by Shelley Thomas | May 2, 2022 | equestrian, fitness
In my last two blog posts HERE and HERE, I’ve been talking about mobility, control, and load with riders. These are important elements to have in equestrian fitness programs to get your body ready to perform at its best. These same principles apply to horses. We need... 
by Shelley Thomas | Apr 25, 2022 | equestrian, fitness
I feel like hip flexors are often demonized as a rider’s worst enemy. There are so many articles/blogs/social media posts that blame tight hip flexors as the reason riders have hip restrictions which lead to stiffness and tension on a horse. I’d like to dive into this... 
by Shelley Thomas | Apr 18, 2022 | fitness
As an equestrian, you know how important it is to be fit to ride your horse, but designing an effective fitness program is challenging. Do you just lift weights? Do some cardio? Take up yoga or Pilates? Of course the answer is “it depends” because it’s based on the... 
by Shelley Thomas | Jun 7, 2020 | goal setting, mindset
I took a riding lesson this week that challenged me to figure things out and get comfortable being uncomfortable. There was an angled line that went vertical – 5 strides – oxer – 5 strides – vertical. I haven’t ridden an angled line like this for several years.... 
by Shelley Thomas | May 17, 2020 | core, equine physiotherapy
Core strength is a term riders often refer to when talking about their fitness program. It’s critical for being strong, having good posture on a horse, and transferring forces through your body. Core strength is just as important in horses. Like in humans, core...
