Welcome to the official website of Riding Fitness

Bringing Science to the art and sport of riding

Background and Summary Riding Fitness Concepts Contact and Scheduling Information Services Available

SPORTRIDER PRODUCTIONS and Chip Weber have developed Riding Fitness, a clinically based approach to solving the problems and difficulties faced by riders and trainers. Riding Fitness is a program designed to introduce the most effective and efficient means to help riders strengthen weaknesses, prevent injury and maximize performance through the application of biomechanical training. Riding Fitness not only addresses specific solutions for the equestrian athlete, but also introduces an objective and definitive vocabulary for trainers and riders to more effectively communicate with one another. Take the guesswork out of what your trainer wants or what your student does not understand. The information provided will help you understand the body and movement as it relates to riding.

The three purposes of Riding Fitness are:

	Injury Prevention: to help riders condition their bodies such that they are better prepared to meet the demands of riding.
	Performance Enhancement: to help riders apply their aids in the most efficient way possible. Helping novice and advanced riders to learn to send their messages with clarity. This clarity is accomplished by understanding how to use your body without using more of your body than is needed. Using extraneous movement can change your message entirely.
	Accelerate The Learning Curve: establish a universal, standardized, clinically based vocabulary for trainer and rider to understand what it means to “sit up”, “pull your shoulders back”, “drive with your seat. This will help to resolve the miscommunication between what the trainer requests the rider to do and that riders understanding of what the trainer means. For example when the trainer says, sit up taller.? Riders interpret this in different ways; most lift their chest up and push it forward, pull their shoulders back as far as possible and allow their back to hyperextend/overarch/hollow. Meanwhile, all the instructor wanted was for the rider to not slump forward and/or to not the allow shoulders to roll forward.

Riders are prescribed specific progressive, unmounted strengthening and flexibility activities, which can be done with little or no equipment at home or on the road (no gym or expensive, cumbersome equipment needed) to help riders solve their riding difficulties. These unmounted activities are simple but, through progressive stages, become more complex and multidimensional/ multitasking. Eventually combining simple exercises previously separated as individual activities. It is necessary for us, as riders, to figure out and solve some of our mounted weakness and or limitations unmounted than to continue to torture our faithful mounts with continued miscommunication due to our issues. It is very difficult to work on our problems and/or relearn how to use our body while performing the multitasking needed to ride. It is for this reason, that Riding Fitness initially separates the rider and horse for learning and applying new or relearning body movements for the rider. Once the rider is comfortable and capable of completing the unmounted activities, it is then time to begin attempting to incorporate the new skills while mounted. Unlike other athletes, who normally have their feet planted firmly on the ground, riders must rely on hip, pelvic, and torso stabilizing muscles in order to simply stay on, never mind being effective and graceful. Therefore, this is where we will start with our exercises. Each exercise shall build on previous exercises to ensure that no parts are left out for any rider.

Riding is much easier than we think it is. Some tasks can be even less taxing when riders learn how to use their bodies more effectively, even for those who have been riding for decades like myself, who have learned how to make riding easy by trial and countless hours of practice. By using the body in the most efficient way possible, riders will learn how to apply their aids more precisely and with more coordination than ever before; while experiencing less fatigue than ever thought possible.

Now is your chance to take advantage of this opportunity to learn what could change your riding forever and allow you to progress to the next level.

Clinic:

Includes two or three-day clinic, printed materials and exercise supplies.

Space is limited to no more than eight participants per clinic.

Trainers' clinics are also offered.

Individual Evaluations and Assessments:

Includes personalized and step-by-step solutions to improve your riding.

To schedule or request more information call (602) 395- 1920 or e-mail info@ridingfitness.com

"Ride Smarter, Not Harder."

"Help me, Help you and your horse."

Chip Weber

sportriderproductions.com