Andy Thomas Testt

[LadyGascoyne]

I’m considering doing a clinic with Andy. I’ve seen a few recommendation here for help in straightness.

I’m very weak on one side due to an old back injury. I’m almost collapsed on one side and stiff on the other.

I would be taking Mim although we aren’t the problem as a partnership - I am the issue regardless of what horse I ride.

I’ve been told that intense physio, followed by keeping very fit would be the first step to getting my back right and I haven’t been able to maintain that (work, life, lack of time etc) and if that didn’t work, surgery would be an option. But this was 15 years ago now.

Am I wasting Andy’s time because it’s effectively my fault I’m skew, and I haven’t done the work to fix it?

My second question is, should I take Mim if I’m only riding her occasionally until I’m back at a reasonable (for me) weight? I’m in the process of buying a bigger horse but haven’t bought one yet and would likely buy one that needs starting so wouldn’t be ready to do clinics for a long time.

How important is the horse/ rider partnership in the clinic?

 

[I'm Dun]

I went to see rider reboot. He is nearish to you fairly regularly. He would be my preference over the TT stuff at this stage. He transformed me in one session. I went very dubious but it very definitely worked. He sees you off horse and I think that would be a better way to go. Like you, I'm wonky from various horse injuries or was. The difference now is fairly dramatic.

I need to see him for a follow up session to work on some minor stuff. He tackled the big things in the first session! I think a session with Andy would be much more useful to me after that and I'd still like to do one in the future, but RR was a much more beneficial thing for me right now.

 

[Roxylola]

Go. He's very much about helping you get straight to ride while accepting we cannot be straight all the time.
And take mim, its worth having a sit to feel the results straight away.

 

[sbloom]

I went to see rider reboot. He is nearish to you fairly regularly. He would be my preference over the TT stuff at this stage. He transformed me in one session. I went very dubious but it very definitely worked. He sees you off horse and I think that would be a better way to go. Like you, I'm wonky from various horse injuries or was. The difference now is fairly dramatic.

I need to see him for a follow up session to work on some minor stuff. He tackled the big things in the first session! I think a session with Andy would be much more useful to me after that and I'd still like to do one in the future, but RR was a much more beneficial thing for me right now.

Glad you found it so beneficial .

Rider Reboot off the horse (he's done Andy's basic training too), and Equipilates/Franklin on the horse would be my recommendation.

 

[scats]

I saw Andy last year and took Millie. It was brilliant, though I have let my pre-riding exercises slip due to lack of time.

 

[I'm Dun]

Glad you found it so beneficial .

Rider Reboot off the horse (he's done Andy's basic training too), and Equipilates/Franklin on the horse would be my recommendation.

I really did. I was hoping for a little bit of improvement but it really was striking. And its only 5 mins of every gentle exercises a day as well. I'd have given up if there had been sweating and panting involved

 

[sbloom]

I really did. I was hoping for a little bit of improvement but it really was striking. And its only 5 mins of every gentle exercises a day as well. I'd have given up if there had been sweating and panting involved

I'm continually impressed by the results he achieves, he's also incredibly open minded, goes on training courses all the time to see if there's anything else useful for him to add to his toolkit. He's working WITH ridden biomechanics trainers who feel he offers some things they're missing, it's exciting stuff. He's shaking the industry up as well as offering a brilliant service.

 

[milliepops]

From my experience of a clinic with Andy I would say the horse you are on doesn't matter. Mine was not her usual self on the day we went to see Andy, she was awkward even for her due to *reasons* but I was the same he's not teaching you to ride better, he's helping you to switch on your "off" bits and become able to be more symmetrical on the horse. So in theory you could probably do that on a mechanical horse, but it does help to be sitting on your own steed even just so you feel the difference he has made.

I would go. agree with Roxy he is upfront about being realistic about how people are crooked in the rest of their lives (whether that's sitting at a desk asymmetrically, the act of driving a car etc). none of us hobby riders are going to change that, we are all too busy with LIFE. but we can learn how to get straightened up for the hour we are on a horse.

 

[vam]

From my experience of a clinic with Andy I would say the horse you are on doesn't matter. Mine was not her usual self on the day we went to see Andy, she was awkward even for her due to *reasons* but I was the same he's not teaching you to ride better, he's helping you to switch on your "off" bits and become able to be more symmetrical on the horse. So in theory you could probably do that on a mechanical horse, but it does help to be sitting on your own steed even just so you feel the difference he has made.

I would go. agree with Roxy he is upfront about being realistic about how people are crooked in the rest of their lives (whether that's sitting at a desk asymmetrically, the act of driving a car etc). none of us hobby riders are going to change that, we are all too busy with LIFE. but we can learn how to get straightened up for the hour we are on a horse.

This. Its all about you and working with you. I had massive improvements in the way my horse went but that was because of improvements made by switching the off bits on. Feeling the difference makes you more aware of yourself for future rides so definitely take Mim.
My mare was off work shortly after I had his clinic and then she broke my ribs on the ground so we where both off work. When I did get back on her nerves and ribs made me incredibly wonky so I made sure I did his pre riding exercises and I'm so, so much straighter.

 

[milliepops]

yeah the horse i took to the clinic is now retired but i know the same exercises he gave me will apply to everything else i ride. Best start doing them again now i have a ride

 

[daffy44]

I would also say go, the first time I saw Andy I didnt even take a horse, he worked on me, I went home and rode and the difference was still amazing. Unless you have a very specific exercise on one specific horse that you want help with, I dont think the horse you take is important, because what he does is all about you.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

He’s coming up to Mim’s yard with Diane Thurman Baker so I think I’ll take the opportunity. It sounds like I could really benefit from it. I’ll also look into RR.

 

[YorkshireLady]

Andy Thomas I think is in the realm of genius. The work he does on me was prob better than any physio I have had around my hip - but also the stuff you do on the horse really makes you aware of things you are doing and what can help.