ActiveBody E D I T E D B Y K AT E M A X I M
Getting on the horse Smoothly does it is the key to being a successful rider. Physio Sarah Babbs explains how this can benefit all of us
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ITH BURGHLEY HORSE Trials on our doorstep we are so lucky to be able to see e perts in their eld horse and rider partnerships at their very best. Three day eventing originally started as a military test to show prowess of the cavalry testing the soldiers on their tness and suitability for service. Dressage showed the skills re uired on the parade ground cross country and show jumping demonstrated speed and stamina. The combination of horse and rider is obviously the key to great performances; any rider at any level will talk about the understanding between the two. But communication is key and this includes physical communication. A rider with an asymmetrical seat leading to imbalance may affect the horse’s rhyth and a rider ho is tense will pass that to the horse; I speak from experience! s ith uch of y ork hen looking at riders e look at ho a person o es how that movement feels and how they hold themselves at rest and during activity. Many people especially those in pain or around in ury hold the sel es tense and braced while often subconsciously holding their breath his can li it ho they o e ho they sense that movement as well as aggravating the pain. In riders this will also affect ho they feel the horse o ing beneath them. Learning how to improve all of that can be as simple as breathing effecti ely reathing ell using our diaphragm engages the parasympathetic nervous system which is involved in calming us in ti es of stress bringing do n our heart rate i pro ing o ygenation and rela ing us
The diaphragm also shares connections to the lumbar spine. Other muscles around the spine and pel is ost notably the psoas and the gluteal uscles also affect the seat’ or ho the pel is and legs in uence the horse y keeping the breathing soft the tension through the seat will be less and the riding ore uid e often nd that riders are unable to dissociate the pel is and hips ell ie o e the hips and pelvis independently. We have often learned how to brace our core abdominal muscles leading to a sense of stiffness his is regularly seen in people with back pain too. My favourite way of learning how to improve this is to imagine the pelvis as a bowl containing melted chocolate. It can be done hile lying ith the knees bent standing and of course sitting hich ill mimic how you sit in the saddle. After a little releasing diaphrag atic breathing i agine o ing to coat rst the front of the bo l then the back of the bowl with the chocolate. Work with this a few times. Sense what this feels like as you ork aybe trying a side to side and more circular action. Some of that
action will be similar to being on the horse in walk and when done well improves the connection enor ously creating the o ing movement as the horse and rider work as one. he gluteal uscles are i portant especially gluteus medius which attaches to the pel is and the fe ur anaging ho the pelvis sits level. This gives even pressure in the saddle and is used to o e the leg particularly when giving leg aid or pressure to in uence the horse When hips feel tight it may be that the muscles around the hips are either not strong enough or that the awareness and timing of engagement is poor. Working to strengthen the muscles through the many exercise options available is important. Using a different approach to help your body ini ise effort ay be the ost i portant part building the foundation of o e ent onto which strength can be built. i ply put to be the best rider concentrating on one’s o n body before that of the horse may be the key. To contact Sarah ring 07780 900201.
September 2022 / theactivemag.com
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24/08/2022 11:26