The Fundamentals of Exercise Programming
This course is designed for horse owners and professionals alike, to support horses in being happy, healthy athletes, genuinely. This looks like so much more than simply improving physical performance – it looks like recognising your horse’s emotional health and physical health. Understanding when to progress an exercise, when to regress an exercise and when to stay at the current level because the horse needs more time.
Fundamentals of Exercise Programming
When I was studying for my Equine Physiotherapy Diploma, we were taught that you should be able to take a horse from post-injury to riding away in a 12 week rehabilitation plan. This plan looked like week by week progressive overload where the exercise intensity increased until the horse was ‘back to post-injury performance’. Whilst this does not sound offensive, there is so much more to it than simply increasing the intensity and for me, recognising this is the cornerstone to a successful exercise plan whether for rehabilitation or for performance.
Over the duration of my career, I have seen exercise plans of varying degrees of complexity written by veterinarians, bodyworkers, behaviourists and trainers. I have seen:
Very good shaping plans which are fantastic for behaviour modification but do not consider biomechanics.
Very good progressive exercise plans which target muscular hypertrophy, but do not look at appropriate biomechanical function or behaviour.
Training plans which target biomechanics but do not understand the function of the horse’s body.
Dangerously fast progressive overload and likewise I have seen exercise prescription which is unrelated to the horse’s intended career.
What I haven’t seen is a specific framework which identifies the need for recognition of behaviour and biomechanics within the development of the healthy equine athlete.
This course is designed for horse owners and professionals alike, to support horses in being happy, healthy athletes, genuinely. This looks like so much more than simply improving physical performance – it looks like recognising your horse’s emotional health and physical health. Understanding when to progress an exercise, when to regress an exercise and when to stay at the current level because the horse needs more time.
By recognising behaviour and biomechanics, and then combining this with exercise prescription, you will be empowered to make better judgement on the horses around you.
By the end of this course, expect to understand the fundamentals of healthy horse development and how to apply this into a framework which supports your horse’s development throughout their lifetime.
This course contains 8 chapters:
Precursor to Exercise Programming
The fundamentals of healthy movement
Understanding behavioural indicators
How horses learn
Exercise prescription in hand
The introduction of a rider
Considerations for injury rehabilitation
Training plan framework
The chapters are now live and from March 2024 I will also be launching a live menu of monthly webinars to support the teachings within this course - if you can’t attend the live sessions, the recordings will be saved for you to watch at your own time, and as with the rest of this course, you will have lifetime access!
The theme for the live sessions is ‘Train Your Eye’ with the intention of giving you further practical skills that you can apply to your horse or the horses that you are working with.
25th March 2024 19:00 GMT Gait Analysis Case Study - train your eye to horse movement with Yasmin Stuart
29th April 2024 19:00 GMT+1 Behavioural Observation - learn how to decipher different behavioural presentations with Olivia Turner Animal Behaviourist & Bit and Bridle Specialist
27th May 2024 19:00 GMT+1 Gait Analysis Case Study - train your eye to horse movement with Yasmin Stuart
June 2024 exact date & time TBC The Influence of Human Emotional Regulation on Horsemanship with Holly Barnett Professional Breathwork Facilitator
29th July 19:00 GMT+1 Bridle & Bit Fitting with Olivia Turner Animal Behaviourist & Bit and Bridle Specialist
26th August 19:00 GMT+1 Gait Analysis Case Study - train your eye to horse movement under saddle with Yasmin Stuart
Further topics to be released soon!
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Chapter 1: Precursor to Exercise Programming
If you are involved in the riding and training of horses, you will be involved in exercise programming to some degree.
There are many considerations which need to be made when developing an exercise programme for your horse. These considerations will support and underpin your horse's physical and emotional wellbeing, as well as safeguarding a successful career.
In this chapter, expect to learn the considerations around exercise programming which form a foundation for developing a training plan.
If you are involved in the riding and training of horses, you will be involved in exercise programming to some degree.
There are many considerations which need to be made when developing an exercise programme for your horse. These considerations will support and underpin your horse's physical and emotional wellbeing, as well as safeguarding a successful career.
In this chapter, expect to learn the considerations around exercise programming which form a foundation for developing a training plan.
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Chapter 2: Healthy Movement
As discussed in Chapter 1, if we have the expectation of riding horses through a high welfare lens, we need to be able to train them in a manner which targets their soundness.
In this chapter, expect to learn what healthy movement looks like through a lens of current research combined with historic empirical training principles.
As discussed in Chapter 1, if we have the expectation of riding horses through a high welfare lens, we need to be able to train them in a manner which targets their soundness.
In this chapter, expect to learn what healthy movement looks like through a lens of current research combined with historic empirical training principles.
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Train Your Eye - Gait Assessment In Hand
If you can observe gait anomalies and weaknesses, you will be able to more readily target them for development or alternatively outsource to another professional for guidance and support.
In this chapter, I will guide you through in hand gait assessment for you to practice with your own horse.
If you can observe gait anomalies and weaknesses, you will be able to more readily target them for development or alternatively outsource to another professional for guidance and support.
In this chapter, I will guide you through in hand gait assessment for you to practice with your own horse.
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Train Your Eye: What Do Circles Do To Your Horse?
Training horses on a circle is common practice, with emphasis placed on lateral bending and correct loading of limbs. Though we often don't talk about how complicated it is for a horse to organise themselves on to a circle, especially as the gait velocity increases, let alone do so in posture that is significant of musculoskeletal longevity.
Training horses on a circle is common practice, with emphasis placed on lateral bending and correct loading of limbs. Though we often don't talk about how complicated it is for a horse to organise themselves on to a circle, especially as the gait velocity increases, let alone do so in posture that is significant of musculoskeletal longevity.
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Chapter 3: Behavioural Indicators
We know that horses are sentient beings, but we now recognise that their sentience runs deeper than a cute trait that we admire. They have perceptions of their training and management and as the industry heads towards a welfare orientated model, we need to recognise their behavioural indicators and adapt our approach accordingly.
In this chapter, expect to learn about horse's behavioural needs followed by an overview of their behavioural indicators as we currently understand them.
We know that horses are sentient beings, but we now recognise that their sentience runs deeper than a cute trait that we admire. They have perceptions of their training and management and as the industry heads towards a welfare orientated model, we need to recognise their behavioural indicators and adapt our approach accordingly.
In this chapter, expect to learn about horse's behavioural needs followed by an overview of their behavioural indicators as we currently understand them.
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Chapter 4 How Horses Learn
In this chapter expect to develop an understanding of learning theory, and how different training situations may negatively or positively support your horse’s wellbeing.
In this chapter expect to develop an understanding of learning theory, and how different training situations may negatively or positively support your horse’s wellbeing.
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Chapter 5: Prescriptive Exercise in Hand
Exercise prescription is the term used for exercises which are set to target the development of strength or restoration of range of motion within a clinical setting. These tend to come with global perception that they might improve a horse’s core strength and stability, as well as serve to improve their symmetry and overall gait pattern.
Exercise prescription is the term used for exercises which are set to target the development of strength or restoration of range of motion within a clinical setting. These tend to come with global perception that they might improve a horse’s core strength and stability, as well as serve to improve their symmetry and overall gait pattern.
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Chapter 6: Introducing A Rider
One of the most common questions I am asked is ‘can I ride my horse?’ which has led to great reflection on what it means to rehabilitate a horse.
What is the metric for success in rehabilitation, training and riding? What questions do we need to be asking ourselves when deciding to ride or not?
In this chapter, expect to understand the considerations that need to be made when looking to introduce a rider.
One of the most common questions I am asked is ‘can I ride my horse?’ which has led to great reflection on what it means to rehabilitate a horse.
What is the metric for success in rehabilitation, training and riding? What questions do we need to be asking ourselves when deciding to ride or not?
In this chapter, expect to understand the considerations that need to be made when looking to introduce a rider.
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Chapter 7: Considerations for Injury Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation is an emotionally charged subject area. Over a lifetime of owning horses, many people find themselves involved in rehabilitation in one way or another.
In this chapter, expect to learn about the relationship between form and function, undertaking a pathology risk assessment and other considerations for rehabilitation, which underpin devising a rehabilitation plan.
Rehabilitation is an emotionally charged subject area. Over a lifetime of owning horses, many people find themselves involved in rehabilitation in one way or another.
In this chapter, expect to learn about the relationship between form and function, undertaking a pathology risk assessment and other considerations for rehabilitation, which underpin devising a rehabilitation plan.
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Chapter 8 Training Plan Framework
In this chapter we will be outlining training plan frameworks for you to adapt to any horse that you should have the fortune to work with
In this chapter we will be outlining training plan frameworks for you to adapt to any horse that you should have the fortune to work with
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WANT TO DISCUSS YOUR LEARNINGS?
Book your 1-2-1 Learnings Review with Yasmin
If you’d like to discuss what you have learned in this course, you can book a 1-2-1 online review with Yasmin. To do this, visit our contact page using the button below.
