Riding simulators

[NicoleD]

Has anyone used a riding simulator? Thinking of buying one for our riding school in Norfolk. Would you be interested and what would you expect to pay for 1/2 an hour? Any ideas or revelations as to what they are like would be appreciated!

 

[amandathepanda]

very useful if done correctly although you do get a different feel from a real horse. It would be worth you trying one yourself before deciding if you feel it would benefit your riding school! I think they might be very good for teaching beginners the basics before they get on a horse, as a more advanced rider I did find that it helped to make me more aware of my seat and what was going on underneath me.

 

[Nailed]

depends on what model.. the walk canter gallop one is boring after the first ten mins but i can immagine that the dressage ones could be extremly benificial for position not alot else, as there are robots and not unpredictable like horses.

Lou x

 

[Bossanova]

We looked into buying one but they are very exensive if you want a decent one good enough for teaching and we couldnt see it ever paying for itself with our volume of clients.

They are brill though, really, really helpful for the position and developing a good seat

 

[NicoleD]

Going on monday to try a range of them. Aiming for the trot and canter one. We want to get one to help our riders learn to canter rather than bouncing about on our precious ponies, as well as to help with position for our more advanced riders. Hopefully a few parents that are scared of the real thing will want to have a go as well so they have some idea of how hard it is for their children.

 

[Bananaman]

I have used Michelle Cogger's ones near Stansted and they are excellent. Apparantly she has an all singing, all dancing one at her other base near East Grinsted.
It is probably like the one RWYM instructor Becky Chapman has near Sudbury which apparantly has sensors for direct feedback re rein contact and weight distribution. It can trot and canter, both leads, and be programmed for single and tempi changes.

I do think the simulators are excellent for giving very novice riders a sense of rythmn and developing good balance as well as for more experienced riders to check out any bad habits creeping in re. straightness etc.
However, they can only ever be as good as the person offering the instruction so you need someone with a good eye for a correct position and effective use of the seat.

Whereabouts in Norfolk are you? PM me if you'd rather.

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
Has anyone used a riding simulator? Thinking of buying one for our riding school in Norfolk. Would you be interested and what would you expect to pay for 1/2 an hour? Any ideas or revelations as to what they are like would be appreciated!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, used, and taught with one. Good for very beginner rider...but not realistic as the horse doesn't move forward. Was a dressage model with responses to leg and rein aids...did walk, sitting and rising trots, collected and working canters..
They just don't feel like a real horse as the forwards momentum is really important. Can't explain it, but you'll see what I mean when you try one out.
S

 

[fairhill]

I used a dressage model at a local riding school on my instructors advice. In fact, I need to go back and have another lesson, as it really helped me with my straightness and stiffness. It took some time to get used to the leg and rein aids, as I kept putting it straight into fast canter/gallop.

I think I paid £25 for half an hours instruction, which I was happy with. It was popular at the riding school for both novices and experienced riders - in fact I struggled to get a lesson booked as it was so popular!