Similarities Between Yoga and Horsemanship

When working with horses, do you ever notice feeling rushed or tense? Maybe you find you’re holding your breath. Or, maybe you feel centered, calm, and present. You might observe these same things on the yoga mat while dialing into body, mind, breath, and energy. You may be asking yourself, what does yoga have to do with horsemanship? The answer is: a lot!

Temple Pose during a Body, Mind, Equine retreat. This relaxes and opens their shoulders to keep upper body tension at bay so it won’t transmit to their horse when they pick up the reins. Photo by Carol Engan Borrelli

Many parallels exist between true yoga and good horsemanship. When I say yoga, I mean the whole of yoga, not just the postures, which is what most people think of when they think about yoga, but yoga principles as well. The parallels are where the yoga mat meets the saddle.

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Much of what is taught and practiced in yoga are many of the same philosophies we’d apply to mindful horsemanship: being present, breathing awareness, slowing down, and being balanced, just to name a few.

Bringing your integrated awareness from the yoga mat to the barn will reinforce the parallels between the two. Photo by Dell Hambleton

Yoga is an awareness practice; as we become more aware through yoga, we naturally begin to carry that heightened awareness off the mat and into our time with horses. Additionally, we notice and experience how many yogic principles apply to horsemanship and how many similarities there truly are.

I invite you to review these parallels and take a closer look at the likeness between the two practices. I’m confident you’ll see the connections. While reviewing them, ask yourself the following questions:

Am I practicing this on my yoga mat?
Am I practicing this in my horsemanship?

Cathy Woods demonstrates how you can meditate while on horseback just like on the yoga mat. Photo by Carol Engan Borrelli

The Parallels Between Yoga and Horsemanship

Bringing the yoga parallels to your riding will keep you grounded in the present moment. Photo courtesy Cathy Woods

Present moment awareness: Life happens in the now. Multi-tasking takes us away from the present. Use breath and bodily sensations as tools to stay harnessed in the here and now.

A training ground for life: Yoga and horsemanship are opportunities to come to know ourselves better by exploring our multi-faceted levels. We observe the way we process, learn, act, react, interact, think, and feel.

Bring consciousness to everything: Pay attention to your body, your breathing, and your energy. Journey through life aware, conscious, and deliberate, experiencing all the moments.

Breathe through challenges: Move with the breath, and not against it. Use the breath as a tool at any time you feel challenged or unfocused—on the mat and in the saddle.

Go beyond the mind: You can often do more than the mind thinks you can.

Energy shifts: Notice when energy shifts and changes within yourself, your horse, and your surroundings.

Move with grace: Bring as much grace as possible into a yoga posture, horsemanship, or any other situation, even when it feels challenging.

Accept: Work from where you are on that mat and with your horsemanship, holding a generous attitude of acceptance.

Stay balanced: Maintain equanimity in all areas of life, not just physically. Balance inner and outer.

Slow down: Don’t exhaust yourself by staying on the fast-paced treadmill of life. Slow down through yoga and when working with or around our equine friends; they will appreciate it.

Know where you are in space and time: Be aware of where the body is in space and time, physically and tangibly—where placement is on the mat and when around horses. Notice positioning, bodily sensations, alignment, distance, spacing, and orientation.

Drop expectations: Release the energy spent on expectations of yourself, others, or life in general. Free up energy for better use, and experience what unfolds.

Observe the mind chatter: Be an observer of the mind chatter but know you don’t always have to buy into it. Listen to your inner voice and discern what is pertinent.

Experience and celebrate: Stop and experience sensations, the release, and energy after a yoga stretch. Stop, experience, and celebrate after an accomplishment with your horse.

The group practices mounted, mindful breathing at the retreat. Photo by Carol Engan Borrelli

Making the Transfer

By practicing authentic yoga on the mat, you will become more in tune with the fact that the teachings apply to both yoga and horsemanship.

Once these silks are honed, they organically transfer off the mat and into our time with horses, as well as into other areas of our lives, helping us to be more aware and skilled humans in all that we do.

You might find it helpful to print and post these parallels in your barn or in your arena, as well as in your yoga space to refer back to them. Become familiar with using them in both yoga and horsemanship—print this.

Further Reading:
◆ Yoga for Riders
◆ Fit Rider: Yoga Poses for Core Strength

This article about the similarities between yoga and horsemanship appeared in the September 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

1 month ago

Cathy Woods

Cathy Woods is the author of Yoga For Riders and the creator of Body, Mind, Equine. She offers retreats, clinics and presentations for equestrians, around the country and internationally.