When a horse’s back builds up excess tension, whether from strength or discomfort, it leads to altered muscle activation patterns. Muscles will fire either too early, too late, or too long. Learn how a light seat can help.

Which is harder for the horse: trail riding or arena workouts? Many riders believe a vigorous trail ride requires much more fitness than a training session in the arena. Others, meanwhile, view trail riding as an easy activity to do on a horse’s rest day. So which is it— harder or easier? The answer is that they are each harder— and easier— than the other. Let me clarify.

Surprisingly, I often find myself prescribing students more calisthenics exercises than gymnastic exercises to improve their horses’ overall fitness. The reason for this is that, without proper activation of postural muscles, the horse’s locomotion muscles are not able to play their role fully. Calisthenics target postural muscles, not movement muscles. But let’s get clear— what are calisthenics? I define them broadly as slow-moving exercises requiring fine motor control and precision of body alignment. Many re-hab and pre-hab maneuvers fall under this definition. The well known “carrot stretches” or walking over ground poles are examples.

Students who ride primarily on trails often ask me what kinds of exercises they can do to benefit their horses. If they don’t plan to be in an arena any time soon, does that mean they can’t give their horses the gymnastic and core exercises that optimize their bodies and comfort? Luckily, no.