Seizert Dressage

06/17/2023

12/07/2022

Horse and rider biomechanics are incredibly complex.

The horse and rider are endlessly having an effect on each other, for positive and negative ends, and the saddle sits in the middle, having its own effects.

It is common for me to hear riders say they collapse a hip or a rib cage or lean a certain way, but it is important for me to identify if the rider does that because of something in her own body, because of some way the saddle is interacting with her body, because of some way the horse is interacting with the saddle, or because of something the horse is doing in his own body. It is important to get to the primary cause of the problem before we get too far down any path of corrective exercises or bodywork interventions.

Another thing that I hear frequently is that riders can manage a saddle that doesn't fit them, but it must fit the horse. This ignores the delicate balance that must occur between horse, saddle, and rider, and places the rider in a position to compensate for an ill fitting saddle, which inevitably affects the horse, probably much more than the rider realizes.

Do you inherently place a higher importance on horse, rider, or saddle? Do you recognize the saddle as an equal third of the horse and rider mechanical unit? Let me know your thoughts.

Good luck.

12/05/2022

If you're sitting crooked, just make yourself straight, right?!

Easy to say, not so easy to do.

Horse and rider biomechanics are incredibly complex. Not only are we dealing with forces from the horse, influenced by the saddle, affecting the rider, the reverse also happens. So when you see yourself with a collapsed hip or rib cage, it is important that we keep the entire picture in mind. Is the saddle slipping? What is the motion like in the horse's back? Does the horse have uneven angles or toe length in his feet? Does the rider have preexisting injuries or pain that can influence the way they follow the horse's movement?

"Railbirds" are a common thing in equestrian sport. It is important that if we are going to spot and critique other people's problems, we keep in mind the entire picture.

Good luck.

11/17/2022

I always am telling my clients to make sure they have a plan for each ride.

Your plan can be something like, "Let's work on canter departs," but let's be real, that might also mean your horse has to buy in to the plan as well. Which some horses do! But some need to have their say (mares).

I prefer going in thinking about what I'm going to work on, and a secondary goal of what I can work on with the horse if that goes well. For example, I might think about that I really want to work on feeling both seat bones even on the saddle, and once the horse and I have that down, we might work on keeping both seat bones even in half passes, where it's easy to twist and lean if you're not straight to begin with.

My goal for the week is to work on keeping my low back pushed back (it likes to hollow) and my right obliques active (my right side can be a bit wimpy).

What are you working on this week? Comment below!

09/26/2022

CSDEA Dressage Festival and Championships marks the end of show season for us, and while it hasn’t exactly been the show season I envisioned, we sure went out with a bang. Carrie Dalos and Bayla put in their best test all year and started to look like confident show veterans. Britt Ardakani and Egypt made their recognized dressage debut and took home a blue ribbon and started their glassware collection, and then went on to win the BN division at a derby on Sunday! Peter earned Reserve Champion at Training Level in just his second ever dressage show. Could not be more proud of our team!!

Thank you to Trilogy Performance Saddlery for outfitting all three of us!! Carrie also noticed her position score has improved since she got her Verago! Thank you Kristi Argyilan for letting me show off your fancy boy this weekend! His future is very bright 😇 I was bummed that I couldn’t bring Lalique to this show (she was a bit off at the closing date so I didn’t enter but she’s fine now), but it was nice to get home last night and not be completely exhausted.

On to the fall season, which for us is going to be very busy with lots of clinics, schooling opportunities, and other interesting things!

02/01/2021

KNEE BLOCK DESIGN AND ITS EFFECT ON RIDER BIOMECHANICS AND EQUINE LOCOMOTION

Previously the complexities of saddle fit, and the importance of correct saddle fit in relation to equine health and performance have been discussed (see previous blogs). To add to the complexities, we must not neglect the effect that the rider has on the horse (and saddle) but also the effect that the saddle has on the rider. In respect of the saddle, there are multiple factors which can have an influence on rider biomechanics, seat size/shape, waist/twist, panel content, stirrup bar positioning just to name a few.

Knee blocks come in all shapes and sizes and their function, to provide support to the rider and aid positioning. Over the last decade, knee blocks have increased in size and design, largely driven by the rider, in an attempt to provide greater support and security. Although this mechanism could be interpreted as a benefit, the effect that knee block design/size can have on rider biomechanics and consequently the effect this has on the horse’s locomotion should not be underestimated.

During locomotion, whilst maintaining dynamic stability, the rider has to manage and absorb propulsive forces being generated by the horse. In gaits where there is a suspension phase (trot and canter) the riders’ segments (pelvis, trunk, limbs etc) respond differently during each component of the stride. In the context of the knee block, following the suspension phase, during stance, the rider’s knee/thigh moves forward and can be pressed up (restricted) against the knee block. Depending on the size and shape of the knee block and anatomy of the rider, if restrictive, the rider’s pelvis can restricted. In a rider model, the segments are stacked on top of the pelvis, if the pelvis is restricted as a result of the knee being restricted by the knee block, then the segments above will have to compensate.

Recently we have demonstrated the effect that knee block design can have on the rider’s biomechanics and equine locomotion. With knee block modifications, allowing the knee to move forward (i.e. not being restricted by the edge of the knee block) the riders pelvic function was improved with a more neutral position being achieved throughout the motion cycle. The riders were more synchronised with the movement of the horse. This makes logical sense, if the pelvis is neutral (not restrcited) then force absorption and transmission can be better achieved. It would seem logical, like other parts of the saddle, that knee block design would influence rider biomechanics, however, we should not underestimate the effect that knee block design can have one equine locomotion, as a function of altered (restricted) rider biomechanics. With knee block modifications, allowing the rider’s knee to be less restricted, allowing the pelvis to be in a more neutral position resulted in alterations in the horse’s back movement and limb kinematics in trot and canter.

As previously said, horses will develop a locomotor compensatory strategy to alleviate any discomfort caused. In the case of a knee block, where the rider’s knee is restricted by the knee block, resulting in the pelvis being restricted, may have an effect on the horses back and limb movement.

Following on from the previous blog(s), I hope this helps and further highlights the complexities with saddle fit for both horse and rider and the importance of working with a qualified saddle fitter who understands these complexities from both a horse and rider view point.

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Dr. Russell MacKechnie-Guire
Centaur Biomechanics
www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk

12/09/2020

Loved having a chat with Brooke Drassal about an important tool for everyone from rehab horses to green horses to schoolmasters...long lining! 😀🐎

I'm so excited to be kicking off my series of expert interviews with friend and colleague, Becky Seizert. Becky is a dressage trainer who specializes in equine rehab in Minnesota.

In our video chat, we talk all about the do's and don'ts of long lining and what an effective training/rehab tool it can be in the right hands.

Pop on over to my blog at https://drassalequinebodywork.com/blog/long-lining-becky-seizert to watch the interview. We've included some links to resources too!

(Image thanks to Shelley Paulson Photography)