Stretching exercises with your horse can be very beneficial in increasing and maintaining suppleness/flexibility, core strength, balance, and reducing chances of injury and tension. Here are my top tips as an equine bodyworker for safely getting the most out of your stretching session:
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A good question that is often asked on my bodywork visits to horses, and a piece of the puzzle that quite often gets missed! Having your saddle regularly checked by a qualified fitter is important for your horses welfare and physical health, and also for your comfort when riding.
Continue reading “How Often Should You Get Your Saddle Checked?”
This month’s unmounted exercise is focused on your Iliotibial Band (ITB) – a fibrous band that runs from your hip to the outside of your knee. The band can become tight or inflamed with use and is most commonly noticed by runners however as riders, we can feel it too sometimes! Tightness or discomfort in this area (hips and knees usually) may arise due to the rotated, toes-pointed-forwards, knees bent position we try to maintain while riding, and combined with knee instability or weak muscles, this band can be strained.
As with most of these exercises, doing them three to four times a week is ideal.
Continue reading “Rider Exercise of the Month – The ITB Stretch”
It’s been all go recently, and these past weeks have left me feeling incredibly grateful for the support I’ve received from all my clients (old and new!) keeping me busy since getting back to work post lockdown.
This month’s unmounted exercise can be helpful for those with Sciatica (something I suffer with myself!) or with tension in their piriformis muscle – both of which can occur in riders due to our position in the saddle, especially for those riding wider horses. As with most of these exercises, doing them three to four times a week is ideal.
Continue reading “Rider Exercise of the Month – The Keyhole Stretch”
Megan Simpson Equestrian 