Meet ‘Cassidy’ a high-tech horse simulator helping London riders build skills, confidence

A local equine training centre is using a mechanical horse to train new riders. CTV’s Reta Ismail reports.

A new kind of horse is turning heads in London and helping riders build confidence in the saddle.

“I have named her Cassidy, after my grandfather, who used to braid the horses’ manes for the military parades in Saint Thomas when I was a little girl,” said Heather Broadhead, owner/operator of Broadhead Equine where the new mechanical horse is available for lessons.

Cassidy is an interactive dressage simulator used around the world to help riders of all levels improve their skills, safely and efficiently. And now, it’s available here in London.

“[Cassidy] has a movable head in two places. So, the head moves, the neck moves. There are sensors all under the saddle,” explained Broadhead.

Broadhead is now offering lessons on Cassidy, giving new riders a feel for the sport before they ever climb onto a live horse.

“Getting on the simulator can take you through numerous gaits rather quickly, so you can go your walk, your trot and your canter in several speeds,” she said.

“In this way, you can get that muscle memory and know how it’s supposed to feel when you get on a live animal, so it builds your confidence and gives you the muscle memory you need.”

Standing at 150 centimetres tall and complete with a realistic mane and tail, Cassidy came from the United Kingdom with a price tag of roughly $100,000.

Equipped with sensors, the simulator provides real-time feedback on posture, balance, and leg pressure — data riders can see instantly on a screen.

And it’s not just about learning to ride. Broadhead says Cassidy is also helping people recover from injuries.

“Nice thing about the biomechanics is you can give them the confidence in walk them through programs to get them rehabilitated, and this unit puts them on with no fear of the horse taking a misstep,” she said.

While nothing replaces the connection of riding a live horse, Broadhead says Cassidy offers the skills and the confidence that translate directly to the real world.