IDCTA Presents: “Breathing as a Riding Aide” with Allison Baier, PT | December 12, 2022 | 7:00 p.m. PST
How we breathe is speaking volumes to our horses every step of the ride. Physical Therapy concepts about the breathing muscle of the diaphragm, the ribcage, and the nervous system open up awareness for proper breathing mechanics in and out of the saddle. Practical ideas for using breathing as your new riding aide are also provided!
Allie Baier is a Doctor of Physical Therapy who treats equestrians of all ages and abilities. Physical therapists are best described as movement specialists; trained to watch all types of movement, identify asymmetries or poor movement strategies, and coach individuals to move properly again. She believes that the therapy experience, much like that of a horse and rider pair, should be a partnership between the therapist and patient to reach the patient’s goals.
Allie Baier combines two passions into one experience for equestrians looking to gain a new perspective on their own athleticism. Long before becoming a Physical Therapist, Allie was developing partnerships with horses as a rider herself. She has worked as a horseback riding instructor, clinician, and United States Pony Club Examiner (a Graduate B herself).
Her EquiPT riding sessions blend unmounted assessment and hands-on care to the rider prior to further watching the movement of the rider and horse together. With photo and video riding analysis she further supports the partnership- aiding the rider to better move and experience the horse, just as much as she helps the rider provide fine-tuned and more clear aides for the horse. Her growing awareness of the somatic experience of our nervous system also brings a new perspective to why our bodies move freely with ease or hold long term pain or trauma that blocks enjoyable riding experiences. To Allie, education and clear communication are the foundation of both riding instruction and physical therapy. Her calm, positive, and open-minded approach helps horses and riders who struggle with fear, frustration, and lack of body-awareness. Allie is here to help you every step and stride of the way.
Cost: IDCTA Members - FREE | Non-IDCTA Members - $20
What’s a Hunter Pace? The Sherwood Forest Equestrian Center's Hunter Pace is a cross-country-style course around Sherwood Forest over various natural obstacles/terrain. The course ends with a final treat for riders to take in stunning views of Mt. Hood with a loop through the old Far Hill Farms field. The beginning of the course will first start with a warm-up loop around show jumping obstacles in the outdoor ring at Sherwood Forest and then riders will continue directly onto the course. Sign up as a solo rider, pair, or team.
Claire Allen remembers when she was 11 years old, having just made the switch from the hunter/jumper ring to three-day eventing. She told her new eventing trainer that her goal was to one day compete in the United States Equestrian Federation’s Eventing Young Rider Championships.
As he was finishing tacking up his horse in preparation to navigate the cross-country course at the 2024 Twin Rivers Summer Horse Trials, James Alliston expressed concern about navigating the 101 Freeway. That’s because as soon as he crossed the finish line aboard Intermediate level winner Addyson (Ampere x Nickerbocker) at 10:38 a.m. on Saturday—his fifth cross-country round of the morning with three at Preliminary and two at Intermediate—the West Coast-based five-star rider had to drive 185 miles on the 101 Freeway from Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California, to San Francisco International Airport to catch a 4:35 p.m. flight to Frankfurt, Germany.
There is so much more to proper grooming than keeping your horse picture-perfect for the horse inspection. Good grooming practices are critical to proper horse management, no matter if you are planning for your next FEI appearance or your Starter level debut. To help you maximize your knowledge of grooming practices, we opened up the opportunity for USEA members to submit any questions they might have on our Instagram and Facebook stories. In this week's episode, Host Nicole Brown sits down with three of the highest-regarded grooms in this industry, Max Corcoran, Emma Ford, and Stephanie Simpson, and asks them all of your questions and more to help you perfect the art of grooming.