Day 9: Applied Posture Riding

Applied Posture Riding (by Annette Willson) What is It?

Applied Posture Riding is a program specifically designed for Horse Riders. Applied Posture Riding trains the rider. In a nutshell it is a program to train the horse rider for riding by training the horse riding muscles and posture. Every horse rider has a weakness or tightness that affects their riding, nearly every rider suffers back pain, as well, due to the loading on the back just caring for horses. Every horse rider has a job that affects their riding posture. Many know their posture is bad but don’t know how to fix it. Many riders rely on instructors to tell them. They do…. over and over again, every lesson in many cases. This is waste of time and money. A dressage lesson should not spend hours on the riding posture because this can be addressed out of the saddle before learning it in the saddle. Back pain is an enormous inhibitor for the horse rider and so many seek help in the wrong area. In Australia, horse riders spend $1000s on their horse, their gear, products and bling. They also spend $1000s on riding instructors and products for a specific outcome. Australian Horse Riders do not spend money on the rider as a rider.

Overseas Horse Riders do the same, however the trend is now toward the rider, spending money on the riding posture and they are learning about the rider as a rider. These riders know they have to fix their own abilities before they can produce movement from their horse.

The Dutch, UK and USA riders are emphatic in seeking information to train the riding posture and riding skill. The dressage horses they ride have enormous expansive movement. These riders understand they need to train themselves to ride this huge movement. They know they need better flexibility and the strongest core to balance and control their riding posture on these brilliant moving horses.

The pelvic tilt shown in the diagrams here is the most important movement required in the lower back and seat. The skill to do this and control it can be learned and this skill will make the rider feel and be in tune with their horse rather than stiffen against them.

Here in Australia the riders pay for more lessons and hope their coaches have the answer. Instructors are very good at identifying posture problems with riders and often suggest to “sit up straight “, or “stop bouncing at the sit trot”. Australian riders don’t think to improve themselves out of the saddle and instructors don’t have the knowledge to give those answers or an exercise program. Doing Pilates is not enough although better than nothing. The riders here in Australia tend to hold these horses back to level, they can ride, instead of learn how to stay with the horse and get the best from them.

 

The movement pattern to sit up straight must be developed out of the saddle. The strength to hold the shoulders square and be able to move the arm independently can be learned.

 

Applied Posture Riding was developed to solve this problem. It was also developed to help riders with back pain. It is an exercise program specifically designed to teach horse riders all about the riding posture and independent movements required by the seat, legs and hands. It has detailed information about the riding muscles, their anatomy their use in daily life and in the saddle and most importantly how to train them. The key to the program is training the deep core muscles and how to gain flexibility through the lower back and pelvis. Lower back flexibility is essential to be able to stay with the horse during big movements. The core strength is essential to control this movement with skill. Core strength is the key to managing lower back pain.

The difference in these two postures is knowledge (how) and strength in the core muscle and the back muscles.

If a rider spends their day slumped at work then this is the pattern in the saddle.

 

Applied Posture Riding has been developed by a Physiotherapist with specialty skills in Pilates and core training. Annette Willson is also a Horse Rider, retired from elite level competition.  The knowledge and skills have allowed her to design a detailed and extremely targeted exercise program for horse riders. Annette may not be the best horse rider in the world but she has become the best critic and trainer of horse riders and their posture. Any horse rider would benefit from this program because each rider has the information to perform their own posture assessments given the instructions. Each rider is able to identify their own weaknesses and their areas of pain and stiffness.

 

This program is unique in its content and not a program a rider goes looking for, but, for those who have bought it and followed it, the results are outstanding. This program has given riders back their freedom from pain and allowed them to ride with skill and confidence. This program has taught dressage rider to ride their horse with skill and talent and progress up through the grades. This program has taught jump riders to acquire their strongest lower leg to make them confident and safe x country jumping. If you as a rider are keen to improve and be the best rider you can be have a look at this program it is sold as a download E-book and comes with a 2 part DVD series. Clinics are also available on request via the website.

           

The Transverse Abdominal Muscle,  The Trapezius and the Hamstrings are 3 very important muscles to train for Horse Riders.

 

Having done this each rider is then able to work on their own problems by following the appropriate exercises. The outcome for each person following the program is a stronger core and greater flexibility in all the horse rider posture joints and muscles. The exercises are easy to follow simple and time efficient. Every horse rider in the world could improve their riding by doing some simple stretching and or strengthening exercises at the end of or by following a detailed core training program. The outcome is directly related to the input.

To learn how to use the core and how to stretch properly is the main theme of this program. The big physio ball and the theraband allows the riding posture to be simulated and trained

 

Quick Link

• Visit the Applied Posture Riding website for more information