Acu-Balance Therapies

25/09/2026

Would you like to see the rider–horse connection from another angle?

Over the past few weeks, I have been talking about an often-overlooked part of the equestrian partnership:

The rider’s body.
We carefully consider the horse.
We check the saddle, teeth, back and training.
But riders can spend years accepting pain, stiffness and physical restriction without considering how these may affect the way they sit, balance and move.
I would now like to bring this conversation to life.

I am planning a practical rider-alignment demonstration exploring:

• How discomfort may change the way a rider sits and moves
• Some of the compensations riders may not notice
• Why the rider’s body is an important part of the wider picture
• What happens during a Rider Alignment Assessment

This will be an informal, educational demonstration, not a riding lesson or a diagnosis.

I am currently finalising the details and would like to measure interest before confirming the date and venue.

Would you be interested in attending?

Comment INTERESTED below or send me a private message, and I will make sure you receive the details first.

https://www.acubalance-therapies.co.uk/back-and-bum-pain

23/09/2026

Riders - what does your body complain about most?

Is it your:
◻ Lower back?
◻ Hips?
◻ Shoulders?
◻ Knees?
◻ Neck?
◻ Head?
◻ Or do you feel generally stiffer on one side?

I am currently preparing a practical demonstration about the rider’s body and its place within the horse-and-rider partnership.

Rather than deciding what riders need to hear without asking them, I would like to understand what you are actually experiencing.

You do not need to share private medical details.

Simply comment with the area that causes you the most difficulty or send me a private message if you would prefer.

Your answers will help me shape the demonstration around the questions and experiences that matter to real riders.

What would you most like to understand about your body in the saddle?

Image: Me on Monty

21/09/2026

What could your body be doing before you even get into the saddle?

You may feel reasonably balanced, but your body may have gradually developed its own way of compensating.

One shoulder may sit higher.

You may place more weight through one leg.

Your pelvis may shift towards one side.

You may guard an area that has previously been injured.

None of these observations provides a diagnosis on its own.

But they can begin a useful conversation about how your body stands, moves and responds to discomfort.

And if a pattern is present while you are standing, it may be worth considering what happens when you get into the saddle.

Over the coming weeks, I will be sharing details of a practical demonstration exploring the often-overlooked connection between rider comfort and position.

Would you be curious to see rider alignment looked at in practice?

18/09/2026

A Rider Alignment Assessment is not a riding lesson.

It will not judge your riding ability.

It will not assess or treat your horse.

It will not assume that every problem in the partnership is caused by you.

And it cannot promise to make you a better rider, that comes through your own training, experience and relationship with your horse.

So, what is it?

It is an opportunity to consider a part of the partnership that is often overlooked:

The rider’s body.

We look at your history, recurring discomfort and carry out a spinal alignment

The purpose is to identify physical patterns that may deserve further consideration and give you an appropriate recommendation based on your individual circumstances.

It is not about blame.

It is about looking at the complete picture.

Have both halves of your partnership been considered?

https://www.acubalance-therapies.co.uk/back-and-bum-pain

16/09/2026

What happens during a Rider Alignment Assessment?

You don’t arrive, choose a treatment and hope that it is the right one.

We begin with you.

We talk about:
Your riding and equestrian history.
Previous falls or injuries.
Where and when you experience discomfort.
What you notice during and after riding.
Treatments or medication you have already tried.
Any recurring difficulties you experience in the saddle.

Once you have had alignment and you have ridden your horse a follow up is recommended.

This helps us begin identifying physical patterns that may have been overlooked.

I will explain what I have observed and discuss the most appropriate next step for you.

You do not need to know which treatment you need before booking.

Understanding the rider comes first.

https://www.acubalance-therapies.co.uk/back-and-bum-pain

14/09/2026

Rider alignment is not about sitting perfectly.

It is not about judging your ability.

And it is not about telling you that you have been riding incorrectly.

Rider alignment looks at how your body naturally stands, sits, balances and distributes weight.

It considers:
Previous falls or injuries.
Recurring areas of pain or restriction.
Whether you rely more heavily on one side.
How your body may be compensating without you noticing.
These patterns can be difficult to recognise because they gradually become your normal way of moving.

The aim is not to create a “perfect” rider.

It is to give you greater awareness of your own body and how it may be contributing to what you experience in the saddle.

When did you last look at your position from the rider’s physical point of view?

https://www.acubalance-therapies.co.uk/back-and-bum-pain

11/09/2026

Rider alignment is not about sitting perfectly.

It's not about judging your ability.

And, it's not about telling you that you have been riding incorrectly.

Rider Alignment looks at how your body naturally stands, sits, balances and distributes weight.

It considers:

Previous falls

Recurring areas of pain or restrictions

Whether you rely heavily on one side

How your body may be compensating without you noticing

These patterns can be difficult to recognise yourself because they gradually become your normal way of moving.

The ai is not to create the 'perfect' rider.

It is to give you greater awareness of your own body and how it may be contributing to what you experience in the saddle.

When did you last look at your position when riding?

09/09/2026

Riders, Do any of these feel familiar?

✅ I feel stronger or more comfortable on one side

✅ The same hip, shoulder or area of my back repeatedly aches.

✅ Trotting has become uncomfortable.

✅ I grip with my knees when I feel unstable.

✅ I feel crooked in the saddle.

✅ I regularly use pain relief so that I can continue riding.

You may recognise one of these...or several.

They don't tell us exactly what is happening and there can be many possible reasons for them.

But, they may be signs that your own body deserves closer consideration.

The Rider Alignment Assessment is an opportunity to begin looking at your rider history.

Because the horse is only one half of the partnership

Book an appointment through the link today

https://www.acubalance-therapies.co.uk/back-and-bum-pain

✔️You've checked the horse ✔️You've checked the saddle

07/09/2026

Your body is very good at finding another way.

You might:

Grip more tightly with your knees.

Shift your weight onto one side.

Brace through your lower back.

Lift one shoulder.

Sit differently without realising it.

These small adjustments ay allow you to continue riding, But they can also change your balance, position and the signals you give your horse.

This does not mean that every difficulty in the saddle is caused by the rider.

It means that pain can affect more than the place where you feel it.

Sometimes the area that hurts is only one part of the story.

Have you noticed yourself changing how you sit or move to avoid discomfort?

03/09/2026

When did pain become a normal part of riding?

Perhaps you expect your back to ache after riding.

You take pain relief before going to the yard.

You avoid certain movements because you know they will hurt.

Or you tell yourself:

'It's just part of riding'

When something has been happening for a long time, it's easy to stop questioning it.

You ride around it.

You compensate.

You carry on because you don't want pain to take you away from something you love.

But, recurring pain should not automatically be dismissed as an unavoidable part of being a rider.

It deserves to be considered too.

What have you quietly accepted as being a rider?