Equestrians

Every so often, a single comment stops you in your tracks. Recently, I heard someone say that Pilates content “needed to be relevant, new and fresh.” Those of us listening shared the same silent inhale. That familiar moment when you recognise the essence of Pilates being reduced to a marketing tagline rather than understood as a method with depth, lineage, and purpose. It reminded me of a simple truth: Pilates does not need to chase relevance. Pilates isrelevant.What Does “

Why Terminology Matters Does it annoy you when someone gets your name wrong? In Pilates It's not unusual to hear a Reformer being referred to as a "Bed".  This suggests rest, relaxation ( and yes, other activities) However the Reformer and it's carriage are designed for work, movement, exercise. Pilates. Within Pilates, as in any professional discipline, language matters. Using correct terminology isn’t being pedantic or "elitist; it’s about being precise, clear, safe and ab

Why Who You Learn From Matters As the Pilates industry grows and demand for teachers increases, it’s more important than ever to stop and ask: What does quality education really mean and why does who you learn from matter? Pilates is a professional discipline, not a hobby. Whether you're training to teach on the mat, the reformer, or undertaking a fully comprehensive certification, the responsibility you carry as a teacher is significant. You’re not just reciting exercises,

In 1990 I moved to London from Yorkshire to pursue a career in acting and modelling. This life change came with a painful decision: leaving behind my beloved horse 'Trigger" ( Yes, he was a Palomino, like the original Trigger!) Leaving him behind was so hard that I chose to distance myself from horses entirely, and for over a decade, I neither rode nor engaged with horses. It was as though that chapter of my life was over. In 2000 I trained to be a Pilates teacher and absolu

An elite level dressage rider may give the illusion of sitting quietly and motionless  but there are subtle position changes happening all the time allowing the horse to move freely and unhindered by the rider. When we ride, our body position is constantly changing as we move dynamically with the body of our horse. It does not stay in a fixed "neutral" position, We don’t live in "Neutral" in every day life either, there is a constant assessing and re-assessing within our post

I love learning, no matter whether it's Pilates, Equestrian skills or how to operate a new Blender. I also love teaching.   There is something unmistakably rewarding when we are able to share knowledge and create a mutually respectful partnership that encourages learning.   As a teacher this should always be our aim, creating a positive learning environment where the student knows they are safe to fail as well as succeed.   But what happens when this is not achieved? I

In the first part of the series Julie shares her top exercises for helping to improve your position in the saddle and recognising your own alignment.

Julie Driver was featured in Intelligent Horsemanship Spring 2018. Download the pdf here | Become a member at Intelligent Horsemanship

Being able to balance is a fundamental part of staying in the saddle, part two Julie gives you exercises to improve your balance and move in harmony with your horse.

Riding is full body workout for you as well as your horse, in part three Julie explains how to use Pilates to improve your strength and stamina.