by LINDSAY SMITH

Why Every Rider Should Practice As riders, we constantly seek to develop and improve our ability to communicate physically and emotionally with our equestrian partners. The task at hand is challenging enough, but when you add the butterflies and nerves that many of us take into the show ring, the seemingly simple act of riding a horse can seem downright overwhelming and often humbling. Bending our bodies to the proper position, communicating clearly with our mounts, conquering our nerves and our doubts—it can seem a physical and mental gauntlet. However, these hurdles that stand in the way of our best rides can be minimized through simple exercises designed to properly prepare the mind and body for the unique challenges of the show ring. By weaving a combination of yoga postures into this relationship, an internal shift toward stillness, quieting of the mind, and a heightened body awareness is achieved. This builds a strong foundation for a more balanced rider and horse partnership.

Yoga is a dynamic marriage between fluidity and strength. When the physical aspect of yoga is combined with breathing exercises, you remain present, find a deeper seat and move in sync with your horse. A rider who is balanced in mind, body, and spirit will instill confidence, symmetry, and focus in their horse. Dedicating a few minutes to key yoga exercises can help open your muscles, improve balance, and focus your mind before your ride. Imagine how tight and stiff your muscles would be if you began a marathon without proper stretching and preparation. Why would riding be any different? The body needs to be prepared for what lies ahead. Riders who take the time to prepare via a pre-ride yoga routine, both mentally and physically, show significant improvement in both the work arena and show ring. They are more focused, relaxed, flexible, and comfortable in the saddle.

Yoga

Lindsay Smith, e-RYT 500, is a certif ied Yoga Tune Up® instructor, YogaWorks 500-Hour Yoga Teacher and physical therapy assistant who specializes in teaching yoga to professional and Olympic athletes. Lindsay’s unique approach to yoga infuses sport-specif ic poses, anatomical awareness, and invigorating breath work. She has coached some of the best athletes in their f ields from the high school, collegiate, professional, and Olympic levels. Working directly with coaching staff, Lindsay’s approach to yoga provides every athlete the opportunity to maximize their performance in their position, and longevity in their sport. Although athletes are Lindsay’s specialty, she also works with individuals of all ages and abilities using her skills and unique point of view to customize an appropriate set of postures to surpass your goals. www.RAWSportsYoga.com

As herd animals, our horses look to us for guidance, support, and a sense of safety. They mirror our emotions and are directly affected by our reactions. Keeping a calm mind and body directly translates to a calmer horse. The next time you’re on your horse, take a deep breath in and completely relax as you exhale. Notice how quickly your horse follows suit. To identify the physical aspect, engage your abdominal muscles to balance and collect him slightly and observe his centerline lift and shorten.

Furthermore, strength and flexibility go hand-in-hand. Without flexibility, too much strength can lead to stiffness and bracing. Flexibility without strength can lead to an absence of stability and lead to injuries. Our horses feel tension through the saddle and it directly impacts their performance. A consistent yoga routine harmonizes your strength, flexibility and focus.  

In addition to a calm mindset and sharp focus, riders also need a great sense of body awareness and core strength, which leads to balance. While yoga postures can strengthen and stretch the entire body, I find one of its greatest gifts is in searching out imbalances, tight or instable spots. These all may translate into their riding. This allows the rider to feel where their body is going without having to look, making reaction times quicker, and cues more accurate and quiet. It is no wonder why pairing two ancient practices—horsemanship and yoga—creates an unstoppable force. Over the next few months, we’ll take a deeper look at yoga postures that will warm you up, cool you down, help you maintain riding stability when you’re away from the barn, and keep you in the mental game.