Ridewell Trainwell

16/10/2026

So love sharing my craft with great audiences at Equifest.

Today the audience and I cast our eagle eyes over my demo riders and we asked them not to change when they heard what we had to say. How hard is that to comply with? So hard! I know, I had this applied to me, several times, by one of my trainers ...Mary Wanless.

During the session I discussed with the riders what they felt and combined that with what I saw and we'd try an action, see what the results were, compare that with the starting point and modify as needed.

Both my riders had some vertical alignment and Asymmetry issues (like 90%+ of us). Our theme was to work on the canter seat but first we had to look at some building blocks in walk and trot then take some experiences from that into canter.

They did so well! I used some proprioceptive techniques - tapping and balls under seatbones to improve mind to body part communication. We shortened some stirrups, changed the position of the stirrup on the foot and let them go away and play after each intervention and see what they came back with. I got Sam off her horse (coz I knew I'd be able to leg her back up) and we played with canter seat pelvis wheel on the Swiss ball before she mounted back up and had a play with recreating that feel on Paris.

Nick meanwhile had a go at improving his technique and balance in rising trot and found this was way easier when he wasn't fighting to find it with stirrups that were a bit too long. Once he had that balance (that previously he thought was not enough "core" activation) he could really start influence the trot of his beautiful 6 year old horse and help him find balance. When he could then take this to the canter and keep his shock absorbing leg angles both the canter and the transitions back to trot showed more balance and confidence.

What a joy to see. Brings a smile to my dial!
Thank you to everyone that came to watch, ask questions, and join me in giving the riders feedback.

📸 Racheal Trail

16/10/2026

Massive thanks to Rachael Trail and Lyndsay Finan for taking some photos and videos this morning.
The sun was shining, as were my amazing demo riders! Nick Stackpole and Sam Jones!
Thank you to all who came along and postponed their shopping to attend - so fantastic to have so many in the grandstand and rail surfing!

15/10/2026

Equifest 2026 Hamilton Day 1 today!

I will be presenting a rider biomechanics lesson today at 10am in the Waitakto Equine Veterinary Centre Arena (on the grass beside the big building). There is grandstand seating.

We will start with some basics (as you do) with our aim being the canter seat.
We'll use proprioceptive tools to see what effect they have for the riders.

15/10/2026

Enroute to Equifest presenters meeting and been listening to this podcast.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7wcOIlpBT7GxDxUtxVUutt?si=A9HUMc8VQimhyKS5L-ZOBA&utm_source=copy-link

Canter Therapy · Episode

14/10/2026

It's all happening from tomorrow!

Looking forward to presenting 2 ridden clinics and for the first time at Equifest a participatory Train Your Seat with Pelvis Power off-horse workshop in conjunction with The Foundation Rider Magazine on Sunday.

My team of demo riders this year include eventers Samantha Jones and Nicholas Stackpole who will be joined by Angela Lloyd and Alexia Wright for the workshop.
The workshop audience can also participate in the workshop as all awareness and movement exercises we will be exploring can be done seated or standing. Meanwhile my demo riders will be doing them on the mat, stool or Swiss ball.

Copies of past issues of the Foundation Rider magazine including issues 1 and 2 with the relevant articles pertaining to the workshop are available at the event. There will also be a QR link posted 15 minutes prior to the workshop so you can open a document on your phone with relevant images for the workshop.

📸 With thanks to Evoke Media and Sirka Bade

14/10/2026

Heading to Equifest as a spectator/shopper?
There is public parking at Claudelands Park available from 7am (see map), and remember to approach from the correct direction as there is no right turn into the public parking entrance on Boundary Rd. The team have advised the public parking area is similar in size to that at Taupo.
If you have already have an event ticket you can catch number 14 bus and ride there for free.
If the public parking is full there is parking in nearby streets, but watch out for residents only and time parking restrictions. Don't ruin your day with a parking ticket!

13/10/2026

This is a fabulous post from coaching friend and colleague Karen Whiston, UK, that describes rider biomechanic so well!

💫 1. DEVELOPING BODY AWARENESS

We all have habitual ways of moving. Perhaps you carry tension in your shoulders, collapse slightly through one side, struggle to keep your hands or lower legs still, or find it difficult to sit evenly.

Learning to recognise these habits is the first step towards understanding how they may affect your balance, your aids and your horse’s way of going.

💫 2. UNDERSTANDING HOW YOUR BODY WORKS

Your body doesn’t work as a collection of separate parts. Your muscles, fascia and joints work together to help you balance, stabilise and move.

Understanding these connections can help you discover why something that looks like a simple position problem may have a much deeper cause.

💫 3. LEARNING TO FEEL

How often have you been told to sit up, relax your shoulders, use your core or keep your leg still, without really understanding how to do it?

Rather than simply following instructions, we explore what is actually happening in your body.

What do you feel? When are you balanced and working effectively, and when do you begin to lose that feeling?

You learn to recognise the changes, understand what your body needs and discover how to regain that feeling.

And, importantly, what happens to your horse when you make a change?

💫 4. FINDING THE LANGUAGE THAT WORKS FOR YOU

We all learn differently. Sometimes a movement makes sense when you see it; sometimes you need to feel it, imagine it or explore it in a different way.

Finding the right words, exercises and sensations for you can make a real difference to how you understand and apply what you’re learning.

💫 5. LEARNING IN A CLEAR PROGRESSIVE WAY

There is a reason behind what we do. We build understanding step by step, adapting the process to the individual rider rather than expecting everyone to learn in the same way.

And questions are always welcome!

Understanding why you’re doing something is just as important as knowing what to do.

💫 6. TAKING YOUR LEARNING OFF THE HORSE

Simple, targeted exercises away from the saddle give you the opportunity to explore movement, develop body awareness and practise new movement patterns without also having to concentrate on your horse.

This can make it easier to recognise those changes and begin to apply them when you get back on board.

💫 7. AND WHAT ABOUT THE HORSE? ❤️🐎

This is where it all comes together!

Watching a horse change as their rider develops a better understanding of their own body is one of the most rewarding parts of this work.

As you become more aware of how your body, breathing, balance and movement influence your horse, you can begin to offer clearer, more consistent information.

This can help your horse understand your aids, respond more easily to your requests and find greater balance and freedom of movement.

✨ It’s not simply about changing your position. It’s about noticing, understanding your body, developing your feel and improving the conversation between you and your horse.

🤔 Which of these seven areas would make the biggest difference to your riding?

🐎🩷💙I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!💜💚🐎

13/10/2026

Awh look at all these cute cherubs from 8 years ago!
Christine Weal Equestrian Samantha Belsham Alyssa Harrison

Home from an inspiring weekend coaching North Island Young Rider dressage talent. What the photo doesn't show is that it was about 4 degrees when this photo was taken. Good on all the riders for displaying their bare arms in support of wearing the sponsored shirts for the group photos!
It was so humbling to see these riders really working hard to support each other and to give everything a go no matter how hard it was. 20 lessons and two workshops delivered by yours truely and not one grumble despite some real challenges. Super work by all! Well done to the participants and my fellow clinicians and a huge thanks to Leanne Stokes for organising and Dressage NZ for support.
The venue (NEC Taupo indoor arena) was fabulous (although the frost and ice this morning was a tad chilly after recently being in 35 degrees in Portugal).

13/10/2026

The spring edition of The Foundation Rider Magazine is chokka again with great articles, including this one by moi!

You can get your mits on a copy at your local Paper Plus, supermarkets and Whitcoulls or you can order a copy on line, delivered to your door. If you are heading to Equifest this weekend you can pick one up there (along with any back issues you are missing).

Big thanks to Lena Boyce and Milan, Zara Amy Peacock and my boy Jezzie for being my photo models. The photos of me and Jezzie are from some years ago now and were taken by Amy Barrack.

10/10/2026

I think we can say they feel safe!