<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Pegasus Physio]]></title><description><![CDATA[Chartered Physiotherapist and Equine Physiotherapist specialising in treating riders]]></description><link>https://www.beabetterrider.co.uk/riding-explained</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Mon, 26 Oct 2026 10:47:16 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.beabetterrider.co.uk/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Rider Biomechanics: Does Getting the Right Result Mean You're Doing the Right Thing?]]></title><description><![CDATA[A successful response from the horse doesn't necessarily mean the rider's position, aids or movement were correct. We spend a lot of time assessing the outcome of riding - whether the horse performed the movement we wanted and how well it performed it - but considerably less time establishing how the rider actually achieved that result. If the horse responds correctly, we often assume the rider must have applied the aids correctly, yet the horse may be responding to learnt signals, changes in...]]></description><link>https://www.beabetterrider.co.uk/single-post/right-outcome-right-thing</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aca5ee9ee57489af52c181c</guid><pubDate>Sat, 10 Oct 2026 16:23:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/44811a_610bd17ba4aa4ea98f2e9f60dbc57dba~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Symms</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Can We Really Ride Lighter? Understanding Rider Weight, Force and Pressure in the Saddle]]></title><description><![CDATA[“Ride lighter.” “Take your weight out of the saddle.” “Don't sit so heavily.” These are all familiar phrases in riding, and most of us probably understand what somebody is trying to achieve when they use them. Sometimes they are simply coaching imagery - an instruction intended to create a particular response rather than a literal description of what is happening to the rider. But looking at these instructions through rider biomechanics and basic physics raises an interesting question: can we...]]></description><link>https://www.beabetterrider.co.uk/single-post/can-we-really-ride-lighter</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ac27e74901c627fc3d08c09</guid><pubDate>Sun, 04 Oct 2026 19:29:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/44811a_d6f14ae3b94c43a2b73bb6e389e7e4ca~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Symms</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stirrup Length Isn’t About Discipline or Looking Right – It’s About Individual Rider Biomechanics]]></title><description><![CDATA[How Stirrup Length Can Hinder – or Help – Your Riding Rider biomechanics from a rider physio perspective This week’s social media post about a rider with severely arthritic hips and restricted movement sparked far more debate than I expected. During that rider physio  session, we shortened her stirrups to support her biomechanics in the saddle. Not to make her “ride short”, not because of discipline rules, and not for the sake of appearance – but to support her body in the saddle, reduce...]]></description><link>https://www.beabetterrider.co.uk/single-post/stirrup-length-help-not-hinder</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69774398860ba90f63f34fb5</guid><pubDate>Sat, 24 Jan 2026 20:10:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/44811a_84f2a28509794826a4ea007dd9a437a8~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Symms</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Riding Ready by Pegasus Physio]]></title><description><![CDATA[Understanding what your body needs to do – and being able to do it A lot of riding is talked about in terms of outcomes. We talk about what it should look like, or what we want riders to do – a still upper body, quiet hands, a deep seat, a stable lower leg, a rider who looks “balanced”. We talk about what the horse should do – more forward, more through, straighter, more consistent in the contact. And none of that is wrong. Outcomes matter. But outcomes are the result  of something – not the...]]></description><link>https://www.beabetterrider.co.uk/single-post/riding-ready-by-pegasus-physio</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69774398860ba90f63f34fb1</guid><pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2026 14:23:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/44811a_4f97ec19b97b425fb53a57f76ac06d88~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_521,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Symms</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why a Circle Is Really a Thousand Squares - and What That Means for Rider Alignment]]></title><description><![CDATA[This week online I have been focusing heavily on the rider’s position when riding a circle, particularly the instruction I frequently use: rotate your pelvis in the direction of travel. This single phrase creates more discussion, debate and resistance on social media than almost anything else I talk about (except maybe heels down!) because it challenges conventional thinking about rider alignment. Many riders misunderstand it to mean overly twist into the circle, drop the inside seat bone,...]]></description><link>https://www.beabetterrider.co.uk/single-post/why-a-circle-is-really-a-thousand-squares-and-what-that-means-for-rider-alignment</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69774398860ba90f63f34fb2</guid><pubDate>Wed, 10 Dec 2025 23:49:47 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/44811a_cedf95bc699a4503bb755a1040b118e9~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_969,h_964,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Symms</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rider Pelvic Movement When Riding a Circle]]></title><description><![CDATA[Should the Rider’s Pelvis Turn Inward or Outward When Riding a Circle “Turn your belly button to the direction you want to go.” It’s one of the most common phrases instructors use to help rider when they are riding a circle. The idea behind it is simple: stop riders from yanking on the inside rein and instead get them to steer with their body instead. But what riders feel they’re doing, and what’s actually happening in their pelvis and spine, are often very different things. When I recently...]]></description><link>https://www.beabetterrider.co.uk/single-post/pelvis-riding-a-circle</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69774398860ba90f63f34fc2</guid><pubDate>Fri, 24 Oct 2025 18:11:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://vimeo.com/1130286575?share=copy&amp;fl=sv&amp;fe=ci" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Symms</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rider Biomechanics - Why the Details Matter More Than the Bigger Picture]]></title><description><![CDATA[When I posted the first photo of this rider on social media – where we were working on neutral vs anterior tilt – it created far more discussion than I ever expected. Left anterior tilt. Right neutral pelvis. Some people preferred the image on the left, saying her alignment looked stronger, that she was “more correct,” and that the forward-tilted pelvis – the so-called “three-point seat” – was better. Others commented on the saddle fit. A few said she was in a chair seat. And to me, this is...]]></description><link>https://www.beabetterrider.co.uk/single-post/rider-biomechanics-details-matter</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69774398860ba90f63f34f8d</guid><pubDate>Sun, 19 Oct 2025 19:43:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/44811a_9d891c91117a4a9da0a6340f47aa6b0a~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Symms</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rider Biomechanics and Saddle Fit: Seat Bones, Pelvis Shape, and Rider Posture Explained]]></title><description><![CDATA[Following on from my last blog about why the seat bones are for sitting ,  I had lots of comments about pelvic position when sitting...]]></description><link>https://www.beabetterrider.co.uk/single-post/rider-pelvis</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69774398860ba90f63f34fd9</guid><pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 21:10:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/44811a_1b3cf4dfa11742abad2d1ce3b3cb6396~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_439,h_455,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Symms</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Seat Bones vs. Pubic Arch in Riding]]></title><description><![CDATA[Over the past few weeks, my posts about pelvic position in the saddle have generated some of the liveliest discussions I’ve seen on my...]]></description><link>https://www.beabetterrider.co.uk/single-post/seat-bones</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69774398860ba90f63f34f8c</guid><pubDate>Tue, 02 Sep 2025 21:21:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/44811a_b056648916894e729ce1b1d1bab4305e~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Symms</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to Hold the Reins for Soft Hands]]></title><description><![CDATA["Soft hands." "Elbow to bit." "Quiet hands." These phrases are everywhere in riding instruction. And for riders who know what they mean...]]></description><link>https://www.beabetterrider.co.uk/single-post/soft-hands</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69774398860ba90f63f34fa5</guid><pubDate>Sun, 03 Aug 2025 09:17:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/44811a_808f7a9edcc143ab8d73aca9a3782ba3~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_589,h_393,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Symms</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Soft Hands when Riding Start with Your Wrist (and thumb): Improve Feel and Rein Control]]></title><description><![CDATA[Thumb Position in Horse Riding: Not Quite a 5000-Word Essay, But Close Enough Someone recently commented on a social media post that I...]]></description><link>https://www.beabetterrider.co.uk/single-post/soft-hands-when-riding</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69774398860ba90f63f34fd8</guid><pubDate>Sat, 19 Jul 2025 16:33:37 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/44811a_221eab5d09c045a3abb6de902b8dc2e2~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Symms</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stirrup Length in Riding: Why It’s Not One-Size-Fits-All]]></title><description><![CDATA[People always have something to say about stirrup length. Any time I post a video, there’s always a comment about how someone’s stirrups...]]></description><link>https://www.beabetterrider.co.uk/single-post/stirrup-length-biomechanics</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69774398860ba90f63f34f84</guid><pubDate>Sun, 13 Jul 2025 10:54:43 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/44811a_d6150cf33eeb406aa47209410c52785f~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Symms</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why rider biomechanics when jumping is important for your horses movement]]></title><description><![CDATA[In jumping, your timing and position have far more influence on your horse’s effort than many riders realise - yet it's rarely examined...]]></description><link>https://www.beabetterrider.co.uk/single-post/rider-biomechanics-jumping</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69774398860ba90f63f34f95</guid><pubDate>Sun, 06 Jul 2025 13:14:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://vimeo.com/1099123351?share=copy#t=0" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Symms</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[You’re an Athlete Too: Why Off-Horse Rider Training Matters ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why Simulators and Off-Horse Rider Training Matter: Riding Is  a Sport People sometimes get frustrated with riding simulators or...]]></description><link>https://www.beabetterrider.co.uk/single-post/rider-training</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69774398860ba90f63f34fb3</guid><pubDate>Sat, 21 Jun 2025 08:25:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://vimeo.com/1095209106" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Symms</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How Rider Biomechanics Affect Rein Tension &#38; Horse Welfare]]></title><description><![CDATA[❤️ I love helping riders learn and understand how what they do with their hands and upper body affects the horse- it's why behind rider...]]></description><link>https://www.beabetterrider.co.uk/single-post/how-rider-biomechanics-affect-rein-tension-horse-welfare</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69774398860ba90f63f34fb8</guid><pubDate>Sat, 07 Jun 2025 13:48:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/44811a_9734cafdf2ee4e5b9a314b5b18020dcd~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Symms</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Getting Better at Riding Doesn’t Always Mean Just Riding More - How Rider Training Helps Instead]]></title><description><![CDATA[It's a common belief in the equestrian world: the more you ride, the better you get. While consistency and saddle time are essential,...]]></description><link>https://www.beabetterrider.co.uk/single-post/how-rider-training-helps-improve-riding</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69774398860ba90f63f34fa6</guid><pubDate>Sun, 01 Jun 2025 11:27:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/44811a_3a4a901cb94f47679dce98ba7ceec703~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Symms</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Understanding Your Rider Biomechanics ]]></title><description><![CDATA[ What Your Coach Means and Why You Can’t Feel It...Yet            “Ooooh, That’s What My Instructor Meant!” This is something I hear...]]></description><link>https://www.beabetterrider.co.uk/single-post/rider-biomechanics-cues</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69774398860ba90f63f34fa1</guid><pubDate>Sun, 18 May 2025 19:38:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/44811a_f0531436c2fb4f8bbb5c4bd29fd42606~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Symms</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Do female riders really pick fashion over function?! ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Recently, I shared a post on social media about the design of modern riding boots  after a male commenter suggested that women choose...]]></description><link>https://www.beabetterrider.co.uk/single-post/do-female-riders-really-pick-fashion-over-function</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69774398860ba90f63f34f9c</guid><pubDate>Sat, 10 May 2025 09:53:21 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/44811a_96d7648d417143808d0838c655d59440~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Symms</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why a Neutral Spine Matters for Your Riding and Your Spine Health]]></title><description><![CDATA[There’s a lot of advice on rider biomechanics  floating around online. Most of the time, even if I don’t fully agree with it, I let it go...]]></description><link>https://www.beabetterrider.co.uk/single-post/why-a-neutral-spine-matters-for-your-riding-and-your-spine-health</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69774398860ba90f63f34fbe</guid><pubDate>Sun, 13 Apr 2025 18:50:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://video.wixstatic.com/video/44811a_2c12940ddb5c4572aa20e446e4c46862/144p/mp4/file.mp4" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Symms</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Understanding the Canter: Rider and Horse Biomechanics Working Together]]></title><description><![CDATA[Lots of riders struggle to sit to the canter . They’re often told to scoop , circle , or drive  - but to ride it well, we need to...]]></description><link>https://www.beabetterrider.co.uk/single-post/understanding-the-canter-rider-and-horse-biomechanics-working-together</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69774398860ba90f63f34fce</guid><pubDate>Sun, 06 Apr 2025 10:01:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://video.wixstatic.com/video/44811a_d0a360d41fd64ea6a3e4ed665220b106/480p/mp4/file.mp4" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Jennifer Symms</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>