What is Rider Biomechanics?? 

Rider biomechanics refers to the study of how a rider's body moves and functions while riding a horse, and how these movements affect their riding performance and the horse's movement. It focuses on the alignment, posture, balance, and movement of the rider in the saddle, as well as the way these factors interact with the horse's biomechanics.

Key components of rider biomechanics include:

1. Posture and Alignment: Proper posture ensures that the rider’s body is in the optimal position to communicate effectively with the horse, maintain balance, and prevent strain or injury.

2. Core Strength and Stability: A strong core is essential for maintaining balance and controlling movements, especially when riding at higher levels or during complex maneuvers.

3. Balance and Coordination: Good balance allows the rider to stay centered and in sync with the horse’s movements, making riding smoother and more effective.

4. Flexibility and Mobility: Flexibility in key areas such as the hips, shoulders, and spine enables the rider to move with the horse and maintain proper position without stiffness.

5. Weight Distribution and Center of Gravity: Understanding how to adjust weight distribution in different riding situations (e.g., rising trot, canter, jumping) ensures better communication and balance.

Improving rider biomechanics can lead to better performance, reduced injury risk, and a stronger connection between rider and horse. It helps riders develop the physical skills needed to ride more effectively, whether they are beginners or advanced equestrians.

Questions often asked:

1. I go to pilates weekly, isn't that what you are doing? - NO! The way I teach these classes, or 1-1's may include some pilates/yoga type movements, however these sessions are not pilates/yoga focussed. I teach you HOW to move and WHY it is important.
2.  My coach says I already sit/ride well so I don't need them.. OK, so firstly, excellent that your coach says that about you, good job, but do you have a strong supple core which allows you to absorb and move with your horse? Are your hips mobile enough, can you control your body movement or do you rely on your stirrups/reins? (Many more questions can be added here). ALL riders benefit from working on themselves.
3. I only ride at a recreational level so its not for me. This is one of my favourite responses! EVERY rider benefits, and so does their horse! I have worked with weekend riders, daily riders, competition riders and they all see an improvement in their horse after working on themselves.
4. I don't have the time/money.  Another common answer. Classes are only £12.50 on a pay as you go basis, less if 6 weeks are purchased. On the time front, classes are evening based so horses can be tucked up in bed and then you can spend 1 hours of a whole week working on YOU.
5. I don't think I will fit in. AH, this one, let me tell you that once you have tried it, you will feel like a member of a big family! We are all very welcoming and supportive, no one is left to struggle. The atmosphere is fun and inclusive, we are especially keen on laughing!  

If you want any further information, please ask, your horse will thank you for it! 

Goal Setting

To be successful at anything in life we need to have a goal. Not just one goal, but many, many teeny tiny ones that all add up to the big goal at the end.

To create the teeny tiny ones, we must look at the overall goal which is the ultimate goal you aim for. From the ultimate goal we have to break it down into smaller goals, these are then broken down again, and again, until the daily/weekly (if appropriate) goals are easy to achieve, this serves as two purposes, the first is that a timeline is created where you can see each step of the journey, the second is that the daily/weekly goals keep you on track by focussing on them, rather than going down the path of focussing intently on the ultimate end goal and getting despondent when it feels like it isn’t getting closer. The small steps taken can be measured and adjusted as the journey continues, even changing route if needed, but the end goal is always there.

An example of riding goals could go something like this:

Alice bought a lovely horse who has lots of potential, the ultimate goal for Alice is to qualify for the National Championships at Elementary level. The horse is only young, but Alice is an experienced rider who has competed her other horses to GP so knows about producing them.

The goal needs breaking down into easy bits, firstly, what is the horse capable of NOW, maybe it has already been out competing and has done well, or it may need to start from scratch. If we have no NOW information, we don’t have a starting point.

So, for this example we are going to assume the horse has already started its career, Alice has now got to look at the SPECIFIC journey for the horse.

Alice can MEASURE the horses progress during training and competitions, so she knows how the plan is going, adjusting if necessary.

The journey must be ACHIEVABLE, as the horse is young, even an experienced rider needs to ensure the horses capabilities are kept within its limits, not overdoing it just for the sake of the end goal.

While on the journey Alice must recognise if the current plan is REALISTIC, horses are animals who have their own minds and develop at different stages, there can be all sorts of issues to encounter on the journey. Being realistic about what IS happening NOW and where you THINK you SHOULD be ensures you stay on track. Remember the journey can change, not being where you thought you would be at the current stage is not the end, even when you might feel deflated, you just need to review your plan. Depending on the time of year the goals are being put together may mean the qualification dates are too close and the end goal needs to be moved or the level at which she expects to be at reduced, keeping it realistic.

To qualify for the Nationals there are events which need to be attended first, so Alice needs to work out where and when the events are and work back to NOW this makes the journey TIME-BOUND , once the two dates are written down, add in the events needed for qualifying, then add in training, as Alice is an experienced rider she knows there also needs to be room for sudden changes of plan (we all know horses like to keep us on our toes – lost shoes, vets etc!) so a good timeline with room for change is important.

What Alice has done is create a SMART goal.

S – Specific, Alice wants the horse to be at the nationals at elementary level

M – Measurable, as an experienced rider Alice can measure the horse’s progress

A – Achievable, Alice has the knowledge and experience to produce the horse, and the horse is naturally gifted so elementary level is very achievable

R – Realistic, Alice has a realistic approach and knows there may be setbacks or issues to face with young horses, she can change the plan to suit

T – Time-Bound, the nationals are announced well in advance so the timeline can be constructed to work towards the dates, along with all the qualifiers

Once Alice is qualified for the nationals, she will be writing a new timeline for the next ultimate goal, keeping the goals moving forward means she doesn’t just arrive at the Nationals, ride her elementary test, go home and do nothing, she will keep reviewing her ultimate goal and using the SMART system to keep it on track. This way her horses are always progressing.

You don’t need to be a competitive rider to set goals, you can be a leisure rider who just wants to be more disciplined, or go places new, having something to work towards keeps you going. I meet so many leisure riders who have “dreams” about going to a beach with their horse, or on holiday or other visions, yet so many of them just dream about it because they have no PLAN of how to achieve it.

Goal setting may seem like a bit of a faff, but believe me, it is one of the best time investments you can make, it keeps you committed, focussed and disciplined.