how can you help me?
As horse owners and riders, it is our greatest wish to provide the most perfect environment for our horses. We purchase the best tack and equipment, use the highest quality feed, the best bedding and so on, but when it comes to questioning what we can do as riders, many do not realise how much of an influence we have.
Whatever discipline you may enjoy, eventing to endurance, happy hacking to dressage, we should consider what we as riders can do for our horses to make their job of performing that bit easier. You need to start to consider that you and your horse are a team, and that the combination is strengthened from how much effort is put in from both sides.
So next time you think your horse is a bit ‘flat’ or ‘against you’ in your training, perhaps consider that he is trying his best to accommodate for the areas that you as a rider need to work on to benefit your team. This is where the Rider Refiner comes in.
Working on your fitness levels ‘off horse’ using various methods will not only benefit your riding, but will improve your overall health and well-being in general.
When we look at elite riders, it is sometimes difficult to understand just how much strength is required to work at that level, because they are incredibly fit and are able to make it look effortless. Whether or not they may be gifted with more talent than an amateur rider, the concept of being supple, balanced and connected in the saddle remains the same. As we want our horses to be supple and straight in their work, the same needs to be applied to us as riders.
I work across the whole of the North West, Yorkshire and Derbyshire, with a base at Robinsons Equestrian Centre, Birtle, in Greater Manchester.
What services do you offer?
EquiPilates
‘EquiPilates helps you to become the rider your horse would choose’
Pilates exercises aim to strengthen the body in an even way, placing emphasis on core strength to improving fitness and well-being. As riders, developing your core connection is invaluable, allowing you to develop a much stronger, supple, balanced and co-ordinates position in the saddle.
In EquiPilates sessions, we will undertake various exercises to understand correct alignment and position in the saddle, as well as improving flexibility, fitness and identifying any imbalances we may have.
Rider Biomechanics Screening
Biomechanics is the science of movement, applying mechanical principles to the human body. We assess this movement during a biomechanics screening through a series of tests, allowing us to discover what an individual's true range of movement is. This also helps us to pinpoint the imbalances in the muscles and how they interact with one another. This is done 'off horse' so that we can fully explore range of movement and develop a full understanding of areas of weakness.
There are various activities and exercises which are recommended to help improve any weaknesses or areas of tension, such as anti-spasm exercises to target specific muscle groups and develop a better range of movement.
Franklin Method® and Posture Slings
Become a Refined Rider with the help of our Franklin Method® training sessions, designed to aid your movement and increase your body awareness. We use Franklin Balls of varying firmness in certain locations to help you pinpoint your imbalances and strengthen yourself.
We also use posture slings to help you understand where your issues are in your alignment, and help you to develop your training.
I am fortunate to have access to 'Rocky' the mechanical horse @ Naylors Rochdale, and hold regular posture clinics here to allow riders to see their imbalances in real time 'on screen', and then we look at how best to improve and correct them.
Personal Training
As riders, we spend so much time and money getting our horses the correct therapy, equipment and training, yet we spend little time considering how we as riders can improve to help our horses.
We are looking to improve core strength, flexibility, balance and suppleness, which in turn develops an overall awareness of how we can influence our horses way of going for the better.
Strength training and HIIT sessions can all be tailored to target the muscles we use for riding, keeping them activated and allowing you to use them more effectively.
Sports Massage
The application of massage is one of the oldest, simplest and most established medical treatments, used for centuries to help ease tension and stress. A major benefit of massage is that you feel an overwhelming sense of relaxation and euphoria, without the need for expensive or potentially harmful medications.
Not only this, massage therapy can improve your circulation, enhance your range of movement, while assisting with muscle recovery, pre and post injury.
Regular sports massage and stretching during exercise therapy sessions will equally ensure the risk of injury is kept to a minimum whilst riding and can improve the rate of recovery.
Camps/Clinics/Lectures
Available to attend horse camps/open days/special events to deliver seminars about rider fitness, EquiPilates and biomechanics. Have recently been working with Myerscough College as a guest speaker for student sessions. Can also provide sports massage clinic days at horse camps. Contact to discuss availability and prices.
Rider Rehab Clinics
Based on 4 sharing at own yard, arena hire and mileage may be additional
For those who want to consider an all round, intensive approach to their riding, we have put together the 'Rider Rehab' programme.
This programme takes circa 3 hours for a group of four, and would include a 30 minute pilates class, 30 minutes saddle horse alignment session (off horse with 'Woody'), 40 minutes biomechanics screening and then finished by a 40 minute shared Franklin Ball and Posture Sling session.
This clinic is ideal for those with horses at private yards, or even a livery yard who want to get a small group together for a more intensive training session. This clinic set up allows you not only to learn about yourself, but also learn by watching and observing others, seeing how these methods help any type of rider, at any level of experience or fitness.
SPECIAL OFFER PRICE OF £75.00pp
Contact now to discuss and book!