Ride with your mind/Classic dressage/Julia La Garde?

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cheekywelshie

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Are these the same thing?

I've just been on a two day Ride With Your Mind course - decided to have lessons with Mary's assistant trainer as she was great at explaining things - but now trying to find someone to continue working with. I came across Julia - has anyone had lessons with her - is it the same way of riding as Mary's RWYM approach?
 
In my experience, they're not the same thing. RWYM tends to concentrate much more on the rider and their position. I can't comment on Julia as don't know her but would say why not have a lesson or two and see how you and your horse feel? I switched from RWYM and really regretted that I had not done so much (years) sooner.
 
There are lots of different flavours of biomechanics coaching but I don't think that particular trainer is an accredited RWYM person. There's a really nice RWYM lady called Claire Kateley who covers your area, if that is what you're looking for.
From what I understand classical dressage is a thing all of its very own, but there are people on who understand a lot more than I do about that sort of thing!
No harm in trying a few different trainers until you decide what's working best for you and your horse?
 
I didn't realise there were different types of bio mechanical coaching! The rwym seems a bit unnatural for me but stops me fiddling with the reins as I'm concentrating on my position so much lol!
 
RWYM is essentially a biomechanics led-approach to training and coaching, rather than a school of equitation, if you know what I mean. I love it as an approach, it really works for my brain! If you've got transport I would really really recommend you go to a course with Becky Chapman at Ashen EC. She's a RWYM coach but has also done extensive training under Phillipe Karl as well as traditional BHSI training so has lots of different schools to draw on for whatever you want to work on. She's completely changed the way I ride my horse and thus the way the horse goes.
 
Thanks I will check that out. May have to hire transport which is why i don't get out very often!

With the RWYM i am focussing on the core and using my knees/thighs more - with my leg farther back than i am used to...bit simplistic i know but the transitions are better....i am still struggling with turns a bit. I feel exhausted the next day having ridden like this!! Does it really change the horses going in the long term? Would you expect it to change immediately ( i am getting better transitions - when i don't over think it!!) The person I had a lesson with a Mary Wanles was called Ali, she is based Essex way. What really worked, what she showed me, was doing ground work first.
 
Cheekywelshie, would second Becky at Ashen, the good news is that she has strider - a mechanical horse, so you don't need to worry about the horse (or transport for it!), which means that you can completely focus on you. Helped me with my position.
 
Why not have a simulater session or go watch some lessons and see if you like it? She has a lot of us regulars and may even know someone willing to pick you and pony up on their way down if you both book the same course. I'd have gladly shared a lift when I lived over your way but I've just moved to the SW... I've found that courses leave you enough homework to work on in between them, so progress isn't nec slower than more regular one-off lessons...
 
I'm thinking about doing just that. I had a classical dr lesson the other day just to see how that would go but it didn't do my hips any good (have screws in one) and I got a bit confused and my head hurt! :( The RWYM seemed easier..I got a bit confused as the CD approach seemed to say sit back on seat bone more whereas the RWYM i felt more forward perhaps too far forward because i'd always been too far back! Aghhhh
 
Go with Rwym. Or try another classical type. Proper classical shouldn't be encouraging a feeling of sitting way back. All four corners of your gusset need to feel down (inc front corners) so you can properly influence bend and laterals with the seat... maybe yours was a bit more german stereotype rather than more frenchy classical style... ;-)
 
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