On Tuesday I thought i would try something completely new. I had seen a local trainer (Karen Joynson) was advertising lessons using 'Franklin Balls' which are little squishy balls that are inserted in various positions to improve your riding posture and position. I thought this seemed like a really good idea as when you are riding at home alot on your own its very easy to pick up bad habits. I've been having a bit of an evaluate lately on how my position, strength and fitness might be affected my horses way of going and been working on improving my own fitness and core strength. This seemed like another sensible thing to try, so i booked in a session.

Well lets just say these little balls were more like a form of torture :) Although i funnily enough really enjoyed it and would have to say it was one of the most rewarding lessons i've had lately.

We started off by warming up and making a few improvements to Humphrey's way of going and then it was time to introduce the balls of pain.

The first ball was inserted under my bottom with the aim being to correct your pelvic tilt and help you to sit deep. To use these balls i had to ride in sitting trot which is not something i very often do, really thought i might show myself up and be wobbling all over the place ut surprised myself and wasnt too bad. Perhaps my pilates sessios have been making a difference.

So anyway this ball felt very, very strange and not exactly comfortable but my godness it didnt half make a differnece to Humphrey's way of going. Just by correcting my seat he suddenly started using his back and sitting on his hocks a bit more. This was probaly also down to Karen's excellent tutuion but the ball definately made a difference.

Next set of balls were too small balls that we placed under your thigh on each side to stop you gripping with your knees and encourage you to wrap your lower leg around the horse to help me apply my lower leg more effectively. Well I think these balls were even worse than the first one but definately seemed to do the trick.

Finally we had a pair of balls that went under my arms to keep my hands in a nice open place, These werent quite so bad.

Well anyway, i dont know whether it was purely the balls and correcting my position or Karen's amazing eye or a combination of both but we got Humphrey going like a dream.

I told Matt later that he was going like Valegro and maybe this was a bit of an exaggeration but i thought he was a dream.

I would absolute reccommend trying these out!!!!

If you would like to book a lesson visit: https://www.facebook.com/joynsonequestrian/

I was hoping to get a VLOG of this experience but my camera crew were all busy :(