Increase comfort during and after your ride
- Maintain neutral pelvis so you can easily follow your horse’s movements
- Develop a trusting riding relationship, where your horse responds to your commands and is confident in your ability
Adapted from Balance Body
