Bodywork... and more- to enhance Saddle Fit!

Core strengthening and Isometric exercises we can do when its too cold to ride... Some insight on my approach with my personal horses.... I spent about a month putting together exercise plans for each of my horses 1 for each: Bodywork/Therapy, In-Hand work and Ridden work (Adrija). They are each between 4 and 12 pages long! I did this so that on any given day I would be able to easily access and remember to use the tools I've learned that are most effective for the particular horse. Let's say a cold day when I just want to do a little massage work I want to remember that this horse needs his first rib released on the right side after getting warmed up for most effective release. Or another horse that I've found which stress points best get her unlocked and moving freely. Yes you still need to address what's in front of you on any given day, but as with riding sometimes it's best to have a plan. Lets face it, on a cold day we are tempted to just throw some extra hay and go in the nice warm house. As I put this together I specifically did so in a progression so that you warm, then stretch, then strengthen. For my in-hand work I have 1 daily protocol which is a progression that starts with jaw and poll releases, stellning and bending, lateral work in hand or on longe line or Long rein work to get warmed up. Then some isometric and core strengthening exercises depending on what the horse needs. This always includes stifle strengthening in the winter months. Then add some fun stuff, maybe a little school halt and school walk. Within this I have broken it down to which warm-up massage routine, warm up in handwork and on to which exercises can be done in a small area, so that on a cold winter day when the footing is terrible outside, I can still get my horses worked. Granted I have huge stalls but one routine can be completely done in a stall…. In addition to the previous tools in my tool box, with over 15 years of schooling and studies,…I took advantage of all the opportunities presented during the Covid lockdowns, and there were soooo many! I learned from and in many cases directly consulted with professionals - authors, colleagues and mentors from all over the world as I put this together. Might sound a little extreme but that's why I'm so proud of it it is a top-notch plan! I even had a consult and two videos directed to me from Manolo Mendez himself! My protocols also contain live links to videos or materials I've purchased and explanations of what I should be seeing so that, as is the case with some of this, if I am starting at square one with a horse, it is important that I track & check my progression. I put this all together in a file for each horse on OneDrive so they are available on my cheap fire tablet that can be taken to the barn with me so I don't have to worry about forgetting a step that I have thoughtfully worked into my routine. This will have my horses warmed, unlocked and supple and then using their core and lifting thoracic sling throughout the exercises I've tailored for them. It's really exciting to have a plan for the winter so as not to stray from the fitness level I so proudly achieved this summer! For my clients who have had me out for body work you know that I will show you several exercises and stretches while I am there. Many have asked for a follow-up which I do, even for saddle fitting but it is not really in the scope … yet it is! I just should really be separating them out into two different categories to give proper credence to both. It is something I will be concentrating on more in 2021. And you all will benefit from my dedication to continued education! For any saddle to be well fitted to a horse, the horse needs to be in a good physical frame and fitness level to carry the saddle. You all hear me talk about asymmetries, like all . the . time…. That is because it is our biggest enemy in Saddle fit. When a horse is unbalanced, has a weakness or a restriction that inhibits a posture conducive to carrying the saddle and rider, you will always to some degree, be fighting against it! The saddle only works and can only be fitted properly when the horse's physical (and mental) condition are being addressed. The riders commitment to such, to having a saddle that truly fits them as well- so that they can be balanced (and placed where the horse needs them) is imperative. This cannot all be covered in the hour or so that I am there for a standard saddle fitting. I go into all these details to bring awareness to my clients to help them on their journey as saddle fitting is not a "One and Done" activity. It takes a life long commitment from the owner/rider. I hope this gives some inspiration to some of you going into what we'll, let's hope is not too much of a long cold winter! If you're interested in having an exercise protocol detailed for you and your horse let's discuss it and get to work! Happy holidays! Bodywork... and more- to enhance Saddle Fit! Core strengthening and Isometric exercises we can do when its too cold to ride... Some insight on my approach with my personal horses....
I spent about a month putting together exercise plans for each of my horses 1 for each: Bodywork/Therapy, In-Hand work and Ridden work (Adrija).
They are each between 4 and 12 pages long! I did this so that on any given day I would be able to easily access and remember to use the tools I've learned that are most effective for the particular horse. Let's say a cold day when I just want to do a little massage work I want to remember that this horse needs his first rib released on the right side after getting warmed up for most effective release. Or another horse that I've found which stress points best get her unlocked and moving freely. Yes you still need to address what's in front of you on any given day, but as with riding sometimes it's best to have a plan. Lets face it, on a cold day we are tempted to just throw some extra hay and go in the nice warm house.
As I put this together I specifically did so in a progression so that you warm, then stretch, then strengthen.
For my in-hand work I have 1 daily protocol which is a progression that starts with jaw and poll releases, stellning and bending, lateral work in hand or on longe line or Long rein work to get warmed up. Then some isometric and core strengthening exercises depending on what the horse needs. This always includes stifle strengthening in the winter months. Then add some fun stuff, maybe a little school halt and school walk. Within this I have broken it down to which warm-up massage routine, warm up in handwork and on to which exercises can be done in a small area, so that on a cold winter day when the footing is terrible outside, I can still get my horses worked. Granted I have huge stalls but one routine can be completely done in a stall….
In addition to the previous tools in my tool box, with over 15 years of schooling and studies,…I took advantage of all the opportunities presented during the Covid lockdowns, and there were soooo many!
I learned from and in many cases directly consulted with professionals - authors, colleagues and mentors from all over the world as I put this together. Might sound a little extreme but that's why I'm so proud of it it is a top-notch plan! I even had a consult and two videos directed to me from Manolo Mendez himself! My protocols also contain live links to videos or materials I've purchased and explanations of what I should be seeing so that, as is the case with some of this, if I am starting at square one with a horse, it is important that I track & check my progression.
I put this all together in a file for each horse on OneDrive so they are available on my cheap fire tablet that can be taken to the barn with me so I don't have to worry about forgetting a step that I have thoughtfully worked into my routine. This will have my horses warmed, unlocked and supple and then using their core and lifting thoracic sling throughout the exercises I've tailored for them. It's really exciting to have a plan for the winter so as not to stray from the fitness level I so proudly achieved this summer!
For my clients who have had me out for body work you know that I will show you several exercises and stretches while I am there. Many have asked for a follow-up which I do, even for saddle fitting but it is not really in the scope … yet it is! I just should really be separating them out into two different categories to give proper credence to both. It is something I will be concentrating on more in 2021. And you all will benefit from my dedication to continued education!
For any saddle to be well fitted to a horse, the horse needs to be in a good physical frame and fitness level to carry the saddle. You all hear me talk about asymmetries, like all . the . time….
That is because it is our biggest enemy in Saddle fit. When a horse is unbalanced, has a weakness or a restriction that inhibits a posture conducive to carrying the saddle and rider, you will always to some degree, be fighting against it! The saddle only works and can only be fitted properly when the horse's physical (and mental) condition are being addressed.
The riders commitment to such, to having a saddle that truly fits them as well- so that they can be balanced (and placed where the horse needs them) is imperative.
This cannot all be covered in the hour or so that I am there for a standard saddle fitting. I go into all these details to bring awareness to my clients to help them on their journey as saddle fitting is not a "One and Done" activity. It takes a life long commitment from the owner/rider.
I hope this gives some inspiration to some of you going into what we'll, let's hope is not too much of a long cold winter! If you're interested in having an exercise protocol detailed for you and your horse let's discuss it and get to work! Happy holidays!