Pilates was developed by Joseph Pilates, an expert in movement and biomechanics. He made a system of exercises and stretching techniques, where everything was based on the theory that a strong core system supports the back and minimizes the risk of muscle damage.

The theory 

behind pilates 

Gillian Higgins is the author of Pilates and Stretching. The exercises shown in this article are from the book. She specializes in assessing posture and movement, devising exercises for improving performance and educating horse owners.

About Gillian Higgins

Stimulation and strengthening of the core muscles can be done, among other things, through proper work with the horse in riding. But there are also a number of exercises from the ground, which work very well with the core muscles without the load from the rider. For example, pilates.

Pilates strenghtens the horse´s body and makes the muscles more flexible, which helps the general body posture. Things that we as riders are very interested in. Pilates can also be an important part of a rehabilitation program, where you can strengthen specific muscles or areas of the horse.

Make sure to perform the exercises at a leisurely pace and with a low head posture – this will optimize the result.

When we get up on our horses, we involuntarily wear out their locomotor system. To ensure that our horses can actually endure what we ask of them, it's important that we make sure to optimize their physical shape. We can do this, among other things, through targeted exercises. 

In pilates, you work with exercises that increase core stability, create strength, flexibility and body awareness. It's important to maintain the horse body's ability to perform without getting injured.

In other words, co-stability, balance and strength are just as important for the horse as it is for the rider. In addition to a healthy posture, it can contribute to a more effective workout, improved performance and can reduce the risk of injuries. Also, it's a nice and fun addition to riding, which can even help to strengthen the partnership between you and your horse.

Helps the body find its balance

Pilates exercises for horses works, among other things, to improve the horse's posture and movement. In addition, it can help the body to find the fine balance between resilience and flexibility. It's precisely here that the horse's body has the opportunity to perform optimally and even with significantly less risk of injury, overload or tension.


                                      

Stretching exercises must be done when the horse is warmed up, for example after riding.

To increase core stability, strength in abdominal muscles, mobility in the back and general agility.

Remember

Purpose

  • Repeat the exercise 2-3 times on each side of the horse.
  • Hold the stretch for 5-10 seconds before letting the horse get the carrot.
  • Move the carrot down below your knee, the one closest to the tail.
  • Keep the carrot close to the horse's lips to ensure a steady movement.
  • Hold the carrot in the hand closest to the tail.
  • Stand with your back against the horse's ribs just around the girth

How to do it

This exercise is good for increasing the flexibility of the back and the lower part of the neck. It contributes to a healthy back posture, and it increases the body's ability to bend sideways. In short, it's a thorough and effective stretching exercise.

Carrot low to the side

 

  1. Strengthens and stretches the small and large muscles in the body.
  2. Protects against overload of the muscles.
  3. Provides a healthy and good posture.
  4. Strengthens the body's joints.
  5. Provides a better balance between body and mind.
  6. Stimulates the blood circulation.
  7. Is extremely suitable for rehabilitation after injuries or surgery.
  8. Is very gentle, and everyone can do it.
  9. Increases body awareness.
9
reasons to
practice Pilates

In this exercise, the horse must lift and bend the back, hip joints, shoulder and elbow as well as the hocks and knees. Among other things, you also work on strengthening the muscles and structures that are involved in activating the hind knee, hip flexion and stabilization of the pelvis. The exercise also helps to strengthen the structures that the horse uses when making lateral work.

Purpose

How to do it

  • Gradually increase the height of the poles until they are at the same level as the horse's knees.
  • Ensure that the horse keeps his head low.
  • Make sure that the horse starts walking over the poles with the foreleg that is closest to a pole.
  • Walk diagonally over the poles in a zig zag pattern.
  • Place 3-5 poles after one another as shown in the photo.

This exercise is good for increasing agility and movement in the joints and muscles used for lateral movement.

Walk diagonally over poles

 

  • Encourage the horse to lower its head so that its back is raised.
  • Gradually increase the height of the poles until they are at the same level as the horse's knees.
  • Lead the horse over one or more poles on the ground at a slow pace.

To strengthen the muscles and structures that assist in carrying the rider, hip flexion and stability around the pelvis. The exercise is also good for flexing the structures around the shoulder, hip, knee and hock.

Purpose

How to do it

Step over RAISED poles

 

This exercise is good for increasing flexibility through the shoulder, elbow, hip joints, knees and hocks. It happens when the joints are bent and stretched, and the blood circulation increases in the surrounding soft tissue.

BACKING UP

To lift and bend the back and strengthen the muscles that help carry the rider.

Purpose

  • Keep the horse's head as low as you can. It encourages the horse to lift its back. If it's difficult, you can use a carrot to keep the head low.
  • Be aware that the horse doesn't rush into the exercise and speeds up.
  • Let the horse take a minimum of 10 steps back in a good rhythm.
  • Make the horse go backwards by putting a light pressure on its chest.
  • Walk the horse forward and stop.

How to do it

This exercise is good for lifting and bending the back. It strengthens the muscles and structures that help activate the hind legs and that help carry the rider's weight. You can also call the exercise reverse collection.

The exercise stimulates the muscles around the thoracic sling and abdominal cavity. These muscles help to optimize the position of the back and they are important in terms of carrying the rider's weight.

Purpose


  • Press upwards with your fingertips and hold the pressure so that the horse raises its back around the whiters.
  • Stand next to the horse where the girth would normally be and look at the horse.
  • Place your hand on the horse's sternum and pat it lightly until it's comfortable.

How to do it

This exercise is good for increasing flexibility in the back. It also works to stimulate the thoracic sling and abdominal muscles, both of which are important in maintaining an appropriate posture.

STERNUM LIFT 

Af Bettina Stecher  //  Foto: Tifoto

Horses can easily do pilates. Naturally it does not take place on a mat, as is often the case for us humans. The purpose of pilates, however, is the same whether the practitioner has two or four legs; to optimize strength, balance, coordination, and body awareness. Here you´ll find five excellent pilates exercises by Gillian Higgins that you can do with your horse.

Pilates
Reasons Why your horse should do 

Pilates was developed by Joseph Pilates, an expert in movement and biomechanics. He made a system of exercises and stretching techniques, where everything was based on the theory that a strong core system supports the back and minimizes the risk of muscle damage.

The theory 

behind pilates 

When we get up on our horses, we involuntarily wear out their locomotor system. To ensure that our horses can actually endure what we ask of them, it's important that we make sure to optimize their physical shape. We can do this, among other things, through targeted exercises. 

In pilates, you work with exercises that increase core stability, create strength, flexibility and body awareness. It's important to maintain the horse body's ability to perform without getting injured.

In other words, co-stability, balance and strength are just as important for the horse as it is for the rider. In addition to a healthy posture, it can contribute to a more effective workout, improved performance and can reduce the risk of injuries. Also, it's a nice and fun addition to riding, which can even help to strengthen the partnership between you and your horse.

Helps the body find its balance

Pilates exercises for horses works, among other things, to improve the horse's posture and movement. In addition, it can help the body to find the fine balance between resilience and flexibility. It's precisely here that the horse's body has the opportunity to perform optimally and even with significantly less risk of injury, overload or tension.


                                      

To increase core stability, strength in abdominal muscles, mobility in the back and general agility.

Purpose

  • Repeat the exercise 2-3 times on each side of the horse.
  • Hold the stretch for 5-10 seconds before letting the horse get the carrot.
  • Move the carrot down below your knee, the one closest to the tail.
  • Keep the carrot close to the horse's lips to ensure a steady movement.
  • Hold the carrot in the hand closest to the tail.
  • Stand with your back against the horse's ribs just around the girth

How to do it

This exercise is good for increasing the flexibility of the back and the lower part of the neck. It contributes to a healthy back posture, and it increases the body's ability to bend sideways. In short, it's a thorough and effective stretching exercise.

Carrot low to the side

 

The exercise stimulates the muscles around the thoracic sling and abdominal cavity. These muscles help to optimize the position of the back and they are important in terms of carrying the rider's weight.

Purpose


  • Press upwards with your fingertips and hold the pressure so that the horse raises its back around the whiters.
  • Stand next to the horse where the girth would normally be and look at the horse.
  • Place your hand on the horse's sternum and pat it lightly until it's comfortable.

How to do it

This exercise is good for increasing flexibility in the back. It also works to stimulate the thoracic sling and abdominal muscles, both of which are important in maintaining an appropriate posture.

STERNUM LIFT 

  • Encourage the horse to lower its head so that its back is raised.
  • Gradually increase the height of the poles until they are at the same level as the horse's knees.
  • Lead the horse over one or more poles on the ground at a slow pace.

To strengthen the muscles and structures that assist in carrying the rider, hip flexion and stability around the pelvis. The exercise is also good for flexing the structures around the shoulder, hip, knee and hock.

Purpose

How to do it

Step over RAISED poles

 

This exercise is good for increasing flexibility through the shoulder, elbow, hip joints, knees and hocks. It happens when the joints are bent and stretched, and the blood circulation increases in the surrounding soft tissue.

In this exercise, the horse must lift and bend the back, hip joints, shoulder and elbow as well as the hocks and knees. Among other things, you also work on strengthening the muscles and structures that are involved in activating the hind knee, hip flexion and stabilization of the pelvis. The exercise also helps to strengthen the structures that the horse uses when making lateral work.

Purpose

How to do it

  • Gradually increase the height of the poles until they are at the same level as the horse's knees.
  • Ensure that the horse keeps his head low.
  • Make sure that the horse starts walking over the poles with the foreleg that is closest to a pole.
  • Walk diagonally over the poles in a zig zag pattern.
  • Place 3-5 poles after one another as shown in the photo.

This exercise is good for increasing agility and movement in the joints and muscles used for lateral movement.

Walk diagonally over poles

 

  1. Strengthens and stretches the small and large muscles in the body.
  2. Protects against overload of the muscles.
  3. Provides a healthy and good posture.
  4. Strengthens the body's joints.
  5. Provides a better balance between body and mind.
  6. Stimulates the blood circulation.
  7. Is extremely suitable for rehabilitation after injuries or surgery.
  8. Is very gentle, and everyone can do it.
  9. Increases body awareness.
9
reasons to
practice Pilates

BACKING UP

To lift and bend the back and strengthen the muscles that help carry the rider.

Purpose

  • Keep the horse's head as low as you can. It encourages the horse to lift its back. If it's difficult, you can use a carrot to keep the head low.
  • Be aware that the horse doesn't rush into the exercise and speeds up.
  • Let the horse take a minimum of 10 steps back in a good rhythm.
  • Make the horse go backwards by putting a light pressure on its chest.
  • Walk the horse forward and stop.

How to do it

This exercise is good for lifting and bending the back. It strengthens the muscles and structures that help activate the hind legs and that help carry the rider's weight. You can also call the exercise reverse collection.

Gillian Higgins is the author of Pilates and Stretching. The exercises shown in this article are from the book. She specializes in assessing posture and movement, devising exercises for improving performance and educating horse owners.

About Gillian Higgins

Af Bettina Stecher  //  Foto: Tifoto

Horses can easily do pilates. Naturally it does not take place on a mat, as is often the case for us humans. The purpose of pilates, however, is the same whether the practitioner has two or four legs; to optimize strength, balance, coordination, and body awareness. Here you´ll find five excellent pilates exercises by Gillian Higgins that you can do with your horse.

Pilates
Reasons Why your horse should do 

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