Getting Better at Riding Doesn’t Always Mean Just Riding More - How Rider Training Helps Instead

It's a common belief in the equestrian world: the more you ride, the better you get. While consistency and saddle time are essential, improvement doesn’t come just from doing more of the same. In fact, for many riders, progress begins when they step out of the saddle and start working on what’s holding them back-physically, mentally, and mechanically.

And people get upset when they see or hear of simulators. "It's not a real horse!" they shout. "That's the wrong position for riding!" But they fail to see that riding is like any sport-it can be broken down into components. Range of movement, flexibility, control, strength, and body awareness all play a big part in how a rider rides.

Riding More Can Reinforce the Same Problems Whereas Rider Training Helps you Reprogram

If your body keeps defaulting to the same patterns-collapsing through one side, gripping with your thighs, tipping forward-riding more might just reinforce those habits. Without knowing why your position isn’t improving, or what’s stopping your seat from staying still, you can end up frustrated, sore, or even injured.

That’s why we often see riders who ride five days a week but still struggle with balance, posture, or coordination. More hours in the saddle doesn’t automatically mean better biomechanics-it means more repetition of what your body already knows how to do, even if it’s not quite right.

Simulator Work: A Smarter Step Toward Better Riding

With this rider, we were working on balance. This isn’t an easy exercise-she has to maintain her centre of gravity on the simulator (which can't compensate like a real horse) while her arms are raised (making it harder) and resisting against a band (even harder again). Primarily we were trying to get the feeling of bringing her shoulder blades together and down (rather than up and rounded), but she was also working on balance, leg strength, maintaining a neutral spine, and independently flexing/extending her hips.

Rider training helping this rider be better balanced, stronger in the saddle

Is this position too upright or too high? That depends on how you see it. As an exercise targeting specific things, no. As a direct replication of her riding position? Maybe. But to be able to lower and shift her weight backwards by bending her hips more requires strength she may not currently have. So rather than putting her in the 'correct' position and watching her fail-doing the same things she probably does on a real horse-we are working toward it. When that weight shifts back a little and her strength continues to develop, her heels will naturally lower more.

Targeting several different aspects of riding with this one exercise

But is she unbalanced? No. If she were, she wouldn't be able to do this exercise. If a horse suddenly stopped, would she go out the front door? Maybe. But key point here... she is on a simulator! And I do challenge riders’ balance by having them close their eyes or by stopping the machine at random times. This kind of training is only beneficial for the rider.

Why We Need to Do Better

One of my biggest bugbears is the lack of knowledge and the kinds of comments I get when I say things like "heels down is a result of balance, not the other way around," or that "you are gripping for a reason, not just because it's a habit." "stretching hip flexors isn't always the answer". Unless you find out the reason why you're doing it, you won't be able to correct it in any long-term or meaningful way. And the responses I get are often wild - not based in science, anatomy, physics, or biomechanics.

Because if we don’t understand how something works, we certainly aren’t going to understand it when it goes wrong.

It’s why a lot of rider physios online promote stirrups being on the balls of the foot - because we understand how anatomy works and what happens when the stirrup is on your toes. Contrast that with some riders and trainers who insist it must be on the end of the boot. While that might work for them, it likely causes more problems than it helps.

We need to do better in the equestrian world by listening to and learning from different views - especially when they’re based in science, not just experience or feel.

True Progress Happens When You Work Smarter

Getting better at riding involves:

• Improving body awareness: Knowing what you’re doing in the saddle is the first step to changing it. This is why simulator feedback, mirrors, video analysis, and SymmFit alignment clothing can be so powerful-they show you what you can't always feel.

• Targeted off-horse work: Simple, focused exercises off the horse can help correct imbalances, build stability, and strengthen the muscles you need to ride effectively. We’re not talking gym workouts for the sake of it-just small movements that carry over directly to your seat, posture, and aids.

• Understanding biomechanics: Knowing how the rider’s body should move with the horse-how your pelvis should sync, how your legs should hang, and what a neutral spine really feels like-isn’t just theory. It’s the foundation of riding well.

Riding Shouldn’t Be a Fight

If you’re constantly being told to “sit up straight,” “put your heels down,” or “don’t bounce,” and it feels impossible to fix no matter how many times you ride-it’s not that you aren’t trying hard enough. It’s often that your body isn’t physically able to do what’s being asked yet. That’s not a fault. It’s just a sign that you need to take a step back, figure out what’s missing, and build the pieces in a more strategic way.

Ride Smarter, Not Just More

At Pegasus Physio, we see riders at all levels who are passionate, committed, and determined-but stuck. With the right tools- like our Rider Physio video subscription, simulator sessions, and SymmFit rider biomechanics clothes-we help you uncover why you’re stuck and what to do about it!