Rider Physiotherapy
Your horse can only move as well as you allow them to.
Even small imbalances, stiffness or asymmetry in the rider can directly affect how the horse moves, loads and responds under saddle.
This is often the missing piece when issues persist, even when the horse is being treated.
This is where rider physiotherapy becomes relevant.
Whether you are dealing with ongoing issues or trying to improve performance, it is common for riders to unintentionally contribute to what they are feeling in the saddle.
If you are crooked, stiff or lacking control in certain positions, your horse has to compensate. Over time, this can affect straightness, comfort and performance.
To improve how your horse moves, you need to understand how you are influencing it.
Rider physiotherapy looks at how your body functions both in and out of the saddle, identifying limitations that may be affecting your horse and your performance.
Each session is structured around:
Assessment of your position, balance and movement in the saddle
Off-horse assessment of strength, mobility and control
Hands-on treatment where needed
A clear plan with exercises to improve how you ride
When these factors are addressed properly, changes in the saddle become clearer and more consistent.
This means:
A more balanced, controlled and effective position in the saddle
A horse that feels more even, responsive and easier to ride
Less resistance or tension during work
More effective use of your aids and clearer communication with your horse
More consistent performance over time
Sessions are delivered by a qualified physiotherapist with advanced training in both human and equine movement.
What to expect in your first session
Your first session is focused on understanding how you influence your horse, not just how you feel in isolation.
Assessment both on and off the horse (for ridden sessions)
Identification of movement patterns affecting your riding
Hands-on treatment where needed
A clear plan of exercises to improve your position and control
You will leave with a clear understanding of what is contributing to the issue and what to do next.
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You feel uneven, unbalanced or unstable in the saddle
Your horse feels different on each rein
You are struggling with position, straightness or control
You are dealing with recurring issues despite treating your horse
You want to improve performance and ride more effectively
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Treatment is focused on improving how your body moves and functions in relation to your riding.
This may include hands-on treatment, targeted exercises and movement retraining to improve strength, mobility and control.
The aim is not just to reduce discomfort, but to improve how you move so it translates directly into your riding.
Sessions are tailored to your goals, with the option of ridden or clinic-based appointments depending on what you need.
Not sure which option is right? We can guide this based on your goals.
Ridden Sessions
A combined on-horse and off-horse session to assess how your position and movement influence your horse.
This includes assessment in the saddle, followed by off-horse treatment and targeted exercises to improve balance, control and symmetry.
Best suited to riders wanting to improve performance, address asymmetry or understand how they are affecting their horse.
Best suited to riders wanting to directly understand and improve how they are influencing their horse.
This gives you direct insight into how your body is influencing your horse in real time.
Pricing
Initial session: $180 (~60 mins)
Follow up: $130 (~40 mins)
Clinic Sessions
An off-horse session focused on how your body moves, with treatment and exercise aimed at improving strength, mobility and control.
This is ideal for riders managing pain, returning from injury or looking to improve how they move in the saddle without needing a ridden assessment.
Treatment may include hands-on therapy, dry needling, taping and targeted exercise, including reformer or gym-based programs where appropriate.
Best suited to riders wanting to improve how their body moves and functions to support their riding.
This is ideal for improving how your body moves and functions to support your riding.
Pricing
Initial consult: $130 (~40 mins)
Follow up: $100 (~30 mins)
Claimable through private health codes 500/530 or 505/535
In many cases, assessing both horse and rider together gives the clearest picture of what is actually limiting performance.