Improve riding

Whether you ride competitively or for recreation, you’ll realize immediate and long-term benefits in core strength, balance, endurance and overall health. Your horse will be healthier, too.

Build core strength

Why core stability matters

Core stability for the rider is the ability to maintain proper alignment and posture in the upper body (back, chest and abdominals) while legs and/or arms perform specific movements. If you are weak in your core, your legs have to do the work of keeping your horse going AND helping the upper body stay still.

Many riders will lean to the left, or draw up one leg, or pull on one rein, and quite possibly their horse is so used to it that they never know they do it resulting in ongoing stress and strain to both the rider and their equestrian partner.
Improved core stability will mean less work for your back and improved independent movement of your limbs without unbalancing your torso. Better harmony with your horse starts with removing imbalances that are commonly transferred between the horse and rider. You must train your body to successfully manage your “equipment” – which happens to be living, breathing, and thinking.

Core strength diagram

Improve balance

It’s been proven that the balanced rider will progress and do well on any horse, while the unbalanced rider will regress and ruin every horse eventually. Poor balance also affects confidence, which will result in fear and declining riding skills.

Without good core stability, the rider will become stiff and not have the ability to naturally follow the movements of the horse. These riders will often try to get their balance by holding onto the reins or gripping with their legs.

Improve balance diagram
"This pressure mat scan shows a rider sitting with more weight on the left, as indicated by the taller peaks marked with bright red. This will make it more difficult for the horse to perform symmetrically." - Hilary Clayton

While the key to improved health and pain-free riding is unique to each individual, balance is one of the leading factors to successful riding. If the rider is in good balance with good body control, this translates into good balance with the horse, creating a combination that performs together as one with lasting benefits.

Help your horse

Research conducted by Alexandra Hampson of The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at Scotland’s University of Edinburgh shows that the physical influence of the rider on the horse contributes to equine back pain and lameness. Her conclusion: A core fitness program can significantly improve rider symmetry and reduce peak pressures on the horse’s back. (research)

A horse and rider in perfect harmony and balance.

The horse uses their neck and forequarters to keep their balance. The horse will extend his neck or lift it high to keep his balance. If the rider uses their hands and the horse uses his neck..this sets up a pull on the reins and lean on the bit scenario, to maintain balance. The rider will also anchor their weight through their feet. The rider is the one who has to change and train the horse to use his quarters for balance (get off the forehand). The rider can only achieve this if the rider is balanced themselves.

Track Your Results

One of the most rewarding benefits of CoreX Equine is that you can easily monitor and measure your progress. As you gather the data and make adjustments, you can see and feel improvements in your core strength and balance. Not surprisingly, you’ll also notice how your riding performance improves—with greater speed, control, and stamina - for you and your horse!