Unmounted exercises, working on strength, suppleness and straightness are essential to correct your rider position. 

Inside this course, Stephanie Seheult, D.P.T., will demonstrate and explain specific exercises to improve your riding so you can be more effective in the saddle. You need to come to your ride, strong, supple and straight. As you do these routines, take note of what exercises are hard for you. They would be great ones to do right before you ride. Activating those weaker muscles before you get on, will give you a leg up when you need them in the saddle. One example is the glute med. In our typical environment, the glute med is underused. As a rider, however, the glute med is super important because everything starts from your seat, so activating your glute med before you get on your horse is very helpful!

As you go through these routines, the quality of the movement and your overall alignment is important. Sometimes when we struggle with an exercise we use momentum or become crooked which will defeat the purpose. In other words, stabilize your core and straighten your posture, before each exercise.

As you begin this course, please think about your body. Where are you strong? Where are you weak? And, where are you crooked. We all have issues including innate asymmetries, old injuries and repetitive motions (like sitting at a desk, driving, and even sleeping) that influence our symmetry and affect our riding position. When we're riding, so much of our focus is on the horse that it is important to take the time to work on our bodies when we are not in the saddle! This is not solely about strength building. Suppleness and straightness are equally important. We want you to move within your ability without compromising other parts of your body. Please note, if you have had specific injuries or are aware of important physical challenges please ask your doctor or see a physical therapist.

Feel free to ask us your questions in the comments section below each video.

MEET STEPHANIE SEHEULT, DPT

• Stephanie graduated with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy and Bachelors of Health Science from Loma Linda University in 2008. Because she is also an equestrian she has been able to combine her passion for fitness, health, and alignment with her passion for horses.
• Stephanie is part of a small group of physical therapists recognized by the USEF to treat all equestrian athletes from Dressage, Jumping, Eventing to Western disciplines. She is currently contracted with USEF to work with all the riders who are invited to be a part of the developing dressage clinics. Stephanie attended the USEF HSSM clinic given by Andy Thomas in October 2017.  
• "My hope is to help riders of any level or ability improve their body awareness, balance, and strength. I want them to be the best team they can possibly be with their horse and to achieve their goals both on and off their beloved companions!"
• If you are interested please contact Stephanie: https://www.rideadvancedphysio.com [email protected]