equisensomotoric® training

is a specific training for horses

The training method consists of a range of exercises and subtle balance shifts that are individually selected for each horse. It is based on defined markers and basic biomechanical laws.

The author’s personal experience from over ten years of horse training and rehabilitation, the findings of scientific research into biomechanics, approaches to somatic trauma therapy, elements of Old Californian Vaquero riding, the Spanish-Portuguese working riding style and classical, baroque and academic equitation have all influenced the development.

The areas of application range from rideability problems, crookedness, muscle weaknesses and skittishness to training-related irregularities in rhythm.

All exercises are aimed at giving the horse sound movement patterns, a stable muscular foundation and emotional balance so that it has the basic physical requirements for further requirements such as riding, cattle work, working equitation, driving, etc.

Equisensomotoric® training is based on an individual training plan

 

The training pursues 7 goals of equine health

Straightness

Correction of crookedness and promotion of even muscling and rideability on both hands by working with the spinal rotations.

Before

Highly twisted spine

After Equisensomotoric® training

Spine largely straightened

More case studies on Straightness

Balance

Relief of the forehand, tendons and joints by developing muscle coordination that creates a finely balanced equilibrium in the body.

Before

Unbalanced, pace canter with a tense back, protruding lower neck, dropped neck and hyperextended knee

After Equisensomotoric® training

Joint and tendon-friendly canter with back activity and lifted trunk in balanced equilibrium

More case studies on Balance

Strength for carrying capacity

Build up strength in the hindquarters, back muscles and trunk lifting muscles to counteract carrying fatigue.

Before

Lack of hindquarter muscles and protruding sacroiliac joint

After Equisensomotoric® training

Harmonious musculature and even contours

More case studies on Strength

Sound gaits

Establishing movement patterns in the basic gaits that keeps a riding horse sound in the long term, prevents injuries and is a joy to ride.

Start of training

Tense, pushing trot with a low held trunk, backward leg axles, tension in the neck and pulling on the reins

After Equisensomotoric® training

Self carriage, back-active trot with lifted trunk and more vertical leg axes on slightly slack reins

More case studies on Sound gaits

Stability of joints

Development of joint-stabilizing muscles for fetlocks, knee joints, hocks and the promotion of leg axis stability.

Before

Narrow chest with arched leg axes in a toe-wide position due to lack of muscles in the trunk lifters and shoulder girdle

After Equisensomotoric® training

Broad chest with straight leg axes thanks to appropriately trained chest and shoulder muscles

More case studies on Stability of joints

Suppleness

Promotes fluid movement to prevent signs of wear and tear, for a springy, butter-soft sitting sensation and for myofascial harmony.

At the start of training

Difficult to sit, halting trot with hollow back, underneck and low held trunk

After Equisensomotoric® training

Soft to sit, fluid trot with active back muscles, springiness and raised withers

More case studies on Suppleness

Serenity

Focus on serenity and emotional balance in order to maintain the horse’s harmony of movement and enjoyment of work during training.

Before

Stressed facial expressions

After Equisensomotoric® training

Calm facial expressions

More case studies on Serenity

Equisensomotoric® Training

  • Effective and tested
  • Uses very light seat and rein aids
  • Works with positive reinforcement
  • Does not require any straps, spurs, auxiliary reins or touching of the legs with the whip

Suitable for

  • riders, advanced and trainers
  • Horses of all ages and breeds
  • Every training condition
  • Any style of leisure riding

FAQ – Frequently asked questions

Why does my horse need Equisensomotoric® training?

Whether your horse needs Equisensomotoric® training exactly is of course impossible to judge here.
However, a look at practice and stables shows that too many horses move unpyhsiologically due to a lack of equestrian knowledge or have already suffered wear and tear due to incorrect training methods.
On the other hand, there are well-meaning riders who want the best for their horses, but are confused by the multitude of contradictory training approaches and hop from one method to the next because their horses’ health is not improving in the long term.
Equisensomotoric® Training has been developed over more than ten years from a wide variety of riding styles and is a tried-and-tested selection of exercises – a best-practice and best-results in relation to the 7 health goals defined by Equisensomotoric®.

Horses are not born to carry or being ridden. So if you “only” want to ride out, training that promotes carrying capacity in the back, such as Equisensomotoric® Training, is particularly useful. Thanks to the specific build-up training, horses can be ridden and also ridden out in a healthy manner into old age.

Horses are not born to walk circles and curves. So even if you “only” work your horse a little in the dressage arena or “only” in liberty work, it can benefit greatly from Equisensomotoric® training. Through the specific exercises, for example, you can promote his straightness and joint stability – this acts as a preventative measure against joint arthroses such as spavin or cupping with every circle walked.

In 1:1 lessons, the first steps and experiences of increased movement quality are usually already evident in the first unit.
But even those with a trained eye and perhaps some previous knowledge will notice the first positive changes after the first session.
Very often, for example, the back appears more full after the session and the horse distributes its weight more evenly over all four legs during resting phases.
In the vast majority of cases, however, you will be able to see, feel and hear the first significant changes in your horse after around three months (if you perform the exercises correctly several times a week).
The effects will be greater or smaller depending on where your horse starts in terms of training level.

The main focus of Equisensomotoric® Training is clearly on the 7 health goals, while other methods more often aim for high collection up to schools above the ground or the development of certain figures.
In Equisensomotoric® Training, for example, a flowing trot with vertical leg axes is clearly preferred to a possibly unphysiological piaffe with backward front leg axes.

The training follows comprehensible, clear structures that are adapted to the individual horse type, which is why it can be learned by any seriously interested rider.
How long it takes depends, as with any learnable skill, on the prior knowledge, talent and empathy of the user.
There are riders who have already understood the basics of Equisensomotoric® in just a few 1:1 sessions and can put them into practice.
In particular, the ability to feel the seat aids in relation to centimeter-by-centimeter balance shifts can be learned by anyone, but in the vast majority of cases this must first be consolidated.
In our experience, this is usually the case within the first year of regular lessons.
When imparting knowledge, both in the online courses and in 1:1 lessons, particular attention is paid to explaining the complex interrelationships of living biomechanics in interaction with the emotional balance of the horse in a way that is simple and applicable to everyone.

In the case of acute, unhealed lameness (such as a tendon injury), the healing process must first be awaited. Experience has shown that Equisensomotoric® training , in consultation with the attending veterinarian, is an excellent way to build up and rehabilitate the horse.
Above all, this is because the training is designed to be particularly gentle on joints and tendons and is aimed at physiological, straightforward movement sequences.

It is not possible to promise a cure, as each horse has a different set of problems and also reacts individually to training by its rider.
However, there is already some very good experience of Equisensomotoric® Training in relation to, for example, muscle shortening after injuries, joint arthrosis, hoof rolls, kissing spine findings, fetlock ring ligament syndrome or recurring patella fixations.
In these cases, the proposed training plan should be discussed with the attending veterinarian and only be implemented with the guarantee of freedom from pain through e.g. medication and with close, daily observation of the horse’s body language.

If you are mainly interested in working on specific lessons, you must be aware that Equisensomotoric® training focuses on keeping the horse healthy and not on the rider’s ambitions.
However, if a few months of Equisensomotoric® training results in a flying change, this is of course nice and will be incorporated into the training from then on, but the specific development training of Equisensomotoric® primarily pursues the 7 health goals.

No, this basically has nothing to do with Equisensomotoric® Training.

While “sensomotoric” exercises for horses are mainly carried out standing on mats and balance pads, Equisensomotoric® training is a complete training concept that mainly takes place in motion.
The name of the trademarked Equisensomotoric® method is made up of the words for horse Equi, feeling Senso and movement Motorik. This is due to the fact that the method pursues the central objective of capturing and sensing the physiologically correct movements of the horse and making them learnable in order to help as many horses as possible to achieve a healthy movement sequence and emotional balance.

Equisensomotoric® training also aims to establish neuronal muscle interaction for this healthy movement sequence – something that can only be trained through movement and correct repetition.
For comparison: if I want to be able to play tennis really well, static exercises on equipment can help me to build up strength in my arm, for example (comparable to “sensorimotor exercises”).
However, for a fluid swing of the racket, targeted power dosing on the ball and finely tuned muscle interaction for the improvement of a sophisticated technique, I will not be able to avoid regular, real “playing tennis”, i.e. practicing in motion (comparable to Equisensomotoric® training).
Equisensomotoric® training also includes exercises for emotional balance, for example when horses are easily stressed, and information about the basic needs of horses, such as the desire for safety in the herd and clear communication from humans, which is essential for successful training.

Equisensomotoric® Training is therefore a comprehensive training concept with 7 far-reaching health goals – including the emotional balance of horses – while “sensomotoric exercises” on mats only cover a static aspect (e.g. joint stability, balance) while standing.

However, there is no reason not to do “sensorimotor exercises” in addition to Equisensomotoric® Training, as long as they are beneficial to the horse’s health.

Equisensomotoric® Training is a tried and tested training method developed with the 7 defined health goals in mind. It works with fine aids, precise standards and objective markers and comprises a specific selection of exercises that have proven to be particularly effective in keeping riding horses healthy.
To guarantee the long-term quality of the method, the term Equisensomotoric® has been protected as a word mark.