The Equestrian Physio: On Air

I’m back! After a little holiday pause and a busy January enrollment inside TEP Training, it feels really good to hit record again.

In this episode, I unpack a post I shared recently that stirred up more than a few strong reactions. It started with a simple observation: riders being asked to do laps in two point “to strengthen their legs.” I questioned whether that’s really the most effective way to build strength, and whether we’ve quietly normalized outsourcing our fitness to the time we spend in the saddle?

This conversation is not about banning two point (it's not even about two point!). It is not about saying squats are superior to riding. And it is absolutely not about attacking coaches or tradition.

It is about this:

• The difference between skill development and strength development

• Whether riding alone is sufficient to build physical capacity

• The message we send young riders when we frame mounted drills as “fitness work”

• Efficiency, intentionality, and athlete identity

• Why surplus capacity matters when things get hard or unpredictable

• And how tradition shapes what we defend

I talk through the common counter-arguments I received, from “two point builds strength and skill at the same time” to “why can’t we just do both?” I also zoom out to look at how every other sport separates skill practice from physical preparation, and why equestrian sport often resists that model.

At the core, this episode is about responsibility.

Our horses are our partners. If we identify as athletes, then part of that identity is showing up with strength, endurance, mobility, and resilience already built. Time in the saddle should primarily serve skill, communication, and the horse’s development. Strength can be built far more efficiently off the horse, in a way that creates a real buffer for the unexpected.

This is a nuanced conversation. It is not black and white. But I believe it is one worth having.

If this episode resonates with you, challenges you, or even frustrates you a little, I’d genuinely love to hear from you. Message me, tag me, share your thoughts. Let’s keep raising the standard together.

Welcome to Season 2.

Come say hi!

• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @theequestrianphysio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: @theequestrianpt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: @theequestrianphysio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: theequestrianphysio.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get the Training App!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Empowering equestrian athletes of all levels and disciplines with evidence-informed rehab, strength & conditioning, care and education.

Asymmetry is one of the biggest things riders obsess over. Leg length, crookedness, hip rotation, handedness, “my pelvis is twisted,” “one stirrup always feels longer,” all of it. The question is… when does it actually matter?

In this episode, I dig into what asymmetry really means for riders, when we care about it, and when it’s completely normal. I talk through why most athletes (in almost every other sport) function perfectly well with natural sidedness, why some asymmetries are literally performance advantages, and why equestrians are a special case because our bodies don’t operate alone — they influence the horse underneath us.

I break down:

• Why asymmetry in most sports is normal and often helpful

• Why equestrians sometimes need to treat asymmetry differently

• The problem with chasing endless “corrective” exercises

• Why leg length measurements are often inaccurate

• How a well-rounded, consistent strength program solves most asymmetries

• When unilateral work makes sense and when it doesn’t

• Why you shouldn’t automatically add more reps to your weaker side

• The difference between an adaptation and an actual problem

• Why most riders are trying to fix the top of the pyramid without building the foundation

I also explain how I build programs for riders: starting with human needs, then layering in discipline demands, then addressing individual asymmetries only after the base is covered. Most riders don’t need dozens of corrective drills. They need consistent, well-structured strength training that gets them close to failure, covers all major muscle groups, and includes enough unilateral work to balance things out over time.

If you’ve been told you’re “crooked,” “uneven,” or “twisted,” this episode will help you understand what matters, what doesn’t, and how to actually train in a way that supports your riding.

Come say hi!

• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @theequestrianphysio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: @theequestrianpt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: @theequestrianphysio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: theequestrianphysio.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get the Training App!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Empowering equestrian athletes of all levels and disciplines with evidence-informed rehab, strength & conditioning, care and education.

Hypermobility doesn’t have to mean pain, fatigue, or “I can’t.” In this episode, we unpack what hypermobility really is, what it means for riders, and how we can train smarter so both our bodies (and our horses) feel better.

I break down the spectrum from simple joint hypermobility to HSD and hEDS, how these conditions show up for equestrians, and why strength training can be such a powerful tool for comfort, control, and confidence in the saddle. I also talk about why hypermobile riders often experience disproportionate soreness, how to build strength safely, and when bracing or taping can actually help. Expect clear explanations, practical strategies, and realistic starting points for anyone managing hypermobility in their riding and training.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction to Hypermobile Equestrians

08:53 Understanding Hypermobility and Its Implications

17:00 Managing Hypermobility in Athletic Performance

26:03 Understanding Body Awareness and Neural Pathways

28:39 The Importance of Resistance Training

30:55 Addressing Joint Pain and Injury

33:22 Managing Fatigue in Hypermobile Individuals

35:47 The Role of Bracing and Support

38:31 Conclusion and Call to Action

KEY TOPICS

• Why so many hypermobile riders relate to this show, plus sampling bias
• Definitions: hypermobility vs HSD vs hEDS, Beighton overview
• Common co-travellers: fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, GI issues, neurodivergence, MCAS
• Disproportionate soreness after new or high-volume training, what to do instead
• Programming that works: intentional under-dosage, repeat movements, several-week blocks
• Proprioception and body maps, why resistance training sharpens control in the saddle
• Joint pain, subluxations, and building “good tension” with stronger tissues
• Fatigue realities, setting worst-week goals, stacking tiny wins
• Bracing and taping: when it helps, and the goal to “be the tape”
• Travel and show-season training options riders can actually stick with

PRACTICAL TIPS

• Start slower than you think. Aim for 20 to 30 percent of true capacity and build weekly.
• Keep the same main lifts for 4 to 8 weeks so your body adapts and soreness drops.
• Use mirrors, tempo, and repeated practice to improve body awareness.
• Build muscle around lax joints to add healthy resting tension and stability.

• If you brace or tape for big days, pair it with a plan to strengthen the area.
• For fatigue, pick a goal you can hit on your worst week, then layer up.

Come say hi!

• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @theequestrianphysio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: @theequestrianpt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: @theequestrianphysio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: theequestrianphysio.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get the Training App!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Empowering equestrian athletes of all levels and disciplines with evidence-informed rehab, strength & conditioning, care and education.