Evening Extravaganza
with Gillian Higgins
Date: Friday 19th September 2025
Venue: Vale View Equestrian Centre, Old Dalby, Leicestershire, LE14 3LX
Improve your riding, training and equine management with this live painted horse, interactive lecture demonstration with Gillian Higgins. Learn how understanding about anatomy and biomechanics can help to improve your horse's posture, movement, comfort and performance. Marvel at the impressive movements and performance of our anatomically painted horses. Appreciate how different exercises and techniques affect their way of going and performance. This is an evening not to be missed.
Horses and Riders
Simon Grieve
5* event rider Simon Grieve, together with one of his best horses, is literally turned inside out to show skeletal and muscular anatomy in jumping action, as they take part in the Horses Inside Out Evening Extravaganza.
As a rider, Simon has competed regularly at top level in eventing for the past 15 years. He has contested 18 5* events (Burghley, Badminton and Pau) as well as winning just shy of 100 national events too.
Event Programme
17.30: Doors open. Refreshments and Shopping.
18.00: VIP Reception
18.45: Introduction and Welcome
19.00: Anatomical Connections
Gain a valuable insight into the principles of anatomy and biomechanics related to improving the horse's posture, movement and performance. With the help of her anatomical paintings on horses, Gillian explains the role of the skeleton and muscles and using a variety of in-hand movements and pilates-type exercises Gillian will demonstrate range of movement and the impact of restrictions.
20.00: Break
During the break you'll have the opportunity to ask Gillian questions, study the bones and anatomical models of the horse to further your learning.
21.00: Part 2: Anatomy in Motion
This section of the lecture demonstration is jam-packed full of practical exercises, techniques and top tips that you can do with your own horse to improve his musculoskeletal health and performance. With one horse ridden and another on the lunge, the second half focuses on:- -
Assessing and improving movement
Harmony between horse and rider
Riding from an anatomical approach
Flatwork exercises to improve performance
The effect of polework
Gymnastic jumping
The rider will be wearing a skeleton bodysuit giving you the opportunity to study and understand how rider posture and position can influence the horse.
22.00: Close
Ticket Prices:
Early Bird Tickets: £25
Purchase before 31st May
Tickets in Advance: £35
Late Booking /Tickets on the door: £55
VIP Tickets: £50
VIP tickets include a private meet and greet with Gillian and the horses, a welcome drink and the opportunity to ask individual questions before the lecture demonstration starts as well as the best seats in the house reserved. Limited to 25 people.
Why Attend this Lecture Demonstration?
After this lecture demonstration you will look at horses from a new perspective. Whether you are a coach, rider, horse owner or other equestrian professional, you will new learn practical techniques to improve your practises with horses. This is an amazing opportunity for everyone interested in horses to learn more about the anatomy of these amazing creatures and how they work.
Who is this event for?
This really is an event for all equestrians whatever your level of knowledge and we urge everyone who owns or works with horses to join us for the event.
Earn CPD Points
This event is accredited by the BHS and is recognised by other organisations for CPD points. 3 CPD points with the BHS.
About Gillian Higgins
Gillian Higgins, founder of Horses Inside Out, is an anatomy and biomechanics specialist and leading equestrian educator. Her dynamic, enthusiastic presentation style inspires while she has an incredible ability to make a difficult subject fun, applicable and easy to understand. Gillian is passionate about horses, anatomy and sharing all she knows for the good of the horse. Having competed up to advanced level eventing, achieved her BHS Senior Coaching qualifications and completed multiple therapy qualifications, Gillian is in a great place to apply anatomy to riding, training and therapy.
During the applied evening demonstration, and with the internal anatomy painted on the outside of the horses, Gillian brilliantly explains in a clear, entertaining, memorable way how understanding our horses’ make-up allows us to ride, train and manage them efficiently and effectively, the best for the horse.