Welcome to the team Twang!

Hi Athletes!

I had an exciting weekend. Twang arrived at our farm. He was originally supposed to come back in March, but he had a slip in the field (which anyone in Southern Ontario knows was sheet ice this year) and had an injury which delayed his arrival.

He is all recovered now, and ready to get into the bootcamp that I have planned for him.

Now before I get into those details, I will put out there that I am NOT allowed to keep Twang. I have already made that promise to my spouse lol. While I know horse people say that a lot, I am doing the mental hurdles to make that actually happen. In fact, I have become super excited to prepare him for his new home (wherever that might be).

I have to say in the last few years I have been more focused on getting new riders into endurance sport. I am less excited about myself entering and completing endurance rides, and more about the people who I can support on their first endurance ride. So it feels natural to now be excited to produce a really lovely horse to help someone else fall in love with horse sport. While no doubt it will be hard to say goodbye whenever that happens, I truly am excited to be in this role for him.

That being said, he’s getting the same treatment that he would if he WERE mine, and even more important to this discussion he is getting the same treatment as if he were one of my human trainees.

You have probably heard me say it before, I believe the humans deserve to treat themselves as well as they treat their horses. Part of being an athlete (and the basis behind my brand name Ride Like an Athlete) is that we want to develop holistically, its not just about working out or adding more to our programs. It’s about considering all aspects of our lifestyle and how it can contribute to our athletic performance.

So when Twang arrived yesterday, he got the spa treatment that every athlete deserves. He got his hooves trimmed by my farrier (humans, when was the last time you replaced your running shoes or had your stride assessed?) then he got a massage and diagnostics on this musculoskeletal status (human, have you been cleared by a doctor or physiotherapist to begin an exercise program?).

My two experts helped me build the game plan for what the first month of his training will look like. Same as my humans, the first month is about rebuilding the body frim any issues that are present from lifestyle and previous injury - things that could potentially get in the way of success down the road even if they aren’t screaming at us now - those little nagging things that we tolerate but maybe aren’t best long term. Its also about building good habits and getting used to the routine of consistent work. Its about giving him the skills and awareness in his body to be able to complete the work in good form BEFORE we add any load or intensity.

Yes, all my humans get that too. It’s a program that I trust to build a lifelong love for movement. It’s something you can use for yourself and your horses as well.

Next time you are wondering where to go, whether starting a new fitness program or reviewing your current one, ask yourself… “If it were for my horse, what would I do?”

Would you seek help from professionals? Would you go back to the basics? Would you spend the money on bodywork or better equipment?

If you believe your horse deserves it, you deserve it too.

-Sarah