Rider Biomechanics is a growing industry.
There is new research out all the time to prove that training your core and your riding muscles has a significant effect on your riding and on your horse. It has been proven that unmounted, correct rider-specific Movement Patterns will train you to be a better rider than any Pilates class or repetitive exercises you have been given by a personal trainer. You will have changes immediately and then build your skills. Once your posture has been reset you can apply this in the saddle.
When you have established your new posture with symmetry, core strength, and function your horse will also become balanced and can enjoy being ridden. The fighting will stop and the fun will begin.
You cannot fix your posture in the saddle, it has to be trained out of the saddle. By training your core and fixing your muscle imbalances out of the saddle you will correct your own little habitual muscle problems.
- you will stop confusing your horse and blocking him with your asymmetry’s
- you will be able to sit upright and engage your seat effectively
- you will be able to apply your lower leg with consistent correct aids
- you will stop using the reins for balance and allow your horse to move forward
- jumping will become fun and safe as you stay with your horse over fences
None of this will happen unless you identify your muscle imbalances, your weak areas, your areas of stiffness, and your habits. Yes, we all have habits to be reset. Injury has a huge effect on your riding as does having a baby or just having a break from riding to live your life.
Riders need a new way of training, but it needs to be correct training. Elite riders already do this, naturally.
Unmounted correct rider-specific Movement Patterns will train you to use the riding muscles as an elite rider does. By training using Movement Patterns rather than exercises, you will have more efficient use of your time to gain success. You will have changes immediately and then build your skills.
The Core is the Basic Training For All Riders. Dressage is the Basic Training For All Horses.
Do you know if you have a weak core? Yes! Do you know how to test it? No!
Do you suffer from lower back pain and have been told to quit riding? Yes!
Do you know how to train yourself for riding? No!
Correct Testing of all your muscles and then applying the correct movement patterns is what you need. Many riders are doing floor exercises and attending classes and still not changing their riding! Why?
Exercises are not enough!
- You need to have a starting point
- You need to know your muscle imbalances
- You need to know your areas of weakness and stiffness
- You need to know just how dominant or one-sided you are with your posture
- You will have habits and resting posture that affect your riding.
- Do you know what they are?
- You will have micro muscle injuries due to working with horses and from your daily living activities, do you know your shoulder will be developing an inflammatory condition as you use it repetitively?
All of these problems need to be identified, self-tested, and then fixed.
My name is Annette Wilson I am a Physiotherapist, I am a retired elite rider, and Rider Biomechanics and Posture Training is my specialty. My program Applied Posture Riding Membership Program is a complete program to train the rider for riding and for a better way of living. Applied Posture Riding is all about YOU the rider. This is not a program for your horse it is all about the rider.
Applied Posture Riding is a complete program to self-test and self-fix your riding posture.
This Unique program will teach you the fundamentals of the riding posture. Most importantly how to test your muscles before starting, how to strengthen, train, and use your core in daily life and in the saddle. This program will teach you how to train balance and coordination. This program will teach you how to stretch and have symmetry and independent isolation of all your riding muscles and aids. The movement patterns are the secret to this program. Designed by an elite rider with musculoskeletal education.
The rider here (left) has lost her lower leg balance. This has caused her toes to push down, her foot to slide deeper into the stirrup, and her body to tilt forward. In this case, we are using a neck strap to stop the horse from being gobbed and started balance exercises out of the saddle as well as in the saddle. A gym program or a Pilates workout will get you fit, but what about riding skills and riding principles?
Balance is an assumed skill. Do you know your balance is good?
Balance is lost due to injury, age, stress, loss of power, reflexes, and many other physiological reasons. Many riders do not even know their balance is poor until their horse starts to react to their riding. Balance for riding is a learned skill, it is tested with a very simple test and then trained to apply various exercises.
Balance requires strength and synchronization of all your postural muscles. Being able to ride the canter and the sitting trot requires a good balance.
A strong functional core, as well as a supple, flexible, pelvis, and lower back, are key skills for good balance. Riding with an independent seat is only achieved once a rider has stability through the lower leg and core and then training for good balance. Riding with an independent seat is only achieved once a rider has achieved skills in balance, suppleness, and stability through the core and the lower leg.
Training balance, your core, and become supple and flexible are just three of the many objectives you will achieve following my Applied Posture Riding Membership Program.
These are essential for the injured rider as well as the weak rider. Your posture and riding skills all start out of the saddle. Every rider has their issues…even elite riders. Stiffness, weakness lack of stability, injury, pain, and age-related changes all affect how we ride and all can be fixed. Your horse has to work through the same problems, so why not you?
Now, more questions.
1. Does your lower leg swing out when you rise trot? This is easily fixed with a simple movement pattern.
2. Do you drop one shoulder when you apply a canter aid? You won’t once you know how to apply your core and lower leg in sync with each other.
3. Have you been injured? The Injured rider has many more problems to address. Returning to riding after injury requires professional advice and a specific training program. You can ride again if you follow sensible advice and exercises.
4. Have you ever suffered from a back injury or had a baby or had your shoulder ripped apart from a fall or a horse trauma? As a Physiotherapist and Horse Rider consultant, I treat and prescribe rehab exercises and support riders through their return to riding.
Isn’t It Time To Focus On You …..The Rider??
You can train yourself to be a better rider if you know HOW. I suggest you spend a small amount of time learning about the horse riding posture, and the skills required, and then learn about you and your body. Learn how to test yourself for stiffness, weakness, balance, and independent movement patterns (in your own home), and then learn how to fix your problems…It is quite easy!
Progress in learning specific strength training exercises for your core, your back, and your lower leg, and your riding will improve even further. Move onto the advanced training exercises and learn how to apply your training in the saddle…The strength, balance, and symmetry you achieve will be evident in your riding skills. The outcome is your horse will break his habits of stiffness, and weakness, and be able to move with suppleness and rhythm. If you are a good rider can ride any horse if you are a poor rider you will ruin every horse!
It is all about the riders’ skills and ability to apply independently balanced limb and seat aids.
If you have any questions contact me Annette Willson. We all have the same passion.
My Applied Posture Riding Membership Program is unique and every rider following it has been successful.
My video on the Riding Muscles is a popular video to watch.