I do the thigh rotation thing, where you pick your leg up and turn it (and your toes) inward- it also helps put your seat back in the right place, it really helped in my lesson last week, a muscle on the outside of my calf that I had previously not known the existence of was SO SORE the next day, so I was doing something right! (I hope!) And my posting trot was "good"! A direct quote from my instructor! (Actually: "Good trot, Chelsea!" I added the exclamation, I like to think it was there!😝) I have never been so proud, and that is NOT an exaggeration... This really helped put my thigh and calves in the right place, and kept me from gripping with my thigh and knee... Idk if that makes sense, but it helped me!

Tension is my biggest hurdle right now. Thanks for this Amelia!

Interestingly, my dressage instructor practiced that with me today and now this video shows up! Great coincidence and reinforcement! Also interesting is that I do breathing in certain situations and also advise my dog training clients to do that but I never gave it too much thought in regards of riding until I saw one of your videos about breathing into your belly a few weeks ago… thank you for all your wonderful tips! 😊

This is such good advice Amelia!!! I’m an FEI rider and there is always so much to think about especially in shows. I know for a fact I’ve almost barely breathed through an entire FEI2 test 🤭😲. I’m so appreciative that you highlighted the importance of breathing. I talk about this with my clinical counselling clients all the time and I don’t practice this in riding. What was I thinking !!! Again, thank you 🙏

Thanks Amelia, never thought about breathing in time with the horse! yet have always done it with exercise 🤔

I agree about tension. I have that issue

My horse definitely becomes tense the more stressed I am and the more relaxed I am he becomes more relaxed too! I used to think sometimes that he would fire quickly even though he seemed calm and saw this weekend that I fire quickly even though I seem calm too!! But then I listened to a meditation clip and the guys voice just brought me back down to earth! lol It was pretty amazing! I definitely can see how the breathing would help relax both you and your horse!

A brilliant way to release tension for the horse is to go for a nice long gallop in the countryside, motor it! Your horse will love you for it and it's exceptionally good for their cardio fitness, ligaments joints the whole package. Build up from three or four reps. Keep it manageable. Rider tension? Dont take yourself or your sport too seriously. That will take a huge weight off your shoulders and your horses. Seriously.

I think my phone listens to my conversations I have with people. I was talking to a woman who's more experienced in riding about sitting back and watching your breathing. And then I see this video when I got home 🤪

Just what the doctor ordered! Having so much trouble with tension I never knew I was carrying ... thanks Amelia!

Hi Amelia and thankyou for highlighting that you need to breathe. I find this is excellent for non ridden situations too, such as loading and when your horse is getting stressed. It's amazing what an effect it can have. A previous horse I had had injured herself badly on the shoulder and was getting really stressed, and I was able to use my breathing to keep her calm until the vet arrived to attend to her. I was quietly freaking out but managed to maintain my breathing, and kept in calm.Very helpful video.

I will try this breathing excercise in trot may improve my sitting trot. I can get Dee to relax but I'm still holding tension so thanks for the tip!!

Great point! In general, lots of people breathe shallower daily. I remember finally taking a deep breath while riding then the horse took one as well just after me. He was just as relieved as me.

You have beautiful horses. It's such a pleasure to watch them in your training presentations. And Yes, breathing is a great thing in relaxation. I practise yoga, which helps me to develop an ability to breathe deep and regularly. I recommend pranayama (yoga of breathing) to all riders who train a lot and feel stress.

These are great suggestions!

Great tips, Amelia👍😀🐎🐴

Really good tips ! Try to breathe a lot on my younger mare but think I forget when riding her mother! Guess because I worry about her spooking more!

I wish my horse cantered like this! So nice and paced - not fast and scary! ;)

Thank you so much - very helpful as usual ☺️

look forward to trying the exercises. I forget to breathe.

Helpful, thank you. Are you on the Mission trail de Alcala? I see the Giant bells in the background

She's the greatest ever

You know what.......I never think about breathing and I am always out of breath just from posting trot lmao

What a fancy trot!

Very nice

Learn the Feldendrais technique: it will increase awareness greatly

Hi Amelia, do you breath in on the rise and out going down. Or does it not matter.

I am concentrating so hard to get everything down that my breath is the first thing to go. I'm the open-mouthed panter. :(

Heels Down: 0; Inside Leg to Outside Rein: 100; Breathe!: 100000000 :'(

#1 incredibly important. Thank you for the "how to" BREEEEAAAATH lady :)

I do tend to hunch my shoulders, clench my jaw, and hold my breath when I'm stressed. I am definitely going to try these tips the next time I ride. Thank you. Not only does this horse breathe well but she looks beautiful doing it! 😊

She's the greatest ever