Level Your Pelvis Series – Part 1 of 4

A level pelvis is critical for effective riding position and prevention of back pain in your horse. Asymmetries in your pelvis are often expressed as a leg length difference, tendency to lean to one side, increased weight through one hip, shoulder drop, and a variety of postural abnormalities. An uneven pelvis causes asymmetric weight distribution on your horse’s back which leads to pain from pressure points on your horse’s back. Asymmetry in the rider can also cause asymmetry in the horse’s tracking.

Pain in your distal spine or tailbone region or a rider is related to repetitive asymmetric forces through your sacroiliac (SI) joints. Treating an uneven pelvis can improve the quality of your riding, improve your horse’s performance, decrease equine back pain, and improve rider symptoms.

Step 1
Bridges With Knee Squeezes

This is an isometric exercise that uses a steady contraction of your inner thigh muscles to open up the SI joints on both sides of your pelvis.

1) Lay on your back with your feet flat on the floor and knees pointed to the sky

2) Place a pillow or helmet between your knees

3) Squeeze the object between your knees for 10 seconds and repeat 10 times

Progression

1) Lift your hips to make a bridge while maintaining the knee squeeze action

2) Lower your hips between each bridge and repeat 20 times