Jon Pitts exercises

[Erin's mum]

I saw some of his videos on horse hero about rider fitness and core stability and have set about carrying them out each day over the past 5 days. Really starting to notice a difference in my balance on the exercise ball and hoping it'll tone me up a bit too  need all the help I can get giving the err athletic youngster i'll be needing to get on soon enough 

Has anyone been to any of his 'fit to ride' clinics? They seem to be non-existent in Scotland but would be interested to know of any opinions people had on him? He does fitness training with a lot of the British team so must be doing something right I guess. I kinda like the fact he has a sports science background.

This is his website btw http://www.fittoride.org/

[thecatsmother]

I've heard good things about him. Someone I know who rides to a pretty high level (Advanced dressage, also events and SJs) and who teaches lots too, has been having lessons with him and learning lots about her position and its impact on her horse/riding, which has really helped her flatwork and jumping.

She also got one of her pupils to have a lesson with him, and Jon gave my friend lots of tips on how to continue to help the pupil, who is a very nervous rider. Jon really seemed to get into the mindset of the nervous rider, and explained to my friend (who is one of those fearless types) how the methods/techniques which would work for her would not work for the nervous rider, as her nerves would transmit to the horse and negate the desired result, so different teaching/riding methods were needed to help the rider gently stretch her comfort zone and overcome her nerves in her own way.

On her recommendation a couple of other people I know had a lesson or two with him too, and have also found it useful.

[Erin's mum]

Thanks for that  good to know he's reccomended  will carry on the exercises and when back competing may consider seeing if I can organise something up here- think he'd be well recieved!