What does DILBA mean?
The name DILBA is part of an old family history* and at the same time all letters have a suitable meaning for what we do:
D = Dual · I = Interaction · L = Line · BA = Balance
We bring the myofascial lines of two living beings that interact with each other back to their original balance.
The origin of our idea
If you put a toddler (approx. 2 to 4 years old) on a rocking horse or on your back while you play with the horse, you will see that small children have incredible balance. Their seat is effortlessly upright. Somehow stable and yet not stiff. They sit selectively on the ischial tuberosities (buttocks). The legs hang loosely from the hips. The knees are neither pulled up nor does the child perform any clamping movement. Doesn't that sound like a good riding seat? Why can they do that?
We find the answer in the myofascial channels. In small children, the body has not yet experienced any negative adaptation, e.g. from sitting for hours (as it begins in school). If the channels are in harmony, our body functions energy-efficiently and without wear or pain.
In other words: negatively adjusted myofascial lines rob us of a lot of energy every day because our body is busy compensating and they are ultimately the reason for knee/hip/shoulder pain, etc.
Why should every rider know their imbalances?
So that the frustration and “treading on the spot” finally comes to an end!
Everyone has heard these sentences: “They can’t ride properly anymore” “They ride without feeling, just mechanically” “The way she sits on the horse, the riding instructor has said a thousand times that she should put her shoulders back / Don't pull your knees up / spring into your heels / don't fall into your back so much / keep your hands more steady / etc.” ...the rider tried everything. But whenever she concentrates so much on her physical corrections, she no longer has a chance to feel the horse. Therefore, she rides mechanically and cannot be as sensitive or ride as well as she would like.
Any seating correction only lasted during the riding lesson, but the next ride without an instructor the “magic” was gone. The explanation for this is incredibly simple. The rider tries to work against incorrect tension in her body. But this pulls her shoulders forward / doesn't let her thighs fall loosely from her hips / blocks her ankles / pulls her into a hollow back / fixes her shoulders to her torso / and much more.
The only way to get out of all of these problems sustainably is to individually analyze and treat the rider's myofascial pathways.
You will help your horse the most when you start working on yourself.
Myofascial lines
They run through the entire body and (to put it simply) move from one muscle to the next. These lines are clearly defined and scientifically proven in humans and horses. Cause-consequence chains can be quickly traced and sustainably resolved using the myofascial lines.
Why do we know this?
As part of a small field study with 20 horse-rider pairs, we were able to gather exciting findings. Of course, the horse's body also functions via the myofascial channels and their tensegral tension field. The rider is reflected to a certain extent in the horse.
Unfortunately, the rider is often the cause of injuries/damage to his horse's musculoskeletal system.
There are myofascial pathways that connect from rider to horse. This understanding explains why some rider-horse pairs find themselves stuck in a dead end or even in a downward spiral. Wear and tear and injuries to the horse are a logical consequence at this point.
For example, in most cases the dreaded pastern damage is caused by the rider and his or her riding. On the hind leg, the fetlock damage is just the end result of a negatively adapted superficial back line and this is negatively influenced by constant stress, incorrect saddle (center of gravity) and especially the rider.
But simpler examples can also be given; a bad bending movement, breaking out over one shoulder, and much more are not the topics of our horse. They are our issues. The better you understand the myofascial pathways of horses and humans, the more you realize that any kind of correction/therapy/training must follow this path - in order to turn a downward spiral into an upward spiral.
Why is classic physiotherapy not enough for horses/riders?
Most therapists work symptom oriented. Do you have back pain? Then work will concentrate on your back. The cause of the back pain is not analyzed and not resolved. What is the logical consequence? The back pain will return, and the process starts over again. (Applies equally to rider and horse)
We work differently. In the first step, we carry out an analysis to see where the incorrect tensions arise. This is how we get to the root of the problem and solve it. Our customers receive exercise videos for home training. After the second appointment, most people have such a good feel for their body that they know which exercises they can do immediately if things get worse. So, you learn to help yourself.
There is also another problem: Hardly any horse therapists look at you as a rider. This means that this extremely important piece of the puzzle is missing from their work and makes the results unsustainable.
We create sustainable solutions
“Crooked rider – crooked horse” - a problem that has been known for many decades. But somehow a sustainable solution was never worked on. This is finally over now.
We at DILBA have learned to analyze myofascial imbalances in the rider and horse and to treat them individually. The analysis is carried out according to a standardized procedure. In a combination of videos/photos from riding and 6 different basic movements that the rider must perform, we can not only say something about the human pathways, but also about the horse.
The person is treated with so-called self-treatments, which he/she should then carry out alone at home every 2-3 days in order to achieve a lasting effect. He/she can treat their horse themselves. In addition to the “exercise instruction videos” for the rider, we have “treatment instruction videos” for the horse. It works very simple and with almost “magical effects”.
Particularly cool – the concept also works from a distance. Of course you can come to our premises in Melle near Osnabrück, but you can also be on the other side of the world and benefit equally from our therapy system. Our online analysis makes this possible. The treatment appointments then simply take place via Zoom. (Please send inquiries via email.)
Our horse simulator
When visiting us in person, you can ride our horse simulator “Veritas” as part of your analysis.
“Veritas” is Latin and means truth – which is a very fitting name in this case. The simulator clearly shows you your own crookedness and biotensegral/mechanical blockages. Basically everything your horse compensates for you is pointed out for you to see.
Yes, the truth can hurt, but luckily we have the solution for you - to a sustainably balanced rider seat and many positive effects in normal everyday life.
Training to become a DILBA therapist
If you not only want to achieve balance yourself, but also want to help others, we will be offering training to become a “DILBA therapist” from November 2024. It includes 8 modules and takes horses and people into account - from analysis to targeted treatment of both. This course takes place online. Classes take place via Zoom once a week - participation is voluntary and serves to clarify open questions or discuss personal cases. At the end there is a practical week or alternatively two longer weekends followed by a final exam. This practical part takes place exclusively in small groups of 6 participants. Please send applications for a training position by email to [email protected]
Who is behind DILBA?
The DILBA therapy was developed and tested by Gloria Grothe.
As an experienced manual therapist for horses (Physio/Osteo/Chiro+) with various additional qualifications related to horses (from hoof trimming to saddle fitting), she dealt intensively with the topic of riders in 2023 and acquired several qualifications in human therapy and fitness. The unique therapy system from DILBA was created from the combination of their “old” and new knowledge.
The DILBA team
"Alone you can achieve a lot, together you can achieve everything."
- John F Kennedy
For this reason, Carolin Igelmann (animal health practitioner | horse physiotherapist) and Rieke Döll (yoga teacher | sports therapist) are part of the core team.
We hope for many more DILBA therapists in the future to revolutionize the horse industry and enable Horse + People to have more health and quality of life.
*The family history
In despair of not finding a suitable name for this new project, I remembered my roots. I grew up on my grandfather's Haflinger stud farm. But why did my grandfather even have this stud farm?
It all started with an emaciated mare that my grandfather received as part of a swap deal. He nursed her and presented her at a mare show; she won many prizes. Including the one in the photo on the left. My grandfather's first mare was called Dilba.
