Equestrian Life April 2017 Edition

How many
athletes do you
see perform
in their sport
without
warming up?
to my riders, ‘If you think you are
doing too much, you probably are!’
ARE YOU HOT TO TROT?
Riding a good quality working
trot needs a clear 2 beat rhythm
with suppleness and fluency. How
often do you feel your trot could be
better? Can you change gear within
the trot? If you give a signal with
your leg or seat and not enough
happens, try and change the speed
of your rise so you use the speed
of your own body to influence
the desire to go forward. So often
riders get drawn into pushing down
to drive the horse forwards, if you
can do the opposite and lighten
up and feel as if you are ‘making
space’ underneath your seat for
your horse to move into very often
they will do exactly that. The
horse’s back must be able to swing
and push up to support the horse
and rider, if the rider is driving
down with the seat this has the
opposite effect.
PILATES FOR THE HORSE AND
RIDER, ANYONE FOR SITTING
TROT?
As a Pilates teacher and Equipilates
trainer I will always compare the
horse’s body to that of the rider
and by improving the way of going
you are improving the horse’s
posture too. All riders will have an
element of core stability, likewise
with the horse. A hollow-backed
rider may encourage a hollow
backed horse. A swinging supple
rider will increase the likelihood of
a submissive horse.
WHO IS SUPPORTING WHO?
The common issue I often get
questioned on is the myth of
‘sitting trot with ease’. The first
requirement is a swinging back of
the horse and rider so they are able
to work as one. A tight back in the
horse will be difficult for the rider
to sit on and similarly a tight back
of the rider will make their ability
to absorb the movement quite a
challenge too.
HOW DO YOU PREPARE
YOURSELF?
Riders are being regularly classed
as athletes as the need for
attention to their own bodies is
becoming much clearer. How many
athletes do you see perform in
their sport without warming up?
What do you do before you get on
your horse? Have you considered
why he doesn’t really want to work
well for you when you are late
to arrive at the stables and have
dashed in from work and are short
of time so warming yourself up
first is not an option? Some simple
stretches to loosen yourself off,
some deep breaths to focus your
mind and clear the stresses of
the day away while you dedicate
this time to you and your horse.
Be a little bit selfish, you owe it
to yourself and your horse. If you
are really pushed for time on any
occasion then spend the time on
yourself and then you will both
benefit the following day when you
have more time and the clock isn’t
against you.
TOP TIP FOR
THIS MONTH...
Ask clear questions of your
horse and listen to the answers,
if you don’t receive a clear
answer, you may need to re-word
the question and clarify the
boundaries. Have fun!
www.equestrianlifemagazine.co.uk 41