OsteoDressage is a horse-friendly combination of osteopathy and classical riding principles. The classical dressage training elements are not an end in itself: They are used as active means in therapeutic training – or training therapy, depending on your view. Our training methods support the horse’s physical development and make the horse stronger, more versatile and motivated. By combining osteopathy and classical dressage we have developed a healthy horse training concept that allows horses and riders to progress in their training and solve health issues at the same time.
What we provide
- Osteopathic diagnosis and treatment
- Check of equipment
- Training therapy (schooling frequently supported with Kinesio tapes)
- Preparation of an individual training schedule, basing on the horse’s confirmation, health status, training and schooling level
This training schedule will help you to support the healthy confirmation of your horse and use all the potential you have together. - Training of the horse owner with regard to riding, lunging and in-hand work as well as the application of individual stretching and mobilisation techniques
Training therapy
We define our “training therapy” as thoroughly prepared riding or lunging lessons focusing on the physical condition and health issues the horse has. Our goal is to help the horse to learn how to move healthily when lunging or riding. Supported by therapeutic training the horse can gain abilities which have been lost or never been reached before.
Our comprehensive services rely on the combination of our skills: Claudia is responsible for the treatment and Katharina for the training of the horse depending on its physical and mental condition. By combining treatment and training, movement restrictions can be identified and dealt with in order to solve muscular imbalances. The aim is to establish a healthy physiological movement under the rider and to correct any unphysiological and potentially detrimental patterns. Both osteopathy as well as the classical riding theory offer numerous ways and methods to do this. However, it is essential to choose the best suitable methods for the individual horse and to make sure that they are applied correctly. Only then, movement can become therapy and the schooling exercises literally serve the purpose of physical therapy.
We aim to introduce the horse to a new, healthy way of motion in order to support the osteopathic treatment that was conducted before. It can also help to assess whether further osteopathic treatment is necessary. Training therapy may not only be applied in the rehabilitation period of horses after injuries, but also as a prophylactic means to lead the horse to a healthy ridden life with body and mind in balance. Katharina’s aids can “explain” to the horse how to move properly or simply said: Katharina tells the horse how to carry the rider without pain just by using his back, “this is how you bend correctly” or “see, searching the rider’s hand is actually comfortable”.
“In earlier times, this simply used to be called correctional training?”
That’s quite right. However, in former times correction was not conducted by practically everybody who called themselves “trainer”. Years ago, issues in ridden work were corrected by qualified, well-experienced and coordinated, fit and light full-time horse trainers. Without any doubt horses can benefit from regular correctional training with experienced riders teaching the horse how to move better and more healthily.
Katharina’s ability to assess the horse’s condition from the view of an experienced rider is one of the most important strengths of OsteoDressage. Her assessment of the abilities and deficiencies of the horse is the base of hands-on training advice on the next recommendable steps in the horse’s education. Her close look to the horse allows her to frequently find latent issues so that they can be addressed therapeutically before becoming problems.
Many horse owners who ride their horse every day are blind towards theirs horse’s shortcomings: “That’s just the way he trots”, “He just can't bend in this direction” or “He has always been lifting his head in the transition to canter on left rein”. Being stuck in a routine and maybe also limited in skills and knowledge, some horse owners can’t give their horse the support he needs. In this case the most important foundation of the horse’s education is missing: Progress in schooling and true suppleness in the horse’s movements can only be achieved if the horse is capable of following the aids.
We often hear the question whether the horse “does not want to do something” or “is unable to do it”. Our answer is simple: If a horse has the capability of doing something and perceives being ridden positively, he will always be willing!
We define our “training therapy” as thoroughly prepared riding or lunging lessons focusing on the physical condition and health issues the horse has. Our goal is to help the horse to learn how to move healthily when lunging or riding. Supported by therapeutic training the horse can gain abilities which have been lost or never been reached before.
Our comprehensive services rely on the combination of our skills: Claudia is responsible for the treatment and Katharina for the training of the horse depending on its physical and mental condition. By combining treatment and training, movement restrictions can be identified and dealt with in order to solve muscular imbalances. The aim is to establish a healthy physiological movement under the rider and to correct any unphysiological and potentially detrimental patterns. Both osteopathy as well as the classical riding theory offer numerous ways and methods to do this. However, it is essential to choose the best suitable methods for the individual horse and to make sure that they are applied correctly. Only then, movement can become therapy and the schooling exercises literally serve the purpose of physical therapy.
We aim to introduce the horse to a new, healthy way of motion in order to support the osteopathic treatment that was conducted before. It can also help to assess whether further osteopathic treatment is necessary. Training therapy may not only be applied in the rehabilitation period of horses after injuries, but also as a prophylactic means to lead the horse to a healthy ridden life with body and mind in balance. Katharina’s aids can “explain” to the horse how to move properly or simply said: Katharina tells the horse how to carry the rider without pain just by using his back, “this is how you bend correctly” or “see, searching the rider’s hand is actually comfortable”.
“In earlier times, this simply used to be called correctional training?”
That’s quite right. However, in former times correction was not conducted by practically everybody who called themselves “trainer”. Years ago, issues in ridden work were corrected by qualified, well-experienced and coordinated, fit and light full-time horse trainers. Without any doubt horses can benefit from regular correctional training with experienced riders teaching the horse how to move better and more healthily.
Katharina’s ability to assess the horse’s condition from the view of an experienced rider is one of the most important strengths of OsteoDressage. Her assessment of the abilities and deficiencies of the horse is the base of hands-on training advice on the next recommendable steps in the horse’s education. Her close look to the horse allows her to frequently find latent issues so that they can be addressed therapeutically before becoming problems.
Many horse owners who ride their horse every day are blind towards theirs horse’s shortcomings: “That’s just the way he trots”, “He just can't bend in this direction” or “He has always been lifting his head in the transition to canter on left rein”. Being stuck in a routine and maybe also limited in skills and knowledge, some horse owners can’t give their horse the support he needs. In this case the most important foundation of the horse’s education is missing: Progress in schooling and true suppleness in the horse’s movements can only be achieved if the horse is capable of following the aids.
We often hear the question whether the horse “does not want to do something” or “is unable to do it”. Our answer is simple: If a horse has the capability of doing something and perceives being ridden positively, he will always be willing!
