Yoga For Equestrians: Hips & Hamstrings

There are two areas in the body of equestrians that are bound to get short and tight from hours in the saddle. The hamstrings, which are the large muscle group in the back of the leg, and the hip flexors tend to tighten up from riding. It might seem harmless, but over time it can lead to pain in the lower back and have negative effects on your posture and balance in the saddle.

Seated forward bends stretch the hamstrings, but they can actually do harm if performed too hastily. If your hamstrings are really short and tight, a safer choice is a reclined posture. Start by lying on your back with a yoga strap, or any belt or strap that you have on hand, extend one leg straight on the floor, then loop the strap around the foot of the other leg and extend it straight towards the ceiling with your foot flexed. This posture is called supta padagusthasana, and it is an excellent way to legthen the hamstrings without putting undue strain on the lower back. Take 10 slow, deliberate breaths on both sides.

For a gentle stretch in the hip flexors, find your way to sitting, bend your knees and bring the soles of the feet together in baddha konasana. With your spine extended, let gravity take your knees gently towards the floor. Take 10 more breaths in this posture.

Doing a few simple yoga postures at home before riding is an easy way to find more suppleness in the saddle. If you want to learn more about yoga and take a group class, Yoga at the Village in Glendale has a wide range of classes for all levels. Many teachers will take requests from students. If you tell her you are interested in working on a certain area of the body, she might be able tailor the class to suit your needs.

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Save a horse from slaughter

Recent legislation rendered it illegal to slaughter horses for human consumption in the United States. Unfortunately, there are still many horses being crammed into trailers and shipped across the border to Mexico or Canada to be killed for human consumption overseas. Many of these are healthy, well trained horses, each with their own unlucky tale of how they ended up on a feedlot awaiting an inhumane demise.

Thankfully, there are people out there working tirelessly to save as many as they can. Equine Angel, a non-profit organization run by Shirley Puga, rescues horses directly from feedlots, mostly in Nevada, where the horses are fattened up before long, grueling transport to Canada or Mexico. Horses are carefully hand picked according to their adoptability. Puga then pays the slaughter price for the horse.

Once a horse has been rescued from the feedlot, Valley View Ranch Equine Rescue takes the reigns (so to speak) to place the horse in foster care, or, ideally, in a permanent home. Valley View Ranch is located in King City near Monterey, California, and is run by Marlene Dodge. Both organizations work closely with each other to rescue horses, raise the funds to care for them, and eventually place them in loving homes.

Since the downturn in the economy last year, many people were forced to let their horses go, unable to afford the upkeep. This accounts for a good portion of these horses left for the lions.

Equine Destiny, a documentary film in progress, is also working to raise awareness of this terrible threat, among others, to American horses. According to statistics on their website, 92% of the horses going to slaughter are in sound condition - many of them well trained for riding.

If you have ever considered horse ownership, adopting a horse that has been saved from slaughter could be a really rewarding endeavor. While it is important to remember that owning a horse is a commitment, both financially and timewise, you might find that horse ownership in LA is within your reach. If you have a passion for horses, there is nothing quite like having a horse of your own to love.

Not ready to commit to a horse? Make a tax deductible donation to one of the organizations above and make a big difference in the lives of horses.

Valentine's Day with Corral 38

Looking for something special for your sweetheart on Valentine's Day? Well, if your sweetheart has four hooves, mark your calendar for Griffith Park Equestrians Corral 38's Used Tack and Show Clothing Sale and Fundraiser. Not only can you get some great new/used stuff, but you can get rid of some of your old tack and apparel.

Corral 38 is the local chapter of Equestrian Trails, Inc. ("ETI"). They promote trail rides, horse shows, and various activities, including the annual Christmas caroling on horseback in our community. Tracy M. Smith is the local coordinator for ETI, and can be contacted by email if you want more information on ETI events.

The upcoming tack and apparel sale is on Sunday, February 14, 2010, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. in Bette Davis Park, located next to Easter Field. Bring your old tack, riding apparel, barn accessories, and all other equine related items to put in the sale. 15% of the profits go to Corral 38, but the rest is yours to keep. Chances are you will spend your new found cash on some great new stuff for you and your horse.

To submit your items for sale, attach a tag to each item to include your name and the price of the item, which should be priced on the dollar. Be sure to deliver the items by 9:00 on the morning of the sale. Donated items are also welcome. Corral 38 personnel will track your sales and provide you with your profits after the sale.

This is the perfect time of year to clean out your tack room and closet. Why not make a little extra cash on all of your outdated goods? As the old saying goes, "One man's trash is another man's treasure." Come unload your "trash" and find a treasure.

Horse Trainer or Abuser?

Horse training has come a long way since medieval times, but some of the so-called "trainers" lurking in our community are still using barbaric methods from the dark ages. While it is true that it is necessary to be assertive and establish oneself has the horse's leader, strong arm tactics and cruel methods are a red flag that your trainer is an abuser.


Good training takes time and patience. Muscling a horse into submission through fear, pain, and harsh equipment is not training. Just recently a local "trainer" was unhappy with the way his client's horse was behaving on the trail. Rather than working compassionately with the animal in the moment, he chose to tie the horse's head down via a harsh bit and reigns tethered to the horn of the saddle where he instructed the owner to leave the animal to suffer in its stall for an hour. Is this training?

This is clearly abusive behavior, and anyone witnessing this kind of behavior should speak up, if not to the alleged trainer, then to the owner. The method described above is beyond bad horsemanship - it is downright sadistic. This kind of treatment is only good for creating a fearful horse with a sore neck. What has he learned? That his handler causes him pain and should not be trusted.

The attention span of a horse is very short. Just like dogs, they must be corrected in the moment. Any later and they have no idea why you are reprimanding or praising them. When teaching any animal you must act in the moment.

It is not advisable to attack the abuser (verbally or otherwise), but rather firmly and calmly point out that his method is cruel, unnecessary, and unlikely to produce the desired result. Caution must be used when approaching these individuals because at their core they are bullies, and confronting them could easily turn volatile. It is important to keep in mind that the goal is to help the horse, not provoke or humiliate the abuser. It might be a good idea to call an organization like the ASPCA or Peta for advice and support.

There are many good trainers out there that teach horses with patience and compassion. This is the only way to create a well mannered horse that is happy to perform. Sadly there are impostors out there posing as trainers that are nothing more than abusers. Horses need us to be their voice and protect them from such bullies. Please don't turn a blind eye to the abuse. Get involved.

Yoga for equestrians: Focus on the breath

There is a style and level of yoga for just about anyone who is interested in receiving the vast benefits of this ancient practice. For equestrians, yoga is an amazing tool both physically and mentally. If more comfort and calm in the saddle sounds good to you, read on.

It is no secret among equestrians that horses can sense how we are feeling and often mirror our emotions, particularly fear. The calm energy attained through the physical of practice yoga (asana) combined with yogic breathing techniques (pranayama) will transfer from you to your horse.

While it is best to work with an experienced teacher to learn correct alignment, you can study the basic standing postures at home, compliments of yogajournal.com. Another good place to start is with an instructional DVD for beginners.

Yoga can be defined as the union of movement and breath (prana or life force). It is very common in our everyday life to forget about our breath, even though it is the single most important thing we do, all day, everyday. When subjected to stress we often default to short, shallow breathing, resulting in tense, oxygen deprived muscles and a fatigued mind.

During the physical practice of yoga we learn to focus on our breath, not only while on the mat, but out in the real world where it helps us cope with daily stress - equine related or otherwise.

Consider this scenario: Your horse spooks which startles you, so you stop breathing momentarily until you begin to take in quick, shallow, stress-filled breaths. Your horse picks up on the subtleties of your breath and now believes that there really is something to spook about, so his energy becomes a reflection of yours. The next time you are faced with a similar situation, take a moment to notice your breath.

If you are not ready to take the plunge into a yoga class or practicing with a good DVD at home, consider the simple act of practicing slow, deliberate breathing several times a day. This practice alone will improve your breathing and train your mind to be aware, present, and calm.