The "Suppleness in the Saddle by India Parker Smith" event took place on Monday, August 14th, 2024 hosted by India Parker Smith. If you missed this event and would llike to check it out the recording is available under Past Events. Click here and we have highlighted the key learning outcomes below:
India Parker-Smith, an equestrian performance coach, focuses on enhancing rider performance by improving suppleness, stability, and strength. Drawing from her rich background, including riding since childhood, competing, and earning degrees in Sport and Exercise Science and Personal Training, India has worked with top athletes, including high-goal polo teams, to help them achieve optimal performance.
In her course on suppleness in the saddle, India emphasizes the importance of mobility for riders. Suppleness, defined as the ability to move and bend the body parts easily, is crucial for polo players who must maintain control over a horse while executing complex movements with the mallet. The course breaks down the benefits of suppleness, which include improved performance, reduced injury risk, and prolonged riding careers.
India highlights that achieving suppleness goes beyond static stretching. Instead, it involves a mix of dynamic stretches, weighted movements, and banded exercises that strengthen the body in lengthened positions. She explains that mobility exercises can be easily integrated into daily routines, requiring just 5 to 10 minutes of practice each day.
The course covers key joints such as the wrist, shoulder, lower back, and ankle, explaining their significance in riding and offering practical exercises to enhance their mobility and strength. For example, she demonstrates wrist exercises using resistance bands, shoulder mobility exercises with bands, lower back flexibility with cat-cow stretches, and ankle strengthening with calf raises on a step.
India's approach is designed to be simple and effective, enabling riders to incorporate mobility work into their busy lives and enhance their overall riding performance.