Yoga for Equestrians

Yoga for Equestrians
Author: Linda Benedik
Publisher: Trafalgar Square Books
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2000
Genre: Horsemanship
ISBN: 9781570761362

A pioneering book that introduces the practice of yoga to riders of all disciplines. Through a practical cross-training program of postures (asanas) and breathing exercises (pranayama), the holistic nature of Yoga for Equestrians offers a groundbreaking approach toward building a strong foundation in horsemanship basics and the balanced seat. It will encourage you to become a conscious rider--to realize that sensitivity and understanding of your body-mind connection are essential in riding, and to understand that using your body to communicate with the horse is the essence of riding and your most challenging task. As you gain valuable insights and techniques for effectively using your body clearly and compassionately through yoga, your horse will thank you by reflecting your positive changes and become more willing, balanced and pleasurable to rider.

Yoga on Horseback

Yoga on Horseback
Author: Nicole C. Cuomo
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2006
Genre: Health & Fitness
ISBN: 9781577790808

Cuomo and Whittle's mounted and unmounted yoga, longe line, and independent riding exercises are guaranteed to help riders of all ages and disciplines develop body awareness and strengthen their riding abilities.

Yoga for Riders

Yoga for Riders
Author: Cathy Woods
Publisher: Trafalgar Square Books
Total Pages: 344
Release: 2024-10-15
Genre: Sports & Recreation
ISBN: 1646012968

A highly illustrated guide to simple exercises that help equestrians become more aware and conscious while improving strength, flexibility, and balance. Yoga teacher and horsewoman Cathy Woods explains how the meditative, mindful breathwork and lifestyle aspects of yoga traditions, as well as the postures, can be profoundly helpful in our interactions with horses. Over the course of her 30-year career, Woods has created teachings that are accessible to everyone—those who have practiced yoga and those who have not, as well as riders of different levels and disciplines. From wherever they are starting, her lessons offer readers life-changing benefits, including: Increased confidence working with and riding horses. A better sense of connection with horses, on the ground and in the saddle. Unique ways to enhance “feel.” Step-by-step exercises to improve strength, flexibility, and balance. Postures that contribute to rider safety as we age. Empowerment—with horses and in everyday life. Cathy Woods’ unique program is presented here in the form of highly illustrated instruction, guiding you through the steps to achieving present moment awareness; finding body, breath, and energy awareness; breathing through challenges; listening to your inner voice; slowing down; and developing balance and symmetry in the saddle. All of these are key to better communication and improved partnership with horses. The result is a book that helps us become more aware and conscious riders while gently correcting our imbalances, resulting in a richer, more rewarding, more joyful horsemanship experience.

Longeing the Rider for a Perfect Seat

Longeing the Rider for a Perfect Seat
Author: Linda Benedik
Publisher: Trafalgar Square Publishing
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2007
Genre: Horsemanship
ISBN: 9781570763847

In this detailed guide and exercise book, riders, instructors, and longeurs are given the nuts-and-bolts of rider longeing—how to choose longe horses, outfit them correctly, cue them with stance and longe whip, structure a rider-longeing session at various stages of seat development, and maximize learning and rider recall while avoiding common pitfalls. By combining traditional mounted exercises with yoga, conscious breath work, and hands-on bodywork, this unique rider-longeing program helps the rider create a personal balance that leads to a deeper connection with the horse while at the same time develop a stable, correct, elegant, independent seat. The 46 exercises for the midsection, upper, and lower body are accessible for riders at any level and will help them achieve riding goals while preserving their horses well-being.

The Compassionate Equestrian

The Compassionate Equestrian
Author: Allen Schoen
Publisher: Trafalgar Square Books
Total Pages: 442
Release: 2015-08-17
Genre: Pets
ISBN: 1570767173

This marvelous book, borne of a unique collaboration between Dr. Allen Schoen—a world-renowned veterinarian and author—and trainer and competitor of many years Susan Gordon, introduces the 25 Principles of Compassionate Equitation. These Principles, conceived by Dr. Schoen and Gordon, are a set of developmental guidelines, encouraging a level of personal awareness that may be enacted not only through the reader's engagement with horses, but can be extended to all humans and sentient beings he or she encounters. The 25 Principles share stories and outline current, peer-reviewed studies that identify and support methods of training, handling, and caring for horses that constitute a safe, healthy, non-stressful, and pain-free environment. Through their Compassionate Equestrian program, the authors encourage all involved in the horse industry to approach training and handling with compassion and a willingness to alleviate suffering. By developing deeper compassion for their own horses, and subsequently, all equines, equestrians transcend their differences in breed preferences, riding disciplines, and training methodologies. This leads to the ability to empathize and connect more closely with the “global collective” of horses and horse people. In doing so, a worldwide community of compassionate equine practitioners and horse owners will emerge, which will not only benefit the horses: People involved with horses are found in many influential segments of society and have the potential to affect wide circles of friends, acquaintances, and co-workers from every walk of life. These are simple changes any horse person can make that can have a vast impact on the horse industry and society as a whole.

The Rider's Fitness Program

The Rider's Fitness Program
Author: Dianna Robin Dennis
Publisher: Storey Publishing
Total Pages: 229
Release: 2004-01-01
Genre: Sports & Recreation
ISBN: 1580175422

Here is the perfect book for beginning riders who are using muscles they never knew they had before, advanced riders who want to stay in top form (especially as they get older), and weather-bound riders who want to be fit when spring arrives. The Rider's Fitness Program details a fun and effective six-week program that strengthens the muscles riders use while improving overall balance, flexibility, and coordination. The book features more than 85 exercises designed to help new riders get over the aches and pains of getting started and experienced riders hone their skills and technique and prevent injuries. The routines are flexible, so you can customize the workout you need for jumping, dressage, reining, endurance, polo, or rodeo. The exercises are accompanied by step-by-step photographs that demonstrate how to perform each action properly (with an emphasis on safety). They progress from basic to advanced and are suitable for riders at all fitness levels. The authors also include fundamental information on diet, general health and safety, and clothing and equipment.

Fit to Ride in 9 Weeks!

Fit to Ride in 9 Weeks!
Author: Heather Sansom
Publisher: Trafalgar Square Books
Total Pages: 489
Release: 2016-09-01
Genre: Sports & Recreation
ISBN: 1570768307

Regardless of discipline, level of expertise, training philosophy, body shape, or fitness level, all riders do better—in horse-related activities on the ground and in the saddle—when they take care of their bodies and maintain their fitness. While riding is a great way to enjoy an active lifestyle, on its own it is not enough to condition and tone the body to the degree we need, and then the horse must make up the fitness gap in our physical partnership. If our reflexes are slow, if our bodies fatigue, if our position collapses, if tension patterns appear, then the horse suffers repetitive asymmetrical strain or develops compensatory movement habits. It is for his good, as well as ours, that certified personal trainer and riding coach Heather Sansom has developed an utterly achievable 9-week plan to give every rider the straightness, suppleness, strength, and stamina she needs to rider her best. With hundreds of one-of-a-kind illustrations depicting accurate musculature on the rider’s body, and dozens of proven exercises organized in a progressive fitness program with easy-to-use schedule charts, Sansom’s book is the key to enjoying the ride, being fair to your horse, and getting into fabulous shape—in nine weeks!

Rider Fitness

Rider Fitness
Author: Eckart Meyners
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2011
Genre: PETS
ISBN: 9781570764820

"Step-by-step instructions for rider exercises off and on the horse to better their performance and ability to communicate functionally with their horse"--

Core Conditioning for Horses

Core Conditioning for Horses
Author: Simon Cocozza
Publisher: Trafalgar Square Books
Total Pages: 420
Release: 2019-10-22
Genre: Sports & Recreation
ISBN: 1570769427

Gentle ways to improve the horse’s core fitness while relieving pain related to conditions such as kissing spine. Every equestrian wants to know: what is the difference between the horse that “dances” when you are on him, and the one that doesn’t? According to Visconte Simon Cocozza, Trainer and Examiner for the La Fédération Française d'Equitation (FFE), it all comes down to the horse’s posture. The horse’s ability to use the powerful mechanisms already built into his body relies not upon the strength we can see on the outside but the strength on the inside. This invisible and complex arrangement of internal “core” muscles control the horse’s posture, suppleness, and agility. Their good condition is the key to the dance. Equine core muscles are very difficult to isolate with the traditional training techniques common to horse sports. However, by examining what we do with the human body when faced with a weak core, we can find new methods for conditioning these areas of the equine body. Cocozza has taken principles of the human practice of yoga and used them to develop novel ways of reaching deep within the horse’s body and: Gently “unlock” areas that may be a little “rusty.” Improve core fitness. And even relieve pain related to conditions such as kissing spine. In this highly illustrated book, he provides step-by-step instruction explaining easy mounted exercises that enhance the horse’s posture, and boost his confidence in his body and movement, making him easier to ride, and ultimately, the dance partner you’ve always imagined.

Centered Riding

Centered Riding
Author: Sally Swift
Publisher: Macmillan
Total Pages: 216
Release: 1985-01-15
Genre: Sports & Recreation
ISBN: 9780312127343

Widely known for her innovative teaching philosophy stressing body awareness, the value of "soft eyes," proper breathing, centering, and balance, Sally Swift has been a pioneering riding instructor for half a century. In book form for the first time, her methods enable horse and rider to achieve harmony, working together naturally, without pain. Unlike traditional teachers, Sally Swift does not believe in forced training techniques that cause stiff bodies and tense riding. Instead, through the use of vivid, unusual, and highly creative images that transcend mechanics ("Pretend you're a spruce tree; the roots grow down from your center as the trunk grows up"), plus a thorough knowledge of human and equine anatomy, this wise and inspiring teacher enables the conscientious equestrian to reassess habitual responses, in order to ride in natural positions, break through frustrating plateaus, and achieve ever-rising goals with comfort, vitality, and precision. Precise illustrations and photographs never before used in riding books explain anatomy and image work to give mind and body new and relaxed approaches to the inner process of riding. Centered Riding is for those with little experience all the way up to world class.