Mane Brain: The Science of Smarter Riding
Welcome to Mane Brain, the podcast where neuroscience meets the saddle! Hosted by Audrey Paslow, a board-certified neurologic physical therapist and expert in rider biomechanics, this show dives deep into the brain-body connection that makes great riders.
Each episode explores the science behind balance, coordination, flexibility, strength, breathing, and timing—essential elements for equestrians looking to improve their performance. Through expert interviews, rider fitness strategies, and neuroscience-backed insights, you’ll learn how to train smarter, ride better, and unlock your full potential in the saddle.
Mane Brain: The Science of Smarter Riding
Train Like an Elite Rider: The Muscles That Matter Most
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
What muscles do riders actually need to train—and how do elite riders use them differently? Research shows the difference between amateur and elite riders isn’t necessarily in strength, but in how and when those muscles are coordinated to work in the saddle.
In the last episode of Mane Brain, we explored the general principles of strength training for riders and how resistance training improves tissue resilience, joint stability, and force production. But that episode intentionally stayed broad.
In this bonus episode this month, we get more specific.
We dive into the research on which muscle groups riders rely on most, and how elite riders use those muscles differently from amateur riders. Studies examining muscle activation patterns, rider biomechanics, and postural stability reveal that while riders may appear similar in general fitness tests off the horse, their movement strategies in the saddle are very different.
Rather than simply producing more muscle activity, elite riders tend to activate the right muscles at the right time, allowing them to move with the horse rather than against it.
In this episode, we discuss the major muscle groups riders should consider training. We also explore how these muscles function differently during riding compared to traditional gym exercises—and why coordination of these muscles matters just as much as strengthening them.
Understanding which muscles contribute most to riding stability can help riders design smarter off-horse training programs and avoid the common trap of focusing only on general fitness.
Because in riding, performance isn’t just about building stronger muscles.
It’s about teaching the nervous system how to coordinate them effectively in the saddle.
Mane Brain Podcast is part of Anchored Seat's mission to bring neuroscience to the saddle! Learn more about training programs and clinic opportunities at www.anchoredseat.com.