It may be someone in your barn, a rider you’ve seen at shows or events, or even someone you’ve watched in a video.
What does that rider look like, how do they move? How does their horse move?
Now think about your own riding… wouldn’t it be a dream come true to feel more like this effortless rider?
Picture yourself riding in this effortless way… confident, in rhythm with your horse…
Maybe cantering across an open field, walking down a wooded trail, performing a flawless leg yield, or smoothly jumping a course of fences.
You may have experienced glimpses of this feeling – moving easily in balance with the horse. It’s a remarkable feeling, and a big part of what makes riding so special.
But so often we lose sight of this feeling. We get confused by the never ending and often conflicting streams of advice and corrections that we get.
“Sit up straighter, heels down, bring your shoulders back, put your leg back, put your leg forward, lift your reins, lower your reins…”
We end up spending our riding time struggling to find the “right” position. The feeling of ease becomes more and more elusive as we strain to hold proper riding posture.
In lessons, we try to do what our instructor asks, but it seems like it’s never enough. Or we fix our position only to go right back to where we were on our next ride.
It’s frustrating! Why can’t I get this? Will I ever be any good at riding? Maybe I just need to get stronger, try harder, ride a different horse…
But a lot of what is taught about riding does not give us this information.
There are these underlying myths and mysteries – things we have been told to do but never really understand.
In addition, many instructors are “natural” riders – they are great at riding but they've never had to stop and think about what they are really doing and how to explain it.
It is difficult for them to relate to a rider who is just starting again and learning as an adult, or to a rider who had an injury and is now returning to riding but finding that their body just doesn't work the same as it used to… or to a rider that is struggling with fear because they never really feel safe and secure when they're in the saddle.
When the instructor can't communicate the change they want to see, and the student doesn't understand how to make that change, both can become frustrated, and the real purpose of riding – to have fun and connect with the horse – is lost!
Improving our riding is about learning new and better ways of moving so we can feel secure, balanced, and effortless on our horse!
It doesn't matter if you just started riding, are returning after having ridden as a child or teenager, or if you've spent decades in the saddle, we are all affected by our habits and movement patterns.
Good riding instruction needs to give us clear information, simple exercises to find our own patterns, and positive support so we can have fun along the way!
This is exactly how international instructor and clinician Wendy Murdoch has been teaching riding for over 30 years, traveling the world to work with thousands of horses and riders from every discipline.
What makes Wendy unique in her style of teaching is the combination of her background in science along with her broad education, and her own personal experiences.
In her twenties Wendy had a severe riding accident that changed her life forever. In a wheelchair and released from the hospital with no physical therapy, Wendy was determined to return to riding… but because of her injuries she struggled with traditional riding instruction.
Wendy began learning about how our bodies move and function well, and how we can return to comfortable movement and effective riding even after accidents, long breaks from riding, or even years of ineffective practice.
Through achieving her certification as a Feldenkrais practitioner and working with pioneers in the art of riding and horsemanship, such as Sally Swift from Centered Riding, Linda Tellington Jones, and Dr. Hillary Clayton, Wendy developed a unique style of riding instruction. She explains in simple language the often complicated skills of riding and helps her students feel exactly what they need to change in order to ride better and become effortless.
She gives her students an education in anatomy and bio-mechanics, unmounted exercises that can be practiced anywhere, and a collection of simple riding “fixes” – easy techniques that help a rider feel and remember a new movement and then take it out to their horse.
In the years Wendy has been traveling and teaching, and now with this online Course, she leaves an impression with her students, whether they ride western, dressage, jumpers, endurance, or gaited horses – riders who are serious competitors or just in it for fun.
In The Effortless Rider®️ Course you will find solutions to your biggest riding challenges through simple exercises that help you understand the mechanics of movement to bring ease to your riding.
This Course is taught entirely online through a series of videos – you can access the material anywhere on any device in your own time. The course is delivered over 5 weeks, and since you have lifetime access, you can work at your own pace because you have access to all the lessons forever. Even if you don't have time to watch the videos now you can return to watch them anytime and as often as you like!
Join The Effortless Rider®️ Course to understand the laws of great riding and get simple exercises you can do anywhere, whether you are brand new to riding, returning to riding, or have spent years in the saddle.
Discover how knowing your anatomy can allow you to ride without tension or gripping and use gravity effectively in your riding!
Bust common riding myths and understand the most effective riding position by seeing the function of horse and rider together.
Change your internal body map by learning new ways of moving that allow you to break out of old habits and find those “I get it!” moments.
See the difference in both horse and rider as Wendy demonstrates riding with ease as well as getting “stuck” in old riding myths like heels down or shoulders back.
Now watch as other riders completely change their position, improving their balance, stability, and confidence, as well as the posture and movement of their horse – often with just a simple exercise!
Test your new anatomy skills and learn how different parts of the body function as you ride.
These simple tips make it easy to remember the most important parts of your body for riding and how they compare to your horse.
Look forward to a weekly supply of Equi-Tips with each Module!
As a special bonus, you will get to work one on one with Wendy through video coaching!
Send in TWO videos of you and your horse and get Wendy's expert eye on something you need help with and instruction on how you can improve.
This is a great opportunity to focus on a limitation, challenge or goal as you go through the course and get that extra personal touch from Wendy!
The way your saddle fits both you and your horse has a huge impact on your riding and your horse's movement – good or bad.
In this Bonus Module you will learn how to tell if your saddle fits you and your horse.
Reprogram old patterns and release pain, tension, and stiffness in this 30 minute class with Wendy Murdoch.
Did you know that we can move in ways to compensate for old injuries even years after they have healed? But you don’t have to be perfectly straight, even, and flexible to be a great rider!
In this 30 minute Feldenkrais® for Riders Bonus Class, go through a series of exercises to find your alignment and ease in the most misunderstood riding movements.
And discover how to move with the least amount of effort, releasing pain, tension, or stiffness along the way!
This will be a class that you come back to again and again.
When you join The Effortless Rider®️ Course, you're in for life. There is no expiration date, and your access to the videos will never go away. Plus you can join in future rounds and deepen your effortless riding skills.
As with all our premium courses, this is a well supported program – to make sure you keep making progress and don't get stuck.
Ask Wendy any questions under each lesson video as you move through the course and get invaluable feedback and insights through your Video Coaching with Wendy.
As a Balanced Riding Course member, you can use your special member’s discount of $100 before 11:59pm ET (end of day) Mon, Jan 16 US Eastern time when you join The Effortless Rider®️ Course. (Applies to One Pay only.)
Use your coupon code [nextsteps] at checkout!
There is a timer at the top of this page that shows you when your coupon code will expire.
You will have access to Module 1 as soon as you join, and then a new lesson will be released each week. You are free to work at your own pace however, as your access to this course never expires.
The course is delivered entirely online through digital video you can watch on any device with an internet connection!
The BONUS Saddle Fitting Module and the 5 Minute Fixes Masterclass are available online with the other Course Modules to be watched whenever you like.
No need to be online at any specific times – you can watch the videos and submit your questions whenever you have time.
Don't worry if you don't have a lot of time right now, you have lifetime access to the Course and can go through at your own pace – you can hit pause and rewind as often as you like to watch and absorb the pieces that are particularly important to you at any given time.
There is a lot of unmounted work included in this Course so even if you can't ride right now, you can still be learning and improving!
When you invest in this online course, you are investing in the future of you and your horse. You are making an investment that will never expire and that you can return to again and again as you continue to learn and improve.
It is difficult to put a value on seeing your riding transform, and of recognizing the difference this makes for your horse!
Imagine settling into the saddle and feeling secure, knowing how to give effective cues to communicate with your horse and to move effortlessly with them.
For less than the price of going to most clinics, you can get all the resources of this course, plus Wendy’s one on one feedback through the video coaching, and all the bonus material – and return to these resources as often as you want!
We would love to have you join us in The Effortless Rider®️ Course!
Choose a payment option below and Get Started Today!
We also offer a Full 100% Money Back Guarantee if you are unhappy with the Course for any reason.
As with all of our HorseClass programs, I want you to be completely confident and comfortable joining.
If you are not satisfied with this Course for any reason, return it for a full refund within 30 days of joining.
I would love to have you join us in The Effortless Rider®️ Course!
5 Weeks of Online Course Content
5 Weeks of Equi-Tips
Lifetime Access to the Course
30 Day Full Money Back Guarantee
TWO Video Coaching with Wendy
The 5 Minute Fixes Masterclass
Saddle Fitting Module
SPECIAL BONUS Feldenkrais for Riders Class