With Colleen Kelly and Linda Parelli
(watch a DVD Promo video >>)

In order to have a happy, healthy horse, it’s essential that you know how your body works, how it moves, and how to stay safe and balanced while riding. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it. And with Advanced Rider Biomechanics, Colleen Kelly will show you how to continue improving your balance, posture and coordination – and have fun doing it!

Building upon the foundation she set up in Rider Biomechanics, Colleen leads a group of students (including Linda Parelli) through a series of exercises that test and then improve their left/right balance, turning, seat position and more. After that, you’ll see Colleen and her students take it to the next level with advanced exercises. Get ready to join Colleen and Linda as they take you and your horse to the next level and beyond in this exciting, educational and fun 2-DVD set!

Segments Include:

• Testing the Rider’s Position: The key to safety, steadiness and comfort for you & your horse
• Testing Left/Right Balance: One of the most important principles of riding
• The Lighthouse Exercise: A creative way to achieve falling in and falling out
• Improving Balance: Good balance is essential, as is learning how to achieve it
• And much more!

RUNTIME: 3hrs, 15min.

More info >

OK, I’ll admit it’s “cheating” but it sure does work!  And, it’s INSTANT!

Make sure you don’t have any hip, knee or lower back injuries, and if you’re definitely sure you’re OK…go buy a pair of running weights, the velcro wrap kind you wrap around your ankles from Dicks Sporting, or Target or Walmart, and wear them while you’re riding.

Specifically, wear them while you’re sitting trot down hill! Bet you’ll find it AMAZING! And if you want more sitting trot tips…click here

A perfect mix of theory, practical demonstrations and workshops, plus group and private or semi private lessons, the 2013 riding clinic program is brand new and revised with loads of new take-home information and exercises to improve your seat, posture and balance. All sports welcome. Nervous riders or green horses a specialty.  Help us host a clinic and RIDE FOR FREE!    More >

Teacher Training – Ride for Free -
Value $1720!

For the first time the International Society of Rider Biomechanics has introduced a 5 day Teacher Training Course.

We are looking for hosts for clinics in 2013.  Help us arrange a teacher training clinic in your area, then you RIDE FOR FREE…a value of $1720! Upon successful completion of the course & exams you are registered as an Official Coach – ALL FOR FREE!   More >

Natural Horsemanship + Biomechanics

For the first time ever Colleen Kelly has teamed in the USA with 3* professional Kelly Sigler and in the UK with 4* Lyla Cansfield.

As experts in natural horsemanship and training on the ground, you now have the best of both worlds – biomechanics for the rider – and help for the horse.  More >

Police Training

Colleen Kelly is prepared to DONATE all auditing fees for 2013 Police Training Clinics to the Mounted Unit running the clinic.

Therefore if it is well publicised – your clinic could almost be free!

This specialised training for Police and other mounted units focuses on safety and stability of the rider in the most difficult of circumstances. But we also look at riding for long hours without the usual hip, ankle, knee and back pain that our officers suffer over long hours. More >

Host any clinic and RIDE FOR FREE!

Contact & Info:   Nicole Schneider

Email: ckriderbiomechanics@gmail.com

If you are thinking of doing the Biomechanics Teacher Training Certification Course this year, then GRAB the DVDs right now!

The International Society of Rider Biomechanics is offering their Teacher Training DVDs on sale from $210 down a whopping amount to only $65!

They’re suitable both for beginner coaches who would like to like to ‘get a start’, or for existing coaches who would like to specialise, and ideal for riders who just want to learn what all us coaches know, and how to apply it to their own personal riding. And for competitors they are just brilliant  to “get the winning edge”.

Hurry because it’s for September, 2012 ONLY.  More details here

June/July, 2012

Bullsbrook, Western Australia
Melbourne
Auckland, NZ
Chicago (Sheridan IL) Area (Sheridan IL)
North Hugo (St. Paul Area), Minnesota – LESSONS - Just before the tour stop!   All welcome!
St. Paul, Minnesota  * TOUR STOP *
Washington State/Portland OR area
Pagosa Springs – TBC

August, 2012

Pagosa Springs – TBC
Hertfordshire Area, United Kingdom   Two Separate Clinics
West Virginia

September, 2012

West Virginia
Parelli Conference – Pagosa Springs CO
Graham, NC
Catawba (Roanoke Area Virginia USA)
Mounted Police Nationals Montgomery County MD

October, 2012

Katy Tx  * TOUR STOP*
Alvin, TX
Signal Mountain (Chatanooga Area TN)
Murfreesboro, TN  * TOUR STOP*

November, 2012

Equine Extravaganza
Lovettsville VA (combined clinic with Kelly Sigler)
Wagener SC

December, 2012

Tampa, FL  * TOUR STOP*
Williamston, NC  * TOUR STOP*
South Africa for lessons between Xmas & New Years (To be confirmed)

Horse Riding Coaches Wanted

COACHES WANTED - experienced & trainees

The International Society of Rider Biomechanics is the world’s leading resource for rider seat & position.  If you are a coach wanting to specialise, or a trainee getting their first start, we receive enquiries daily from riders asking us to refer qualified biomechanics coaches.  Become qualified with the ISRB… (read more)

 COME & TALK TO US…

Come and speak to Colleen Kelly personally about your career at one of these clinics:

• Queensland
• Ohio
• California
• Mooralla, Vic
• Adelaide
• Melbourne
• Bullsbrook, West Aust
• Chicago
• St. Paul
• Oregon/Washington             … (see more venues)

It wasn’t until I damaged my spine, up near my waist, that I got the same feeling, numb feet, all the time (I’m “fixed now!) and realised it comes from your waist not your feet!

Numb feet comes from up in the lower back.

This stirrup is too long, no matter what the sport. The longest we go is just underneath the ankle knobble. Otherwise, your heels WILL be up, or your ankles will roll over (which makes us lean forward). Plus, the longer the stirrup the more we over-arch our spine at the waist.

It happens more when we walk more, rather than trotting or cantering.  It might also happen when we’ve been riding for long stirrups forever, and we suddenly shorten them to the correct length.  It’s not so much something in the ankle and knee, it’s more that the longer the stirrup, the more arch in your waist.  That’s why stirrup length is so important!

QUICK FIX:

IS THIS SERIOUS?

Unless you really have PAIN, then it normally isn’t anything to worry about.  We see the same numbness in the hands when we’re driving a car correctly with our hands on the steering wheel 10 and 2 o’clock.

However if you have pain, I definitely recommend discussing it with your chiropractor, therapist or medical practitioner if you’re worried.

1. We do this in an arena.  60 x 20m.  You can do it in other sizes, but the size of this is perfect.   So try to mark that kind of area out, as best you can if you don’t have an arena.
2. The longsides are for GO!  I want you to trot as fast as YOU FEEL SAFE!  If things get out of control and feel scary…CIRCLE!  Here’s some great tips for an upward transition:
   1. Look at the horse’s inside ear
   2. Make a kiss sound three times
   3. Then SOFTLY use your latago or reins left and right over the horse’s shoulders
   4. Our goal is to try NOT to use the leg to go for a change, but teach the horse to go just with your body!
3. The shortsides are for SLOW!   PRIOR TO THE CORNER I want you to do a downward transitions starting at the top of your body and working your way down…
   1. eyes up
   2. nose up (don’t overdo it…this has to be INVISIBLE!)
   3. chin up
   4. Adam’s apple showing
   5. Chest up
   6. Hands down
   7. Check if you’re still kicking…toes in – toes up.  The horse won’t stop if you’re kicking!  We only use the leg for a downward transition if we want to STILL KEEP GOING!  For example, if you’re doing extended trot and you wanted collected trot, then obviously you don’t want to stop.  You can still do this downward transition starting from your eyes to do the transition through ENGAGEMENT, not from the reins!  Then, you keep your leg ON to keep the horse going!  Downward transitions with the leg ON is for WITHIN the pace.  Downward transitions with the leg off and a little forward is for a downward transition down to the next pace.
   8. Most people lean forward…so carefully lean back until your pony tail hangs straight, off your back (BUT NO FURTHER – you must not lean back!!!).
   9. If the horse doesn’t stop to this, then use your reins.  Circle, or half halt, but make sure the horse knows that all those previous aids mean STOP!
   10. OUR GOAL:  is to sit the horse down, lower the horse’s tail.  We call that engagement.  And engagement CAUSES the downward transition.  And, the more engaged the horse, the more sat down, often the shorter the steps…and shorter steps is…COLLECTION.   but  not with the bridle – with ENGAGEMENT!
4. The goal is this:
   1. How SLOW can you get your horse to go on the SHORTSIDE without touching the reins
   2. How FAST can you get the horse to go down for the LONGSIDE without touching your reins
   3. After a while if you use look – kiss – flip flops…one day you look at that horse’s ear and the horse canters!
   4. After a while if you use look up – chest up etc….one day you look up and the horse will stop!
5. The “mistakes”
   1. Sooner or later your horse will walk on the shortside.  Don’t think of it as a “mistake” falling out of trot.  This is wonderful!  You’ve really done it.  You’ve really done a downward transition ONLY with engagement.  Not your hands!
   2. Sooner or later your horse will canter on the longside. Again, it’s not a “mistake”, it means you’ve really done it.  You’ve got the horse to go fully forward just using your body!  Not your heels!
   3. But don’t worry about the horse going ‘faster’ and ‘slower’.  No sport allows the horses to go faster and slower, especially dressage, however it was from the Royal Schools in Europe I adapted this exercise in the first place.  Although, yes, the horse is going ‘faster’ and ‘slower’, it still is a WONDERFUL exercise, and we don’t worry too much about tempo and regularity as we ride to music all the time and our horses are trained to take longer and shorter steps to the same music.  So, it’s never been a problem that we’re going faster and slower.  So, enjoy!