From the mat to the saddle

Pilates can help you train off the horse to improve how you sit, move & communicate with your horse through

For the rider

- Improved balance, posture, alignment, and left–right symmetry

- Greater body awareness and improved weight distribution

- A stronger, more stable seat through developing deep core strength, helping to reduce invisible tension

- Improved independent control of the legs and hands from the seat, allowing better muscle isolation and reducing unconscious signals

- A more consistent, repeatable position

- Enhanced feel and timing, with increased sensitivity and quicker reactions to changes in the horse’s balance and rhythm

These core skills help develop stability in movement, enabling clearer and more precise aids, softer hands, and a truly independent seat that can effectively influence and work in harmony with the horse. When we, as riders, are balanced, we are in the best position to feel the horse’s back and hind legs and apply the correct aids.

For the horse

- Increased confidence in their movement under saddle, supported by a rider who is balanced vertically, laterally, and rotationally

- Easier understanding and response to clear, coordinated aids

- Improved straightness, efficiency of movement, and overall well-being when combined with correct training and a balanced rider

Small improvements in us as riders make a significant difference to our horses and help develop a more harmonious partnership.