Helen Fletcher
Lifestyle
My riding career began at the age of 5 and by 11 I was having Dressage lessons with the late Gwen Stead in the Western District. Like most young riders of my generation my experience went across all the disciplines, games, jumping and cross country as well as the country show circuit. In my early twenties my interest became primarily focused on a committed dressage practice.
I moved to Melbourne in 1991 where I began my Pilates practice after first hearing about this method whilst living in the UK in 1989. From my first Pilates class I realised the many benefits that Pilates could offer to riders and the value of bringing together my experience in both disciplines, and it became an ambition of mine to have a business that taught Pilates to equestrians. In 2005 I completed my teacher training and began to teach Pilates full time. Within 2 years I had registered my business now known as Equipoise Pilates and Movement Education began to build my business. I have written articles on Pilates for riders for both Equestrian Life Magazine and US based publication Dressage Today. My business has organically grown over the last 10 years and evolved to include Balanced Rider, Balanced Horse Clinics where I work with riders both on and off their horses, as well as the studio based private and group classes in both metropolitan and regional Victoria, and I also offer online classes via Zoom. My Pilates teaching experience ranges from post-acute rehabilitation to conditioning for sport and includes teaching one of our 2012 Womens Water Polo Olympians, VictoriaBrown, in the 3 year lead up to her Olympic selection.
I am committed to continual professional development and have completed numerous courses since my first Pilates certification in 2005. I am currently undertaking a Diploma of Slings Myofascial Training (training fascia consciously) with the Australian and Swiss based companies Art of Motion Academy and Anatomy Trains Australia.
Visit Helen Fletcher at the following sessions
Details
Sunday November 14th
9:45 am to 10:30 am
Schockemohle Sports Demonstration Arena
Rider shoulder stablility & its role Part 1 theory
The shoulder girdle and scapular stability play a key role in dynamic core stabilisation and self-carriage of both horse and rider and are often overlooked. In this presentation I will show the positive effects of the correct stabilisation of the shoulder girdle on posture, contact and dynamic core stabilisation. I will educate viewers on the basic anatomy of the shoulders and upper torso and demonstrate with a mounted rider how to improve the position of the shoulders to create more sympathetic hands, improved posture of horse and rider and improved dynamic core stabilisation. I will discuss correct hand position and the negative effects of incorrect hand position on the arms and shoulders.
Details
Sunday November 14th
2:00 pm to 2:45 pm
Schockemohle Sports Demonstration Arena
Rider shoulder stability & its role – Part 2 Demo
Demonstration: The shoulder girdle and scapular stability play a key role in dynamic core stabilisation and self-carriage of both horse and rider and are often overlooked. In this presentation I will show the positive effects of the correct stabilisation of the shoulder girdle on posture, contact and dynamic core stabilisation. I will educate viewers on the basic anatomy of the shoulders and upper torso and demonstrate with a mounted rider how to improve the position of the shoulders to create more sympathetic hands, improved posture of horse and rider and improved dynamic core stabilisation. I will discuss correct hand position and the negative effects of incorrect hand position on the arms and shoulders.
