Both experienced riders and complete novices can polish their skills by saddling up on a horse that is guaranteed never to present any problems. It can’t bite, bolt or kick out because it’s not made of flesh and blood - it’s a mechanical horse.

Nervous or inexperienced riders obviously need a calm, well-disciplined horse who will do what he is told, with no threat of unpredictable behaviour. And the way to guarantee this is to saddle up a mechanical horse which always has a steady, rhythmic pace.

With a little help from an experienced instructor, the rider can concentrate on ironing out bad habits or learning new riding skills.

It can be difficult to concentrate on following a riding instructor’s advice if you are worried or tense about your mount. And sitting astride a mechanical horse - officially known as a riding simulator - means you can concentrate 100 per cent on what you are being told without worrying about the horse becoming spooked and galloping away with you.

This unusual method of equestrian training has been pioneered in Britain by 27-year-old instructor Michelle Cogger, who has two yards where her mechanical mounts are kept - one in East Grinstead, Sussex, and the other near Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire. She is one of just a handful of U.K. instructors who use riding simulators designed to simulate the horse‘s traditional gaits of walk, trot and canter. These machines, which can cost £20,000 each, are the result of 25 years of research by Cheshire-based manufacturer, Racewood Ltd. Sometimes they are used by advanced dressage riders anxious to perfect their seat and position.

Michelle specialises in making sure that experienced riders can work on their saddle position in a relaxed way and beginners have a “fear-free” introduction to riding. She also instructs disabled children who are nervous of horses, as well as riders rehabilitating after injury who need of help to get back in the saddle.

She is a British dressage trainer and competes in dressage events who possesses excellent observation skills and has the ability to assess riding faults quickly. This enables riders to overcome bad habits they may have slipped into.
She helped to develop a general riding model of the mechanical horse and has three simulators catering for different levels of ability. She uses gigantic surrounding mirrors to point out problems to riders while they are in the saddle. (She can be contacted on 0780 3085866.)

Mechanical horses have received the backing of the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) as part of its campaign at equine fairs.