Correct Rider Movement + Better Communication = Happy Horse

Better rides through fixed movement patterns so that your horse understands your aids

Move Like A Rider is designed to improve your overall fitness, balance, strength, and coordination in the saddle by helping you assess and correct your individual motor patterns and weaknesses.

We understand that everyone learns differently, some people enjoy online courses that they can take at their leisure from the comfort of their home. While others prefer that one-to-one consultative approach to augment their online learning.

That's why we have created a series of courses, programs, and subscriptions that are suitable for all fitness and riding levels or disciplines. They are customizable to meet your specific needs and goals.

Understanding HOW YOUR BODY moves and fixing imbalances, crookedness, and misalignments will ultimately create a better riding experience for you and your horse!

We'll teach you the skills you need to fix what isn't working and maintain correct movement so that you can enjoy the rides you've only dreamed of.

We help riders just like you, get the results you want

You don't need to ride a string of horses or go to the gym for hours each day to find security, confidence, and balance in the saddle!

With Move Like A Rider, you will learn how to ...

  • speak your horse's language by correctly and accurately using your body
  • be secure in the saddle when the unexpected comes
  • have the confidence you want to progress to new levels or try new riding activities

But the most important reason to learn the Move Like A Rider approach is the joy you'll have in building the trusting relationship you have with your horse.

You will understand the changes you need to make in your motor patterns to improve your riding and develop deeper communication and connection with your horse.

But how?

You think the best way to become a better rider is to take more lessons or ride more horses.

It's not uncommon to think that riding more horses will fix all your problems.

Unfortunately, if you have poor mottor patterns, riding more horses will only make those patterns worse. After a while, you may not even be able to feel that you are sitting crookedly in the saddle or weighting one seatbone more heavily than the other.

Move Like A Rider will help identify those patterns that cause miscommunication with your horse and make you feel like you've forgotten how to ride your horse!

Riders are often given bad instruction that doesn't fix the problem.

It’s hard to know what you don’t know

You don’t think of yourself as an athlete

You aren’t alone in your journey

You are in the right place!

Learn the Move Like A Rider Approach and Achieve the Body Awareness and Motor Patterns You Need to have the Effortless Rides of Your Dreams.

Muscle recruitment (motor patterns) is akin to symphony. The muscles (instruments) need to play at the right strength, timing, and interplay with the other instruments to create music (movement).

This is where I live and work, in the synergy, the timing.

Move Like A Rider teaches the way behind the how, fostering harmony, communication, and understanding between rider and horse.

My proven step-by-step online programs and private coaching sessions will help you correct your poor motor patterns so that you can ride better and have a better relationship with your horse.




Summary of Our Services, Subscriptions, and Courses

Move Like A Rider 8-Week Online Course


A proven, step-by-step training program specifically designed for riders.

  • All mobile videos are in an easy-to-follow format:
    • Rider Checklists
    • Mounted rider BEFORE assessment
    • Includes an off-the-horse assessment that you can easily follow at home
    • a motor pattern fix for you to replicate throughout your day
    • an AFTER example in the saddle



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Move Like A Rider Monthly 

Silver-Level Subscription




    • Monthly Video Analysis Rider submits four videos, 30 seconds or less in length, each taken from four angles (front, back, and both sides)
    • Direct Video Feedback will include the rider, horse, and horse/rider team assessment
    • Visual feedback will identify biomechanics and movement patterns to improve communication and performance of the horse/rider team
    • Improvement Strategies exercises and activities to address problem areas will be given for the rider to work on both on and off the horse
    • Monthly One-on-one video or in-person assessment
      • The assessment starts with learning about your history of injuries, riding experience, and areas of concern for the rider that must be addressed. Mobility, strength, and movement patterns will be assessed, and causes of areas of concern will be identified. The rider will be given individualized exercises to work on and off the horse.
      • The second part of this assessment is conducted with the rider on the horse. Before you start riding, a brief screen of the horses’ confirmation and movement will be conducted. Then, the horse/rider team will be observed and taught how to integrate the improved motor patterns and body awareness gained in the rider assessment. Specific riding exercises will address performance concerns and reinforce improved motor patterns and communication with the horse. The rider will leave this assessment with a greater understanding of how they move and how to communicate more clearly with their horse to improve their harmony and performance.
    • Weekly Live Zoom/FB Q & A• An open forum space for the Move Like A Rider community to ask questions, share experiences and build relationships with like-minded riders
    • Private Facebook Group
      • Private group exclusively for the Move Like A Rider community
      • A place to share trials, tribulations, triumphs, and support each other on our path towards becoming the riders we want to be
      • A safe space to talk about our horses with those who Want to hear, and share their horsie stories!


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Move Like A Rider Monthly

Gold-Level Subscription




    • Monthly Video Analysis Rider submits four videos, 30 seconds or less in length, each taken from four angles (front, back, and both sides)
    • Direct Video Feedback will include the rider, horse, and horse/rider team assessment
    • Visual feedback will identify biomechanics and movement patterns to improve communication and performance of the horse/rider team
    • Improvement Strategies exercises and activities to address problem areas will be given for the rider to work on both on and off the horse
    • Monthly One-on-one video or in-person assessment
      • The assessment starts with learning about your history of injuries, riding experience, and areas of concern for the rider that must be addressed. Mobility, strength, and movement patterns will be assessed, and causes of areas of concern will be identified. The rider will be given individualized exercises to work on and off the horse.
      • The second part of this assessment is conducted with the rider on the horse. Before you start riding, a brief screen of the horses’ confirmation and movement will be conducted. Then, the horse/rider team will be observed and taught how to integrate the improved motor patterns and body awareness gained in the rider assessment. Specific riding exercises will address performance concerns and reinforce improved motor patterns and communication with the horse. The rider will leave this assessment with a greater understanding of how they move and how to communicate more clearly with their horse to improve their harmony and performance.
    • Weekly Live Zoom/FB Q & A• An open forum space for the Move Like A Rider community to ask questions, share experiences and build relationships with like-minded riders
    • Private Facebook Group
      • Private group exclusively for the Move Like A Rider community
      • A place to share trials, tribulations, triumphs, and support each other on our path towards becoming the riders we want to be
      • A safe space to talk about our horses with those who Want to hear, and share their horsie stories!
    • Mastermind Group-twice Monthly
      • An exclusive space for Move Like A Rider riders to take their riding development to the next level.
      • This group is a space for riders to problem-solve, mentor, and support each other
      • • This is a place to create and achieve goals through peer accountability, encouragement, and building a community of like-minded riders and horsepeople
    • Non-riding Assessment (Quarterly) - . This assessment starts with learning about your history of injuries, riding experience, and areas of concern for the rider that need to be addressed. Mobility, strength, and movement patterns will be assessed, and causes of areas of concern will be identified. We will discuss specific strategies to improve your movement patterns and how they will improve your communication with your horse. We will discuss your riding concerns and create strategies to address the cause, often due to movement patterns that cause aids to be unclear and your horse not to understand your aids. You will be given individualized exercises to work on and off the horse.
    • Consultation with Trainer - Consultation will be done through live video or in person after at least one rider or horse/rider assessment. We will discuss each of our perspectives on the strengths and weaknesses that are affecting the horse/rider team performance. Shared goals and interventions will be agreed upon. Your trainer will leave our consultation with a greater understanding of the cause of riding challenges and equipped with specific verbal and tactile cues to use to reinforce what is covered in individual sessions with MLAR. Individualized exercises for the rider and the horse/rider team will be agreed upon to support the trainer and rider goals.
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Move Like A Rider Monthly Maintenance Subscription


  • Monthly Video Analysis Rider submits four videos, 30 seconds or less in length, each taken from four angles (front, back, and both sides)
  • Direct Video Feedback will include the rider, horse, and horse/rider team assessment
  • Visual feedback will identify biomechanics and movement patterns to improve communication and performance of the horse/rider team
  • Improvement Strategies exercises and activities to address problem areas will be given for the rider to work on both on and off the horse


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Move Like A Rider Private Group Coaching Clinics (1-day) (Add-on)



  • Minimum of 5 riders 90 minutes per rider. 60 minutes off the horse, 30 minutes riding
  • Non-riding assessment for each rider (off-horse) discussing injury history, riding challenges, and goals for the private group session.
  • Rider function assessment assess each riders strength, mobility, movement patterens, as well as areas of weakness, stiffness, and movement patterns for improvement. And, how And, how they affect communication with the horse and riding performance.
  • Improvement Strategies focus on rider excerises and activities to use to improve their riding skills.
  • On-horse riding session -The goal of the riding session is to reinforce what was covered in the non-riding assessment. I help the rider use their improved body awareness and movement patterns to better communicate with their horse. Exercises specific to the horse/rider team will be given to improve riding performance and address the riding goals discussed in the non-riding assessment.


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Move Like A Rider Private Group Coaching Clinics (2-days)

(Add-on)



  • Minimum of 5 riders 90 minutes per rider. 60 minutes off the horse, 30 minutes riding
  • Non-riding assessment for each rider (off-horse) discussing injury history, riding challenges, and goals for the private group session.
  • Rider function assessment assess each riders strength, mobility, movement patterens, as well as areas of weakness, stiffness, and movement patterns for improvement. And, how And, how they affect communication with the horse and riding performance.
  • Improvement Strategies focus on rider excerises and activities to use to improve their riding skills.
  • On-horse riding session -The goal of the riding session is to reinforce what was covered in the non-riding assessment. I help the rider use their improved body awareness and movement patterns to better communicate with their horse. Exercises specific to the horse/rider team will be given to improve riding performance and address the riding goals discussed in the non-riding assessment.
  • Horse Assessment:
    • Horses’ confirmation, movement, and biomechanics will be assessed with no rider
    • Horses’ movement, strength, and flexibility will be assessed
    • Specific exercises recommended to address the horses’ problem areas
    • Exercises to improve horses’ strength, flexibility, movement, and performance under the saddle are recommended.


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Move Like A Rider Non-riding Assessment

(Add-on)




  • Starts with a one-to-one assessment of the riders’ history, concerns, and riding challenges.
  • Movement patterns and problem areas will be identified.
  • This rider-only assessment is a perfect place to learn more about your movement patterns and body awareness that affect your riding and communication with your horse. You will receive a personalized program of exercises and movement pattern exercises to do off your horse to improve how you move and the clarity of aids and communication with your horse.


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Move Like A Rider

Problem-solving Consultations (Rider Only)

(Add-on)


A private consultation with you, the rider, to address your riding challenges and concerns. These can be consistent difficulties when riding, issues with riding performance, pain, or fear/confidence lost after a fall or scare while riding.

  • Examples of conditions addressed in problem-solving consultations:
    • Pain when riding: hip pain while riding, ankle pain while standing in stirrups, back pain while riding, shoulder pain, neck pain
    • Pain after riding
    • Consistent performance issues when riding, such as difficulty turning in one direction more than the other, transitions, sitting the trot, feeling secure when riding, fear/loss of confidence after a fall, or a scary riding experience.
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You Want Someone Who Understands Your Frustration
in the Saddle and Can Fix it.

As an Equestrian and Doctor of Physical Therapy, I Know How to Correct
Your Physical Problems and Make You a Better Rider.

I’m Tonya Olson, Doctor of Physical Therapy, human and equine functional anatomy expert, business owner, and horsewoman. I’ve always had a passion for horses, and in my younger years, the barn became a haven to escape the pressures of the outside world.

A path to becoming a veterinarian to work with horses evolved into a desire to connect human movement to people's relationships with their horses. I ultimately chose physical therapy to help riders see themselves as athletes and show them how to be the best athletes for their horses.

You can find me and my German Shepherd Alvy in St. Petersburg, Florida, where I own and run Centaur Physical Therapy.

BOX with Qualifications
Dr. Tonya Olson, MSPT, DPT Board Certified in Orthopedic Physical Therapy
Certified Manual Physical Therapist
2007 began practicing
2018 start of Centaur Physical Therapy

Education
Doctoral Candidate, Doctor of Education
Evidence in Motion (Doctorate in Physical Therapy)
Medical University of South Carolina (Master’s degree in Physical Therapy)
Indiana University-Purdue University (Bachelor’s degree in Biology)

How to work with me

How Can I Help You?

  1. Check out the Freebie page and sign up for the Free Mini-Course.
  2. Follow my Move Like A Rider Facebook and Instagram pages. I'll post lots of great advice and tips throughout the week.
  3. Join my Move Like A Rider Facebook Group. Here we can interact. I do FB live videos and you get to be part of a community all working together toward better riding and happier relationships with their horses.
  4. Ready for more? Take a course! Here you get to dive in and work with me and a group online to work through your individual movement pattern problems and how to be fix them.
  5. If you want to work with me directly, I do virtual coaching and in-person coaching in the St. Petersburg, Florida area, fill out the form on the contact page.
  6. Celebrate your riding successes with new friends in your Move Like A Rider community!
Check out the Right course or subscription for you!

Here’s What My Clients Are Saying…

Small tweaks and exercises … made a huge difference in my ability to impact my horse’s movements.

Brianna Cussano - Doctoral Student, rider

Tonya is amazing! She opened my eyes to the source of my riding problems, ones that I didn't even know existed. WIth small tweaks and exercises, she made a huge difference in my ability to impact my horse's movements. You think you know where your body is and what it's doing, but most of us really don't.

Tonya gave me exercises to do on and off the horse. These targeted exercises gave me the ability to practice and strengthen my weaknesses even when it's raining, dark out, or I just have 5 minutes. This has made a huge difference and allowed me to make progress even though I don't ride for a living.

My horse is so happy I know Tonya! She has made me better at doing self check-ins when things don't seem to be going right. Now when my horse doesn't feel even or is diving to one side, I think, "ok, where am I crooked?" Erica Lacher, DVM

I ride pain free... and able to do things that seemed impossible before.

Today, I am much closer to being the rider I want to be. I ride pain free and feel strong and able to do things that seemed impossible before. Tonya was there for me and I don't think I'd be riding today if it weren't for her support.

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