Equestrian Pilates

Running a close second to explaining what Pilates actually is, is trying to get across the benefits of Pilates for the Equestrian! Here are just a small selection of the many ways in which Equestrian Pilates could help:


Core Stability ~ the use of the 'correct' muscles to keep a strong upper body position; more work by the deep tummy muscles, less 'bracing' with the back muscles

Body Awareness ~ the ability of the mind to start to have an effect on the body, feeling imbalances, overworking and under-working areas, strengths and weaknesses

Independent Movement ~ using the limbs without unbalancing the torso; applying leg aids with absolutely no shift in the rest of the body

Breathing ~ using deep breathing techniques for increased oxygen uptake and also as a method of staying calm in a crisis!

Flexibility & Mobility ~ low back flexibility to absorb the movements of the horse; hip flexibility to, well, get on and off without a struggle!


They are only a tiny snapshot of the benefits which you can achieve through Pilates, to go into more details would run to pages (maybe a book - now there's a thought!). Hopefully some of the other sections will help to explain these ideas in a bit more detail.