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In my previous post, I talked about finding the right amount of stiffness at exactly the right moment to create stability in the saddle.

But what actually creates that stability?

What happens inside your body when your horse suddenly spooks, lands after a jump, or produces a much bigger movement than you were expecting?

Does your body collapse?

Does it crumple?

Or does it brace so much that you become rigid?

The answer lies in something we rarely think about—internal body pressure.

Real core stability doesn't start with your muscles.
It starts from the inside out.

When your internal pressure system is working well, your body can absorb force, transfer movement and stay organised without becoming stiff.

(I mean just look at the tennis players at Wimbledon, that's internal body pressure in action, every single one of them!)

When it isn't working well, we often see riders collapsing through one side, arching their backs, gripping with their thighs or simply holding their breath.

These are all signs that the body's pressure system isn't doing its job.

Think of Your Torso as a Drinks Can

One of my favourite ways to visualise this is to imagine your torso as a drinks can.

A sealed can is remarkably strong.

You can stand on it and it supports an incredible amount of weight.

But the moment the can is opened, the pressure inside changes, it loses much of its strength and crumples surprisingly easily.

Our bodies work in a similar way.

When the pressure inside your torso is well organised, your spine has support from within rather than relying solely on the muscles of your back.

That internal support allows you to stay stable while still moving freely with your horse.

So, What Creates That Pressure?

Three key structures work together.

Your diaphragm
As you breathe in, your diaphragm descends like a plunger, gently compressing your abdominal organs, creating pressure in every direction.

Your abdominal and back muscles
These muscles gently contract around your trunk, creating a supportive "corset" that resists the internal pressure from your in-breath

This is very different from bracing.

It's supportive, not restrictive and is what Mary Wanless calls bear-forward.

Your pelvic floor
Think of your pelvic floor as the base of the canister
It provides the foundation that allows pressure to build without simply escaping downwards.

When these three systems work together, your body becomes stable—and remarkably adaptable.

Why Does This Matter for Riders?
Every stride your horse takes creates forces that travel through your body.

Your job isn't to stop those forces.

It's to organise yourself so they can pass through you efficiently – to get out of the way of your horse!

That's why true stability doesn't come from gripping harder.

It doesn't come from sucking your tummy in.

And it certainly doesn't come from holding your breath.

It comes from learning to create just the right amount of internal pressure at just the right time.

The goal isn't a rigid rider.

It's a responsive one.

Because the best riders don't resist movement.
They organise themselves so well that movement flows through them without throwing them out of balance.

That's what allows you to stay with your horse rather than constantly trying to catch up.

Enjoy everything you do
Emma, Lady & Fiddle # # #

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My Caring companion…our 8 yr old adopted labradoodle who is always with everyone but me until recently. Riley “RyeRye” won’t leave my side…day or night. He must know..his previous owner died a long death & he was there. Hopefully he’s putting his healing powers to work (?) 💕

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