Equestrian Yoga

Yoga for horse and rider

Equestrian Yoga is more than just yoga poses atop a horse - it is the practice of bringing more mindfulness and intention to your riding, stretching and strengthening before the ride (for both horse and rider), improving balance and flexibility, and deepening your connection with your horse, both on the ground and in the saddle.

In ancient Sanskrit, ‘Yoga’ means ‘Unity’ - of body, mind, and spirit - and the union we feel when working with horses is a beautiful iteration of this concept. Riding horses can sometimes feel like a moving meditation, and equestrian yoga adds a spiritual practice to the physical practice of riding and interacting with horses.

Yoga isn’t just for the rider though - being a fitter, stronger, and more balanced rider is better for the health and happiness of your horse, and stretches for the horse provide many of the same benefits as similar poses provide for us. Equestrian yoga improves rider fitness, coordination, confidence, and balance by bridging the gap between strength and mobility, stabilizing the core, improving postural alignment, and calming the mind and nerves. Equestrian Yoga is beneficial for horses and rider of all ages and abilities, can be tailored to any riding discipline, and requires no previous yoga experience.

Bringing mindfulness to your ride by expanding awareness, centering focus, and intentional breathing (pranayama) helps to calm the mind, influencing energy, emotions, and movements. By becoming a more confident and relaxed rider, you become a better leader and partner for your horse.