Here in Wellington County we are lucky to have entrepreneurs and innovators who are starting truly remarkable and unique businesses.
A couple weeks ago I took a drive up to Minto and met with Shannon South, owner of Black Horse Biomechanics Riding Simulator.
Shannon told me about this venture about a year and a half ago and I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn’t the life-sized riding simulator nicknamed Mighty that’s contained within a room of a barn.
After we completed the interview and I was informed about all the interesting and awesome ways Mighty could help a rider improve their skills to benefit both rider and horse and to enhance safety, Shannon let me try out the simulator.
As a longtime rider I’m pretty comfortable in the saddle and my body has a pretty innate understanding of how to move in sync with a real horse.
And Mighty delivered.
Apart from the mechanical sound, if I were to close my eyes I’d think I was on a real horse for a stride or two. But it’s the unfaltering and steady stride that is the tip-off the horse isn’t real.
However, that’s the beauty of the simulator. The rider has not a care in the world for what the “horse” is doing.
I was able to focus solely on what I was doing and through Mighty’s sensors and screens I was able to make adjustments (that I’ve since applied when riding a live horse) that improved my riding.
The business is not only unique but it’s just so useful for anyone who has anything to do with riding horses, whether they’re longtime riders, new riders or even nervous riders.
Thank you for bringing such a useful resource to Wellington County, Shannon, and I wish you much success.
For more information visit www.blackhorsebiomechanics.com or check out the story in this week’s Equine section.
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Speaking of women in business, Women of Wellington Saugeen Area (WOWSA) is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
The group works to connect female business owners and professionals in the area.
The anniversary event will take place on Sept. 26 from 6 to 8pm at the Mount Forest Fire Station.
Rochelle Ivri will be joining WOWSA for the event. She is a Canadian citizenship judge and paralegal professor at Mohawk College, who will speak on “The Next 10: What Women in Leadership Need to Grow Our Success, Satisfaction and Sustainability In The Next Ten Years.”
The event will celebrate how WOWSA has grown, its impact in the community and set the group’s goals for the next 10 years.
For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.wowsa.ca.
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