Improving balance, as well as making the horse more confident, sure footed and a more comfortable ride, can help to improve movement, posture, musculoskeletal comfort and reduce the risk of injury. There are many balance improving exercises that you can do either on the ground or riding. These exercises work by stimulating the core and lateral stability muscles as well as influencing the nervous system and improving proprioception and spatial awareness. Here are a list of resources useful if you wish to learn more about improving your horse’s balance:- Complete Pilates for Horses Programme Pilates and Stretching - An Exercise Index for Horse Owners Poles for Posture Pilates for Horses Pilates and Stretching for Horses Posture and Performance - Principles of Training Horses from the Anatomical Perspective Join the Horses Inside Out Academy (free to join) where you will find many useful videos in the tutorial channel.

Straightness is an important pillar of your horse’s training. The ultimate aim is to have your horse as symmetrical and straight as possible. However, the reality is that no horse is completely symmetrical. There’s plenty you can do to improve your horse’s straightness. By using the right exercises to train his muscles and straighten him, it is possible to achieve better movement, performance and improved posture. A straight horse will be physically and mentally in balance, symmetrically and muscularly fit, supple, strong, able to round his back and carry the rider with ease.   To help you achieve this, having the ability to assess a horse’s straightness from in front and behind as well as the side is an effective method of evaluating symmetry and soundness. To learn more about how to assess movement watch the online video course Anatomy in Action and Conformation Assessment. In the webinar Striving for Straightness , Gillian explains and illustrates the biomechanics of straightness – bringing this fascinating subject to life using her signature anatomically painted horses and slow-motion video, as well as truly understanding what straightness is, learning to recognise signs of asymmetry, core weakness and lateral instability which can challenge your horse’s musculoskeletal health as well as his performance. Gillian suggests a number of different exercises you can do with your horse and discusses massage and mobilisation techniques that will all help improve your horse’s straightness.   Whether you’re a trainer, rider or therapist, once you have a clearer understanding of the biomechanics of straightness and know what techniques to use to assess and improve it, you’ll be able to improve the horse’s training and way of going. The book Posture for Performance discusses the principles of training and suggests exercises for improving straightness, gait, posture, flexibility, core stability and musculoskeletal strength. Additional online content to watch if you’d like to learn more about straightness and improving symmetry include: The Biomechanics of Bending Understanding and assessing Posture Poles for Posture Understanding Muscles and Fascia Movement from the Anatomical Perspective Join the Horses Inside Out Academy (free to join) where you will find many useful videos in the tutorial channel

Suppleness is important for musculoskeletal health, comfort and performance as well as being an important pillar of training and one of the first training scales. Suppleness requires the ability to relax and elongate muscles along with strength and stability. A supple horse will move with ease, comfort and relaxation. However, suppleness with horses does not just refer to the musculoskeletal system - relaxation and suppleness of the mind is also important. Mental tension will affect muscular tension and posture. Suppleness therefore can be improved by a number of musculoskeletal exercises and stretches as well as training techniques which encourage mental as well as physical relaxation. To learn more about suppleness and ways to improve it with your horse here are a list of recommended resources: Complete Pilates for Horses Programme Posture for Performance - Principles of training from the anatomical perspective The Biomechanics of Bending Poles for Posture Understanding Muscles and Fascia Movement from the Anatomical Perspective Pilates and Stretching - An Exercise Index for Horse Owners Pilates for Horses: Pilates and Stretching for Horses  Join the Horses Inside Out Academy (free to join) where you will find many useful videos in the tutorial channel:

In a general sense, a horse working in a correct outline should be round over the back, working in an uphill manner with well-engaged hindquarters, the base of the neck up, stretching through his topline to seek the bit and with his nose slightly in front of the vertical. Learn more by watching the recorded webinar: Understanding the Horse’s Neck and reading Posture and Performance To learn more about biomechanics become an Academy member

There are many benefits to working a horse in a forwards and down head and neck position including greater flexion through the thoracic region, there is increased abdominal muscle recruitment and it can also encourage mental relaxation. As some back pain can be alleviated it is sometimes called an analgesic position. To learn more about the biomechanics and benefits, watch the recorded webinar: Understanding the Horse’s Neck and read Posture and Performance To learn more about biomechanics become an Academy member

To ensure your horse is comfortable when wearing a bridle it is important to have a thorough understanding of the external anatomy of the head. It is important for welfare and improving performance and can affect the horse’s willingness to work for you. You do not want any inappropriate pressure to interfere with sensitive anatomy such as the TMJ, occipitoatlantal joint, underlying muscles, nerves or blood vessels. To find out more about the horse’s head anatomy related to health, performance, bridle fit and design:- Read Gillian’s incredible book Illustrated Head Anatomy and  Watch the presentation: Anatomy of the Head - Related to Health, Performance, Bridle Fit and Design Read this article on anatomy and bridle fit. To learn more, join the Academy

We all want the best start for our young horses. The age at which and how we start them has a big impact on their future musculoskeletal health, comfort, performance and longevity. In the webinar, Skeletal Maturity and Exercises for Young Horses, Gillian Higgins goes into detail about the ages at which growth plates close, how youngsters, regardless of conformation or type, develop both muscularly and skeletally. Gillian compares skeletons with both open and closed growth plates and looks at different activities and exercises to help prepare young horses for future ridden work. Understanding skeletal maturity is key to developing a happy, healthy, posturally strong horse.  This recorded webinar is a must for anyone with a young horse.

The best distance between poles depends on the size of your horse or pony but normally it would range between 0.6m to 1m. You can find more information about walk poles in: Posture and Performance Poles for Posture The Principles of Movement Join the Horses Inside Out (free to join) where you will find many useful videos (including a guide to walking distances) in the tutorial channel

The best distance between poles depends on the size of your horse or pony but normally it would range between 1.2m to 1.7m You can find more information about walk poles in:- Posture and Performance Poles for Posture The Principles of Movement Join the Horses Inside Out Academy (free to join) where you will find many useful videos (including a guide to walking distances) in the tutorial channel

The best distance between poles depends on the size of your horse or pony but normally it would range between 2.6m to 3.2m You can find more information about walk poles in: Posture and Performance Poles for Posture The Principles of Movement Join the Horses Inside Out Academy (free to join) where you will find many useful videos (including a guide to walking distances) in the tutorial channel

Areas of rubbed hair under the saddle, sore muscles or uneven sweat marks are good indicators that the saddle is probably not fitting very well. To learn more about signs of ill fitting saddles and the anatomy of the back related to saddlery these learning resources will be of interest: Article: If the Saddle Fits Recorded webinar: Understanding the Horse’s Back Recorded webinar: Muscular Misconceptions - All about the muscles on which we sit The best way to understand if your saddle correctly fits your horse is to sign up for Gillian’s course Anatomy and Biomechanics Course for Saddlery Professionals To learn more about equine anatomy become an Academy member