Dr Fiona Hargraves PhD, exercise, nutrition, and behavioural scientist addresses what to do - and what not to do - when you want to improve fitness as a rider, but realise you struggle to prioritise yourself with a busy equestrian lifestyle & the rest of your responsibilities.
Dr Fi discusses:
- why you might not have 'failed' if you've tried to get fit before, because you might not have actually tried evidence-based strategies for adherence
- how to gain clarity on what will actually be successful for you to work on before heading down the path
- what the research shows us regarding different types of goals and how to use this to our advantage
- one of the most common pitfalls for riders - who really don't have time to waste - when it comes to fitness programs and what type of approach to use instead

To put this theory into action, visit FitScience EQ and come train with us to enhance your riding!

Have you been trying and trying to stretch those tight hip flexors or other areas and feel like it's just not getting any better? There's a good chance it really isn't working because the muscles are habitually in a shortened position and not only are they tight, but they are weak. Yes, that's right - tight AND weak. Tight doesn't = strong. This episode goes through why this is a problem for riders and what to do about it!

To put this theory into action, visit FitScience EQ and come train with us to enhance your riding!

Proprioception could be considered a sixth sense and is our ability to detect where are body parts are in space. This episode discusses how skilled riders have symmetry of movement, pressure, force, and position, detected and controlled by proprioception - along with coordination and balance - and also what riders can do to improve this off the horse!

To put this theory into action, visit FitScience EQ and come train with us to enhance your riding!

Fiona discusses the influence of rider alignment and balance on the horse and on the ability to deliver effective aids. She also reviews the ideal riding seat and identifies common issues that may be the result of a non-optimal rider position, as well as how the saddle fit for the rider is a key factor to consider.

To put this theory into action, visit FitScience EQ and come train with us to enhance your riding!

What is Mobility? And what about Flexibility? Mobility is one of the key ingredients to moving with the horse. Fiona discusses how significantly it affects riding, the important body parts you really need to be able to move through an efficient and correct range of motion, how mobility may be affected by other activities, and also strategies to improve mobility.

To put this theory into action, visit FitScience EQ and come train with us to enhance your riding!

Fiona discusses muscular strength and endurance and why equestrian athletes need to consider this in their training, as they do for their horse! She also outlines principles of training such as specificity, progressive overload and recovery and how they shape an athlete into a performer over time with careful programming. Learn about why strength is the key to having energy and is the real fountain of youth!

To put this theory into action, visit FitScience EQ and come train with us to enhance your riding!

Should riders focus on cardiovascular fitness?
What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic fitness and what should I be doing?
Fiona guides riders though considering how training for more energy can increase rider performance by considering the demands of the sport and aligning what is expected of the rider with what is expected from the horse in the six-legged athlete team.

To put this theory into action, visit FitScience EQ and come train with us to enhance your riding!

What is periodisation? How does is apply in equestrian sports and how can it help athletes peak at just the right time for competitions?
Periodisation means your training has strategy to achieve progression and purpose, it also prevents burnout and injury. It applies to horses and riders both separately and together, is essential for serious competitors yet also applicable to recreational athletes to help them achieve riding goals.
In this podcast, Fiona covers the main phases and sub-phases of periodisation, a key principle of athletic training, and how to use this principle to peak for success.

To put this theory into action, visit FitScience EQ and come train with us to enhance your riding!