Equestrian Exercises Start With Pilates

I am a rider and have competed up to International level. I am a Physiotherapist and a Pilates Educator. I have had numerous injuries from falls and working with horses and I practice what I preach and teach and have been able to continue riding at a high level with success. I teach equestrian exercises which are pilates based exercises specific for the horse rider.

Pilates Specific for Horse Riders 

This is what I use as my equestrian exercises. Any body can attend and follow a pilates class and most likely improve their posture and fitness. This will not improve your riding.There are so many available these days and at a great cost. If you want to follow pilates to improve your riding you need to look at a specific program designed just for horse riders.

You Need to Learn Pilates 

When I am working I ask my patients do they do Pilates. I have heard so many say they tried, it but it did not do them any good. These are the classes that are not teaching their pupils about Pilates they are only giving follow the leader classes. Horse Riders are in this category, you need to learn Pilates and apply it to your riding not just follow a leader doing exercises.

I ask my riding pupils if they have heard of Pilates....some are getting interested, they have heard it is good for posture.

In many of my riding pupils I see poor posture, round shoulders, stiff lower back, weak upper back, poor lower leg stability and certainly poor sit trot and loose in the seat at the canter.

How Can Equestrian Exercises Help?

Look at yourself before you blame the horse!

When I give a riding lesson I look at the riders posture first. The horse will always go better with a better rider. The horse will only be as good as the rider will allow, not ask. I teach riders about their own posture problems first. We look at upper body strength and the ability to hold the shoulders square not round. We asses the strength of the back muscles and how these work in dressage riding. I test the abdominals and the strength of the core muscles. This is the single most important muscle to have strong and functioning in the horse rider. These are specific equestrian exercises for the rider

I Teach Pilates For Horse Riders as the main Equestrian Exercises To Follow

A rider must learn how to initiate and engage the deep transverse Abdominal muscle to apply core stability in the saddle. This is an equestrian exercise.

The lower back also must be flexible and have the ability to tilt forwards and backwards as it rolls in rhythm with the horses hind leg movement. Specific stretches to gain this is an equestrian exercise. A stiff lower back will stop this movement the horse will tighten and resist. A rider following certain equestrian exercises such has Applied Posture Riding will be able to fix these problems.

Many instructors are able to see the rider problems but not tell how to fix them.

As A Physiotherapist I can assess the problems I see riders have with their posture. As a rider I know how to ride and I know how to instruct. As a Pilates teacher I teach core stability strength and function. I have been able to teach riders specific Pilates based movement patterns and apply pilates concepts in the saddle. This program is Called Applied Posture Riding. For more very unique equestrian exercise follow the links below and improve your riding.

Annette Willson

1. Physiotherapist

2. Pilates Teacher

3. Elite Horse Rider

http://www.applied-posture-riding.com.

Pilates For Horse Riders

Equestrian Pilates Specific For Horse Riders

Equestrian Pilates.. What Does This Mean?

Horse riding requires a very static low range of movement from most of the trunk and limb muscles. It is unlike running or athletics or a ball sport, all of which require the limbs to move through large ranges of motion. All sports require good core stability but horse riding in particular demands a strong core for the stability required to apply effective balanced aids to the horse.

What is Pilates?

Pilates is the term used to exercise the posture and the mostly the deep core abdominal muscles. It has been marketed as the new wave exercise program for a flat stomach and toned body. This is exactly what it can do if taught properly. Unfortunately many people are attending pilates classes and basically just doing aerobics with a tighter tummy as the main instruction.

Pilates is the specific training of the Transverse Abdominal muscle (TVA). It must be taught by a Physiotherapist or exercise Physiologist. Not all pilates classes are of use.

Equestrian Pilates is even more complex. Horse riders must first learn how to contract, then test and train the TVA muscle. But anyone can learn this and not use it in the saddle.

Equestrian Pilates or pilates specific for the horse rider is the most valuable program any rider can follow to improve their riding and improve their posture. Horse riders with a strong core ride with so much more skill.

What is Equestrian Pilates?

Equestrian pilates is how the rider uses deep core stability to be a great rider. Those riders that have a good functioning core are great riders those that dont need to learn 'how to use their core to improve their riding and their posture.

Just doing pilates exercises is not enough. A rider must learn how to use the core muscles for stability of the lower back and the trunk. The core muscles are involved in all paces of the horse. The sit trot especially requires a functioning deep core muscle. The canter requires a flexible pelvis and lower back. This movement is controlled by the TVA muscle. But How you ask?

Who Teaches Equestrian Pilates?

Applied Posture Riding is equestrian pilates. This program has become one of the most popular, effective quality programs on the net. Applied Posture Riding is Pilates For Horse Riders. It is important in so many sports to learn about the use of the muscles and how how they function within your sport. This program is specific for horse riders. Applied Posture Riding looks at the anatomy and function of all the horse riding muscles. The pilates specific exercises go into detail about the deep core muscles and the main postural muscles used by the rider.

The rider has the information to test, train and learn movement patterns specific to the horse riding muscles.

The training of the deep core TVA muscles is focused on the horse rider. The exercises train the core for riding specifically. The upper body is strengthened as well and the mobility of the hips, shoulders and spine are all addressed in this equestrian pilates program

Who is Best Qualified to Teach Equestrian Pilates?

I have seen and treated many people who do pilates. I have instructed many horse riders who do pilates. Very few actually knew how to function in the saddle using pilates.

I am a Physiotherapist and and horse rider. I am a Pilates educator. I teach equestrian pilates or Pilates specific for horse Riders.

Applying pilates in the saddle requires a rider to teach you. Applied Posture riding is the most effective program to do this. For more information have a look at the website below. Good luck with your riding.

Annette Willson
1. Physiotherapist
2. Pilates Teacher
3. Elite Horse Rider
http://www.applied-posture-riding.com. Pilates For Horse Riders