Is it a coincidence that Holland and Great Britain, the number 1 and 2 of the European Championships, are both paying attention to physical training of their riders? It is interesting that part of the ‘know how’ to train riders ‘on the ground’ comes from Germany. Eckart Meyners is a professor at the University of Lüneburg, Germany and teaches movement theory, health theory, equestrian education science, athletics and badminton. Together with top rider Heike Kemmer he will address the Global Dressage Forum on Monday 26th October in Hooge Mierde, the Netherlands. Their presentation will be followed by a panel discussion with top trainers, riders and the audience.
Eckart Meyners is an internationally recognized expert in the field of movement teaching. He is the inventor of the so called Balimo training system. Physical weaknesses and deficits, partly created by today’s wrong way of living (insufficient movement, too much sitting etc.) are attempted to be compensated by specific gymnastics in his seminars.
By tackling the most common rider problems, transferring negative tension to the horse, his presentation together with Heike Kemmer will guarantee a lot of practical information. For over 30 years he has been working on the equestrian movement teaching and has published numerous books as well as dozens of articles on this theme. Simplified, Meyners says that it is mainly due to the blockades in the cervical, thoracic and pelvic area that virtually ‘block’ the feeling for mobility and therewith considerably worsen the natural seat. The Balimo, allowing three-dimensional pelvic movements and a release of pelvic blockades was developed exactly for these blockades in the pelvis.
Heike Kemmer is a successful dressage rider who won the gold medal with the team and the individual bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Hong Kong. By winning 6 gold team medals at Championships and Olympic Games in the last 8 years, she is one of the most respected top riders of Germany. One of the key factors for this long term success is her training with Meyners.
Photo copyrighted: Barbara Schnell
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