Mat to Saddle Method was established in 2008 specializing in Pilates and Pilates-based conditioning and balance work for equestrians. Clinic participants particularly value the changes in their horses after working on themselves. We are located in Athens, TX. but we travel the world bringing Mat to Saddle Method to you.
What to expect at a Mat to Saddle Clinic
Join Debbee Sharpe and occasionally a talented guest riding instructor for a day of Pilates, Balance, Core Activation, Centering, and Skill Development for you and your horse.
First will be a Pilates based intensive on the mat with Debbee Sharpe, owner of Core Work Pilates and Mat to Saddle Pilates Method. Debbee has been a fitness educator for over 39 years. She created Mat to Saddle Pilates Method to help riders associate the principles and benefits of Pilates with their riding. In this barefoot clinic we'll be developing an understanding of what your core is, how to activate it, and how to utilize your core to sustain better balance, carriage, and efficient movement in the saddle and in your everyday activities. Breathing is something we take for granted but with proper breath awareness you can control your tension, emotions, muscle efficiency and posture. Whether you practice Pilates or not you will benefit from the experience of this clinic. Beginners to Pilates will have much to take away with them. Those who practice Pilates Mat or Equipment work will be looking at the work from a different perspective with the use of beams, balls and mats. Mat to Saddle is structured to make big differences in your body by focusing on the nuances of balance and intrinsic muscle activation.
Using strength, balance, and feel, Debbee will give you the tools to become more in tune with your horse by giving them a clearer path to read your intentions along with a fluid body in the saddle to help their efficiency. If you are braced in your back and body it causes your horse to hollow out his back and that is hard on both of you. Pilates strengthens and lengthens muscles, help you become more fluid and balanced in your ground movement and in the saddle, become strong and at home in your core and improve your posture and carriage. Plus, you'll have more energy by learning how to recruit fewer muscles to do more work. By educating and strengthening your body with my Pilates based program, riding will be a more enjoyable experience for you and your horse.
After lunch the program will be in the saddle with Debbee and sometimes special guest instructors. We will reinforce the benefits of utilizing Pilates centering, core activation and balance to help escalate your riding skills, improve your communication and enhance the partnership between you and your horse. Riders of all skill levels are welcome.
Among the guest instructors that have joined me are Champion Reining competitors and trainers Van and Cathy Luse who facilitated a great clinic at their training barn. The Luses' are well known in the equestrian world as accomplished competitors, trainers, and horsemen. As a team they don't miss a single detail when working with their clients. Learn more about Van and Cathy at www.lusehorses.com.
The very talented Jerilyn Caldwell, a 3 Star Parelli Instructor, has joined me several times working on riding skills as a group and giving individual attention where needed. Jerilyn and I reinforce the benefits of utilizing Pilates centering, core activation and balance to help escalate your riding skills, improve your communication, and enhance the partnership between you and your horse. All natural horsemanship modalities are welcome. Learn more about Jerilyn at www.jerilyncaldwell.com.
First will be a Pilates based intensive on the mat with Debbee Sharpe, owner of Core Work Pilates and Mat to Saddle Pilates Method. Debbee has been a fitness educator for over 39 years. She created Mat to Saddle Pilates Method to help riders associate the principles and benefits of Pilates with their riding. In this barefoot clinic we'll be developing an understanding of what your core is, how to activate it, and how to utilize your core to sustain better balance, carriage, and efficient movement in the saddle and in your everyday activities. Breathing is something we take for granted but with proper breath awareness you can control your tension, emotions, muscle efficiency and posture. Whether you practice Pilates or not you will benefit from the experience of this clinic. Beginners to Pilates will have much to take away with them. Those who practice Pilates Mat or Equipment work will be looking at the work from a different perspective with the use of beams, balls and mats. Mat to Saddle is structured to make big differences in your body by focusing on the nuances of balance and intrinsic muscle activation.
Using strength, balance, and feel, Debbee will give you the tools to become more in tune with your horse by giving them a clearer path to read your intentions along with a fluid body in the saddle to help their efficiency. If you are braced in your back and body it causes your horse to hollow out his back and that is hard on both of you. Pilates strengthens and lengthens muscles, help you become more fluid and balanced in your ground movement and in the saddle, become strong and at home in your core and improve your posture and carriage. Plus, you'll have more energy by learning how to recruit fewer muscles to do more work. By educating and strengthening your body with my Pilates based program, riding will be a more enjoyable experience for you and your horse.
After lunch the program will be in the saddle with Debbee and sometimes special guest instructors. We will reinforce the benefits of utilizing Pilates centering, core activation and balance to help escalate your riding skills, improve your communication and enhance the partnership between you and your horse. Riders of all skill levels are welcome.
Among the guest instructors that have joined me are Champion Reining competitors and trainers Van and Cathy Luse who facilitated a great clinic at their training barn. The Luses' are well known in the equestrian world as accomplished competitors, trainers, and horsemen. As a team they don't miss a single detail when working with their clients. Learn more about Van and Cathy at www.lusehorses.com.
The very talented Jerilyn Caldwell, a 3 Star Parelli Instructor, has joined me several times working on riding skills as a group and giving individual attention where needed. Jerilyn and I reinforce the benefits of utilizing Pilates centering, core activation and balance to help escalate your riding skills, improve your communication, and enhance the partnership between you and your horse. All natural horsemanship modalities are welcome. Learn more about Jerilyn at www.jerilyncaldwell.com.
Debbee Sharpe, founder of Mat to Saddle Method
Debbee is the former owner of Core Work Pilates - a Pilates and suspension training studio in Coppell, TX, and Mat to Saddle Pilates Method Clinics. She now works with private Pilates clients in her studio in Athens, TX. She has been a fitness trainer and instructor for more than 38 years teaching classes, training clients and other instructors. She started the first aerobics studio in Durham, North Carolina in 1980 and was the standard in fitness until she sold it in 1991. Ms. Sharpe designed the first onsite fitness program for the Duke University Hospital employees and was later ask to join the PE staff at Duke University and taught an aerobic fitness program at her studio for undergrads.
Debbee wrote a monthly column, Mat to Saddle Athlete, for the online ipad magazine, Saddle and Stirrups. Debbee was one of the featured instructors on Crunch Fitness aired on ESPN2. She was one of the Fit Team for "Jenny Craig's Fit in 15" on the Health Channel. Her videos include Crunch Fitness Turbo Sculpt; Harper's Bazaar Greenhouse Spa; and Jenny Craig's Tube and Tone Workout. She continues to be involved in video, training talent for camera. She has also written articles and designed several workout programs for featured articles in Shape Magazine. She is one of the Elite Trainers for Beamfit and uses the Beam in her Mat to Saddle Clinics.
Sharpe's Workout was a continuing education provider for ACE for several years and Ms. Sharpe taught instructor workshops and lectured throughout the US. Debb has presented at local and international fitness conventions. She chaired the first Workout for Hope in North Carolina. As a civilian she was a fitness provider for the US Military during the Gulf War and spent two months in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia.
Ms. Sharpe has many general and specific fitness certifications and trains clients at her studio in Coppell as well as in home training. Debbee created Mat to Saddle Pilates Method in 2008 to help humans help their horses. Her workshops involve Pilates-based work on the ground and practice on one's horse to feel how riding is directly and positively affected by Pilates and refocusing one's energy and control.
Pilates has become Ms. Sharpe's focus and love. With the Pilates method of training she has seen incredible positive changes in her clients posture, carriage, strength, and attitudes. She incorporates many forms of barefoot training into her programs and all include the Principles and Fundamentals of Pilates. Sharing this knowledge and her passions, horses and Pilates, with you is her joy and privilege.
Debbee wrote a monthly column, Mat to Saddle Athlete, for the online ipad magazine, Saddle and Stirrups. Debbee was one of the featured instructors on Crunch Fitness aired on ESPN2. She was one of the Fit Team for "Jenny Craig's Fit in 15" on the Health Channel. Her videos include Crunch Fitness Turbo Sculpt; Harper's Bazaar Greenhouse Spa; and Jenny Craig's Tube and Tone Workout. She continues to be involved in video, training talent for camera. She has also written articles and designed several workout programs for featured articles in Shape Magazine. She is one of the Elite Trainers for Beamfit and uses the Beam in her Mat to Saddle Clinics.
Sharpe's Workout was a continuing education provider for ACE for several years and Ms. Sharpe taught instructor workshops and lectured throughout the US. Debb has presented at local and international fitness conventions. She chaired the first Workout for Hope in North Carolina. As a civilian she was a fitness provider for the US Military during the Gulf War and spent two months in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia.
Ms. Sharpe has many general and specific fitness certifications and trains clients at her studio in Coppell as well as in home training. Debbee created Mat to Saddle Pilates Method in 2008 to help humans help their horses. Her workshops involve Pilates-based work on the ground and practice on one's horse to feel how riding is directly and positively affected by Pilates and refocusing one's energy and control.
Pilates has become Ms. Sharpe's focus and love. With the Pilates method of training she has seen incredible positive changes in her clients posture, carriage, strength, and attitudes. She incorporates many forms of barefoot training into her programs and all include the Principles and Fundamentals of Pilates. Sharing this knowledge and her passions, horses and Pilates, with you is her joy and privilege.