Pilates is a great form of exercise for equestrian athletes helping them become more balanced, flexible and stable in the saddle. Whether Dressage, Show Jumping or simply hacking out is your thing incorporating Pilates into your regime can enhance your riding. Scientific Nutritional Products takes a look at rider pilates in our latest blog…
Your seat is the foundation of good riding, regardless of which discipline you do as it provides the majority of the communication with your horse. By being secure in the saddle horse riders can also use their arms and leg independently for aids without weight shifting or losing balance.
So how can pilates help?
Practising Pilates regularly helps you develop the body control and correct body alignment helping riders sitting straighter in the saddle and use their core. Developed by Joseph Hubertus Pilates the popular strength building exercise focuses on a range of exercises using your lower abdominals which work to stabilise your spine and pelvis. When your lower abdominals are working correctly within the core unit you are also able to create more alignment from your hips down to your heel. This will allow riders to have increased strength for half halts and to bring the horse up off their forehand into a more collected frame.
How does it help the horse?
Our own balance in turn effects the balance of the horse. The focused exercises involved in Pilates can improve core strength and in turn the position you sit in when riding. If you have a weak or arched lower back riders can often be braced in the saddle and find it hard to ‘go with’ the movement of the horse. Whereas if you sit too far back most riders will end up leaning forward causing the horse to be on their forehand. The key is that the more balanced you are, the more the horse can move in balance limiting issues such as back pain!
Pilates is easily accessible with group classes being run in many locations across the country or online. Some specialists in horse riding are also available and sometimes offer 1-2-1 sessions. Once you have built up a good basis of correct exercises you can practice at home too!
Alongside keeping your horse comfortable and balanced through rider Pilates: feeding a Vitamin and Mineral supplement in your horse's diet offers them optimum nutritional support in their ridden work. Competition Horse Supplement from Scientific Nutritional Products contains over 30 essential nutrients and ensures Competing horses and ponies have all the micro nutrients they require to perform sucessfully and stay in peak condition. Or their Horse and Pony Supplement which contains over 25 premium grade nutrients and is specially formulated to suport a high grass/hay diet and is ideal for horses who hack or are in light work
For more information about Scientific Nutritional Products and their wide range of equine supplements available visit their website www.horsesupplementsdirect.co.uk or to speak to a member of the team Tel: freephone 0800 032 7774
