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Heather Sansom at Equifitt.com
- Female
- Kemptville (Ottawa area)
- Canada
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- Blog Posts (25)
- Discussions (5)
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- Groups (3)
- Photos (3)
- Photo Albums
- Videos (2)
Heather Sansom at Equifitt.com's Groups
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Show Jumping
167 members
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Over 50 crowd
92 members
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The Over 40 Rider
166 members
Heather Sansom at Equifitt.com's Discussions
Fixing lower leg position
Replied Mar 22
Fixing lower leg position
Replied Mar 22
Fixing lower leg position
Replied Mar 22
Heather Sansom at Equifitt.com's Page
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Profile Information
- About Me:
- I'm a rider (started about 30 years ago). My main discipline is classical dressage, but as my horse will tell you- we also love galloping and jumping cross country or popping over a few fences for fun. I've fox hunted, done a horse trial, played ppg, taken polo lessons, so all of that experience factors in to the work I now do as a personal trainer & specialist in fitness for equestrians. I own EquiFITT.com Fitness & Sport Conditioning, specializing in fitness for equestrians, based in Kemptville. I started the Ride Fit 1-2-3 blog (originally Ride Better 1-2-3) at the invitation of Barnmice as a way of sharing knowledge.
You can get free rider fitness articles articles and subscribe for free to monthly Fittips by emailing me directly or going to the Equifitt.com website. Email: personaltraining@equifitt.com
- Country
- Canada
- Website:
- http://www.equifitt.com
- Do you have any pets?
- horses, dog, cat, finches
- Topics of Interest
- Dressage, Eventing, Jumper, Reining, Endurance, Para-Equestrian, General Riding
Heather Sansom at Equifitt.com's Blog
Ride Fit 1-2-3: Self-carriage & Centered Riding
Since my last blog entry, I decided to follow up the Centered Riding clinic that inspired that blog, with some lessons in the process of becoming a Centered Riding instructor.
It's an interesting journey. If you've never read Sally Swift's book, Centered Riding, I highly recommend that you do: there are great illustrations and visuals in there which can really help you with awareness and posture while you are riding.
The Equifitt work I do most of the time is about building balanced strength an… Continue
It's an interesting journey. If you've never read Sally Swift's book, Centered Riding, I highly recommend that you do: there are great illustrations and visuals in there which can really help you with awareness and posture while you are riding.
The Equifitt work I do most of the time is about building balanced strength an… Continue
Posted on November 25, 2009 at 1:30pm — 5 Comments
Fit to Ride 1-2-3: Centered Riding, Balimo and Awareness
Hi, As you know, you can post questions to the Ride Fit blog, along with photos (if you have them and want to) and take advantage of the blog as a free online 'clinic' to help you with specific suggestions for getting more alignment between your riding, and your fitness activities.
Just as with other sports, there is no single workout you can pull out of a box that will make you a better rider. There are some principles: good posture, for example, is essential to good riding whatever your disci… Continue
Just as with other sports, there is no single workout you can pull out of a box that will make you a better rider. There are some principles: good posture, for example, is essential to good riding whatever your disci… Continue
Posted on November 5, 2009 at 4:00pm — 1 Comment
Ride Fit 1-2-3: More on Soft Hands and the Connection with Shoulder Strength
Comments and questions recently posted to my last blog were really excellent. I've copied them here, with some answers. Remember- you can post questions, comments and even photos for analysis to the latest Ride Fit blog. I try and respond in the next blog posting.
QUESTIONS FROM BARNMICE MEMBER, 'SIT_THE_TROT':
OK, I totally agree with this:
"we do look for alignment from the elbow through the forearm to the bit, regardless of discipline. A rider should also have softness in the elbow so that t… Continue
QUESTIONS FROM BARNMICE MEMBER, 'SIT_THE_TROT':
OK, I totally agree with this:
"we do look for alignment from the elbow through the forearm to the bit, regardless of discipline. A rider should also have softness in the elbow so that t… Continue
Posted on October 1, 2009 at 4:59pm —
Ride Fit 1-2-3: Fitting up for Cross Country
Hi, I had an excellent question about suitable training schedules for getting fit for Eventing in my inbox in response to one of the recent Ride Fit blogs. The question and response are below.
Question:
Hi Heather
Thanks for responding to my blog post about neck stretches. As my neck and back have been causing me problems lately I've decided to start up my clinical pilates again which I'd let slide when life got busy. I'd be interested on your opinion about a couple of things please...
-… Continue
Question:
Hi Heather
Thanks for responding to my blog post about neck stretches. As my neck and back have been causing me problems lately I've decided to start up my clinical pilates again which I'd let slide when life got busy. I'd be interested on your opinion about a couple of things please...
-… Continue
Posted on September 5, 2009 at 9:43am —
Ride Fit 1-2-3 More Stretches: Get better shoulders
Hi,
Since the questions and comments to last weeks' lengthy blog on stretching were related to how to get better shoulder mobility, I've uploaded a new video showing some pre and post ride stretches for chest and shoulders.
http://www.barnmice.com/video/chest-stretches-for-riders-aug
You can post comments, questions and even photos to this Ride Fit blog anytime. The original vision was to create an 'onl… Continue
Since the questions and comments to last weeks' lengthy blog on stretching were related to how to get better shoulder mobility, I've uploaded a new video showing some pre and post ride stretches for chest and shoulders.
http://www.barnmice.com/video/chest-stretches-for-riders-aug
You can post comments, questions and even photos to this Ride Fit blog anytime. The original vision was to create an 'onl… Continue
Posted on August 12, 2009 at 8:58am —
Latest Activity
Thank you for your response. I use offset stirrups on occasion, but I use them in the forward seat method where the weight of the foot goes to the INSIDE of the stirrup (with the stirrup eye to the outside), with the extra weight on the ball of th...
oh yes...that extended trot was seated, not rising, and also very easy to sit. Also, my heels were aligned under my hips, just to clarify that we aren't talking about letting your foot creep forward.
In clinics, I have seen more riders pinch with ...
Thanks Jan!
Jackie, to respond to your questions, the offset stirrups I had been using (for the past 5 years) are offset in two ways: 1. the footrest was angled back, 2. the hole was over to the side (so you place the stirrup such that the hole is...
Hi, Heather!
Another great article! I sent it on to a new student of mine, who has Parkinson's disease, and has recently been classified as a para dressage rider. She is very strong, but not very flexible, and you've made some particularly pertin...
I am having trouble visualizing "lifting the little toe". Is it by putting more pressure on the inside of the stirrup or is it by making the tip of the toe go up? Whichever it is, it sounds like you got spectacular results from doing it!
And what ...
Since my last blog entry, I decided to follow up the Centered Riding clinic that inspired that blog, with some lessons in the process of becoming a Centered Riding instructor.
It's an interesting journey. If you've never read Sally Swift's book, C...
Since my last blog entry, I decided to follow up the Centered Riding clinic that inspired that blog, with some lessons in the process of becoming a Centered Riding instructor.
It's an interesting journey. If you've never read Sally Swift's book, C...
Hi, As you know, you can post questions to the Ride Fit blog, along with photos (if you have them and want to) and take advantage of the blog as a free online 'clinic' to help you with specific suggestions for getting more alignment between your r...
Heather Sansom at Equifitt.com's Photos
Heather Sansom at Equifitt.com's Videos
Comment Wall (20 comments)
- At 1:29pm on August 4, 2009,
Julie said… - Ah - is that how it works, will do as teach a lot and have a huge interest in bodies, and mine is not working too well just now. Thanks Heather!
- At 6:43am on August 4, 2009,
Julie said…
- having major navigation problems - can't get back to the video now!
- At 1:45am on June 26, 2009,
Leslie MacDonald said… - Hi Heather--thanks for responding! I have not yet had a chance to look at the blog post but will do so shortly. I would love to let you use the photos, but I did not take the video so unfortunately I do not have the rights to them. However, I am hoping this weekend to coerce my trainer into taking some more photos so I can compare where I'm at now with where I'm at then. If you'd like I can send them to you so you can see if they'd be helpful. I don't mind in the least that you use them, I just unfortunately don't own the ones I posted.
Thanks,
Leslie
- At 2:40pm on June 15, 2009,
Jane Savoie said… - Hi Heather,
Can you send it to my webmaster? I'm not computer savvy enough to do it. Her name is Terri and she's at: terri.romine@1netmarketingservice.com
Thanks!
Jane
- At 5:36pm on June 2, 2009,
Jane Savoie said…
- Hi Heather,
I just sent an email to y webmaster to add your link. See you this weekend!
Jane
- At 10:43am on May 26, 2009,
Barbara Ellin Fox said…
- Hi Heather,
Thank you so much for your help. I'm going to work on all of your suggestions for the summer and maybe by fall I can send you some photos of the new improved me. The only thing I won't be able to do is yoga. Is there an alternative idea?
I don't think I care too much if you use the photos as long as when I send the improved photos you include them for back up! I'm really very paranoid about how I look.
My saddle is a Stubben Roxanne all purpose type. I rode for several years in my dressage saddle (Passier Nicole) and kept making my stirrups longer (and comfortable) until one day I was not able to ride any other way. So I have been on a mission to shorten my stirrups and get my leg together again. I want to be able to ride well in both saddles. I was able to get too comfortable and too unfit in the dressage saddle.
We will be moving this fall to the midwest. A clinic would be great after we get reestablished there. I won't forget. And I have a slew of friends where we are headed who fall into my age category.
The advice and encouragement regarding age for those of us who are having to face the age thing, is really invaluable. We are constantly bombarded with "can't" and the retirement mind set. I bet there are a lot of us out there. My mind says that riding is one of the few sports I'd ought to be able to continue into my 80s, now my body needs to shake off poor thinking and catch up.
Thanks again
- At 1:45pm on May 22, 2009,
- Hi Heather,
oops, I just posted everything to the comments from last week when you helped with my problems. I hope you can find them. I had to really "suck it up" to let the world see me.
Tell me more about online coaching, please
- At 12:46pm on May 22, 2009,
- Hi Heather,
I'm sorry I waited so long to respond but I actually was being productive. I was very encouraged by your comments soooo I asked my daughter to photograph me- something no one has been permitted to do in about 10 years because I have gained so much weight. Anyway it took awhile to get the photos and then to get them to my computer. The photos were revealing to say the least and brought up some issues. Is it too late to send them to you?
- At 1:43am on May 9, 2009,
- Hi Heather,
A twitch of the finger and the post I was composing to you disappeared! I was telling you about my lovely Arab mare, Arosa who has really changed peoples' minds about Arabians. She's 28 now and arthritic but is one of those horses that you wish would never get old. I love the Arabs and the TBs. I guess I've always enjoyed the self propelled breeds!
I'm not sure if this is where you want questions posted. I'll look a little farther to see if there is a better place. If I don't find one I'll come back to post in comments. Thanks for offering answers and thanks also for being so encouraging.
- At 9:19am on April 30, 2009,
Kelsey Reid said… - You can keep the Quote Heather.
Weekly Photo Caption Contest!
Latest Activity
Well I just have to say what a fabulous training video this is. I love your training philosophy and use of the rein and frequent reward for a small effort. This is the same philosphy that I use in my training and breaking-in. You get so much more ...
Hi Margaret
I would suggest to look deeper into the horse's changes. If I understand what you describe, the weight is greater on one shoulder. This might result from unevenness in lateral bending or transversal rotation, or both. In equine, Later...
Not to change the subject, but my young guy is now learning the bounces. My trainer did not know if he had this type of training, so we started from the ground up. I am really excited about this because I am involved, in the training. He does catc...
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