Sometimes in my riding lessons, when I am jumping, my trainer says, “Breathe!” 

It does sound silly, right? Everyone knows you breathe automatically, without thinking. 

But when you jump, you do so many things at once: Keep straight, don’t look down, shorten your reins, prepare for jumping position, heels down, bend your arms, squeeze your horse, count your strides, and breathe.

 But sometimes I forget the last one.

 Maybe I do it because I am doing so many things at once that I just stop breathing, or maybe because the adrenaline coursing through me is so fast that I get excited and stop breathing. 

I don’t exactly know why I do it. But I do it. 

Why does breathing matter when you are riding? Well, if you don’t breathe while riding, your shoulders and back tense up automatically. 

Horses are brilliant animals, and they sense even the most minor shift in your position and confidence. The horse will immediately feel your stiffness and get nervous. When horses are anxious, they lose focus on the jumps, and everything quickly spirals out of control.

 So it really is essential to breathe while riding, because it comforts your horse.

However, if you take big, deep breaths, your position will relax and move smoothly with your horse. Also, when you breathe, your thoughts will be clearer and more centered, which calms your horse. Horses depend on their riders to show them where to go, and clear commands reassure them. 

So, how can you remember to breathe? Here are 3 tips that are useful to me:

1. You can sync your horse’s strides to your breathing! That way, when you are counting strides, you also remember to breathe.

2. You can also develop muscle memory. You can practice breathing after a single small jump, and then you raise the bar and add more jumps. You are creating a good habit.

3. Right after a jump, check to see if you are breathing. If you are, make sure you are taking slow, deep breaths.

What do you do if you are riding and your horse isn’t listening to you? What do you do if your horse is going too fast? What do you do if you feel yourself getting nervous? The answer to all: Breathe. Just take a long, deep breath, and you can feel your horse get calmer and more responsive. Breathing might not seem like much, but it is the key to rhythm, balance, and control.