Applied Posture Riding

08/04/2026

https://vimeo.com/240334687?share=copy&fl=cl&fe=ci

This is "Slow Motion Paces" by Annette Willson on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

03/04/2026

Well, I have been busy building short courses for riders training in unmounted rider biomechanics.

How to Activate your Core On Demand
How to Test Your Riding Muscles for Riding
How to Train the Riding Posture Using Movement Patterns

I just have to film the riding component, and they will be live
Price will range from $49 to $69 per course.

I have a lot of information to share, and short courses seem to be how people want to learn.

If you have a topic you would like covered, send suggestions, and if it is within my scope of education, I will do my best to put it together

03/04/2026

Back Brace for horse riders www.appliedpostureriding.com.au

18/03/2026

A group of young riders has a passion for jumping and wants to start with the right foundation, so they have asked me to set up their posture and biomechanics.

It is always a pleasure to be asked to do this.

This group know the importance of flat work, so I don't have that barrier.
Humans have a movement pattern called
triple flexion.

The ankle, knee and hip will flex together. ( Or extend together). This is a great movement pattern to train unmounted.

I like the old-school posture, where the upper body is strong enough to flex down close to the horse (reins soft) and extend away for a downhill landing or defensive action.

This is the skill I will be teaching this new group of young riders.

I will also start some filming for my online courses.

13/03/2026

Isotonic vs. Isometric:
What’s the difference for your horse? 🐴💪

Ever wondered how to actually build a topline that stays? It’s all about how we work those muscles!

At Applied Posture Riding, I use two types of muscle work in my Topline Strength Training System:

✨ ISOTONIC (The Movers): This is when the muscle changes length under load—like your horse’s legs moving during weighted interval walking. This builds the dynamic power, muscle bulk, and endurance needed for performance.
✨ ISOMETRIC (The Stabilisers): This is when the muscle stays the same length while under tension—think of your horse holding a correct posture or "frame" against the resistance of correctly placed weight. This is the secret to core stability and joint health!

By combining both, we don't just "exercise" the horse; we physically reshape their strength from the inside out.

Send a message to learn more

13/03/2026

Horses lose tone, strength and bulk when turned out, and we have to start our training with that in mind. Strength is our priority as we return to work.

Combining isometric (static, strengthening) and isotonic (dynamic, movement-based) exercises is crucial for building a horse's strength, stability, and posture.

Isometric work, like a "horse stance" hold, stabilises joints, while isotonic movements, such as movement patterns, poles, hill work, and training, build muscle power.

I use my APR weight-training program to add “load” to muscle groups for a natural, no-force effect, building strength and bulk through interval loading and interval training. The weights are placed for both isometric and isotonic work.

This program has taken many hours of study and of configuring the weight placement structure and design. Loading a horse incorrectly can do harm; contact me for more information.

07/03/2026

Well I'm home from Broome, fit strong and in shape. The time at the gym was worth it.

Meanwhile my mares had a real lazy style holiday. Both are fat as a Boab tree.

04/03/2026

Yesterday I went for a bike ride. We rode around on the basketball courts.

Bike riding is fun, but not my thing. I don't like being bent forward with my neck in extension; I get a headache if I do too much of it.

Anyway, I found myself doing circles, serpentines and following the white lines.

What was interesting I noticed my left turns were smoother and better shaped than those to the right. I know this to be the same when I'm riding.

I also discovered that when I do weights, I lower the weight on my right a fraction faster than on my left. Maybe because my right arm has a bend in it from an injury.

Observations about myself, maybe I can use this when I get home a riding again.

03/03/2026

My pad is very versatile because it was designed and tested by me and others before settling on the final design.

To apply the (APR) red light therapy pad to the horse's back or rump area, lay the pad flat over the topline or secure it with the integrated straps around the hindquarters. This position is ideal for treating the sacroiliac (SI) joint, lumbar region, or gluteal muscles.

The APR Equine Red and Infrared Light Therapy Pad is a professional-grade device specifically designed for equine therapy.

The tri-wavelength system—660nm (red) for surface healing and 810nm & 980nm (near-infrared) to pe*****te deep into muscles, fascia, and joints. The deep infrared wavelengths pe*****te deeper to target muscle, fascia, and nerve tissue. Healing as well as cleaning inflammation.

Application for the Back and Rump is easy.

Duration: A typical treatment session lasts 5 to 30 minutes per area, and for best results, it can be used up to twice daily with at least 6 hours between sessions.

Portability: The system is designed for cordless use with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, making it easy to use in the stall or cross-ties.
PS, this can be used on humans

The APR Equine Red & Infrared Light Therapy Pad is a professional-grade photobiomodulation device designed to target deep muscle, tendon, and joint tissues that are commonly stressed in performance and everyday horses.

02/03/2026

Improving rider balance requires a combination of off-horse core strengthening and on-horse rider posture movement patterns that develop a "dynamic" seat.

I see a lot of programs and exercise routines that target riders. The marketing gives demos of all sorts of high-end (you need to be an athlete already) to do them.

Therapists have software that generates exercises "for eg. knne pain", on demand. Tick the boxes for that problem, gloss it up into a pdf and send it.

I see these when I get new patients who simply can't do them. Many are told they are not trying hard enough. Now this is from older as well as younger people.

Unlike many sports, riders can start at any age. Some of us have ridden our whole lives, and many take it up when life allows them.

Developing a rider's body is more than exercises suitable for riding; we need movement patterns targeted for riding.

What body posture we start with may be set in its ways and need resetting, add in our passion, cost and time and away we go, finally achieving goals.

If you need help with your journey, I'm happy to help.

Look Good Feel Good Ride Well. APR

27/02/2026

Goldilocks, I use this word in my work with patients and when training myhorses.

Nearly all prescribed workouts and routines include sets, reps, and loading. These should be determined for each patient, horse and not just standard. Goldilocks is hard to find.

Age, starting point, body, and medical history all need to be considered before setting routines.

I also consider "what is the aim and target" exercises.

As horse riders, we need to identify our deficiencies, reset our symmetries, and then build strength, balance, and coordination.

Testing your musculoskeletal function is my first step (as part of my online course). Strength routines are then added, followed by specific rider-designed movement patterns.

Goldielocks is set at a higher level for horse riders in line with our aims and targets. Remember, we train our whole horse because they can't do isolated reps, so think of your body as part of your horse and reset it accordingly.