Natural Ride Saddle
This “Natural Ride” was bought with a donation from Waitakere City Council (thanks guys) and is being used with great success in the hippotherapy rides. It is used with just a pad so that the rider is able to feel and benefit from maximum horse movement – we could even use it bareback but that is a bit too slippery for our riders.
Partially obscured person holding Domo is Pia
At the moment we have 3 young riders who ride with it, all of whom need the extra security of holding on – the advanfage with this is that the handle sits high up off the horse’s wither, so the rider is not hunched over whilst holding on. The Natural Ride also can be positioned far enough forward onto the wither that the rider can be holding on away from his trunk, unlike some of the handled surcingles that we have used in the past.
It does come with stirrups but these riders are having a therapeutic riding session so they are not needed. The riders are having to use trunk and leg muscles to keep their position as well as holding on, and will use
the handle less as they progress.
Ciaran on Domo with Vicki
We also use it with Developmental Riding Therapy as it gives the rider more stability when using the developmental positions, particularly 4 point kneeling when facing forwards.