Morten Williams is an RDA coach who, having recently undergone his own rehabilitation journey, knows first hand the best practises on the simulator. He took the time to tell us a little more about his own recovery and how he helps others.
Q1. How did you get into RDA coaching?
My background has always been equine orientated; I’m a freelance equine groom and Riding for Disabled Group coach who’s absolutely passionate about equitation, the countryside, farming, the great outdoors and I’m at my happiest when I’m out and about in the countryside in a pair of wellies. I’ve worked for a wide range of riding schools, livery yards, equine welfare centres and Riding for the Disabled organisations.
Q2. When did you first start coaching with the simulators? Who is your typical client?
I started coaching with the simulator when I joined a Riding for the Disabled Centre. Once I embarked on the Coaching Pathway and became an RDA coach, I was trained in how to use the riding simulator. My typical riders for the simulator (being a Riding for the Disabled yard) are those with a wide-ranging mix of abilities, from different backgrounds and all walks of life. The mechanical horse provides a safe, controlled and stable experience for them. It is so much easier when it comes to mounting and dismounting. The combination of the simulator and it’s RDA software provides an excellent, all-round interactive experience.
Q.3 What do you personally like about coaching on a simulator?
The fact you can stand next to the rider and walk around whilst they are riding and really see the biomechanics at play; something you can’t do if coaching in a school. When fettling the rider’s position, you can see the adjustments in real-time on the display using all the sensors the simulator has, which is also another great training aid.
Q4. You recently suffered and injury yourself, can you tell us a bit about that and how you approach your own rehabilitation on the simulator?
12 years ago a had a riding accident, which subsequently damaged my medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL). A few years ago, whilst at work, my MPFL ligament fully ripped in half. The results of which made the patella highly unstable was liable to frequent patellar subluxations and dislocations. This year in May, I underwent medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction surgery to correct the injury.
My approach to my rehabilitation on the simulator is “a little and often”. Smaller yet repetitive stages are far better than longer, infrequent sessions. The simulator has played a critical role in my rehabilitation and from the first session I could tell what a different the operation had made to my knee. Physio (whilst extremely important) was not showing huge amounts of tangible progress, yet sitting in the saddle of the simulator I could see straight away that there was a drastic improvement. Rising trot and sitting trot without stirrups is the perfect way to build up the muscle tone and strength that I had lost pre and post op - the simulator is a safer way of rehabilitation for me than the unpredictability of a real horse.
Thanks Morten - good luck with the rest of your recovery!
If you would like to find an RDA group in your area who offer simulator coaching, take a look at our customer list on the website, or drop us an email [email protected]
Q1. How did you get into RDA coaching?
My background has always been equine orientated; I’m a freelance equine groom and Riding for Disabled Group coach who’s absolutely passionate about equitation, the countryside, farming, the great outdoors and I’m at my happiest when I’m out and about in the countryside in a pair of wellies. I’ve worked for a wide range of riding schools, livery yards, equine welfare centres and Riding for the Disabled organisations.
Q2. When did you first start coaching with the simulators? Who is your typical client?
I started coaching with the simulator when I joined a Riding for the Disabled Centre. Once I embarked on the Coaching Pathway and became an RDA coach, I was trained in how to use the riding simulator. My typical riders for the simulator (being a Riding for the Disabled yard) are those with a wide-ranging mix of abilities, from different backgrounds and all walks of life. The mechanical horse provides a safe, controlled and stable experience for them. It is so much easier when it comes to mounting and dismounting. The combination of the simulator and it’s RDA software provides an excellent, all-round interactive experience.
Q.3 What do you personally like about coaching on a simulator?
The fact you can stand next to the rider and walk around whilst they are riding and really see the biomechanics at play; something you can’t do if coaching in a school. When fettling the rider’s position, you can see the adjustments in real-time on the display using all the sensors the simulator has, which is also another great training aid.
Q4. You recently suffered and injury yourself, can you tell us a bit about that and how you approach your own rehabilitation on the simulator?
12 years ago a had a riding accident, which subsequently damaged my medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL). A few years ago, whilst at work, my MPFL ligament fully ripped in half. The results of which made the patella highly unstable was liable to frequent patellar subluxations and dislocations. This year in May, I underwent medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction surgery to correct the injury.
My approach to my rehabilitation on the simulator is “a little and often”. Smaller yet repetitive stages are far better than longer, infrequent sessions. The simulator has played a critical role in my rehabilitation and from the first session I could tell what a different the operation had made to my knee. Physio (whilst extremely important) was not showing huge amounts of tangible progress, yet sitting in the saddle of the simulator I could see straight away that there was a drastic improvement. Rising trot and sitting trot without stirrups is the perfect way to build up the muscle tone and strength that I had lost pre and post op - the simulator is a safer way of rehabilitation for me than the unpredictability of a real horse.
Thanks Morten - good luck with the rest of your recovery!
If you would like to find an RDA group in your area who offer simulator coaching, take a look at our customer list on the website, or drop us an email [email protected]