Horse Simulator - Have you used?

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CHH

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Hi,

I'm interested to hear from people who have used a horse simulator, for whatever reason.

If you have never used one - would you use one?

Would anyone use one for regular lessons to improve their riding?

I'm would love to hear any kind of feedback on them as I have never been on one, but it may be useful as part of my physio for core strength.

Thanks
 
Yes I have been a few times I went to Ashen Equestrian Centre as I wanted a computerised read out(like to see black and white without an instructor opinion only) would really recomend it also i went as soon as physio cleared me to ride after a car crash as was getting lower back pain riding - was great to put me back in place. becky is a bio mechanincs coach so sure it would help with core strength etc
 
I've used one and it was brilliant, really got me moving correctly with the horse, which i was then able to transfer on to a proper horse. You would need a very good teacher for the session to be really beneficial, mine was with Heather Moffett at her yard in Devon which I'd very much recommend.
 
hi yes :D
there brilliant ,i had a go on the one from bishop burton collage at bramham and wanted another go but they were fully booked

i can highly reccomend it and if there was one further up north (northumberland area) i'd use it monthly to improve my riding

it would def help with core strength as you can focus solely on your possition with out the worry of anything unpridictable happening

the one i tried had 3 buttons on the side and it could do loads of different things - leg yield, half pass even flying changes :)
you could bring your own instructor or use one of theres ,i think they said it was £40 an hour ,well worth it :D
 
I have been on one in our tack shop, It's used to test saddles, BPs and Hats. Personally I wouldn't use them as an aid to improving my riding, as using your seat doesn't affect a simulated horse! However I have been riding for a long while and I like to think I have an established position and good balance, but I think for a novice it would be a good thing to do, as you can practice balance and position without it affecting the horses ay of going.
 
I have had many lessons on the simulator at Ashen equestrian centre, and come away with a little more learnt about my posture and how it directly affects the horse. Any issue i've had has straight away been identified, proven using the computerised readouts and then, most importantly, corrected properly without damaging your spine or the horses!

The simulator has mirrors in front and to the side, and you can watch your read outs on screen in front of you as you ride (weight to the left/right, behind/infront of movement, your 'bounce', your drive/stop, rein contact). You can also use it to play with. My first lesson i wanted to see what happened when i 'relaxed' as is frequently bellowed. The results were not pretty!

As a resource i think they are brilliant. Your instructer would have to run pretty damn quick to get a hold of you and correct your posture at canter on a real horse. With the simulator, Becky can actually get her hands on you and show you where you hip, arm, leg wherever needs to be, and sure enough the read outs on the chart back her up.

Most importantly, i've been able to go away and take what i've learnt, apply to the horse and see a change - thats what convinces me that it's a usefull tool.

Trina x
 
Yes. I actually had my first taster last Friday.

I would say it is beneficial.

Of course a machine cannot replicate a living breathing creature in everyway, but there is much to be learnt about improving seat and getting the feel for rhythmn and footfalls provided you have a good instructor.
The fact that they are static is great because an instructor can make hands on adjustments if appropriate.
 
Fantastic piece of kit, I only wish my horse would do such a gorgeous collected canter!! Great to practice a d iron out problems, definitely recommend it :)
 
Thanks so much everyone, sorry for all the questions.

Does it really ride like a real horse?
Technology is so amazing these days.

I like the idea of having a 'lesson' on it too and wonder whether my health insurance would also see this as a recognised 'therapy'

The thought of being able to concentrate on my position not what my daft horse is doing appeals very much.

Also, a great winter riding aid I guess when the ground is too frozen to ride.

Sillly question (sorry) but did anyone think they were going to fall off?
Sorry, just wanted to ask I have a clumsy streak and can imagine being the only person to be decked by a plastic horse!
 
I have used one to improve my seat and balance.

It's great, I was able to master standing up straight Titanic style :D in my stirrups in canter without worrying about a living horse (which is harder on a simulator as you don't have the forward action to aid you)

Also mastered the 2 point seat correctly, and am well on my way to an independent seat on the simulator and an actual horse.

I never felt as though I was going to fall off.

Very beneficial and I'll continue to use one as and when the need arises.
 
CHH said:
Thanks so much everyone, sorry for all the questions.

Does it really ride like a real horse?
Technology is so amazing these days.

I like the idea of having a 'lesson' on it too and wonder whether my health insurance would also see this as a recognised 'therapy'

The thought of being able to concentrate on my position not what my daft horse is doing appeals very much.

Also, a great winter riding aid I guess when the ground is too frozen to ride.

Sillly question (sorry) but did anyone think they were going to fall off?
Sorry, just wanted to ask I have a clumsy streak and can imagine being the only person to be decked by a plastic horse!
Click to expand...

Well, Beckys horse at Ashen does have an emergency stop button on its neck (and why don't real horses have one of these!! :mad::D)
The movement is considered to be more like that of a horse working 'correctly' which is much much easier to ride correctly. Thats why its a vicious circle - to ride well you need a horse thats going well, to get the horse going well then you need to ride well. The simulator gives you some idea of what it could feel like! Strider at Ashen does collected, working and medium in most paces, and does flying changes at set stride patterns, including 1 time and 2 time (or maybe 30 to the left then 30 to the right) and probably more, it's a nifty bit of kit.

http://www.ashenequestriancentre.co.uk/3.html

There is a short clip on youtube that someone has put on, if you type Strider and Ashen in the search box you'll find it. It's not me, but it is the public domain so i assume the owner of the footage is happy for anyone to look at it.

Becky and 'Strider' have been to Your Horse Live in the past, but i'm not sure if she'll be going this year. There are often other simulators there too - worth a little try!

Trina x
 
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