Rider Assessment

Riding is sport where your position & posture plays a vital part of how you perform wether as a dressage rider, eventer, show jumper, happy hacker or as a show enthusiast. Posture & alignment effects not only your riding ability but it will also effect your horses performance & function - this may be in a positive or negative way!

Think of a dressage rider who may have a shoulder injury causing greater pressure on one rein & an imbalance therefore throughout the whole horse & restricting its way of going. This will lead onto poor movement patterns being learnt by the horse & eventually tightening of muscle & stiffness in joints. This will then reflect further onto you & your posture & alignment. It can be a viscous circle that is not relieved by more lessons or schooling - this will only impact more on negative movement patterns now established.

An eventer may have an asymetrical pelvis from an old fall but this causes you as a rider to sit crooked. This may create issues with your own back & pelvis & problems initially presenting as muscle tightness may then potentially lead onto muscle imbalance & joint conditions. This again is likely to reflect back onto the horses form & function & may cascade into further physical issues & loss of performance.

With these scenarios in mind the suggestion of a Combined Horse & Rider Assessment will make sense!

A session with you riding your own horse under specialist observation by a Veterinary Physiotherapist will highlight any riding issues. These may be postural or balance related or may show that you have a physical reason that restricts your riding ability & function. Exercises will be done on & off horseback to help you improve any problems. A further full Physiotherapy assessment for you on dry land may be suggested to give greater depth into your problems.

The combined session will also identify if your horse has any movement dysfunction or potential issues that restricts their way of going & performance. Exercises will be prescribed, consisting of either ridden, stretches, lunging, inhand or pole work. The Physiotherapist may also suggest a further individual assessment for your horse to ascertain if any physical problems are present that may require treatment..