Horse Class Logo Image

Tips for Better Breathing While Riding Horses

Callie King Breathing Image

Two weeks ago I posted an article titled “Less is More,” where I shared what I had taken away from several recent learning experiences.

What I heard over and over during the lectures and clinics I attended was the importance of breathing, and of breathing correctly.

Correct breathing is essential to good riding. It affects our balance in the saddle, our ability to move with the horse, and our mental state. In this video, I share a key strategy for breathing better and an easy exercise you can try the next time you ride.

For more tips on breathing exercises and other ways to handle stress in the saddle visit my Calm and Confident Rider Free Resource

Do you have any other tips for better breathing? Share them in the comments!

BETTER RIDING IN 7 DAYS (FREE MINI COURSE)

Daily exercises for an immovable seat, steady hands, and a happier horse

Your information is safe with us, learn how we use and process data in our Privacy Policy.

Better riding in 7 days (FREE Mini Course)

Daily exercises for an immovable seat, steady hands, and a happier horse

Your information is safe with us, learn how we use and process data in our Privacy Policy.

Related Courses

Stay in the Saddle

Instructed by: Callie King
Our popular book + video program. Includes 67 Exercises for horse and rider to bring fun and purpose to every ride.
Learn More

Building the Showjumper

Instructed by: Dr. Angelo Telatin
Science and learning psychology meet classic jump training in this course to teach your horse to jump confidently and carefully.
Learn More

Yoga For Riders

Instructed by: Heidi Blackman
Four weeks of yoga classes just for riders. Develop strength and mobility to improve how you feel both in and out of the saddle.
Learn More

Related Posts

Callie King Image
My Best Instructor

I had taken lessons when I was younger but my first real instructor was my first horse, a 32 yr old Quarter horse named Scotch after what I presume was

Read More

Search

Comments

9 Responses

  4. Hi Callie,
    Breathing or the breathe is the focus in yoga (at least the traditional type of yoga that I practice). It takes a lot to really breath deeply with awareness, but it is always amazing the difference one feels. I am really working on breathing and relaxing when I ride, as neither seem to come easy to me while on the horse. Thanks for another great post.

    Nancy

    Reply

  5. So important to think about thank you. Breathing in for 4, breathe out 4 , pause 2, is a nice pattern for slowing. Breathing out for transitions seems to help, does this ring true for you Callie? Breathing in too deep seems to cause tension maybe. The breath out and pause may be the most important. Practising in everyday life regularly is important too. Now to master it on the horse.

    Reply
  6. Pingback: Achieve Your Riding Goals… the Easy Way | CRK Training LLC

  7. Thanks Callie! I practice this sort of breathing when I tense up or when my horse
    gets worried. It helps a lot – especially if you ease up on the reins and stay loose in your body.
    It amazes me how well my horse will respond – to so little!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Join Our HorseClass Social Community

I signed up for the Balanced Riding course after watching Callie on YouTube. I’ve learned so much from this course. As you start riding when you’re young, you learn the fundamentals, but then you drift so far away from them in different skills that you’re learning that you sometimes kind of forget or don’t appropriately utilize those fundamentals anymore. And she’s really brought me back to that level of understanding specifically how to ride with the seat. And I think that’s kind of the most powerful thing you can learn to do as a rider, is to sit your horse appropriately, not have to rely so much on your reins. So that’s been huge, just completely changed the way I ride.
- Amanda
- Amanda
I just want to say thank you to everyone for all the comments and positive comments I have read while on this site. I have taken many of the free courses offered by CRK training over the past few months and it has help with my confidence. I actually rode my daughter’s horse for the first time outside in the ring since she came home from a free lease September. I have practiced many of the lessons and watched many videos. It was just at a walk but I felt confident with every thing I have learnt so far, plus I have learnt that I am not the only one who gets nervous and that it is okay to be nervous and thanks to Callie’s lessons I have learnt to take one day at a time and work though the times I feel nervous.
- Tammy Lynn Wright
- Tammy Lynn Wright
As a new horse owner and rider I wanted a training series that would walk me through each step of equitation for a beginner. That is exactly what I got with the CRK Balanced Rider Series. Callie King is a talented horse trainer and accomplished rider and it shows through each of her videos. She is clear and concise when discussing her insider knowledge of horse care, training, and riding.
- Jennifer addy
- Jennifer addy
As with all of the work Callie does, this program is informative, thoughtful, evidence based. The course provides good resources on horsemanship, managing fear, developing confidence. The videos of “how to” help your horse manage his fear were particularly good (in that) helping my horse manage moments of fear, helps me to manage mine.
- Corinne
- Corinne
This is why I so enjoy your videos and webinars. Your approach is so positively based and therefore so kind and gentle while still being very effective. You work with the horse and not against him. THANK YOU!
- Rosanne Wellmaker
- Rosanne Wellmaker
Horse Class Logo Image

Coming Soon!