From Braced to Balanced
🐎 From Braced to Balanced: Why Your Horse’s Core Is the Key to Better Movement
Have you ever had a ride where your horse just didn’t feel quite right?
Maybe they hollowed their back.
Rushed through transitions.
Struggled to stay straight.
Or resisted even simple movements.
You might assume they’re being uncooperative, lazy, or stiff…
But more often than not, your horse is doing the best they can with the body awareness and strength they’ve got.
And if their core isn’t switched on, it’s no surprise they fall into bracing patterns.
🤔 What Does “Braced” Look Like?
A horse in brace often moves with tension and compensation.
They may:
Lift the head and drop the back
Tighten through the ribcage and jaw
Rush or drag through transitions
Fall in/out on circles
Struggle to carry themselves in balance
This isn’t just a “bad habit” — it’s often their way of coping with weakness or lack of connection through the postural system.
💡 What Does “Balanced” Look Like?
In contrast, a balanced horse:
Moves with lift and freedom through the back
Light in the forehand
Steps under with the hindquarters
Maintains better alignment and straightness
Feels more responsive, relaxed, and rideable
They can organise their body more effectively because the core is engaged and supporting them.
🔑 Core Strength Is the Missing Link
Many horses have never learned how to properly engage their postural muscles — especially if they’ve been ridden in a way that over-emphasised head carriage or outline over body awareness.
And horses recovering from injury or conditions like kissing spine?
They’re even more likely to compensate unless we actively help them rebuild strength and stability.
That’s where intentional core-focused groundwork and exercise becomes so valuable.
It’s not about “working harder.”
It’s about helping your horse reconnect their brain, body, and balance — so they can move and carry you in a way that supports soundness and comfort.
🧡 Helping Your Horse Move From Braced to Balanced
It doesn’t happen overnight.
But with consistency, the right exercises, and a better understanding of how the horse’s body works, you can help them shift out of old patterns — and into strength, softness, and self-carriage.
This is exactly what I teach in my step-by-step online course, Core Exercises for Your Horse.
It’s designed to guide you through effective, horse-friendly exercises that build postural strength, improve movement, and support rehab if needed.
Whether you’re dealing with straightness issues, reconditioning after time off, or helping a horse with past injuries feel better in their body again — this course can help.
