So the season is off to a flying start and the medal contenders are starting to throw their hats in the ring! There is nothing that a judge, or coach for that matter, likes to see more than a straight and effective rider on a straight and rhythmical horse. Unfortunately there are a few things that show up here and there that interfere with all of that nice stuff. One such ‘thing’ is what I fondly refer to as the ‘lats bracer’.  READ MORE…

Back pain in riders is far more common than it needs to be…. or than it should be! The term ‘back pain’ refers to any pain in the spine/pelvis or hips. Pain anywhere in the body (but especially back pain) negatively alters the ability to activate core muscles, achieve balance, ride with symmetry and have a good sense of body position. Absolutely nobody is immune to these effects no matter how well they think they are managing. If horses could talk, they would concur. The effects of these factors on the ability to ride are sometimes subtle (often more so to the rider than the onlookers) and sometimes not so subtle. The compensations that riders use to accommodate their back pain become habits. The ensuing effects lead to riding techniques and positions that are not horse-friendly and may lead to further injury! READ MORE…

First, let’s get one thing straight. Concussion is a very loosely used term for a brain injury due to the brain hitting the inner walls of the skull. That’s right, a brain injury, “A complex pathophysiological process affecting the brain, induced by traumatic biomechanical forces.” Lots of big words, so ‘brain injury’ is close enough. TBI is the commonly used acronym for ‘traumatic brain injury’ and TBI’s (aka concussions) are one of the most common injuries in youth sports. Riding has been declared one of the most dangerous sports based on the frequency of head and chest injuries and fatalities. So yes, riders get brain injuries all too often!! READ MORE…

I am going to start with the basics and would like to mention one important fact: “The posture you live in is the posture you will ride in’. This means that if you habitually slouch at your desk, lean on one arm while driving or stand with one hip cocked to the side, you are very likely to adopt a similar position on your horse. Besides this not being an ideal situation for your body, it does not make your horse or your coach happy either. The sloution is simple. Straighten up!!  Although the solution may be simple, enacting it is not always so. There are many reasons that people have habitually poor posture. Pain, stiffness, weakness and just not knowing any better are a few. I can help you with the latter at this very moment.  READ MORE…