Rider Biomechanics

If there is one equestrian author who single-handedly changed how we looked at riding it has to be Mary Wanless. Rider Biomechanics is an incredibly detailed book, beautifully illustrated with colourful diagrams and photographs which show the influence of the body, including the front and back lines as well as the influence the arms and spinal position has on the rider’s ability to help or hinder the horse. This is such a long way away from the instructions of old where we were merely told to have a straight line from the horse’s mouth to our elbows. I am sure there must be many a horse who, with a rider who is aware of what their body is doing, must think ‘thank goodness for Mary Wanless!’. – Jacqui Broderick
Mary Wanless – who’s extremely well-known for her previous books dedicated to rider position (Ride With Your Mind) – has put more of her knowledge and training onto the pages or Rider Biomechanics… In some ways, she tells us, it can rather like the skin on a string of sausages – the fascia that is the fabric of our body, that is then the link into muscle and functional chains. ‘Lines of pull’. Where the horse is concerned, these lines of pull are what we as riders, need to be aware of… Sounds simple here, but whether you tip forward, tip back, round your back or hollow it, draw your leg upwards, forwards or too far back, there is a complete explanation and reasoning behind it, through it and then working towards correcting it.

With disciplined training – we can all edge towards riding and looking as it we’re sitting elegantly, not doing a lot!



– Wendy Parsons * Essex Rider *
Mary teaches a centred, balanced approach to riding that’s light years away from the ‘heels down, head up’ approach that many of us learnt as children. In her book, she concentrates on using the fascial system and core muscles to build a deeply balanced riding position that’s in tune with the way the horse moves.

Mary Wanless is an internationally renowned coach, and the author of the highly successful Ride With Your Mind, For the Good of the Rider, For the Good of the Horse and Ride With Your Mind Essentials. She has also authored 12 DVDs. She coaches riders at all levels, from relative novices to elite riders, including some who have competed at the highest levels of international competition. She has BSc degrees in both Physics and Applied Sports Coaching, holds the BHSI certificate and is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.

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