Dressage Trainer Jane Savoie and Human Condition’s Peter Raymond Unite to Create EQ Equisense SmartTack

Dressage trainer Jane Savoie and Peter Raymond, President of Human Condition LLC, joined forces at EQ-Equisense to create the world’s first SmartTack for Equestrians.

After extensive research and development, Savoie and Raymond announced today that their revolutionary new product EQ-Equisense SmartTack is now available for purchase by dressage centers and universities.

Savoie saw the need for a system like SmartTack because she recognized the unique challenges facing riding instructors and students—the ability to teach and learn that elusive quality called “feel”.

Jane explains that, “Subtle imbalances in a rider’s position are not always clearly visible to the human eye. Yet they clearly have a negative impact on riding and training. Plus, riders get frustrated by their lack of natural “feel” which results in unbalanced and crooked bodies as well as confusion about how to use aids correctly. EQ SmartTack addresses both of these issues.”

Raymond, a leading innovator in immersive simulation technology describes EQ SmartTack as, “tack retrofitted with sensors in the seat, flaps, stirrups, and reins. The sensory data is transmitted wirelessly to an iPad or Apple computer for instantaneous interpretation. Data may also be captured for later review and analysis.

The most exciting aspect of SmartTack, however, is that it is designed not only for static position analysis but also for use while actually riding your own horse. The system gives an instructor instantaneous feedback about a rider’s position and pressure in the saddle and on the reins while riding.

By providing a “magnifying glass” to examine often imperceptible elements of a student’s balance, position, and use of the aids, corrections are immediate and accurate. This system skyrockets a student’s learning curve while also making learning fun.”

Supported by solid research conducted by Dr. Hilary Clayton at the McPhail Equine Performance Center at Michigan State University, the EQ SmartTack System merges cutting-edge technology with proven teaching and training methodology.

To learn more about how you can bring Jane Savoie and Peter Raymond’s EQ-Equisense SmartTack to your dressage facility or university, go to www.eqtrained.com.

3 Simple Tips to Help You Straighten and Center Your Riding Position on Your Horse

Can you tell if your riding position is straight and centered on your horse? Or are you collapsing at your waist and sitting crookedly?

Ask a ground person to stand behind your horse.

1. Is your seat in the center of the dressage saddle so that each seatbone is the same distance from the middle of the saddle?
2. Is the distance between your last rib and your belt equal on both sides?
3. Are your shoulders level (i.e. the same height)?

If your seat isn’t in the middle of the saddle, you’re collapsed at your waist, and your shoulders aren’t level, you’re not balanced correctly.

Here are 3 simple tips to help your riding position to be straight and centered on your horse:

Let’s say you’ve collapsed your left side, your left shoulder is lower, and your seat is off to the right.

1. Bring your right seat bone over and place it on top of an imaginary line that runs down the center of the saddle from the pommel to the cantle.

2. Stretch your left arm straight up so it passes by your ear and your fingers are pointed straight toward the sky.

3. Now to keep your riding position straight, centered, and stretching tall on your horse, pretend you have two sticks of equal length between your last rib and your waistband. If you collapse again, you’ll get jabbed in the ribs by the stick on the left side. And the stick on the right side will end up on the ground.

Go to Program Your Position for more help with your riding position.