Pilates for Horses (2025)

08/08/2023

Longe work can be extremely beneficial IF done correctly. Some of the most common mistakes I see with longing include staying at the same gait for too long without transitions or breaks, not using the correct equipment to encourage engagement (or attaching the longe line incorrectly), and not properly warming up.

I like longing because it's a great way to watch my horse move, work him without the weight of a poorly fitting saddle or bumbling rider (me), cross-train, introduce new obstacles, and I find that it increases horse/rider connection and reinforces the voice aides.

Longing is not inherently helpful for reeducating poor movement patterns. Transitions within and between gaits, spiraling the circling in and out, hills, ground poles and equipment like the Equiband are what build muscle, create strength and help with imbalances. If the horse is not asked or supported with these exercises, they often will continue to compensate or get strung out and fatigued without ever truly working. This type of movement repeated on a circle/bend can create improper stress on the joints and muscles.

Remember that longe work is WORK for your horse. Allow them ample time to walk and get loose. Change direction often. Stay strong through your core and keep your voice aides consistent. Use the right equipment for your horse. For my horse, side reins and the Equiband are essential for keeping him balanced and engaged.

Just like with riding lessons, it's never a bad idea to ask a trainer to watch you lunge and give you tips on your technique.

What is your favorite longe exercise? Check out Pilates for Horses groundwork section for some fun and interesting things to do with your horse on the longe line.

08/06/2023

With poor air quality alerts in much of the Northeast, this is a good reminder to us all to keep baseline information on our horse's "normal" vitals. By knowing your horse's average resting heart rate and temperature, you are more likely to spot signs of stress early. It's also important to ask for CBC panels every so often, and vitamin E/selenium panels yearly depending upon your location. As you can see from my latest screening posted below, it's easy to get an idea of your horse's general health from these tests.

While you can't over-supplement vitamin E (you absolutely can with selenium, so never supplement without testing), after 3 years of between 8,000IUs and 10,000IUs of natural vitamin E, my horse is finally over the general recommended range. I have cut the supplement in half which is saving me money in the long run. As with any change in diet or exercise, I am keeping a detailed journal on any changes in behavior with this switch.

Most horses should be getting a few days off if your air quality index is anything like ours in Maryland (262 today!), but if you must ride to keep your horse sane and sound, try to work at the walk and mostly on yourself. For instance, try standing in your stirrups with your arms extended and eyes closed (if safe) for an entire lap around the arena. The more secure, balanced and engaged through the core you are, the easier riding becomes for both you and your horse.

Stay safe out there!

24/04/2023

Looking for a good exercise to add to your program for extra core work and suppleness through the body? Try serpentines.

Riding a serpentine means making large loops or a series of half circles around the arena forming an "S" shape. Ask for a change of bend after each loop, without letting your horse's head rise or speed change. This creates flexibility through the ribcage and strengthens the core muscles including the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, pectorals, intercostals, multifidus and brachiocephalic muscles.

As you make your loops, try to walk straight through the center of the arena for roughly one horse length before changing bend. Use a half-halt to rebalance before asking for the new bend. As your horse perfects the loop, add brief downward transitions between the loops - first within the gait, and then between gaits. Once you have perfected a loop of 3, try adding an extra one for more challenge.

If you are having trouble with this exercise, try making full circles before moving to the next bend. This helps establish balance and gives you more time to work on proper bend. Stay slightly off the rail, which can tempt your horse to fall out in the shoulder. Perfect the pattern at the walk and round off your corners rather than riding deeply into the corners. It can also be helpful to place two cones on the straight line of each serpentine to go between in order to ensure you are not diving through the change of bend. Make sure you are not leaning around the bend as the rider and that you are engaging your core and not over-steering or requesting the bend/over-bending the neck with your hands.

14/03/2023

The Framework of Your Horse:

- Bones 🩻 provide support and elasticity for the horse by absorbing and distributing impact and stress. They are constantly being remodeled so it's important to have proper nutrition and training for them to stay strong.

- Muscles 💪 must be loaded at around 75 percent maximum tension to strengthen, which is why easy exercise like trotting around the ring aimlessly in a less-than-ideal carriage doesn't build the muscling/strength you're looking for.

-Joints 🦵 are found between two bones and assist or restrict movement between them. Joint cartilage doesn't have blood flow: waste is pressed out during work and nutrition is pulled in during relaxation. When this doesn't occur, cartilage can get stiff, weakening the joint and leading to injury.

Connective tisse refers to tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and fascia

- Tendons connect muscle to bone and are shock absorbers to sudden force. They are also used as backup when muscles tire.

- Ligaments help support bones and restrict joint movement when the end of range of motion is reached. When a ligament tears or is overstretched, the affected joint becomes unstable and the surrounding muscles sometimes overcompensate which can lead to injury.

- Fascia is tissue that surrounds the entire body, wrapping around muscles, nerves and organs. If it is strained or damaged it can decrease flexibility and even affect the nervous system, disrupting proprioception and sensory function. Cross training and bodywork can help keep the fascia healthy.

24/02/2023

One of the most common mistakes I see people make with static stretching (like carrot or incentive stretches) is going too quickly into a position and then not holding it long enough to get the benefit. If you initiate a stretch too quickly, muscles will tighten to prevent injury in a sort of fight or flight response. Slowly moving into a stretch allows the muscles to stay relatively relaxed and more easily accessible. Once in the position, gradually build up to holding the stretch (without forcing it) for 15-30 seconds. This is where the benefits are found. Take your time and listen to your horse. Let their reactions guide how far you stretch and for how long. Just watch your fingers!

31/01/2023

Did you know that your horse doesn't have muscles below the knee?

A great way to strengthen what is there - ligaments and tendons - is to walk on varied surfaces like asphalt or hard-packed dirt. This can also help with sure-footedness, coordination, and proprioception (your horse's awareness of where his limbs are in relation to the environment).

As with any exercise, make sure to start slowly and build up as your horse gets stronger. Hand-walking is the best way to start this work but you can also ride, just be wary of your horse slipping if they are barefoot. I like to also add in some backing steps as an added proprioception exercise. Start with 10 minutes of active walking every 3-4 days, then slowly increase to 20 minutes up to 3 days a week, never on consecutive days.

03/12/2022

Have you checked your saddle fit recently?

Saddle fit is often a confusing and frustrating part of owning a horse. I’ve used countless saddle reps and independent fitters and have gotten different opinions from every single one about which brand is best for my horse and how it should be flocked. Just as with training, there seem to be a million different perspectives on saddles, made even worse if you’re in the market for two or if your horse has back problems or muscle imbalances.

The most important part of saddle fit is knowing some of the basics yourself, so you know when it is time to get a re-flock, a new saddle, or even a new fitter.

I’ve compiled a basic checklist for saddle fit that every rider can use. If you answer NO to any of these questions, it’s time to reassess your equipment.

Basic Saddle Fit Checklist:
☑️ Place your saddle on your horse’s back without a pad and run your hand along the panel underneath the side flap, where it meets the horse’s back. Is the entire length of the panel sitting evenly along your horse’s back and feel smooth without noticeable softness in the middle? Make sure to check both sides.

☑️ Does your gullet (space between the panels) have at least 2-3 fingers of space to allow room for the spine? Your saddle should never sit on your horse’s spine.

☑️ Does the back of your saddle stay still when pressure is placed on the pommel or when the girth is tightened? If it lifts, there may be an issue.

☑️ Can you fit three fingers between the withers and the pommel?

☑️ Is the middle of the saddle the deepest point?

☑️ Does the saddle lie behind the shoulder blade so as not to impede shoulder mobility?

☑️ Does the saddle stop before the end of the thoracic vertebrae?

☑️ Does your horse’s elbow clear the buckle of your girth?

☑️ Does your saddle sit evenly on your horses back when viewed from behind?

☑️ Is there hair loss or uneven sweat patterns under your saddle?

You can see in the photo below, a saddle that does NOT fit properly. Shimmed in the front left and back right to account for imbalances, it sits more evenly. This is a wool-flocked saddle that was purchased new for the horse by a reputable fitter, but in the end did not work out for the horse regardless of shimming.

If you’re interested in learning more, the Noelle Floyd Podcast has just come out with a great chat with .US ("Is Saddle Fit a Bigger Deal Than We Think?) about the importance of saddle fit for a healthy horse.
https://www.noellefloyd.com/blogs/equestrian-voices-podcast/is-saddle-fit-a-bigger-deal-than-we-think-part-1

06/10/2022

Want to strengthen your horse's core and stretch their back from the ground, but don't know where to start? Incentive or "carrot" stretches are a great place to begin. With these movements, you'll ask your horse to stretch himself through flexion (rounding), lateral bending (side-to-side) and extension (reaching). These stretches help increase range of motion and suppleness in the neck and back and improves strength and stability through the core and topline.

I've seen a lot of people say that horses already have a lot of flexibility because they can reach flies on their butt, however the work comes from holding each stretch for 10-20 seconds. You can actually see your horse's muscles working to reach and hold when doing these exercises.

Each position helps to strengthen different parts of the body, so try to do each stretch 2-3 times and don't forget both sides. Protect your fingers and move into positions slowly, increasing range over time.

Here you can see "Chin to Chest," "Nose to Knees," "Nose to Toes," "Nose to Girth," and "Nose to Outside of Toes." For more tips and tricks you can find these exercises and more in the Pilates for Horses book found at https://www.horseandriderbooks.com/store/pilates-for-horses.html

16/08/2022

Need some inspiration for your cavalletti day? A simple box configuration is a great way to practice consistency in, out, and around elements.

I love the box because it's quick to make, only needs 4 poles, takes the guesswork out of distances, and is super versatile. You can ride large circles over the poles, figure 8s to incorporate change of direction, practice square turns at the walk around the perimeter, or as my trainer had us do this week: practice 10m circles at the canter around the box, which was revolutionary for my geometry.

As always with cavalletti, these exercises help engage the core, thoracic sling, gluteals, and hindquarters, and also increases spinal mobilization and swing. Using poles to cross-train will help increase quality of gaits by encouraging your horse to step higher and create more flexibility in the joints. Ground poles are a great way to help maintain rhythm and/or trajectory and should only be used 1-2 days a week because the work is challenging for your horse!

Walking, trotting and cantering over cavalletti each targets different muscles. For more information on the best exercises for your horse, check out https://www.horseandriderbooks.com/store/pilates-for-horses.html

28/07/2022

I have seen a lot of people asking about the Equiband in different groups - both the benefits and if there are good dupes out there. The equiband has been consistently recommended by vets to both myself and friends for kissing spine and general core strengthening. It's a great tool because it's easy to use and helpful for ground work, lunging and for under saddle rides.

What is the Equiband? It's a saddle pad with two detachable resistance bands, one behind the hindquarters and one under the belly. The bands stimulate receptors in the skin and hair which help bring your horse's attention to the body parts being touched. The belly band activates the trunk muscles encouraging lift, and the hind leg strap helps with coordination and proprioception of the hind end, encouraging a tuck and therefore also some core activation/back stretch as well as adding a little resistance to the hind leg push. The Pilates For Horses book breaks down exactly how to introduce this amazing tool to your horses, common issues and precautions, and some exercises to play with while using the Equiband.

As for dupes, you can make your own pad using large safety pins and polo wraps or bandages, but as someone who has seen a lot of professional-grade resistance bands snap and scare clients, I wouldn't necessarily risk using stretchy bands other than the name brand. Happy core building!

26/05/2022

The Leg-Yield:
Leg yielding is a great way to unlock your horse’s back and get him reacting to your aids/yielding to pressure. This motion requires your horse to move both forward and sideways, and is a foundational lateral movement. It's essential that your horse is mostly straight except for a slight flexion of the poll away from the direction of travel - one of the most common mistakes is flexion in the wrong direction!

The forehand should move slightly ahead of the hind end, and the inside leg should cross in front of the outside leg.

Why leg yield, especially if you're not a dressage rider? It promotes suppleness and mobility of the rib cage, improves balance, strengthens the abs and stretches the middle glute muscles while relaxing the topline/extensor chain/back.

Try to start with an active walk. Inside flexion should be very small to where you can just see your horse’s inside eye and nostril. Add a small amount of weight to your inside seat bone and ask with your inside leg roughly 3 inches behind the girth while the outside leg asks for continued forward motion and blocks the haunches from swinging out too far. Apply pressure as the horse’s inside leg is about to leave the ground. Half-halts on the outside rein help maintain balance and straightness.

Always think forward before thinking over. This exercise can sometimes be easier at the trot or canter, or after a downward transition from the trot. Don't collapse into your inside hip! See comments below for a video of what I mean.

Criss-Cross in hand is a good way to introduce this movement to your horse if you're having trouble getting a reaction from the saddle.

25/04/2022

Motor appreciation post: Can you name the major muscles and/or function of the hind end? If you've ever heard a trainer say "ride your horse back to front," it's because the hind end is the engine, responsible for forward motion, and must be active before you can ask the horse to do anything else.

Fellow Trafalgar Square Books author Helle Katrine Kleven explains the structure and importance of the hindquarters really well in her book "Physical Therapy for Horses," noting that horses have the equivalent of rear-wheel drive, and while the front end functions like a spring that absorbs and stores energy, the hind end moves the horse forward by developing that power and energy. When correctly moving forward, the pelvis tips downward which allows the hind legs to come under the center of the horse. This requires both strength and mobility of the hock, sacroiliac joint (consider this the center of forward motion), and back.

How is this relevant for you? If you focus solely on strengthening the hind end, the muscles (especially the hamstrings) may become so tight that the legs cannot comfortably reach forward, or the pelvis cannot rotate freely and evenly. It's important to consistently observe the muscles of the hind from a side, back and bird's eye view to make sure the muscles are being strengthened evenly (lateral work, working over alternatively raised ground poles or walking on the side of a hill can help strengthen asymmetries!). Include stretching, massage, and sometimes even chiropractic work to keep your horse's motor well-oiled and properly functioning. Essential tools in the Pilates toolbox include "Hind Leg Reach Back," "Hind Leg Reach Forward," "Hind Leg Rock and Release," and my current favorite tool for massage, the Gua Sha. You can find these images and a breakdown of the exercises in "Pilates for Horses," available on Amazon or horseandriderbooks.com

Pilates for Horses

08/08/2023

08/06/2023

24/04/2023

14/03/2023

24/02/2023

31/01/2023

03/12/2022

06/10/2022

16/08/2022

28/07/2022

26/05/2022

25/04/2022

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