Level 1 Chapter 1 Introduction To Applied Posture Riding
Welcome To Applied Posture Riding Rider Biomechanics Program
I am certain you will find your new educational journey exciting, interesting, and challenging. As far as horse riding is concerned this is unique and in my opinion the most valuable part of your rider training.
We will work through the following areas and continue to grow your riding knowledge and skills.
“I wish I knew this stuff years ago” is a common quote I receive. I am sure you will say the same.
The lessons consist of video content I have produced as well as pertinent videos from Youtube. Youtube has a great amount of excellent content and information but it also has a great deal of garbage and in some cases dangerous information.
I have included what I think is relevant to your learning. This will save you hours of searching time and give you the best information I can find.
The very first thing you will need to do is download The E-Book manual, and use the link.
The manual will be your workbook, it has all the instructions in written form as well as full-color pictures. You will follow the chapters in the book as well as view the videos in each lesson here on the site.
I have set up the whole program to be followed in a step-by-step process. Each step on its own will not be valuable to you and some of what you are about to learn may be old stuff for you.
The program assumes you know very little, this is to cater to those who are not educated on this topic. Basic learning in the early stages can be boring however, I do not want you to skip any of the parts.
Please keep in mind the training here is aiming to set you up to ride, the unmounted work is sometimes boring and slow but just like training your horse, you must respect it. You must do the groundwork and practice to get the results long term.
You should start to feel changes quite early and you can certainly practice and apply your new posture in the saddle.
Your ultimate success will come with consistency in your training and your dedication to what you are learning. Wow, I am sure your coach has used the same words!
The horse riding lessons will be so much easier once you have done the basic groundwork.
I have added content on specific musculoskeletal problems.
I have included numerous lesson series with some of my pupils. You may well discover their problems and process are similar to your own. I will continue to add content as I produce it and know it will be of value to you.
This is predominantly a rider program but I have included content on training horses. This is an area I am experienced in but I have mainly focused on rider training in this program.
Introduction To Applied Posture Riding
You can read about my background and my process of developing this program in the manual. The program has evolved over many years. I started with a Hardcover book and soon it evolved into an E-book and numerous added extra files and then to a DVD set. It is now available as a stand-alone E-Book and on a USB stick and ultimately here as a membership program.
Please note the pages mentioned in the video titles are now different from the pages in the manual. The manual has been reformatted since I produced the videos and therefore the page numbers have changed. Nothing else has changed. I have written the pages to refer to and most of the videos have a password. The videos are hosted on an external site and are password protected. (I have been hacked and the site was ruined before).
The Tools Required For The Program
The whole program is designed to train you on how to ride. Floor training requires specific tools to help you strengthen and train your posture.
Read through the manual and follow the video to understand what tools you need to buy to follow the program correctly. The big gym ball is an integral part of the program. Make sure you measure your leg length to buy the correct height. If you need more information contact me.
BV2 Read Pages 24-28 in the manual.
If you are asked for a password it is APR2016
Tools for Self-Treating
Poor posture is common in everybody and poor posture often leads to pain. Pain is a dominant feature for many horse riders. Riders seem to think toughing it out and ignoring their pain is OK.
Well, pain is the biggest killer of your core function. I treat 100s of patients for pain and explain the importance of treating pain, not just for comfort but for function.
Once the pain has settled we move on to training their core for a function. I treat pain with normal Physiotherapy techniques, acupuncture, heat, and manual therapy. I also prescribe various tools and braces. Braces are an important part of pain treatment and pain management. For those of you who have no pain, make sure you manage No Pain.
CV3 Read through pages 24-28 in the manual.
If you are asked for a password it is APR2016
Now that you have watched the videos and read the manual through to page 29, you will know what tools you need to get started. The essential tools are a ball and a piece of theraband.
These can be purchased at most sports stores. The optional tools can be decided on later.
I don’t recommend you buy a brace just yet but if you are unsure about any of the braces then contact me for advice. The braces are training aids as well as support braces.
Before You Get Started Remember You are Training Out Of The Saddle
Before You Train In The Saddle
If you are asked for a password APR2016
Chapter 1
The Riding Muscles and Their Function In Riding
This is the beginning of your journey to a new riding posture. All riders use the same muscles to ride. A good rider is a more natural and more energy-efficient and more effective rider and they also look good doing it!
A poor rider uses their riding muscles in poor patterns, often they have muscle imbalances and are also more likely to be stiff, inflexible, and suffer pain. The deep core muscle is directly affected by all of the above problems.
I believe it is important to learn the basics and I also believe it is important to learn what you are doing and why. The anatomy and function of the riding muscles are quite detailed. Some of you will breeze over this part of the program and some of you will learn it in more detail.
I have included the main riding muscles and discussed their function in more detail in the bonus videos. The bonus videos are for those of you who require just a bit more knowledge.
The Anatomy and Function of the Riding Muscles
This video explains how the most important riding muscles function.
This is an important video for you to watch and study, it is one of the longest videos in this program
but it does set you up to understand the whole program.
DV4a Read through pages 30-42 in the manual and follow the video instructions.
If you are asked for a password it is APR2016
The Horse Riding Muscles On The Horse Riding Machine
The riding muscles are more relevant when you see them in action. In this video, I show you how the riding muscles function when sitting on the riding machine. The riding machine is very mechanical and once you learn the movement pattern it does not alter.
I apply the same concept to riding. Once you learn the movement patterns you can apply your skills to your riding. Certainly, a horse is much more difficult to ride than a machine and I have heard much criticism about these machines, however, I know how to use this machine to train to ride and I also understand its limitations.
DV4b Bonus Video 1, is not in the manual.
If you are asked for a password it is APR2016
The Horse Riding Muscles Mounted
In this video, I have transferred the information to the saddle so you can see the relevance of riding.
The information is the same, but in this video, you can see the muscles in action in the saddle.
DV4c Bonus Video 2, is not in the manual.
If you are asked for a password it is APR2016
Bonus Video 3
This is a video I made years ago. It is not good quality but the content is excellent. You can choose to view this video for more of the same or you can move on to the next section.
I believe the more times you view a topic the more you will pick up. Enjoy.
The Horse Riding Muscles Explained
Bonus Video 4
This is an extra video for those of you who need and desire more information. This is an excellent educational video to show you the core muscles in 3D.
The motion pictures and animations describe the anatomy of the core muscles in sequence in an ordered pattern. I use this video in my Physiotherapy practice to teach core anatomy. The internet has hours of free content, I have done the searching and this is a very good video to add to my program. Enjoy.
Anatomy of Core Muscle Stability
Bonus Video 5
This video is more of the same. Yoga is a great routine as is great as an adjunct to training your riding muscles
Yoga Core Muscles
Now that you have completed Chapter 1 your knowledge of the Horse Riding Muscles Anatomy and Function are growing.
Please return to the manual and review the videos a number of times, they are here for you to review over and over. Don’t hurry, take your time and learn the details, this will set you up to be successful.
Chapter 1 in the manual and the videos, as well as the bonus videos, has:
set you up to follow the training steps easily
given you an understanding of where the muscles are when you start your training
given you knowledge of what they do for your riding
started you on a new way of thinking about rider training
started you being aware of your riding muscles both in the saddle and out of the saddle
given you tools to train yourself to riding
Access Level 2 will continue your training and start you on the “Core Crunch”.
The very first thing you will need to do is download The E-Book manual, and use the link.