Annette Willson
Physiotherapist, Elite Horse Rider, Competitor, Pilate’s teacher
I grew up in Clare South Australia; both my parents were Veterinary Surgeons. I finished high school in Clare and went onto University in Adelaide.
I started my riding career as a child. I progressed through the pony club scene, learning and competing at state and national level. I was a member of the winning state eventing team 5 years in a row and an individual winner 5 years in a row on 4 different horses, each I retrained off the race track. By the time I was 20 years old I had my sights set on Olympic Games. At this time I ruptured a disc in my lower back. I was told never to ride again.
I applied to study Physiotherapy and continued riding. I competed successfully at local and national 3DE level in senior competition.
My riding was successful to a point but back pain affected me greatly.
I moved to Perth WA had three children, separated and moved back to Clare. I set up my own business and developed and initiated the concept of “Pilates for Horse Riders”. Applied Posture Riding.
I developed a set of exercises for horse riders. I practiced these exercises and the difference to my riding was amazing. I managed to make the Olympic Athlete training squad but time, money and further injuries took its toll. With the death of my best horse, a broken leg a marriage failure I retired from top level competition.
I went onto study my Masters in Physiotherapy and have settled into a quieter life in Clare, running my Physiotherapy practice. I treat predominantly back pain, headaches and posture related pain.
I developed my website in 2002 and have continued to develop this direction of my business. My book Applied Posture Riding is available online as an e-book from www.applied-posture-riding.com and also here on this site.
It has become a very popular program for riders all over the world. It has also become the national manual for the Australian Accredited Certificate 111 course in Horse riding and Horse care.
This site, specializing in Horse Riding Equipment, was developed in 2009.
