How to Breathe
Train your breath. Transform your ride.
You train your horse. You train your body. You may even train your mind.
But have you trained your breath?
If you're like most equestrians, you take your breath for granted—letting it remain shallow, unconscious, and ineffective. Yet your two most powerful assets are your mind and your breath—and neither is taught in school or the stable. It’s not your fault. You’ve been underprepared to be human, let alone a high-performing equestrian.
And still—look how far you’ve come.
That alone should give you a glimpse of the untapped potential waiting to be awakened—in and out of the saddle.
Learn to breathe and both you and your horse benefit:
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Clarity and focus translate into precision and accuracy
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Your horse relaxes, because they finally understand you
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You become a confident leader—grounded in your body, resilient in your mind
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Your position improves, and you ride with strength, softness, and ease
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Your horse becomes more expressive, willing, and connected
All you have to do is breathe.
The 3 Chambers of Your Natural Breath
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Belly
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Ribcage
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Chest
If your default is shallow breathing, you're likely breathing only from your chest. That’s where most people begin. The first shift? Awareness. Bring it down to your belly.
Begin Here: Belly Breathing
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Inhale: Expand your belly outward
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Exhale: Contract your belly inward
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Complete the breath: Draw your navel up and in at the end of your exhale
Why this matters: completing your breath removes residual carbon dioxide—your body’s waste gas. Without this step, your next inhale is polluted, fogging your mind, limiting energy, and dulling your connection to your horse.
Full 3-Chamber Breath (When Ready)
Once belly breathing feels natural, add the next two chambers.
Inhale in this order:
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Begin With Your Belly
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Expend Your Ribcage
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Open Your Chest
Exhale in reverse:
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Soften Your Chest
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Release Your Ribcage
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Contract Your Belly (and draw your navel up and in)
A Breath Practice for Equestrians
Start with small, confidence-building steps. Focus on one chamber at a time.
Your breath goes with you everywhere, and you can train it anytime.
Do this consistently and you’ll accelerate your progress in the saddle—mentally, physically, and emotionally.
If your body is accustomed to shallow breathing, oxygenation might feel foreign at first. If you feel lightheaded or dizzy, pause. Let your body integrate. Then begin again—just like you would with your horse.
Reconditioning your breath is like training any underused muscle. It requires patience, grace, and a commitment to building the foundation.
For guided breathing techniques you can take with you in the saddle, check out Equine Breath Effect™—my podcast-style audio experience designed to help you ride with clarity, presence, and power, even mid-stride.