Sara C.

Photo: Exquisite Imagery.

If I don't pay attention when I'm in the saddle, my breathing stays in my upper chest, my shoulders, which are habitually tight, creep up, and my right leg draws up as well. That makes my seat unstable and it's hard to move with the horse. After a lot of biomechanics training in the Netherlands, I was super keen to have trained eyes on the ground here, to fix my position and stop default patterns creeping in.

The Franklin balls were amazing and I love them! So was the wobbly chair exercise, because it really helped me feel my unevenness without having the horse to blame. Breath work was surprisingly effective too.

Sara on the balance stool. Images supplied by rider.

A note from Yolanda

The "wobbly chair" is the balance stool, where we use Eckart Meyners' Balimo exercises. Because the seat moves, you feel your own unevenness straight away, no horse required. It's also great for lower back mobility, and for understanding how your balance is spread across your seatbones.

I now have a whole toolkit to draw on when things aren’t working in my training. Breath awareness has helped me become conscious of my centre and lengthen my body. Circular breathing helps me move with my horse.

Fixing my own weaknesses, tightness and position always magically unlocks beautiful movement from Auke without me having to correct him at all. I just need to stop blocking him!

Yolanda is technical, knowledgeable, deeply thoughtful, organised, reliable and a problem solver. She is dedicated to my success, supportive and positive. Lessons are always insightful, properly planned out, and very, very helpful.

Sara C.

Coaching in the saddle. Images supplied by rider.