The RideWell Method:

Building Better Equestrians

This apprenticeship has been designed to mentor and educate existing riding coaches and curious riders on methods of assessing and coaching equestrian biomechanics, body awareness and somatics. The RideWell Method may also be valuable to the healthcare practitioner or physical wellness provider (physio/athletic therapists, personal trainers, etc) who work frequently with equestrian athlete and would like to build a functional, holistic approach to their offerings. 

This apprenticeship is offered both virtually as a self-paced program as well as via immersion courses. The total apprenticeship is equivalent to approximately 150hrs of structured training and course work. Those who complete this apprenticeship will gain valuable insight on their own physical and somatic awareness as it relates to their riding as well as the ability to facilitate awareness and change for others in their riding community. 

Skills taught in this apprenticeship include: 

  • Assessing biomechanics and postural function in riding athletes

     

  • Correcting and coaching common biomechanics inefficiencies and postural dysfunction. 

     

  • Body awareness practices for riding athletes. 

     

  • Mounted and unmounted assessment and corrective tools

     

  • Cross-training guidance and necessities for high performance goals.

     

  • Impact of biomechanics on equine performance. 

     

  • Goal setting practices

     

  • Connecting mind and body

     

  • Movement based tools for facilitating change

     

  • Athlete development education

     

  • Understanding the human nervous system and it's impacts on movement and expression

     

  • Methods for working with anxious riders, riders with chronic pain, riders returning from injury, and other "complex" cases

     

  • Much more.. 

  • Understanding Biomechanics and Awareness

  • Embodied Awareness - integrating neuroscience, athletic development and trauma informed awareness to foundational biomechanics coaching.

  • Coaching the Whole Athlete

Each module is compiled of 30hrs of coursework with direct applications to all levels, disciplines and goals. When done virtually each module is completed in sections with 1:1 meetings throughout with Kathlyn, founder of the method, readings, exercises and meaningful home work to guide self study. In-person 3-day immersions are the alternative to the virtual, self study and are facilitated in small-group format at various locations. Apprentices are required to work on case studies throughout the program and opportunities for shadowing Kathlyn directly are available throughout the program. Participants are also required to complete 50hrs of case work prior to full completion of the apprenticeship. 


To express interest and learn more about the apprenticeship, please email ridewellperformance@gmail.com

“The Ridewell Method course has been a complete game changer for my coaching program. This by far, has been the most beneficial coaching course I have taken.

The tools and knowledge from Kathlyn have helped to omit training barriers, inspire confidence and work respectfully with horse and rider emotions/experiences. Not just with my students, but also for myself as a dressage trainer. I have seen a huge improvement in the athletes at Creekside and the athletes have noticed a difference in the way they progress.

Kathlyn put together three great levels that tied into each other smoothly. The material was easy to understand yet there were many open doors for great conversation and questions.

I would highly recommend The RideWell Method to any coach- you will be blown away with how simple it can be to get big and positive results.”
— Alyssa Van Wyck, Creekside Performance Horses
“I have been a certified coach instructing riders for 20 years, and I can honestly say that Kathlyn has filled in a lot of gaps for me. I highly recommend Kathlyn’s Ridewell Method Apprenticeship program to anyone who is interested in becoming the best coach and rider that they can be. This program has given me many invaluable tools to use in my own riding as well as coaching. Both myself and my riders are benefiting from increased body awareness, and improved relaxation in both the riders and horses. We have also learned ways to overcome various challenges in our seats, postures, and how we apply the aids. This program helps further train the coach’s eye to see biomechanical issues in the rider and gives the coach multiple effective solutions to the issues, drawing from her Athletic Therapy background. A multifaceted approach is given to help with what you are seeing in a rider, considering the nervous system, psychological and learning factors, emotional, and even the effects of trauma. The practical side of the program has made the new tools easy to apply into my current program, and the theory portions sparked my interest for continued learning in these areas. It was also very fun and useful to learn in the collaborative setting with other professionals. Thank you Kathlyn and Ridewell Performance!!!”
— Chelsea Kopachena, Diversity Horsemanship