Horses who are used for riding are athletes in their own right. They experience muscle tension which builds up as a result of being ridden and trained. Saddle fit, unbalanced riders, a trip or stumble on uneven ground and repetitive strain are all examples of factors that affect the wellbeing and discomfort in a horse. Being a prey animal in the wild they seldom show pain or discomfort until it is severe and they have been compensating for a tight muscle or injury to the extent that they become lame. Very often when the horse starts being “naughty” when being ridden or does not want to be saddled up or bucks or refuses to jump, it is in pain, or the movement it is being asked to do is causing pain.
Imbalances in the rider’s body, more tension on one side than the other in the back and/or hips may hinder the rider from sitting in a balanced position and hinder or restrict the horse’s natural movement. The rider may experience this type of imbalance as a feeling that the stirrups are of uneven length even though they are equally long. These imbalances in the rider can also cause stiffness, discomfort and uneven muscle development in the horse over time!
Physical Stresses:
The body is designed to withstand a certain amount of physical force – bumps, jerks and falls, but if the mechanical stress goes beyond the body’s limit of adaptability, the effects may become stored as body stress. Falls from horses during riding are common sources of stress overload and the severity of injury varies according to the way to person landed. Repetitive strain is another factor which causes body stress in riders and horses. Riding puts constant pressure on the horse’s back, and along with the movements it is asked to perform, the horse also suffers repetitive strain and body stress.
Emotional Stresses:
Riders will often remark on how their mount will pick up on their state of mind at the time of riding, often sensing suppressed emotions of grief, deep sadness or irritability. We know that intense anger, anxiety or shock may cause the rider to tense the shoulder and neck muscles. Horses can also experience stress and trauma, for example being moved to a new stable or another stableyard, a bad experience in a horse box, being ill-treated or punished, loss of a stable mate…the list can go on.
Both horses and riders benefit greatly from Body Stress Release. Releasing tension allows the body to self-heal and balance to be restored. Not only can Body Stress Release assist the body in its recovery from and prevention of injury, freedom from stored tension allows increased energy and flexibility, enhancing performance potential in both horse and rider.