Who should use a simulator?

• People new to riding can gain confidence with mounting and dismounting procedure as well as learning how to balance on a moving horse.
• Regular riders can easily develop bad habits without realising it. The simulator helps to highlight and correct these.
• People recovering from injury find the simulator provides a safe method of rebuilding strength and coordination. 
• Riding holiday preparation. Building fitness, strength and a better balanced position can help prepare for long hours in the saddle and increase your enjoyment if you are going on a riding holiday.
• People wanting to develop a new skill faster Instant feedback from the simulator enables riders to feel more secure, apply aids more accurately, and build muscle memory to achieve harmony with their horse, whether that is for walking, trotting, cantering, jumping or advanced dressage, western, side saddle, vaulting or anything else.

We have two simulators, a Racewood Race Simulator and an Enlightened Equitation Equisimulator.

We also have a number of static barrel horses which can be used for western roping, horseball, polo or polocrosse practice, mounting and dismounting practice and a range of other activities. 

Springtime

Affectionately known as 'Springtime'  our EE Equisimulator, designed by Heather Moffett, is a spring loaded mechanical horse which is an invaluable training aid providing opportunities for riders of all abilities to improve their position,balance feel and timing as well as their confidence, fitness and core strength. 

We were lucky to receive a grant from the New Anglia Business Growth Programme Small Grant Scheme part funded by European Regional Development Fund to part fund the purchase of 'Springtime'.

It can benefit riders who have never ridden, through to advanced competition riders, and is especially helpful for nervous or 'returning' riders or those who feel their riding is not progressing as quickly as they might like. It can be used with most types of saddle including GP, dressage, western and side-saddle.  Riders can even bring their own saddle for lessons if required.  The weight limit for Springtime is 14 stone, 89kgs.

How does it help?

There are many advantages to using simulators to help improve your riding. It has great potential for increasing the speed at which riders are able to learn, leading to being able to have more enjoyment with your horse more quickly. Riders are able to let go of physical and mental tensions and concentrate on their technique without distractions. Because of the sprung design, it will adjust depending on the weight of the rider, so smaller children will experience a faster spring back, feeling more like a pony, but for adults around 10 stone, it has more of the feel of a horse.

• Reduces any apprehension or fear factor enabling new or returning riders to gain confidence.
• Allows riders with disabilities, or those recovering from injury to safely assess their abilities and start preparing to ride a real horse.
• Develops musculoskeletal strength
• Enhances balance and coordination skills
• Can be used to increase cardio fitness
• Teaches Rhythm and timing. Most riders will know that rhythm is the first step on the German riding scale, and that without correct rhythm everything else is more difficult for the horse and rider. 
• Because ours is a rider powered simulator it requires the rider to move correctly in order to keep the horse moving with a regular rhythm. If the rider interacts incorrectly it will impede the movement just as it would with a live animal. As the rider improves their timing and balance they will feel the movement of the machine improve as it would on a real horse.
• It is very helpful for training the muscle memory required for better synchrony with the movements of a real horse.
• Helps riders to learn to apply seat aids and how their balance influences a real horse.
• It allows the rider to experiment without having to worry about their impact on a real horses back. 
• Because the coach is able to stand beside the rider, they are able to be hands on in assisting the rider in the precise movement of pelvis and lower back while the rider is working in walk, trot, or canter. This helps riders to correct their posture and improve both lateral and longitudinal balance for both flatwork and jumping.
• It is possible for the equisimulator to remain in a steady balanced gait for as long as the rider is fit enough to do so, so unlike a real horse it will not tire or become bothered by riders mistakes.
• It is excellent for developing overall rider fitness as it provides a good work out for the legs, core and lower back muscles as well as helping riders to concentrate on balance and coordination. 
• Balance and symmetry are vitally important skills for a rider to acquire. Riders can view themselves in a mirror which can be very helpful in developing proprioception.
• Riders can safely work without stirrups or without reins if required in order to help them to establish an independent seat, where they are not relying on the reins to support them or the stirrups to correct their imbalances.
• Allows riders to practice seat, leg and rein aids in isolation, which can help with transitions and lateral work.
• This type of mechanical simulator gives the rider instant feedback if their rhythm or balance needs correcting, because unlike a real horse, or an electronic horse, it is not able to keep going unless it is being ridden correctly. 

Racewood simulator

The Racewood RS is used all over the world, by professional jockeys as well as top racing schools such as the British Racing School and the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Regular use long term is extremely beneficial for riders who wish to engage in faster work such as those wanting to race, go cross country or spend time working in faster paces. It is helpful for anyone wanting to develop a stronger more stable balanced two point position. Especially helpful for those beginning to learn to jump or canter/gallop. Suitable for children and adults.

• Helps riders develop a strong two point position, maintaining weight over the centre of the saddle
• Riders can improve their stamina and ride at a higher intensity for longer
• Great for cardiovascular fitness development and and developing musculoskeletal strength
• Fully sprung design helps to improve rider balance
• Lateral movement ensures a realistic workout

Saddles

The Equisimulator can be fitted with a dressage saddle, GP saddle, Western Saddle or side saddle. Riders may bring also bring their own saddle if they have one, which allows for a positional assessment of the way you usually ride, and means it will be easier to transfer any corrections made onto your own horse. Our Racewood is fitted with a race saddle, but riders my also bring their own if required.

What would be the best type of lesson for me?

Please call us on 01728 746916 if you have any questions or would like to discuss the options further before booking.

Private lessons: For private lessons we usually find half an hour is sufficient as it can be quite physically demanding. 

Group lessons: 4 people for one hour. Ideal for pony clubs, riding clubs or groups of friends. This is a popular option as people can learn from watching each other.  

Combination lessons: If you book a one hour private lesson, you can start on the simulator and then move onto a real horse, to put into practice what you have learned. We recommend a lunge lesson, but it could be off the lunge if you prefer.

Fitness sessions (hire): Once you know what it is that you need to work on, you may not require an instructor to help you all the time, so we offer fitness sessions for those who wish to practice what they have learned by themselves, or for those who wish to use it as a method to warm up before their riding lesson. (This is only available for over 18's who have received an initial assessment lesson on the simulator)

Refresher: As our riding ability progresses, we will often find elements about our posture which need refining. This is when it can be really helpful to work on the simulator. Returning to the simulator for a short session from time to time can save you many hours of practice on a real horse to achieve the same level. 

Clinic: If you would like to book a half day clinic for your pony club or riding club let us know so we can arrange a quote depending on numbers. Clinics provide the opportunity to try out both simulators as well as work on the static horses and balance balls. Participants come away with a greater knowledge of how their balance effects the horse and a variety of exercises to try at home to become a better rider for their horse.

Activity days and camps: We make use of both simulators during our activity pony days and Summer pony camps. This is usually a brief introduction allowing children to get a feel for both types of simulator and work on basic skills and position. 

You may also be interested in:

Balance and motion lessons using our balance balls to assist rider stability and independent seat. 

Racehorse simulator sessions. This is especially useful for those wishing to increase fitness levels for cross country or racing, but is also good fun for riding clubs and pony clubs as a group activity.  

Lunge lessons with the vaulting handles. The vaulting pad and handles are especially helpful for anybody wishing to improve their confidence. The pad allows the rider to feel the motion of the horse more easily than with a saddle. The handles provide the rider with a greater sense of security than a saddle so it can be very useful for riders who need to improve their balance and core strength and is easier and much less daunting than traditional lessons without stirrups. 

Lunge lessons. The natural progression from working with the vaulting handles is to move on to lunge lessons with a saddle. We recommend 1/2 an hour, or an hour comprising of half doing exercises on the lunge and half an hour off the lunge to work on developing the feel you have established once you are back in control of your horse yourself. 

Bareback. If we consider the rider safe to do so, we offer the opportunity for riders to ride without a saddle. This is a great way for a rider to feel the horses muscles and learn to react with a soft responsive seat. We have various bareback pads available which allow the rider to feel the horse, but also allow you to keep cleaner than you would with no saddle at all. We do not recommend more than half an hour for this as it can be quite physically demanding for the horse and rider. 

Static horses In addition to lessons, the static horses can be hired by individuals wishing to practice skills learned during lessons. If you wish to hire a static horse please give us a call or ask in reception so that one can be set up for you on a suitable surface, tacked up with the appropriate tack for your chosen activity.

updated July 2026