Breathing and Horses - part two
Jul 28, 2024
Common issues when learning diaphragmatic breathing
One of the most common sticking points at this stage in learning diaphragmatic breathing is that people feel that their insides are being squashed. This is due to the change in pressure within your abdomen, but in reality, there is still the same amount of space in there.
Or that it is just a lot to think about, and so how could you possibly do this and rideCommon as well? In this case, it just needs practice off-horse, perhaps when you are driving or at work.
For some people, it feels as if it is difficult to get air into their belly. In this case, try visualising the back of your ribcage just below your shoulder blades. In between your ribs are the intercostal muscles, which expand and contract as you are breathing. Focus on breathing into your back, and on expanding these muscles as you breathe in. Imagine they are unfurling like an accordion, and gently stretching your ribs apart on each breath. This helps to create more volume in your lung space.
How to visualise and practice breathing off the horse
Two more additional visualisations that can help are to imagine your intercostal muscles could be replaced with gills, and instead of breathing down through your windpipe, you could breathe in through the gills on your back, like a fish, expanding your back as you do this. Or visualise that your windpipe and lungs are lined with an extremely smooth and silky layer, and the air glides with ease inwards and outwards.
To test this as a functional skill, can you blow a balloon up, without pinching off the neck of the balloon in between breaths? If you are not able to keep the balloon inflated on the out-breath, then you are temporarily losing your intraabdominal pressure. You should breathe in through your nose, and out into the balloon through your mouth. This is a really good way to practice and become efficient at diaphragmatic breathing.
Good breathing is essential for horse wellbeing
If you are asking a lot of your horse, good breathing is also essential for his wellbeing and performance. Horses have a huge lung capacity, but they easily become accustomed to shallow breathing during their ridden work. Although they may be good breathers in their day-to-day existence, the addition of a saddle and a rider can have a negative influence on their breathing, so it is even more important to be diligent in breathing.
Once you have established good breathing, try standing with your horse next to his head and shoulder, so that you can also see his ribcage (maybe at liberty or on a loose line in the school) and focus only on your breath. Begin to fall into a rhythm that is comfortable for you, and allow yourself the time and space to drop down and become more grounded with each out-breath. Keep your vision soft and attentive to the environment, so that you can notice what is happening, but do not be drawn out of the calm focus of your breath.
You will hopefully notice that your horse starts to ‘entrain’ with your breath, and will lower his head and take some deeper breaths from further back in his ribcage.
Can you continue good breathing while you mount, and can you do the same whilst on board at a halt, and then whilst in motion and through transitions? Test yourself.
In my experience, if you get your breathing correct, every horse will respond positively with some form of acknowledgment, such as a good nostril blow or relaxed ears, and so it is hugely rewarding.
Your aim is to develop calm, regular diaphragmatic breathing as a permanent baseline for when you are handling and riding. You will be improving yourself from both a biomechanical and leadership aspect, and also improving your wellbeing and fitness.
Let me know how you get on.
Learn more about breathing for you and your horse with my free download, Five Powerful Breathing Exercises to Connect You and Your Horse. Get your free download here!
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