Introduction to Balance Training
Balance training uses foam pads that your horse is encouraged to stand on with 1, 2, 3 or all four feet.
Balance training is a great way to help your horse develop body awareness, body confidence and core strength.
Jess carries with her a set of four 60mm EVA foam balance pads which she has specifically selected for the purpose of helping healthy horses to improve their co-ordination, proprioception, core stability and posture.
Whilst standing on the unstable surface of the pads your horse will need to make multiple micro-adjustments to their posture and utilise their core stability muscles in order to remain as stable as possible.
Balance training is about strengthening muscles and improving stability which is so important for your riding horses as they not only have to balance themselves but their rider too!
[Please note Jess does not use the balance pads with any horse with a soft tissue injury or that is currently under veterinary care unless the vet has explicitly consented to this therapy]
Application
Application varies from case to case depending on where your horse’s weaknesses or asymmetries may be.
Typically balance pads will not be used in an initial assessment and treatment but as part of follow up sessions.
Your horse will be carefully introduced to the pads so that they find the experience positive and relaxing.
For this reason it may take several sessions before your horse is comfortable with standing on all four pads for any length of time.
Once your horse is comfortable with the pads further exercises can be slowly introduced simultaneously to standing on the pads.
Benefits
There are many benefits to Balance Training, these include:
Activates core stability muscles
Challenges the bodies' vestibular system (improving co-ordination)
Increases proprioception (awareness of where the body is in space)
Assists in improving joint stability
Assists in developing a healthy and strong posture (good balance requires good posture)
Can assist in injury prevention
Low intensity exercise so suitable for lots of horses (so long as they are in general good health)
Strengthen muscles, quickly increasing their power output which translates into the ridden work and training
Increases body confidence
Can assist in mental confidence and have a calming effect
