You Need to Be a Show Horse Before You Can Be a Race Horse
Have you ever watched a show horse glide across the arena—chin tucked, head lifted, chest proud, posture perfect? They move with grace and elegance because they're aligned, balanced, and strong from the inside out.
Now, picture a race horse. Sleek, powerful, and fast. But have you noticed? A race horse leads with its head. That forward head might win a race, but it's not built to last. And if we, as humans, try to live in that same "head-forward" state day in and day out? We pay the price.
Let me explain.
When you function with a forward head—you shift your entire posture out of balance. Your chin juts out, your head slides forward, and your spine falls out of its natural alignment. That one small change in head position can cause a cascade of pain and dysfunction such as:
Neck pain
Back pain
Headaches and even migraines
Shoulder pain and limited range of motion
Postural deformity that wears down your joints and muscles
Anyone already suffering with any of these?
Most of us are living like race horses in a world that demands speed and productivity. But if your posture is off, your performance—at work, at home, in the gym, on the green or on the field—will suffer. You’re working against yourself, making you more susceptible to pain and injury.
This is why you need to be a show horse first!
By pulling your chin down, lifting your chest, and aligning your spine, you activate your postural stabilizers—those deep, endurance-based muscles that keep you upright, pain-free, and powerful. These muscles don’t just hold you together. They liberate you from neck tension, chronic discomfort and increase feelings of confidence. 💪
In my work as a physical therapist, I’ve seen this over and over again: when people understand how to align their body like a show horse—chin down, chest up, spine long—everything changes. They move better. They feel better. They show up differently. More confident. More capable. More resilient.
So, the next time you feel the urge to sprint ahead and chase that next goal, remember:
True power comes from proper posture.
Be a show horse first.
Then run your race.
Want to become a show horse—fast?
Chapter 7 of my book, Suck It In: The Proven Solution to Eliminate Low Back Pain Forever and Get a Flatter Stomach, walks you through the exact exercises to activate your deep postural muscles and reset your alignment!
