☕ Spilling the Pilateas: Edition 10
Sometimes the Best Thing a Rider Can Do… Is Reset
If you ride horses, you already know this:
things rarely go exactly according to plan.
This past week reminded me of something I teach my Pilates clients all the time — sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is pause and reset.
Not push harder.
Not fight through it.
Just… reset.
Riders are incredibly good at powering through. We manage horses, barns, schedules, families, travel, and work. But when we live in that constant “go” mode, our bodies start to reflect it.
Shoulders creep up.
Breathing gets shallow.
Our seat tightens.
Our horses feel it instantly.
Horses are amazing mirrors for our nervous systems.
If we’re tense, they’re tense.
If we’re scattered, they’re distracted.
If we’re calm, they soften.
That’s where Pilates comes in.
Pilates gives riders something incredibly valuable — the ability to reset their nervous system and their body so they can come back to the saddle with clarity and balance.
One of my favorite ways to do this is with a simple exercise I call the Rider Reset.
The Rider Reset
Before or after you ride, try this:
Sit tall or stand comfortably.
Place one hand on your ribs and one on your lower abdomen.
Inhale slowly through your nose and feel your ribs expand sideways.
Exhale slowly through your mouth and allow your shoulders to soften.
Repeat for 5–8 breaths.
As you breathe, imagine your pelvis settling evenly underneath you — the same way it should feel in the saddle.
This simple breathing reset:
• releases tension in the hip flexors
• softens the rib cage
• stabilizes the pelvis
• helps your horse feel a quieter, clearer rider
And sometimes that’s all it takes to change the ride.
A Little Pilateas Truth
Progress in riding isn’t always about doing more.
Sometimes it’s about resetting so you can do things better.
Your horse will thank you for it.
☕
Until next week,
keep moving well and riding balanced.
— Brooke
P.S. If you'd like to experience what Pilates can do for your riding, I’m currently working with riders in Wellington both in-person and online, grab you session in person before I head back north in April.
Because better riders start with better bodies.