These workshops aim to clarify and demystify the techniques of riding, through simple, but very detailed explanations and visual demonstrations, coupled with unique 'hands on' work to ensure that each student really is given the correct feel of how to synchronise with the horse. In this way, the rider learns far more quickly to adhere to the saddle, enhancing safety and enjoyment and also, most importantly, saving the horse much discomfort from the rider bouncing about on his back.

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The Equisimulator allows us to show the rider the precise movements of the lower back and pelvis, so that instead of the instructor telling the student to 'sit deeper', 'relax your lower back' or 'follow the movement', all of which are more or less meaningless to the novice rider, we are able to show the rider precisely how to mirror the horse's movements, in a fraction of the normal time taken to learn by the old 'practise makes perfect' methods of teaching. Practise does indeed make perfect, but only the right sort! Putting it simply, the horse has two sides to his back and you have two sides to your rear end. Put two and two together, in sync, and you make one. When you move together as one unit, riding becomes effortless. If you are being taught to use so much effort on a horse that you are the colour of beetroot when you get off, then you are working much too hard! Every extra movement that you make also means extra work for your horse. To have to carry the rider's weight is not natural to him, and every time the rider loses balance, the horse has to readjust his own balance.

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Many very experienced riders come to East Leigh for remedial work on their position, ability to absorb the horse's movement, or frequently both. Very often the explanations that they learn here are an absolute revelation - the phrase 'But why have I never been told this before' has to be one that we hear during every workshop!