A beginner’s guide to horse yoga
By Angela Nuñez
Horse yoga deepens the relationship with your horse, invigorates your regular yoga practice and challenges you in myriad ways. Priorities to keep in mind when practicing horse yoga are safety and the horse’s comfort. Remember that horse yoga is meant to be fun for both the yogi and the horse.
Practicing this form of yoga can be a relaxing experience for both of you, as the movements provide a massage for your horse and trigger a relaxation response. If your horse shows any signs of pain or discomfort during your practice, be sure to stop whatever movement is causing the pain so that the practice is a positive experience.
The equipment needed to practice horse yoga includes a helmet, bareback pad, and rope halter and/or neck rope. When first getting started, you may ask a friend to hold your horse until he gets used to the new, strange movements and learns that his only job is to stand still and enjoy the massage.
Horse yoga feels quite different to a horse than any other riding sport, so be patient as he learns how to be a yoga partner. Playing with your horse on the ground, grooming him and simply hanging out with him in his paddock or stall are all great ways to build a relationship so that he knows he is more than just a recreational object. It is important to bear in mind that your horse must first be your friend if you want to build real trust in your relationship.
If you are not accustomed to riding bareback, go for a few bareback rides before attempting horse yoga. This will improve your balance and get you accustomed to the feel of bareback riding.
When you first begin practicing yoga with your horse, start with seated poses, focusing on stretching and strengthening your neck, shoulders, arms and back. Maintain slow, deep breathing as you practice, which will help both you and your horse remain calm. Once you become comfortable with seated poses, you can then progress to all fours, then standing and standing balance poses, and, finally, arm balances.
Take your time with your horse yoga practice. Just as with riding or more traditional forms of yoga, improvement takes time and practice. Remember to breathe, be able to laugh at yourself, and have fun! ML
Angela Nuñez is a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance and has received 200 hours of training. She teaches Hatha yoga, power yoga, Vinyasa, slow flow yoga and, of course, horse yoga. Find out more at horseyogagirl.com or email horseyogagirl@gmail.com.
