by Cindy Mark
Have you ever noticed how the best riders – the ones who sit tall and straight in the saddle (be it Western or English) and seem to move effortlessly with their horse as if the two of them were one – also have the best posture when they’re off their horse?
That comes as no surprise to Kristoff Labrune, a personal trainer specializing in rider fitness and rehabilitation. Operating out of Nanton, AB, Labrune creates personalized exercise programs for those who are interested in understanding and improving their riding form, strength, flexibility and, ultimately, their skill on horseback.
By first watching you ride, Labrune identifies the areas where your body needs improvement. Then, by combining his knowledge of kinesiology, weight training, tai chi, yoga, and also using elements of the Alexander technique, Labrune creates an “on-the-ground” program to improve your skills once back on the horse.
As he points out, “it is much easier when you are not on your horse to feel how your body should be when it’s in the correct position, rather than trying to attain it while you’re on the back of a moving, 1,200 lb. animal and thinking of 100 other things.
“Once your body experiences the correct feeling on the ground, it is much easier, then, to just translate it to when you’re on the horse.”
Much of what Labrune teaches may seem straightforward enough, but instituting it is his specialty. For instance, he says: “You ride like you walk. If you are insecure, it shows in your body with a weak stance and slumped shoulders, and this will translate to when you are on the horse.”
One of Labrune’s pet peeves is that he sees a lot of collected horses, but not a lot of collected riders. He explains: “Your posture is a state of mind. How can you tell your horse ‘Collect!’ if you are slouching and uncollected yourself?
“My job is to have your body get the point.”
Labrune came by his talent naturally, along with formal training in kinesiology and coaching in France. He immigrated to Canada 12 years ago, where he spent the first six years in Vancouver teaching his program to the elite, non-riders of the world. While he was just beginning to learn how to ride at the time, it just so happened that one of his clients owned a ranch in Kamloops.
So, when invited to witness the calving season at the ranch, Labrune jumped at the chance. Calving on the range with riders and handlers from both BC and Alberta hired for the job, was an experience so vivid for Labrune that he decided to close up his business in Vancouver and take his riding more seriously.
The next few years Labrune spent riding and helping out at a guest ranch in Alberta, and spent one of his winters riding with horseman Sid Cook from Nanton, AB. Cook would talk about his way of training horses through natural horsemanship, and Labrune found a connection between that and his own training philosophy – albeit of a different species. The next thing you know, Labrune is holding a clinic for half-a-dozen cowboys in Sid Cook’s basement.
From the manicured streets of France to the foothills of Alberta, this new Canadian has relied on word-of-mouth to sustain his business, which is just the way he likes it.
But, if you’re interested in improving your riding skills through a personalized exercise program, or want to hold a clinic with some riding friends, don’t hesitate to call Labrune at (403) 601-1458 or email him at zoum tator@yahoo.com.
