soundness check

When your horse has consistent problems that interfere with the fun and success of riding – whether they’re physical issues such as wrong canter lead, behavioural issues such as not going forwards, or slipping-saddle problems – you may find yourself wondering if he’s the right horse for you. You might even find yourself thinking it’s time to give up riding altogether!

But the answer to your problem is almost certainly simpler than you think – and simpler than the experts might be telling you. Chances are you don’t need fancy equipment or expensive osteopathic or veterinary care. Chances are that one or more points on the ergonomic triangle of horse, rider, and saddle are out of balance. All you need is a soundness check-up to find out what’s creating those maddeningly frustrating problems.

Joni Bentley has a growing reputation for transforming horses with poor movement into naturally good movers using her Bentley Technique. Joni is unique in having triple expertise in horse soundness, rider soundness, and saddle soundness (how well your saddle fits you and your horse). And she asks a key question: When did you, your horse, and your saddle last get a soundness check?

Many common behavioural, physical, or saddle-fit issues are simply the result of an ergonomic misalignment between horse, saddle, and rider. Some of the most common signs you might need a soundness check include:

· You experience ongoing struggles with your riding position, such as feeling tipped out of balance by your saddle.

· Your horse is grumpy and introverted; he swishes his tail or tries to bite when you’re tacking up. He might rear, bolt, or buck.

· Your horse drags his back end, scuffs his toes, and trips. You have to struggle to get him moving forward.

· Your horse suffers from chronic lameness. You can’t understand why your back aches after you ride.

· Your horse has white hairs and rub patches along his spine, or even atrophied muscles such as you see in the photo below.

· Your horse is reluctant to walk or jump downhill, and appears clumsy or careless over fences.

An increasing number of veterinarians and equine physiotherapists, chiropractors, and osteopaths are becoming aware of how often they get called in to identify and treat damage that is related, directly or indirectly, to saddle fitting and riding style.

The common approach – rigorous schooling and fancy gadgets – creates ongoing, sometimes crippling discomfort for both horse and rider. The Bentley Technique brings the pleasure of true athleticism, engagement, and partnership to rider and horse

Joni calls her technique the Functional, Anatomical Correction Training System™, or FACTS. “It’s a ‘rear view’ that almost no one ever sees,” she explains. “Traditionally, teachers or trainers stand in the centre of the ring. I get behind the horse and rider, so I immediately see what’s happening.”

FACTS begins with the simple fact (sorry for the pun!) that horses and people – like everything living – are naturally crooked to some degree.

When a rider understands the ways in which she and her horse are crooked, she can easily straighten herself and her horse with simple body movements. These body movements school the rider’s body and the horse’s body – and thus the horse’s movement – at the same time.

With FACTS, the rider quickly sees why her horse struggles on one rein, one canter lead, or suffers bridle lameness. With a well-balanced body and a properly-fitted saddle, the horse becomes calm, safer, and far more enjoyable to ride.

· Identify and correct your alignment first, so you don’t impose additional stress on the horse’s attempts to move.

· Stop spending time and money on forceful, painful, and expensive gadgets and techniques, so you can get better results and spend more time riding instead of struggling.

· Feel the difference when your horse moves naturally well, going softly onto the bit, so you know that you’re treating your horse well – and reaping the results in your riding success.

· Experience the difference between power and force, so you have your horse’s attention and respect.

Just as humans are left- or right-handed, horses are either left-hind drivers (left hind leg is strongest) or right-hind drivers (right hind is dominant).

Frosty is a left-hind driver. Watch how the tapes on the back of horse, rider, and saddle reveal his alignment problems.

This sideways movement is typical in horses with a dominant hind leg. Instead of forwards, the dominant hind pushes sideways. Although the thrust is stronger, the stride is actually shorter, leaving the rider’s seat unsupported on that side. This crookedness results in lack of impulsion, crab walking, and R.S.I. (repetitive strain injury) of the sacroiliac joints, hocks, and stifles.

Groovy is a right-hind driver. She jumps to the left side of the fence because her right hind crosses sideways to the left. This leaves her rider Louise unsupported and hanging off to the right.

Incorrect saddle fitting cripples horses and riders. A painful, upsetting example is shown here. These withers are not normal. The poorly-fitted saddle pinched so badly that blood flow and oxygen have been starved from the underlying muscles to such an extent that they’re literally wasting away.

For this horse, the bruising and atrophy is so bad that the saddle is now sitting painfully close to the bone, leaving the vertebrae vulnerable.

It will come as no surprise that your horse’s left- or right-hind dominance has a direct effect on your ability to sit straight in the saddle.

Due to the affects of left hind-dominance the muscles under the right scapular have altered pushing the saddle up and back on the right. This twists the saddle and forces it to wedges up against the vertebrae on the left side of the wither which is often a hot spot for lumps to appear. Without support on the right, the saddle – and therefore the rider – drops down and back on the right. The rider unconsciously tries to re-balance herself by leaning to the left, collapsing her left hip, twisting and collapsing through the waist. Her pelvis tips down to the right, and she holds her right shoulder and seat bone back. This shifts her left hip and thigh upwards, pulling her left knee and heel up and forwards. She tenses her left shoulder and puts extra pressure on her right stirrup.

Joni’s technique schools the rider into straightness on a straight wooden horse. With the physical understanding of what “straight” feels like in her body, the rider then learns to counteract her horse’s crookedness.


After a journey through 16 instructors and 10 saddle fitters, I was on the point of giving up. My horse Jay was becoming more and more grumpy and stiff. And so was I! Then I saw your article in a magazine. Your web site is a treasure house for riders who want the best for their horse! I was so impressed by the free informational DVDs, workbooks, and articles that I booked on your soundness clinic.
Did I benefit from it? You bet! Using your guidelines and my friend's eyes, my prayers were answered. Am I glad I found your simple biomechanical approach to riding? Yes would be an understatement! Can't wait for the next workshop to keep improving my riding and performance. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

After completing a soundness check and dismounted workshop, Louise went home to put her learning into practice. You can see the improvement! Her back is relaxed and her shoulders are aligned over her hips. The horse's quarters are straight. Her stirrups are level, whereas before the right one was lower. And all the tapes line up!

If you’re interested in a soundness check and want to learn more about this kinder, more thoughtful, and more enjoyable way of riding, here are some options.

1. Watch free video and download my free workbook at http://www.jonibentley.co.uk/products5.htm. Once you’re on my mailing list, you’ll receive free monthly articles that include links to more video on my website.

2. Join us on a Soundness clinic when I’m in your area. Check out http://www.jonibentley.co.uk/events.htm for the events schedule. There are multiple ways to participate - you can even come and watch for the whole day! (Nothing in your area? Click here to email me. I’d love to help fill a course in your venue from my waiting list.)

3. If you’re passionate about helping horses and riders and would like to know this process in detail, attend the teacher training course. For more details visit:

Still on the fence? Want to know more? Call me for a chat! 01442 402756, or my mobile number is 07771811561


He starts off with all the tapes lined up...but after only a few strides, even though Chloe has her right leg and spur against his right ribs, he crosses his left hind to the right, pushing his quarters in and away from the fence.


Before	After

The Ergonomic Triangle: Horse, Rider, and Saddle

The Ergonomic Triangle:
Horse, Rider, and Saddle