A tight latissimus dorsi can have a negative impact on the range of motion of the spine, as well as the front leg, so it makes sense to keep an eye on this often-overlooked muscle.

A question that often comes up is whether or not it's ok to ride the horse without a saddle. As always, the answer will be – it depends. Riding bareback can be a good opportunity for the rider to be better balanced and to learn how to better use his core muscles, but it can have negative effects on the horse.

Tight muscles are most often a symptom, not a standalone issue. Whenever we are dealing with recurring tightness, we need to ask ourselves - what is the body trying to protect?