Simon Cocozza - Core conditioning for horses: yoga-inspired warm-up techniques that increase suppleness, improve bend, and unlock optimal movement

Core
Conditioning
for Horses

Yoga-Inspired Warm-Up Techniques

Increase Suppleness, Improve Bend, and Unlock Optimal Movement

Simon Cocozza

First published in 2019 by

Trafalgar Square Books

North Pomfret, Vermont 05053

Copyright 2019 Simon Cocozza

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, by any means, without written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer quoting brief excerpts for a review in a magazine, newspaper, or website.

Disclaimer of Liability

The author and publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book. While the book is as accurate as the author can make it, there may be errors, omissions, and inaccuracies.

Trafalgar Square Books encourages the use of approved safety helmets in all equestrian sports and activities.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Cocozza, Simon, Visconte, 1970- author.

Title: Core conditioning for horses : yoga-inspired warm-up techniques that increase suppleness, improve bend, and unlock optimal movement / Visconte Simon Cocozza.

Description: North Pomfret, Vermont : Trafalgar Square Books, 2019. | Includes index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018037118 | ISBN 9781570768040

Subjects: LCSH: Horses--Exercise. | Horses--Training.

Classification: LCC SF287 .C62 2019 | DDC 636.1/0835--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018037118

Photographs and illustrations by Paul Barber except: p. xiii (Can/AdobeStock); pp. 67, 1145 (Anton Rostovsky/AdobeStock); pp. 8, 10, 25 left27, 34, 216 (Wikicommons); pp. 11, 18, 22, 29, 36, 64, 667, 70, 73, 778, 80, 82, 95, 1002, 104, 112, 118, 138, 248, 289 (Pixabay); p. 12 (Wellcome Images V0050695); pp. 13, 124, 196, 286 (Pexels); p. 25 right (Matt Cornock); p. 28 (Montanabw); p. 33 (Jenny Lee and Trigger by Veronica Lee); pp. 38, 94 (Gabriela Placco); p. 59 (Laila Klinsmann/Pexels); p. 60 (Whole Horse Dissection); p. 63 (4DDI Equine); p. 69 (Svetlana Zakarova); pp. 84, 129 (Tiia Tuulivaara and Kanada); p. 105 (Belinda Hankins Miller); p. 120 (Terri Walker); p. 150 (Jan Laugesen/Pexels); pp. 158, 170, 188, 2001, 212, 224, 240, 252, 267, 276 (Alison Robertson Yoga); pp. 174, 176, 178, 180, 290 (courtesy of Dana & Ollie); p. 204 (courtesy of Dr. Doychin Lyudov); pp. 228, 230, 232 (courtesy of Debbie & Chaussette); pp. 256, 258 (courtesy of Marina Kallioniemi)

Book design by Katarzyna MisiukanisCeliska

Cover design by RM Didier

Index by Andrea Jones (JonesLiteraryServices.com)

eBook design by Prabhati Content

Typefaces: Adobe Garamond Pro, Roboto and Libre Baskerville

Printed in China

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

/ I dedicate this book to: /

Nutty, Willow, Cracker, Campari, Boswell,

Winnie, Chance, Flox, Summertime, Archie, Quadria,

Joyeuse, Jet, Lancelot, Magda, Minerva, Skovvangs, Jeep,

Deera, Wall Street, Shanghai, Silver, and Dagwood.

Thank you for your kindness, my dearest friends.

One day we will meet again, somewhere down the trail.

Look out for me.

Riding a horse is an incredible privilege.

The opportunity to dance

with such a magnificent creature

can elevate your soul and bond you,

in balance and spirit,

with this truly wonderful animal.

R iding a horse is an incredible privilege. The opportunity to dance with such a magnificent creature can elevate your soul and bond you, in balance and spirit, with this truly wonderful animal.

Riding, however, is not always like that. A serious rider will have earned that elevated soul with sweat and sacrifice, and will, without doubt, be on a first-name basis with his or her local pharmacy.

So what is the difference between the ride that danced and the ride that didnt?

It is all down to the horses posture in motion. This is the horses ability to use the powerful mechanisms already built into his body and relies not upon the strength you can see on the outside but the strength on the inside.

This invisible and complex arrangement of internal core muscles controls the way a horses back functions and dictate his overall posture. A horse with a strong core and good posture will feel athletic and round underneath you, as if you are riding a slowly bouncing ball. If, on the other hand, the horses posture is poor and his back is hollow, the horse ball cant bounce, and the whole riding experience loses its ease and beauty.

The human discipline of yoga,

in particular, resonates beautifully

with the horses physiology

and psychology, giving his body

and mind the same benefits

that we ourselves find in its practice.

Core muscles are very difficult to isolate in normal equestrian training, and this can leave them weaker than they should be, even in very fit horses, as only very specific movements will engage them. The perfect solution lies in our extensive knowledge of the human core and how it functions and feels, as fortunately this know-how transfers easily to our vertebrate cousinthe horse. The human discipline of yoga, in particular, resonates beautifully with the horses physiology and psychology, giving his body and mind the same benefits that we ourselves find in its practice. With a wonderful blend of gentleness and focus, the principles behind yoga are very effective in helping your riding partner with the unique demands made upon his back.

Yoga helps the horse to:

• Feel good when you ride him.
• Be physically supple enough to perform.
• Feel free in body and mind.
• Find his own, personal form of agility, rather than yours.

The specific yoga-inspired exercises in this book can help the horse owner to transform any horse or ponys body into the most supple and athletic version of itself. By conditioning areas of the equine body that may be a little rusty, we can release the horses natural dance into every stride.

Ive organized this book into two parts:

You will begin with introductory material

that will help you understand

the horses core and how to score it.

In Part Two, you will learn the key exercises

to improve your horses core condition.

How to Use This Book

In this book I will show you how to assess, evaluate, and then completely condition the horses core. The pages ahead will explain how to:

• Understand the horses core.
• Assess the horses core condition.
• Create a 20-minute, yoga-inspired, Core Warm-Up exactly for your horse.
• Ride your Core Warm-Up exercises safely and effectively.

By showing you how to spot what the horses core needs from you, the rider, in the very subtle language used by your equine friend, you will be able to pinpoint what you can do to help your horse move better. Using Core Indicators, you will assess the horses core strength before deciding upon his Core Score, which helps you then choose just the right Core Warm-Up to help him become connected, agile, and flexible. As your horses core becomes stronger and the exercises easier, you can choose to develop another Core Warm-Up plan. Eventually, your horse will become a true Yoga Master!