Rider Biomechanics.... Why?? What is it?? Who is it for??

❓ How do you become a better rider... by NOT RIDING?

🤸‍♀️ Well, the answer is as simple as this...

🏋️‍♀️ Targeted training for YOU and YOUR body, that's how!

🤔 We think we can become a better rider by simply riding more, but the reality is, the muscles we recruit for riding need support from other muscle groups too, and unless we are training them too, we end up with aches, pain, imbalances, tightness and restrictions. This can be enough to cause the horse to become a reflection of this, maybe you are calling the chiro/physio or saddle fitter regularly to address muscles tightness, saddle slips, shortening strides on one rein, even lameness!

**Caveat: ALWAYS ensure your horse is number 1 for soundness at ALL times!

Things to look out for which suggest you might need “off horse support” might be all/any of the following:

• Losing stirrups
• Slipping to the left/right (especially in canter)
• Feeling like one stirrup is always shorter than the other, even when you have removed both leathers and counted/measured them against each other
• Lower leg swinging
• Gripping with the knee/calf
• Feeling upright but when you watch a video of yourself you are tipping forward
• Unable to sit to the canter
• Unable to sit to the trot
• Relying on the reins to balance (even if you think you don’t – try a lung lesson and ride without your reins, you will soon see)
• Lower leg insecure when jumping
• “Rubs” on the horse’s side, do you find a balding patch where your leg hangs?

I could go on for a while here, but these tend to be the main issues I see daily.

Simply being “aware” of the issue won’t solve it – sadly – as your muscle memory is programmed to ride the way you do and will simply revert to its memory as soon as you think about something else.

The way to correct any “on horse, rider” issue is to address the underlying issues off the horse which allows the body to learn new programmes and then apply them to the ridden work again.

Ah, but what about all the rider aids there are on the market? Hand straps, leg straps, stirrup straps, oh lord the list is endless, well, in the short term these may be seen to help, however the reality is that simply tying your stirrup to the girth, or strapping your hands together is only addressing that issue, your entire body works as a whole, so bouncing hands for example, this is usually an insecure seat/hip issue, not a hand issue, but the brain says “yep, that’s stopped my hands moving” however you have merely addressed what is perceived as the problem, not the ACTUAL problem.

Working OFF the horse is more important than the vast majority of riders give it credit for, they see it like “going to the gym” which some riders do, but do you use the correct machines for YOUR ridden issues? Simply working on machines which you enjoy might help, but genuinely you require guided help, riding is not like any other sport when it comes to fitness!

So, what do you do to improve? Well put simply, there are component parts to focus on, cardio, muscles, (no, not like the world’s strongest man!), suppleness, resistance work, balance, agility, symmetry and breathing! (YES - BREATHING!) Amongst other bits, all tailored to the individual’s specific needs.

How often do you do these tailored exercises? In the perfect world you would do them daily, but even if you only managed 3 times a week, that’s 3 times more than you did previously.

We spend an extortionate amount of time and money on our horses, we invest in them, physios, farrier, tack check, etc… everything to ensure our horses can do the job we ask of them, so surely it makes sense to invest in YOURSELF and therefore put further investment into your horse by being the very best you can?

If any of this resonantes with you, get in touch and join the army of riders who have discovered how to enhance their riding, by not riding! 

Meet Bateau Bay (AKA Belle)

When Corrie passed over rainbow bridge back in January, a huge hole was left in me, Corrie had been one of my horses of a lifetime, and the thought of "replacing" her was a none starter. 

I continued to ride clients horses and had a great time doing so, but there was something missing, I wanted to ride for "me" and my goals, not just clients goals, so one evening I randomly sent a message to Pippa Kirby at Kirby Racing, asking if they were looking to home any racehorses, now, I admit I may have been "influenced by wine" at the time of sending, however it turned out to be a good influence!! 

Pippa replied saying they had a lovely gelding who had been out on loan but had returned, she sent me the pics etc and I had contact with the previous loan person, I agreed to go and meet him. Now I had already told myself to "behave" and be sensible, but when I saw him he was divine. A strapping big 17hh lad who was a gentle as a kitten, but when he was ridden for me he was lame. He had recently had his shoes off so thought he might be foot sore, so agreed to come back a week later, which I did, but no change. I was gutted, but hey ho, it wasn't meant to be. 

On the back of this I asked Pippa if she had or knew of anything else coming available, to which she said there was a bay mare who had just been turned away after not really enjoying her racing, but Pippa said she wasn't "dressage" material. Well I though let me be the judge of that, and immediately agreed to meet her. 

The first view of her was in a herd at the back minding her own business, but wow she was stunning. She had been turned away for about a month, so Pippa agreed that she would be brought in and ridden to access her again. I revisited about 10 days later and rode her, "not dressage material my ***!" this was a raw untrained (for anything other than racing)  young horse who oozed potential. She was special indeed. 

She was stabled for a few weeks and I went to ride her as much as I could in that time, before she came home. Not once in those weeks of being fed a high racing diet, stabled 24/7, did she flinch at anything that was asked of her, a true genuine sweet mare.

Saturday 5th July 2024 Belle was delivered by Pippa's transport lady. 

From day 1 she settled in beautifully. Following on from day 1 we have done lots of things, showjumping, cross country, flat training, hacking, lunging and in hand work. Belle has shown an immense talent for everything and learns rapidly, but even though a horse like this would be out and about at shows by now with someone else, I want to do things properly and gradually, laying firm foundations for the future, she is only 5 and she should have a long career ahead, so her work is varied, kept at a level her body can cope with and brain can process. 

We have however done our very first trip out, we hired a box and went for our first dressage lesson with my friend Vikki Hayton at Holmside Hall on 2nd October, which was, eventful. Belle has one of the kindest and genuine personalities you could wish for, but even though she loaded and travelled perfectly, she came off the box looking for the race course, very upset, very stressed, tacking up was interesting to say the least! I was flying solo so the transport man Michael was doing his best to help and even asked if I was "getting on that?" but I knew Belle would be fine once she understood she wasn't racing, so we walked round the indoor school where she saw mirrors, banners, etc and did stand long enough for me to mount. 

Once going, yes she was "hot" but her kindness shone through and we managed all the work we do at home, walk, trot, canter, halt, leg yields etc, not to the extent we can do at home, but she held it together and tried her heart out. Vikki was very impressed with her and also believes she has an exciting future.

On return home she was exhausted, the 3 hours we had taken out the day had done her in, mentally. It was sad but encouraging at the same time, sad because the stress she had due to thinking she was going racing was awful to see, but encouraging that she still tried for me. 

You never know what you will get from an ex racer, they are such an incredible breed, but without trying things, you do not know. This one event showed me so much, more than you could ever imagine if you knew her at home, but it gives me a foundation to work from. So the current plan is to take her out to local venues for arena hires and just keep everything low key until she realises her racing days are over forever.

I am very excited about the future for Belle, but there is no hurry to "prove" anything with her, a talent like hers needs nurturing, and that we shall do.