Meet Dave

DAVE the Dressage Simulator

Dave, the dressage simulator, is our new addition to the Reformed Rider Family. Dave is stabled in Billericay, Essex in a specially designed studio to ensure you get the best experience possible.

Dave is a Racewood Dressage Simulator, an advanced equestrian training tool that replicates the movements of a real horse. It allows riders to practice and refine their skills in a controlled environment. It offers lifelike motion and can perform simple movements from walking and trotting to and Half Pass!

The simulator provides immediate visual feedback on seat position and riding movements, enabling riders to focus on balance and technique. The auto-training routine assesses rider balance, bit contact, and leg pressure through various gaits. We also use state-of-the-art biomechanics software where we are further able to analyse your position and work on areas for improvement in our more advanced biomechanics assessment sessions.

The large screen area allows us to visually see feedback instantly from assessments screens, biomechanics screens and video analysis playback. The screen also allows us to ride in real-time, using dressage arenas for practice and even includes pre-programmed dressage tests.

Dave also has an adventure mode where you can even go for a ride to the farm, the forest or even the beach. This is a great tool for RDA riders, children or even adults who want to have a little bit of fun!

Dave is an extremely well-behaved dressage horse with impeccable manners. He does not buck, bite or bolt, so he is excellent for confidence building. He is a great tool for ALL levels of riders from novice to advanced as takes away the external influences a real horse brings and so allows us to focus on ourselves as a rider!

*Can accommodate riders up to 16 stone (approximately 102 kg).

Dave's Did You Knows?

Dave is a life-sized horse! He is approximately 15.2 hh

He is very well-behaved and does not bite, buck or bolt!

He is a top-of-the-range Equestrian Simulator made by Racewood.

Dave has realistic gaits: Walk, Trot & Canter (with two tempos of each)

He can also help you learn the aids for more advanced movements, including Shoulder In, Leg Yield, Half Pass, Passage, Piaffe and Pirouettes

Dave is fully responsive and reacts to leg, hands and seat!

There are sensors in all these areas to provide feedback on how you use them.

He has a large interactive screen where you can see live feedback on your riding.

Dave has several modes, including rider analysis screens, dressage arenas, and interactive adventures including hacking or riding at the beach.

Mirrors surround him so you can get instant feedback on your position to help with improvements.

Cameras are available for more feedback so you can record your session if desired.

Dave shares his stable with Jim which means there is a full range of gym equipment which can be used throughout your session.

Interactive Screen

The interactive screen allows riders to visually see feedback from the sensors instantly on the assessments screens. The screen also allows us to view biomechanics feedback and video analysis playback. The screen also allows us to ride in real-time, using dressage arenas for practice and even hacking or riding to the beach.

Auto Training

The auto-training routine is a firm favourite with riders as it provides a meaningful and repeatable assessment of rider balance, bit contact and leg pressure through the gaits. It is excellent for assessing what a rider does in the saddle whilst moving completely automatically through walk, trot and canter. All sensors activity is recorded for 1 or 2 minutes and results can be printed off afterwards.

Rein Sensors These are connected to the horse’s mouth and measure tension through each rein independently. This information is displayed on the screen allowing you to achieve a soft, balanced contact.

Rein Sensors

Leg Sensors

Three leg sensors are located on the left and right sides of the simulator’s lower torso. The simulator will only respond if you apply the aids correctly thus enabling you to appreciate the skill of riding a highly schooled horse.

Seat Sensors

The seat sensors sit directly under the saddle and show how the centre of gravity and alignment of the rider changes during movement. When you are a balanced rider you will achieve true harmony with your horse.

The sensors all generate information that is illustrated on the screen providing the rider with instant feedback. This allows you to evaluate the results and make the changes necessary to fine-tune your skills.

"It's made such a difference!! I went to a competition yesterday and scored a personal best! Best of all, results and scores aside, was how good it felt, how much I enjoyed it and felt that I rode so much better! It has made me feel so chuffed and very motivated! Thank you!"

- Donna

"I have noticed such a difference in my position since having sessions with Katie. The best thing is I am so much more aware of my body and how it functions and also how this affects my horses way of going. The exercises she has given to help me improve my position are definitely working and im already seeing a massive difference!"

- Sophie

"After the mechanical horse session with you last Wednesday evening and taking on board all what you said (check list and core exercises etc) which I started straight away after seeing you, it is helping already. Had a lesson this morning, and my coach noticed a difference in my riding already….. thank you!!"

- Nadine