Using the power of brain science to unlock the equestrianbody’s full potential.Every movement of the rider’s body starts in the brain. Inthese pages, Olympic competitor and coach Marc Nölke explains how to direct thespecific areas of the brain that control stability, sense of rhythm, precisionof movement, breathing, and vision. With his unique brain-focused exercises,riders learn how to change the input sent to their brain to gethealthier, more athletic output, which can include intentional andunintentional movement, and functions of circulatory, hormonal, or immunesystems.
The brain decides how you ride and how you feel when youride based on the input you send it. Traditionally equestrians haveworked to improve the brain’s output (riding skills) by training the output(riding skills). Nölke’s innovative “Neuro-Rider Program” is based on achievingbetter output (better riding skills), not by endlessly practicing themovements, but instead by changing the input—what you send to your brainfor it to process and interpret.
In a series of over 40 unique exercises, Nölke helps ridersimprove the signals they send to their brain from the:
• Proprioceptive system
• Visual system
• Vestibular system
• Respiratory system
Regular practice will improve the rider’s overallperformance as well as address specific issues, such as:
• Coordination and fine-tuning of the aids
• Body symmetry
• Head posture
• Hand position
• Anxiety in certain situations
• Inappropriate emotions and emotional responses
• Difficulties with rhythm
• Unlevel hips
• Shoulder crookedness
• Focus and concentration
In time, Neuro-Rider training will make you feel lighter onhorseback, help you follow the horse’s movements more naturally, increase yourrelaxation in the saddle, and enable you to become more effective overall. Withoptions to perform exercises on or off the horse, this book offers a practicalway for any rider—regardless of age, ability, discipline, or time—to steadilyimprove in distinct and profound ways.
Marc Nölke is a state-certified trainer, systemic-integrative coach, and certifiedZHealth trainer. His training methods are based on neuroscientific findings,classic training science, and over 10,000 hours of experience with a widevariety of people, from ages 8 to 80, and from the chronically ill to Olympicchampions. He has worked as a full-time coach for national teams in Austria,Germany, and the United States, coached two Olympic teams, and has won Olympicgold, several World Championship titles, and over 50 World Cup victories as acompetitor and a coach. He has now used his expertise to develop a “Neuro-RiderProgram,” with a focus on providing unique training options to furtherequestrian performance goals. He is based in Cologne, Germany (marcnoelke.de).
Marc Nölke is a state-certified trainer, systemic-integrative coach, and certified ZHealth trainer. His training methods are based on neuroscientific findings, classic training science, and over 10,000 hours of experience with a wide variety of people, from ages 8 to 80, and from the chronically ill to Olympic champions. He has worked as a full-time coach for national teams in Austria, Germany, and the United States, coached two Olympic teams, and has won Olympic gold, several World Championship titles, and over 50 World Cup victories as a competitor and a coach. He has now used his expertise to develop a “Neuro-Rider Program,” with a focus on providing unique training options to further equestrian performance goals. He is based in Cologne, Germany (marcnoelke.de).
