Several years ago if someone had told me that they could gain response from a horse from just becoming aware of breathing, I may have been skeptical. Without much thought, I was placing limitations on the mind and sensitivity of the horse. I have learnt since that when the rider has self-awareness of breathing, it can instigate an immediate response from the horse and bring about greater balance in movement and harmony of mind.

If we can gain an understanding of what I call “core breathing”, it can help us to achieve more poise, posture and core stability within our riding. If we only breathe into the rib cage and chest muscles we have insufficient control over the important muscles of the abdominal area. If we inhale and exhale while allowing our diaphragm to descend into our lower belly and correctly using our abdominal muscles, then we create core stability. This will help us to locate our correct centre of gravity and balance. Self-control in breathing helps to control the movement and balance of a horse.

BREATHING EXERCISES – FROM THE GROUND
You may be interested to try an easy exercise which can help you to understand how our breathing can affect our own balance. It is helpful whilst practicing this breathing to listen to music and feel relaxed and focusing just on your breathing.

Whilst standing still, practice some core breathing, by placing your hand, on your stomach. On your inward breath, it will feel like a balloon being blown up. Feel the air filling your abdominal area whilst your back will lengthen. Keep your sternum released so that the breath is taken into your back and spine, gently expanding your rib cage. This inward breath should make you feel stronger, taller and more centered.

Then, take a long outward breath. Feel the air releasing and rippling through your spine and into your abdomen. Scoop up the muscles of your pelvic floor (these are the same muscles used when you cough). Your stomach now will feel like a deflated balloon. Continue to practice steady core breathing whilst standing still. Feel the energy in your core and how your abdomen can support your upper body.

The next part of this exercise will give you the feeling of balance within core-breathing. Begin to walk in a circle moving forward on the outward breath. Feel the ripple of energy through your spine which causes a release and encourages fluidity for movement. Walk several steps then take a deeper inward breath and feel how your body more naturally strengthens, lengthens and re-balances. Just halt and stand breathing normally.

Then as you take a deeper exhalation, feel the fluidity through your spine and walk forwards again, feeling the release from your lower back. This is the way we can use our breathing for our own balance and also to help the horse to work in his natural balance. If we ride with self-awareness of our own poise and self-carriage we can assist our horse to move with more grace and fluidity.

BALANCE AND HARMONY- the spirit of the Half-halt
All paces and movements require that both horse and rider learn to move together with a natural ‘flow’ and balance. When we sit on the back of the horse we immediately disturb their natural equilibrium. The art of balanced riding is to become aware of our own poise which will enable us to feel ‘at one’ with the movement and spirit of the horse. If they are relaxed and breathing deeply and rhythmically, they can support themselves and carry a rider with less strain. The body of the horse can operate with fluidity and mobility when we breathe with control, but can be disturbed by incorrect breathing and tension.

The half-halt is an aid taught to help re-balance the rider and horse. Core breathing, if practiced correctly, will have the effect of re-balancing horse and rider with minimal effort and maximum harmony. When a deep inward breath is taken, the forward energy flow is interrupted. The upper torso of the rider will lengthen and widen, allowing a holding or containing of energy. The pelvis will tip very slightly forward and the seat bones move back. The lower back will arch, giving the indication to the horse to steady his forward movement. Imagine how your hands, with closed fingers on the reins, can help to connect with the energy of the horse, contained through your lower back and strong centre. This is pivotal to the half halt: the energy is momentarily rebalanced and contained. The rider is rebalanced and poised, which in turn gives the signal to the horse to rebalance, i.e. to steady himself and engage his hindquarters. He will take more of his body-weight back, thus lightening and elevating the forehand. This is the essence or ‘spirit’ of the half-halt; to rebalance the rider and to ask the horse to rebalance physically and focus and steady his mind.

The deep inhalation will influence the rider in the following ways:
• As air fills the lungs, it is breathed into the back and spine. The hands placed on either side of the ribcage will feel the chest expand and widen, and the abdominal area will expand.
• The body is recharged with vital energy.
• The spine will strengthen and lengthen.
• The seat will lighten.

On the deeper outward breath of the rider, the energy is empowered and released into lightness and elevated movement. The release of the lower back of the rider together with an opening of the fingers on the reins, will be the basis of riding in lightness. This feeling of ‘collection’ will be the key to lightening the shoulders – rider and horse can experience oneness and harmony and learn a feel of dance where ‘less becomes more’.

Core-breathing is the key to balance within lateral work and lightness in passage. These breathing techniques help to refine our communications with our horse. Like you, I am still learning on my own journey, and my horses continue to be my teachers.

In parts 2 and 3 of this article I will explain how to bring core breathing into riding to create a light and responsive horse.

Core Breathing Practice: The inward breath should make you feel stronger, taller and more centred. In the long outward breath feel the air releasing and rippling through your spine and into your abdomen as you engage the muscles of your pelvic floor (these are the same muscles used when you cough). Practice steady core breathing whilst standing still. Feel the energy in your core and how your abdomen can support your upper body.