For riders, the most important piece of equipment they own is their body. It will literally make or break their riding future whether their goal is to ride for the sheer joy of it or to compete at the highest levels. A conditioned rider is going to be able to handle the repeated stresses put on their body end of story. The stresses a rider's body faces can most often be attributed to muscle imbalances and faulty movements patterns, not accidents as one might think.

"Effortlessness: Using as much as necessary but as little as possible"
- Joseph Pilates

It is not big movements and big strong muscles that make a rider great, it’s the things you don’t see, it comes from the inside out.

The Riding Pilates Connection
While most forms of exercise are beneficial for riders, pilates is the preferred form of exercise for several reasons. Riders have a unique set of requirements they face while in the saddle. They are balancing on top of a dynamic, living, breathing animal that challenges the riders stability at every step. The balance and control of ones body learned through pilates transfers directly into the saddle. Students of pilates will strengthen the deep, stabilizing muscles of their core, gaining better support of their spine in a method that is not found in traditional gym workouts. In addition to core strength, pilates focuses on proper breathing, proper placement of the pelvis, shoulder girdle stability and flexibility. This leads to long, lean, strong and supple riders. In time, students find they have improved posture and an easier time isolating the muscles they need to perform challenging movements and seamless transitions.

Another tremendous benefit of practicing pilates is the prevention of injury. Riders have many patterns of injury that are not typically due to falls, bites, kicks or accidents. They can usually be attributed to the repeated dynamic forces a rider absorbs into their bodies from their horse. The most common injuries faced by riders are first and foremost low back issues and injuries, shoulder injuries, knee pain and neck injuries. They are typically caused by muscle imbalance, repeated concussive forces taken in the spine, poor posture and body awareness. The improved control of ones body learned in regular pilates practice will lead to better riding and control of one’s horse.

Pilates, like riding requires much time and practice to master. It is not a quick fix. In time though, a student will feel a rhythm and flow in their workouts that will follow them into their riding.

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