Core & Breath: The Power Couple Behind Every Balanced Ride

2 days ago
2 min read

A soft approach to real stability in the saddle

Let’s build on what we started.

In the last post, we met the transverse abdominis — the deep, quiet stabilizer that wraps around your torso like a gentle corset.

But there’s another part of the story.

One that’s often overlooked.

Your breath.

You might think of breathing and core strength as two separate things… but in truth, they’re intimately connected.

When you learn to coordinate them, you unlock a level of balance and softness in the saddle that your horse will immediately feel.

What Do Breath and Core Have to Do with Each Other?

Think of your torso like a cylinder made up of four essential parts:

The diaphragm (top)
The pelvic floor (bottom)
The transverse abdominis (front/sides)
And the deep spinal muscles (back)

When you breathe well, this system naturally supports your spine and pelvis.

But when your breath becomes shallow — or when you hold it (which many riders do without realizing it) — that support disappears.

Why Riders Lose Their Breath (and Their Balance)

Many riders:

Tighten their shoulders and chest trying to “sit up tall”
Brace their belly to “stay strong”
Or hold their breath during transitions or moments of concentration

These patterns disconnect you from your deep core.

And instead of stability, they create:

Rigidity in your upper body
Tension in your seat
A loss of flow and softness

A Quiet Truth

You don’t need to breathe more.

You just need to breathe better.

When breath and core work together, you feel:

Grounded, but light
Supported, but relaxed
Present, but not tense

That’s what your horse feels too.

Try This: The Grounded Breath

This practice is simple, but powerful — and one of the easiest ways to reconnect with your body before riding.

How to do it:

Sit or stand in a relaxed posture, feet flat on the ground, spine long but soft.
Place one hand on your low belly and the other on your lower ribs.
Inhale slowly through your nose for a count of 4, feeling your belly and ribs expand softly.
Exhale gently through your nose for a count of 6, allowing your belly to draw inward and your pelvis to feel grounded.
With each exhale, imagine your body settling more deeply into balance.

Repeat for 5 or 6 rounds.

This quiet, conscious breathing helps your diaphragm and TrA begin to work together — supporting your core from the inside out, without bracing or gripping.

It’s one of the most powerful ways to ride with true inner support.