Horse-riding is a wonderful activity that requires a very high level of awareness or 'feel', in order to communicate clearly with the horse, to inspire confidence while allowing the horse to move well. Postural and coordination problems due to muscle tension and weakness can have unintentional negative consequences on the horse, an animal that thrives on a sense of balance and freedom of movement. For example, if your lower back cannot relax, or you are gripping the reins too hard that your horse's neck becomes rigid, it becomes impossible to ride with grace and ease. Other common problems include crookedness, and weak seat and core muscles.
There may also be problems resulting from falling off your horse – even if your injury has healed, you may still be ‘holding’ onto that injury at a subconscious level, affecting how you move and respond to your horse. Your Soft Tissue Therapist can assess your posture and identify muscle imbalances, help relax and lengthen tight muscles, identify weak muscles, encourage you to use inhibited muscles more freely, and generally leave you feeling much more aware of your body. At Shropshire Massage Heather also teaches simple exercises that are specifically designed for horse-riders to increase symmetry, balance and coordination. When you next ride, you should feel freer to move your body to give aids without becoming unstable in the saddle, being more responsive to the movements of your horse.