Sensomotorisches Pferdetraining

The Magic of Balance – How to Help Your Horse Achieve a Better Sense of Body Awareness

Many riders feel frustrated during training because they are not making progress with their horse or because various issues have arisen. Their horses tend to move on the forehand, struggle to engage their hindquarters properly, stumble, or do not respond finely to aids. Often, these horses lack balance and stability. This is where sensorimotor training can be beneficial. Sensorimotor training consists of exercises that are typically not utilized in conventional training.

New and altered movement patterns introduce unfamiliar stimuli, which can lead to greater balance and stability, thereby improving coordination, body awareness, and the horse's overall movement performance. An "out-of-the-box" mindset helps riders address specific problems, even if the training does not directly focus on them. This can reduce frustration, dissatisfaction, and stress – for both the rider and, especially, the horse.

Karolina Kardel demonstrates how sensorimotor exercises can be integrated into classical training to enhance the horse's body awareness, coordination, and movement quality. The exercises are structured in a three-step system and can be combined in various ways. Sensorimotor horse training can assist with balance and rhythm issues, forehand heaviness, crookedness, stumbling, and spookiness.

Content Overview
• What is sensorimotor training and how can my horse benefit from it?
• Sensorimotor training to improve balance and stability
• Sensory information as a basis for movement
• The nervous system
• The basic senses
• Transitions, lengthening strides, activating the hindquarters: It’s all about coordination! Sensorimotor training in practice.