Nelipot Cottage

Nelipot Cottage And remember, the lessons we learn from horses are really lessons in life Book “Bare Hooves and Open Hearts” now widely available - PM for a posted signed copy

Using Equine Touch myofascial bodywork and the restorative principles of classical dressage tailored to promote balanced, vibrant and healthy horses- bringing them to magnificence.

Finally- after 6 years following the Ergo2X saddles I got to follow Mandy Etherton around for a day and have my own “Rid...
12/09/2026

Finally- after 6 years following the Ergo2X saddles I got to follow Mandy Etherton around for a day and have my own “Rider Assessment”. This was a really worthwhile exercise and Mandy has a fab eye- she gets you to do photos of standing posture and then exercises looking at weight distribution, straightness and balance in the ground and on the saddle buck.
I then got to sit in a few demo saddles. We had narrowed it down considerably from the discussion during the day but the feeling of actually sitting in a saddle that supported my pelvis and allowed my legs to hang without my body having to do a single adjustment or compensation was revelatory.
We have picked a jump (first) and a dressage (eventually) for Nina - once she is educated enough for a test ride.
And I know what I need to work on to continue fine tuning my body for that elusive perfect seat.

08/09/2026

Tip of the Day:
Timing of the aids:
There is an optimum time to give either a rein aid or leg aid depending on where the hindleg is in its phase.

When a hindleg takes a step it goes through 3 phases. I have attached a diagram below.
- Flight through the air (Fig 2a)
- Landed on the ground carrying weight (Fig 2b)
- On the ground pushing the weight forwards (Fig 2c)

The optimum time for a leg aid is when the hindleg is just leaving the ground at the end of the pushing phase. This will really encourage the hindleg to step actively forwards under the centre of gravity. Giving the leg aid when either the hindleg is in the air of just landing will not increase engagment.

The optimum time for a rein aid is when the hindleg just lands at the beginning of the carry phase. This is when the joints of the hindleg can be compressed best. Giving the rein aid during the flight phase will simply shorten the stride; giving the rein aid in the push phase will set up resistance as the hindleg pushes the body against the rein.

Work on your seat to be able to feel where the hindleg is and in which part of the phase it is in then you can learn to better time your aids. This should also flag up that many keep the aids on for too long hence nullifying their effect.

A German serpentine, so the one you will be expected to ride in all your dressage tests, unless otherwise specifie...
02/09/2026


A German serpentine, so the one you will be expected to ride in all your dressage tests, unless otherwise specified, has 3 strides of straight over X where you change the rein. I use a lot of French Serpentines in schooling becuase I like the quick change of bend across the back, but as always, it is important we make the deliberate choice

“It’s never too late” Been writing again - Full essay can be found on the stack “Remember us- when people tell you it’s ...
02/09/2026

“It’s never too late”
Been writing again - Full essay can be found on the stack

“Remember us- when people tell you it’s hopeless, it’s too late, the horse is too old, horses can’t change shape, it’s just the way they are made, just the way they move, that change isn’t possible.…remember our story. There is a distinction between posture and conformation that is often confounded. If we can educate the posture, often we can change what seemed to be conformation. The other difference is between the affect of a horse stuck in a state of chronic sympathetic tension, versus a happy, relaxed horse living a life where his needs are adequately met.
Friends, Forage Freedom.
Or the human version doing the rounds; Eat, Sleep, Move, Mind.
It’s never just one thing. Just like Clive Woodward’s world cup winning rugby team, success comes from the practice of incremental gains.”

Link to full essay in comments

as demonstrated by the and the
31/08/2026

as demonstrated by the and the

Just been on The Equine Touch international website and I am literally the only currently certified practitioner in the ...
28/08/2026

Just been on The Equine Touch international website and I am literally the only currently certified practitioner in the whole of Australia- how wild is that?

Been a busy week on the bodywork front - here’s a selection of the after photos. The Equine Touch Diary is open - get in...
25/08/2026

Been a busy week on the bodywork front - here’s a selection of the after photos. The Equine Touch
Diary is open - get in touch Eurobodalla horse people.
$95 first appointment for a new horse, $80 thereafter

25/08/2026

Preach 🙌

Address

Bodalla, NSW

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 6pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 6pm
Friday 9:30am - 6pm
Saturday 9:30am - 6pm
Sunday 9:30am - 6pm

Telephone

447831736831

Website

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