Pilates is all about body awareness and improving movement patterns and efficiency.
It was designed as a method to promote core strength and stability, muscle control, and endurance - creating healthy strong bodies with balanced flexibility and long-term strength.
These clinics aren’t just designed for dressage or competitive horses and riders. There are a lot of benefits to a pilates method for both horses and their owners (whether you are a rider or prefer to keep your feet on the ground!). Some of these include:
- Increasing both your and your horse's comfort immediately and long-term. A comfortable and pain-free horse and rider/handler = a happy and willing partnership (whether you are following a heavy competition schedule, casually trail-riding, working on liberty, or just enjoying each others company)
- Being more effective with your training. Get better results in a shorter time when you are aware of where weaknesses or trouble areas are, and how to build strength or improve movement patterns in an effective manner.
- Save $$ on your and your horse's bodywork! While it is always helpful to have some ’hands-on work for maintenance or when injuries or problems arise, having some useful exercises to help you scan and work on minor issues on a daily/weekly basis dramatically reduces the likelihood of issues worsening over time.
- Improving your confidence and security in the saddle no matter what level of riding you are at.