There are many things to consider when riding a horse, but your balance should be one of the most important to master. Good posture and balance are key to helping a rider control their horse with muscular movements. A horse and a rider are a team, so it’s crucial the rider and horse’s balance coordinate, to help keep stability and reduce the risk of falls or injury.
Here we discuss some of the key exercises you can do before you’ve even set foot near a horse to help better your balance and prepare you for riding.
Squats
Strengthening your legs is essential to good balance. When performed correctly squats are one of the best at-home exercises you can do to help boost the strength in your legs.
Place your feet shoulder-width apart and keep your body upright and straight. Bend your knees and lower your body at a 90-degree angle and slowly rise. If you don’t find this exercise challenging enough, try holding some weights while you squat.
Side Planks
You can’t have great balance without a strong core. Side planks are a great exercise to help activate your lower core and reduce the risk of a back injury.
Lie on your side with your forearm flat on the floor and your bottom elbow aligned with your shoulder. Keep your legs straight and stack your feet on top of each other. Engage your core and lift your hips off the floor. Try and hold this position for 30 seconds and then repeat on the other side.
Bridges
Bridges are a great exercise if you want to strengthen your lower back and glutes to allow you to have better posture and balance when riding.
Start the exercise lying down on your back, preferably on an exercise mat if you own one. Then place your heels underneath your knees and lift your hips while squeezing your glutes and tightening your lower abdominals. Try and repeat this exercise 15 times to give your glutes a full workout. If the exercise starts to become too easy, try adding a weight for a more challenging workout.
Yoga
Yoga is one of the best exercises you can do to help improve your overall balance. It strengthens your core muscles and elongates your spine to allow for better posture.
Some of the best yoga exercises you can do include the Tree Pose, Warrior Pose, and Crescent Lunge. If you’re serious about improving your balance when you ride, it might be worth signing up for a weekly yoga class.
Improving and developing balance is something that even professional equestrians constantly work on. It’s important to remember that it’s ok to lose your balance while riding and if you’re strong and flexible enough you can easily regain it.