IT amazes me how people who ride horses rarely put themselves through the rigorous training their horses endure.

If it is meant to be a perfect partnership, surely the human element should aim to resolve all of their muscular imbalances and body management issues.

Poor performance is all too quickly designated as the horse’s fault, but mistakes in a partnership can be attributed to both parties.

Having excellent core musculature is one of the ways I use to get riders to address their muscular imbalances.

Dean, for instance, uses the fit ball for a number of isometric and neural training methods, which stimulate muscle memory necessary for dressage.

This is, however, a small piece of the puzzle when it comes to fitness.

Functional fitness is the key, here, to achieving better results in your riding.

For instance, just running five miles every week may increase your aerobic capacity, but will do nothing for the muscles you use when riding.

Going to the gym fits into the same box. The exercises you perform here will not increase the chances of you managing your horse, using clear and distinctive aids.

Isolating body parts and general fitness will not separate you from the madding crowd.

Like a good magician, it would be wrong of me to give away all of my secrets, but what I can do is let you peek at the possible.

So let’s look at what matters when you ride: responsive pelvic movements, strong abdominals (not the six pack, aka Rectus abdominus), flexible yet conditioned upper and lower back muscles, and honed yet supple adductors.

Now for another analogy: if you are the conductor of an orchestra, made up of musicians who have not practised since they were at school, the chances are the audience will be covering their ears before too long.

The point here is twofold: you have to train, practise and commit to getting the best performance out of your body.

Secondly, and most importantly, recognise that all these muscles work in concert with each other.

Therefore, functional training is key to your physical and mental development.

As a parting shot, let me offer you this to think about: ‘The horse is only as balanced as the rider.’ SASHA KANDAVANAM