Your Rider Assessment Results
Thanks for making the time to take the "What Element is Missing from Your Riding" Assessment.
I’m Nicola Smith, creator of the Dressage Rider Training System and program.
Over the past 10 years, I have helped literally thousands of riders around the world improve their riding and become the best versions of themselves, by doing ONE thing really well:
Focussing on you as a rider.
In our experience, so many riders focus on their horse’s training only, making them fitter, stronger, more supple, while forgetting it’s a partnership and neglecting their own side of the equation.
Any form of riding is a team sport. We work with our horse to train & perform beautiful dances together, creating a common language & forming an unbreakable team bond. Success in riding is to synchronize, to move as one with your horse. This coalescence, or unity, is the pinnacle we strive for.
And what we’ve found is this:
There is generally one element that is the missing piece of the puzzle… for YOU… that is stopping you from achieving this unity, and that when you fix it, will help unlock your riding ability and make all the difference in the world.
So what element may be missing from your riding?
Well, let’s get to your results :-)
Nicola Smith
- BPHED, University of Otago (Double major exercise prescription and sport science)
- Chek Holistic Nutrition And Lifestyle Coach 2
- Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner
Your Element to Improve is...
Based on what you've told me, the element that I recommend you focus on improving right now is...
"Sb"... which stands for Stability.
Now, what does that mean exactly?
Let me begin by explaining the “Dressage Rider Training System” as a whole.
This is the Dressage Rider Training System...
At the center of the System is Coalescence, “to unite so as to form one entity”. This is what we are striving to achieve as horse and rider, the ultimate goal.
The 4 elements of Suppleness, Stability, Stamina, and Mindset all contribute towards this culmination of coalescence. Just like a rainbow needs the perfect conditions to magically appear, if any of these 4 elements are missing, coalescence or unity with your horse will not arise.
You will notice there are layers within the DRT System, like rings of a tree. Each layer you develop with time, gives you more strength and depth to each element, allowing you to achieve coalescence more consistently, and less fleetingly.
Let’s focus on the element prescribed to you that you need to work on the most right now:
Stability
Notice each element contains 3 unique ingredients (or atoms that make up the element ;).
Stability is achieved through a combination of Core Strength, Balance, and Alignment.
Let’s go through each in turn:
Core Strength
Core strength is required to maintain your upright posture in the saddle while the horse moves underneath you in walk, trot or canter. When you are riding you are in a naturally unstable environment because your horse is always moving. The bigger or more unpredictable your horse's movement is, the stronger your core needs to be.
Balance
Balance is knowing where your body is in space and constantly adjusting to maintain your upright position. Having good balance and body awareness is a learned skill. The better your balance is the more stable you will be in the saddle.
Alignment
Alignment is being positioned correctly in the saddle so that your joints move efficiently. This is also called biomechanics. Sometimes in the saddle we can favor one side of our body, or be slightly twisted without even realizing it! The better aligned you are, the less wear and tear you will put on your joints and ligaments when you move. It also makes life a lot easier for your horse.
So core strength, balance and alignment all come together to create stability in the saddle. Giving yourself a centered and balanced seat can dramatically help your horse's movement. It also hugely contributes to your posture, creating a great picture judges like to see.
Improving Your Stability Allows You to:
Gain a better posture & seat
Stay in position on a large or fast moving horse
Reduce your risks of falling from the saddle
Ride an improved seated trot
Give clear & precise aids
Ride with minimal stress on your body
Enjoy your riding more
Don’t just take my word for it. Hear what other riders just like you have to say about how they have improved their Stability within the Dressage Rider Training System, and the results they have seen…
Stability Results Achieved by Others
"During a recent lesson, my horse spooked and then threw in a little buck. I stayed on!
I absolutely credit DRT for a stronger core, stronger overall position, and faster reactions. My instructor cheered, “Your seat never left the saddle!"
- Kathy Holcomb, Woodland, Canada
"I have always maintained a good level of fitness through running, cycling and a variety of outdoor activities. However, as I began my journey of learning to ride correctly, it became clear that some of my core muscles were long neglected.
DRT 1 and 2 really targeted my weak areas and I immediately became more straight, balanced and effective in the saddle. Both of my horses became much calmer and more willing as my cues became much more clear and concise.
We all say thank you very much!"
- Lena Roeder, Colorado, United States5 55
"The exercises completely dovetail with my coach’s teaching methods (pull your lats/armpits down to stabilize yourself, bear down with your core, and quit making so much noise with your legs).
I have found that DRT has given me the ability to utilize my “sitting surface” to sit the trot far more effectively, and keep myself upright in the saddle (at 5’4”, I’m used to riding the big guys, and was tending to get behind the vertical in the saddle) and stay in harmony with the horse."
- Cindy Cavell, Haymarket, United State
How to Improve Your Stability
Ok. You get it. You’re ready to improve your Stability because you know it’s going to benefit you greatly in the saddle just like it’s helped these people. But how?
Read on, and I’ll show you how…
Getting Started Now - I have created some articles with exercises you can do to get started on improving your Stability. They are listed below, do try them:
- Upper Cross Syndrome in Riders
- How to engage your Transverse Abdominis muscle for riding
- How to improve your dressage position
- 6 exercises to improve your riding posture
- 7 ways to improve your core strength for riding
- 5 exercises to test and improve your riding symmetry & balance
What To Do Next?
Maybe you’ve tried the exercises in the links above, but now you are ready to transform your riding for good! You want to work on your Stability properly, taking no shortcuts. What’s the next step? Where do you go from here?
Well, I’ve got some good news for you that will make it incredibly easy…
Our Dressage Rider Training Program
*A Done For You Solution - It gives you the exact workouts that will improve your Stability in the saddle. This program gives you everything you need to improve your riding, including the Suppleness, Stamina and Mindset elements as well.
*MAKING IT EASY - It is as simple as pressing PLAY on the videos, following along with me, and I will take you through the workout like a group fitness class (I used to be an instructor in a prior life ;).
* PLANNED PERFECTLY FOR YOU - There is no need to think or stress about what to do, I have created this program specifically for your needs as a rider, giving you everything you need.
This program caters to YOUR fitness level, to YOUR abilities, to YOUR age bracket, and to YOUR focus as a rider.
I invite you to join us for the Dressage Rider Training program.
It's a hugely popular program that we only run a few times throughout the year.
I wish you all the best with your riding, and hope to be able to help you again soon :).
Nicola. x
