Core Mobilisation Exercises

What are Core Mobilisation Exercises? 

Core mobilisation exercises are small exercises that we do with our horse in standstill, to help to mobilise their spinal joints and pelvis, release tight muscles, and release and activate their core, prior to exercise, whether groundwork or ridden.

They are exercises where we ask the horse to make a small movement, maybe only around 1cm for some of the exercises, but this will stimulate specific postural/core muscles, and do so by by-passing some of the responses of the bigger muscles.

As an example, from a human perspective, if you are standing still and I push your upper body very slightly, you won’t need to move your legs to stop falling over, you will just need to engage your core muscles ever so slightly to stop falling over. This is the type of movement we look for in some of these exercises - small muscle recruitment, without the whole body ‘switching on’.

I find that the horses really enjoy doing these exercises once they understand them, and generally relax which is what we are looking for! They are not difficult for the horse to achieve, they need to learn how to do them, and then move through their stiffness at their own pace.

Benefits of doing core mobilisation and activation exercises:
• Equalise bend
• Improve flexibility of spine
• Mobilise spinal joints
• Strengthen multifidi muscles (small, strong stabilising muscles in the spinal column)
• Stretch and mobilise lumbar spine
• Engage core muscles
• Increase flexibility of pelvis
• Increase angle of pelvic tilt
• Strengthen thoracic sling muscles
• Rebalance weight distribution

LOTS of benefits here! They are small exercises that are quick to do, your horse will enjoy the feeling of doing them, and there are MANY benefits for their body! I tend to use them prior to exercise to get the core and spine mobilised and the core muscles switched on ready for work! 

If your horse goes heavy on the forehand, these exercises will help with that balance by training your horse to take his weight backwards.

If you struggle to train your horse to work over his back in a long and low frame, these exercises help with engaging their core muscles. 

If you horse is stiffer on one rein, these exercises help to release tight areas in the body and equalise bend through the ribcage. 

***I have put the Core Mobilisation Exercises that I use, along with the Core Activation Exercises that I use into a brand new Ebook!! So you can get stuck in straight away and learn how to do these exercises and try them for yourself with your horse! ***

*EBOOK DETAILS: CLICK HERE Core Mobilisation Exercises EBOOK