Our facilities include a simulator room housing three Racewood simulators – ‘Margaret’ Racewood Eventing simulator, ‘Archie’ the MK10 Racing Simulator, ‘Hercules’ Racewood Riding Simulator and two Racewood RaceTrainers (Trigger I and Trigger II). In our Sports Academy there is also Racewood Racetrainer Challenge. The additional facilities include a strength and conditioning gym (separate to our main gym) and a treatment room with a massage bed.
The Simulators
The eventing simulator
The Eventing Simulator, also known as ‘Margaret’, is Racewood’s most advanced riding simulator giving feedback on rein pressures, saddle pressures and leg pressures. Three TV screens offer a reality experience of dressage, show jumping and cross country. Margaret allows riders to experience Grand Prix dressage movements, jump a course of show jumps or a grid (up to 1.20m), go cross country and even enjoy the feeling of hacking!
Margaret is used for teaching our college and university students during their timetabled sessions as well as available for them to use in their free time. External clients can hire the eventing simulator by the hour with an assistant to guide them through the functions of the simulator in dressage, showjumping, cross country and hacking. It’s a great way of improving your riding, gaining confidence or just to have fun with friends! Groups of people and own instructors are welcome. Weight limit of 16 stone for flatwork and 13 stone for jumping.
Please contact riderperformance@hartpury.ac.uk or call 01452 702669 to discuss your requirements or to book. Payment can be made via the online shop.
The Mark 10 Racing Simulator, also known as ‘Archie’, is Racewood’s most advanced racing simulator. It has saddle, bit, rein, leaning, whip and neck sensors allowing for a detailed analysis of jockeys position and technique. This allows coaches to work on the jockeys’ synchronisation with the simulator’s stride which then aims to improve their synchronisation on the real horse.
The MK10 is also compatible with ant+ heart rate sensors which allow for introduction of heart rate data and cardiovascular fitness into the training programme. When riding the simulator you can work on your position in instruction mode or specifically designed jockey training and you can even race around a virtual racetrack.
The Racewood Riding Simulator, ‘Hercules’, is the oldest riding simulator in our Rider Performance Centre (we often call him ‘the schoolmaster’). Hercules can walk, trot in two speeds and canter in two speeds and is equipped with simple leg and rein sensors allowing the rider to enjoy the riding experience or can be operated using buttons. He still plays an important role in our Rider Performance Centre and is regularly used for RDA children and for teaching novice riders.
When you hire ‘Margaret’, Hercules is included in the price so your friends or family can join in the fun.
Strength and conditioning gym and treatment room
The quiet environment of our rider performance gym allows riders to workout with their coach or on their own using a range of equipment available, including selection of cardio equipment and weights. The rider performance gym is regularly used by our Equine Academy Students.
The added bonus is a big TV screen meaning that the gym can also be used for talks and presentations making our rider performance centre a perfect place for developing practical and theoretical knowledge.
There is a treatment room right next door to the simulators and the gym which offers warmth and privacy where riders can be treated by our specialist staff. Our treatment room is regularly used by osteopath Liz Launder for a range of treatments from deep tissue massage to acupuncture and ultrasound treatment. The treatment room is equipped with an adjustable massage bed, mirror and some floor space allowing for postural analysis and assessment before and after treatment. It offers a private space for one-to-one sessions within squad or club training and can be hired as part of the rider performance package.
