Applied Posture Riding

24/06/2026

To access my new short courses, you will need to create an account on my website. Buying as a guest breaks the links to the private access.

The "How to Activate Your Core On Demand" short course is proving popular. It is an essential skill for all people, all riders, for every movement.

Age is not a limiting factor either.

Send a message to learn more

23/06/2026

Maybe I could use this as a before-and-after photo. Looks real enough?? Now I just need the video.

23/06/2026

Imagine doing lunges and squats on a knee affected by age and/or trauma. Maybe you are not imagining it, you are trying to do it?
If you have had a knee injury.

If you have injured your knee at some point in your life, you are looking at a knee that resembles the left image.

A 65-year-old knee works with a 65-year-old hip, a 65-year-old spine, and a 65-year-old ankle.

Not all 65-year-old bodies present as 65-year-old, but they are NOT 25-year-old.

Core stability is especially essential when exercising damaged and or older joints.

Core stability is extremely essential for horse riding.

Age and damage will change joints, but the core function NEVER changes.

Ask your PT or EPT to check your core engagement through all your exercises.
Or you can ask me.

17/06/2026

Who tried the ankle weights?

Who felt a difference in the workload?

Who is persisting?

Who thinks the same concept would build muscle strength in their horse?

Who wants more information?

16/06/2026

As an older physio, my training included manual therapy, clinical assessment, and clinical reasoning.

I prescribed specific exercises to activate and deactivate muscles as needed. We then move on to movement patterns and strength training. EVERY patient receives core work.

Horse riders require a more detailed assessment of balance, symmetry, movement isolation, and core function for dynamic and static work.

Sadly, many assessments are only for the presenting symptom. Referred pain is often missed, biomechanical patterns are not considered, and certainly age has an influence (it must be OA).

This guy in the video had seen 4 Physios, spent a lot of money, and was told he wasn't trying hard enough with his PDF printout of lower-back exercises.

14/06/2026

Wearing ankle weights around the house and/or in the stables is a great time-efficient way to build core and lower-leg strength.

I wear 2 kgs, which move a bit and sometimes drag in the dirt, but the extra weight with every leg lift is strength-building.

This is a core-building exercise, but it requires your core to be fully engaged to handle the extra workload. Every movement is a core building opportunity.

If you try this, manage and progress with interval training so you don't overdo it.

13/06/2026

I just saw the funniest reel from a cowboy. Asking women, "Are you dating your horse or married to it?"

Buying a horse must be like internet dating now.
Swipe right or swipe left.

I must admit I think I was dating my mare until I finally admitted I love her, so we are married now.

Till death do us part! So far so good.

13/06/2026

Before you set up your poles, think about what you want to achieve.

My poles are various sizes, and I set them up to

-increase step length
-increase step height
-control stepping
-balance training
-rhythm
-long and low
-on the bit in self carriage
-at the walk
-at the trot
-at the canter
-uphill and downhill work

Because I am always training alone and don't have a lackie, I set them up with a purpose pre-session.

I am also aware of the increased effort per pole line on my horse, so I count how many times I run the line to avoid pushback from fatigue.

My pole lessons are built around this concept, unlike others that feature long lines of poles, V- and X-patterns.

Start getting deliberate with your pole work rather than traditional, and train with a task in mind.

12/06/2026

We are seeing so many reels, videos, and recently a competition for bridleless riding. I'm a fan, I think it is great. It may not be for every discipline or rider, but it is a direction the industry needs.

When riding, our hands are a powerful blocker of the movement of both the horse and the rider. This is because our hands are the leading point for daily function. We use our hands for everything we do with little thought of HOW.

Hence, we proceed to use our hands when we ride. We block our body, and we block the ability to swing with our horse.

This is exaggerated with instructions "more seat" more leg", in lessons. "Soften your hands" is not a skill we have until we learn it.

Resetting your seat and legs to become the riding's leading points is necessary. Resetting your hands to be followers, not leaders, is essential.

All of my RIDER lessons (not riding lessons) start on a long, free rein.

Many steps are involved in resetting your leading points.

Movement Patterns and exercises, neuro training and are best started unmounted.

Pain, injury, age, finances, and family are also leading factors.

I am happy to chat to anyone about your blocks with your body and or your riding. Contact me.

This short video is a 4-year-old filly I bred and started.

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12/06/2026

Riding and back pain is so common.
A common rehabilitation program is not specific enough for your return to riding.
Giving up is not your 1st option
I am happy to chat to you if you are frustrated and want a new path to return to riding ‪‬