Class 1: Balance

If you’ve spent time in the saddle, you know that good riding begins with balance. Across every discipline, your foundation starts with your feet in the stirrups. The way you carry your weight there directly affects your stability in the saddle and the influence you have on your horse.

In Class 1, we explore how you interact with the ground—whether standing, walking, or moving in other ways. We’ll look at common positional challenges that come from your unique body conformation and uncover patterns your body has carried with it since you first learned to walk. You’ll leave with targeted awareness, strengthening, and flexibility exercises to help you build better balance both in and out of the saddle.

Class 2: Hip Awareness

Most riders have heard their instructor say, “Your hips are tight.” We’ve all been there—but figuring out how to improve can be a challenge. Do you find it difficult to sit the trot or canter smoothly? Do you struggle to keep your legs relaxed and down, or catch yourself gripping? 

In Class 2 we focus on hip mobility, pelvis alignment, finding your seat bones and how your leg position can impact them.  We discuss how hip mobility and flexibility limitations can creep into your daily life and affect your riding position.  You’ll leave with better awareness and exercises to help improve your hip mobility and strength both in and out of the saddle.

Class 3: Core Strength/Stability

Core.  A word that lives in infamy with riders of all disciplines.  Your instructor yells, “More core” to you, but what does that mean?  Most people think of the core as your abdominal muscles but it’s so much more!  Good core strength and stability involves the muscles around your ribcage all the way into your pelvic floor. 

In Class 3 we focus on identifying your core muscles and showing you how to activate them.  We discuss common positional issues related to lack of core strength and stability. We also show you how lack of core strength and engagement can affect almost everything you do in life.  You’ll leave with a different perspective on posture in and out of the saddle and exercises to help you continue to improve and evolve your awareness.

Class 4: Upper Body/Shoulder Awareness

Do you have stiff arms?  Do you have trouble maintaining an elastic contact?   Many riders have difficulty keeping their arms relaxed and hands soft.  Did you know that learning to maintain a soft contact comes from not only your arms, but also how you use the rest of your body?

In Class 4, we explore shoulder and arm mobility and how they pertain to holding the reins.  We’ll show you which muscles you need to use and which should stay soft and how common position problems can create rigidity in the connection.  We also connect your hands to your feet and show you how our focus in each class comes together for a full body awareness in riding.  You’ll leave with exercises to help you maintain awareness of and improve your arm and shoulder posture as well as a better understanding of how your whole body works as a unit and independently in the saddle.