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 [...]

My feet have ALWAYS gone numb when I horse ride.  For as long as I remember trail rides with my mother meant numb feet. 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 [...]

Great game for easing into canter – and for light and soft transitions 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 [...]

In addition to our normal 2 day clinics, and regular lesson days, we’ve just added a brand new format making it LESS expensive and easier for more riders to attend. Click here for more info!

Two great titles on sale for limited time only…. “How to Analyse & Improve the Rider’s Seat, Posture & Balance”.  3 Set DVD Series. Filmed live at the Lipizzaner Hall, this marvelous DVD set featuring several demonstration horses looks at all aspects of the rider’s seat, posture and balance. It really is ideal for all [...]

  I really encourage you to read this absolutely remarkable result, reported by ONM and the Kentucky Horse Shoeing School on the hideous  Hydrogel Verrucous Pododermatitis Treatment  

3 Day Internship with Colleen Kelly 1.  MidWest Horse Fair  - April 20, 21, 22, 2012 Madison WI 3.  Minnesota Horse Expo – St. Paul Mnn April 27, 28. 29 Join me as an intern – just for 3 days (shorter might be possible too!). It is a wonderful buzzing atmosphere, you’ll be at the [...]

ON SALE NOW!   Half Price Sale ENDING SOON!  Only $30.  This beautiful 3 DVD Set (NOT A DOWNLOAD) in a jewel case posted to you is ideal as a gift.  For all riding sports and all levels to know what to look for and improve the rider’s seat and position. Gala Evening Masterclass 3 DVD [...]

Funny story from WEG… Did you hear about our story at the WEG (Festival) last year.  The two Lexington Mounted Unit Police Officers donated their time to ride in my demos. However, the horses had been on parade on concrete outside for ages. When they came onto the soft arena…shall I say…politely…on the soft arena, [...]

It was an honor to be be part of the “behind the scenes” at Horse of the Kings show at Southpoint Casino for the Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse.  Margit and Panadero – soloists with style – rocked the house with beautiful lights and music, and a truly beautiful presentation.  It was the end [...]

This is an INCREDIBLE story of bravery, but moreover that a horse trust a rider so much that they will respond and charge full force into a fully grown Grizzly Bear! Saved a little boy’s life by amazing quick action of the rider.  Great looking horse…she ended up buying the horse! Amazing story….have a look:

This is INCREDIBLE! I’ve never seen horse riding like this EVER! The Metropolitan Police performance at London’s Olympia, where they TAKE OFF THEIR SADDLES WHILE JUMPING!  Truly! Got to see it to believe it!

Administration internships - winter season 2011 Working with Colleen Kelly herself daily, however you can WORK FROM HOME!  Hours extremely flexible. If you have extraordinary administrative, secretarial, personal assistant or marketing experience or background – or you have skills or completing studies in these areas, please email your resume and availability until March 2012 .  No [...]

We’re still working on it…but here’s our dates so far: 2011 USA DATES YORK, SC (1 hr sth of Charlotte NC)  Oct 1 & 2 WHIN Conference Nashville Oct 6  to 8  BOWLUS, Minnesota  October 9 to 13th KENTUCKY  End Oct to Early November EQUINE EXTRAVAGANZA  Virginia.   4 Nov to 6 Nov BAY AREA, CA  November 7 to 9 [...]

Champions are always after the competitive edge, however pleasure riders mostly want to be safe, and make sure the way the sit doesn’t hurt their horse. It was a natural marriage of minds when Colleen Kelly and Linda Parelli met.  Linda is famous for her work with rider position..add Colleen Kelly, the expert in the [...]

World wide there are many horse riding groups: pony clubs, adult riding clubs, dressage and jumping clubs and of course the Federation Equestre Internationale, the highest body of the lot, governing Olympics and World Championship level events. Every single one of these groups have equipment such as chambons, draw reins etc banned or “illegal”. Equipment [...]

4 Day Sale – $175 reduced to $75 until September 12 only Instead of complicated science…we have “made science simple”, boiling down all the complicated terms and grey areas that no-one can understand to the simplest things. This package has been purchased by absolute beginners wanting to learn the basics – right up to Grand [...]

A great tip to check upper body balance – using the rider’s elbows as a measuring tool instead of “guessing” what the shoulders are doing.

UPDATE: 2011 Full Circle Moment As I write this I am sitting on the beach in BEAUTIFUL Rosarita Beach, Mexico. Yesterday was a ‘full circle moment’ for me. I actually wrote most of this article years and years ago and was up on our old website forever…but riding yesterday and realising that most people think [...]

from Jason Shore This is the coolest “quick trick” you can do sitting at your desk to develop independent seat and co-ordination. The horse rider’s independent seat is not just for dressage, it’s for all horse riding sports to gain the ability of moving one part of the body without interrupting other parts or the [...]

Update – Shauna Kelly recently passed away peacefully and your prayers are asked for the remainder of Colleen’s family for Christmas 2011. I just wanted to say to everyone “thank you for your prayers” at this difficult time. ♥   Thank you for your patience in my delay in returning emails ♥   Thank you for [...]

Colleen Kelly is offering 1 free lecture or ridden demonstration evening to clubs, riding groups or even private barns or individual competitors in each of these countries: The USA  (Aug to Nov) Australia   (Nov – Jan) South Africa  (March 2012) United Kingdom (March 2012) Hong Kong/China (March 2012) Other countries may be possible in [...]

Just today someone mentioned Dr. Reiner Klimke and “classic dressage”…which got me to thinking…what did they really look like back then? Boy!  hasn’t dressage changed! Here’s Dr. Klimke’s gold medal winning ride at Los Angeles, Burbank, now home of the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.

Wearing helmets is not the way of the future.  It is for TODAY. With 800* brain injuries from horse riding every year (*Flinders University) in a population the same as the state of Massachusettes, one wonders why ANY expo, show or venue allows non-helmet riders on their property.  And, certainly, why the insurance premiums I [...]

Colleen Kelly has been fundraising for Riding for Disabled for yrs, but sometimes helpers need help! We have stated a “Help Colleen Compete Again” fundrazr page.  We are asking for help to get Colleen out competing again.  Most of you know how far she has come… 2 yrs ago in hospital for 2 months and [...]

I remember years ago in one of my very first judge’s exams, I got the question”what’s the No. 1 thing the dressage judge is judging”.   I went into a look description of why IMPULSION was the NO. 1 thing…AND MY ANSWER WAS WRONG!  I got a big fat 0 out of 5 for that question! [...]

My own personal story By age 18 I had lower back pain.  So bad I went to the doctor who did my first (of two) lumbar punctures (delicious fun!).  Found nothing.  Sent home with loads of drugs and a pat on the head (which would have been nice except for my constant, horrendous, headache!). The [...]

On the  ’forehand’ or the ‘haunches’? When you see photos or videos are you looking down? Is your coach always telling you:  ”look up, LOOK UP”.   Do you see the top level riders with their elegant stance, or seen videos of the Spanish School of Riding with the hats at the perfect angle? Why looking [...]

Some other great pages… ●   Want a FREE weekend with Colleen Kelly? ●   Free Riding Music ●   What JUDGES really want – often a surprise! Ok we all love movies with horses…My Friend Flicka, Pharlap, Secretariat, Zoro….but I think this one will be amazing.  From legend Spielberg comes….

Equine Vet J Suppl. 1998 Sep;(26):81-5. Effect of rider and riding style on deformation of the front hoof wall in warmblood horses. Summerley HL, Thomason JJ, Bignell WW. Source Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Abstract A rider modifies the weight distribution and dynamic balance of the horse. But what effect does a rider have [...]

Thinking of Giving up? Too old, too sore, not enough money? dedicated to Karen B from WA “I have scoliosis”, “I have one leg shorter”, “I’m too sore…” One of the most common comments I hear is “I have scoliosis”, or “I have one leg shorter than the other”.  ”I could never ride straight.” It’s normally the [...]

I’ve got a headache.  The traffic’s awful.  The bank manager called 3 times today. The car’s overheating (again).  Just went to a show where they were all spurring and pulling.  Someone didn’t like my video and I’d put my HEART AND SOUL into the writing, filming and production and did the best I could with [...]

Beautiful big black Dressage Horse for sale.  16.1   Super quiet and broke.  Email us for more info

The International Society of Rider Biomechanics is the examining and registering body for scientists and horse riding coaches interested in the specific field of the rider’s seat & posture (or biomechanics). Since the early 1990′s the Society has developed world-wide and has been providing articles, research and horse riding coach’s certification programs. For only the 2nd [...]

Tempo & Timing – Rushing & Labored Dressage or Jumping – it’s the same! “Tempo” means how FAST a horse is going “Rhythm” means the type of beats (for example in dancing it’s waltz rhythm, or cha-cha rhythm).  In horses we have 4 beat walks, 2 beat trots, and 3 beats in the canter (which [...]

This is a great little “quick tip” to improve the horse rider’s co-ordination. It’s just something quick and fun that Nick and I filmed today on our lunchbreak in between filming for an upcoming series. Lots of tips here more >

I have never seen this until today.   I remember that terrible day.  That terrible time.  I was working at air traffic control in Melbourne, and it was just terrible. This commercial only aired once as Budweiser didn’t want any commercial advantge from it.    That’s class!

Look what people have been reading about…here’s our best free articles this week. In order of preference, articles have been selected in this order: Improving the horse rider’s balance Lessons & Training for Seat & Posture DRESSAGE – Who is right and who is wrong? JUMPING POSITION:  Do you tip forward? Colleen Kelly in California - NEW [...]

Quick easy tip…. If you’re heading out for long hours either on a long trail ride, or riding horse after horse start with a slightly shorter stirrup. Then, when your knees start to feel as bad as mine felt on the one and only “super endurance ride” we did in Australia, then at least you’ve [...]

Raise your hands – carry your hands – lift the horse in front If you have heard people say that to you…you may have also heard “there should be a straight line from the elbow through the hand to the bit”. That’s two VERY different things! So you’d better know who is right and who [...]

This quick test comes from some of the most prestigious medical researchers, takes 2 mins and you do it while you’re cleaning your teeth!  What a great way to improve the horse rider’s balance! Can you clean your teeth standing on one foot with the other foot out in front of you? One of our [...]

Improving the Horse’s Extension & Collection Horse riding is hard enough when you start out with 3 simple paces of walk, trot and canter…but after about a year or so of training, you might want to extended trot your horse…however it takes time to develop the beautiful dressage extended trot we see on our horse [...]

Seat and Leg to get the horse on the bit When horse riders come to me for seat and posture assessments and lessons they expect me to make them use their bodies more, leg more, push more more hold. As a dressage judge I always wondered why the Rule Book says “light contact”, and “able to [...]

The more your toes turn out the more you tip forward! Try it out for yourself…stand on the ground (forget the horse for a minute) and turn your feet out and feel what happens to your tail bone…it goes backwards. Tail bone goes back, your shoulders go forward. If you really want to improve your [...]

Next time you’re riding a corner in dressage…put a bit more weight in the OUTSIDE stirrup and you’ll get deeper in the corner. Then..compare!  Put weigh on the inside stirrup and the horse will fall in!  Enjoy! This is just ONE QUICK LITTLE TIP – you can get 101 tips click here > And, think where [...]

Riding the dressage trot, and especially “how to improve my sitting trot” is the number one question on our website. This article does not seek to re-write all the wonderful texts on sitting trot, and does not in any way replace the Official Rule Book (www.fei.org).   What I want you to know is how [...]

Colleen Kelly now in CALIFORNIA  for lessons & clinics.   Located between San Diego and Los Angeles she is happy to travel to your venue if you can get 7 riding friends together – your own training is COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE!   Full Clinics are available for dressage – jumping – western – competitive [...]

Biomechanics is a university based science looking at how athletes move.   For horse riding it looks at balance, seat, posture & balance and especially the affect of the rider on the horse’s way of going, performance and success. Rider biomechanics can improve sitting trot, sitting the canter, and the mechanics of higher level movements. [...]