a panel of 3 images with the before and after photos of a rider sitting on a horse simulator

Can a Riding Simulator Improve your Equitation?

ByLauraKMay

What a riding simulator actually teaches

Generally speaking, a riding simulator mimics the movement of a horse. This allows the rider to feel the walk, trot, canter, and transitions in a controlled environment. 

A horse simulator removes the unpredictability of movement so you can focus entirely on your body and feeling how your body moves.

This is critical training for your equitation because the seat is the primary communication aid. 

Many riders struggle to develop and succeed with their riding, not because they lack knowledge; you’ve read the books, and understand what you “should” be doing, but because too many variables exist at once: 

  • Using the reins
  • Using legs and seat
  • Keeping in balance
  • Safety awareness
  • Horse behavior
  • Surroundings.

Then add in the horse’s unpredictability.

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And because of this overload, your body goes into survival mode and most riders start:

  • Gripping, 
  • Bracing, 
  • Holding, and 
  • Tensing their bodies.

This is not a good learning environment for the rider. They are in survivor mode and are:

  • Trying not to get hurt
  • Trying not to fall off
  • Wondering what to do next.

A simulator removes the horse’s reactions while keeping the movement. 

This allows the rider to be able to feel how their body is moving and how the horse is moving their body.

Instead of reacting to what the horse is doing.

The simulator isolates one variable the rider. So you can focus on what matters most. Your riding position and development of a balanced seat.

The simulator allows the rider to discover in a safe environment:

  • The pelvis follows motion, it does not create it,
  • That balance comes from alignment, not effort or gripping,
  • Stability and balance comes from relaxation, not strength.


For the first time, riders notice some habits, or issues they never knew they had:

  • tilting, 
  • collapsing, 
  • gripping, 
  • holding their breath.

When you are on a horse, mistakes are masked because the horse compensates for our balance and misalignment. Most position problems come from compensation. If you are tight in one hip, you will compensate for that in another part of your body. 

The simulator exposes compensation immediately. Your body weaknesses and strengths cannot hide. The rider begins to understand body awareness, the foundation of all good riding. The rider learns how the horse’s movement moves their body instead of trying to create movement with effort.

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