Connected Pilates for Riders
I am an experienced dressage flatwork horse rider and trainer, and rider trainer, with over 30 years experience. I am also a qualified Pilates instructor who has always been interested in posture and body alignment, with the link to pain or injury as a cause and effect. Pilates is a form of physical fitness available to a vast majority of people. It is also an excellent way to become more aware of and develop better control over your body. This is very beneficial to horse riders in order to better influence the horse you are riding. I have over 30 years of experience as a horse rider and trainer, and it was my interest in this influence on the horse, the cause and effect of how I ride, that first led me to experience Pilates. I have since felt the benefits for my own riding, enabling me to connect with the horse.
Identifying the relationships between our bodies and its tensions and weaknesses can allow us to better develop alignment and balanced strengths. I am passionate about people and their horse’s well-being, thus becoming a qualified Pilates instructor, as I would like to assist people in unlocking and developing their control and body strength. This benefits overall improved posture and self-awareness, enlightening the rider to their influence on the way the horse is going, and allowing the horse to move without restrictions from the rider.
Pilates has been around for over 80 years, developed by Joseph Pilates to overcome his health problems and restore him to optimal health. Joseph’s observations around weakness or misalignment areas within the body, and a person over compensating or developing another area, led him to realise that you need to correct the mis-alignment as well as re-educating the body to prevent any injury recurrence. The slow, controlled and flowing movements work to strengthen the core muscles of the body that stabilise and support the spine, realign the body and correct postural problems. Pilates brings the mind and body together with a focus on total concentration, breathing, balance, precision and coordination. These basic concepts assist people from all walks of life, allowing individuals to work within their own limits of the body, therefore alleviating stress and strain and reducing risk of injury. The focus helps promote awareness and channels the mind to better connect and control the body, for an overall feeling of well-being for you and your horse.
