Physical Training for Riders: Never seen so many dressage riders in the Olympic gym

Fri, 09/19/2008 - 00:00
2008 Global Dressage Forum

Was it because of the extreme climate of Hong Kong that so many riders where working on their personal fitness? The extreme weather conditions in Hong Kong, warm and humide, was an extra opponent to deal with.

World’s best riders did everything to be fit at the Olympic Games. During former Olympic Games just a few riders where training to improve their personal fitness. This year many, many riders have been seen in the gym. The Global Dressage Forum presents an expert, British eventphysio Andrew Thomas to discuss this interesting development on October 27-28th .

During a session on Tuesday morning Andrew Thomas will talk about ‘Physical training for riders’. The term core stability has become a bit of a “buzz” word used by physiotherapists and fitness specialists to describe a type of exercise that helps to increase the strength and control around the spine and pelvis. Unfortunately because the term is used so frequently it has become difficult to isolate which exercises would be useful for a rider to do and exactly how it will help.

Riding in its simplest form is about control. The ability to deliver appropriate aids at a specified time without interfering with the horses’ movement. It sounds simple but most riders have imbalances and weakness performing certain movements on the horse. They produce unwanted movements because they lack stability and control. Examples of this are seen when riders collapse on one rein but not on the other or rotate their pelvis, shift the body weight, fix with one arm but not the other, etcetera."

Andrew Thomas

Andrew Thomas has been specialising in musculo skeletal intervention to elite athletes. Andrew has wide experience of lecturing at undergraduate, postgraduate and multi professional gatherings. Last year he was the physiotherapist to the Equestrian Riders at the World Equestrian Games across Eventing, Endurance, Show Jumping, Carriage Driving, Reining, Vaulting and Dressage. Olympic riders Laura Bechtolsheimer and Emma Hindle have been working intensively with Andrew Thomas. Five weeks before the Olympics Hindle has been operated. Thanks to an intensively training with Andrew Thomas she recovered in time to compete at the Olympics.

He also holds contracts with the Lawn Tennis Association, providing cover for their national tournaments. He has extensive experience in athletics, football and rugby union.

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