How to book
Location details
Booking and Information
Join us for a fun and inspiring day with a professional strength and conditioning coach to learn how improving strength, suppleness and fitness can really help your riding. The day is ideal for all riders, whether you enjoy hacking, competing for fun or you ride professionally. You'll find out how to gain greater comfort, increase your stickability and decrease your risk of injury, and generally enjoy your time in the saddle more!
Coaches - you can pick up tips on how to help your clients do the same, as well as benefitting your own riding - BHS Accredited Professional Coaches will earn 4 CPD points.
There will be a mix of theory and practical, with plenty of opportunities to get up and have a go at some exercises and stretches if you want to, so we'd advise wearing something comfy that you can move in (jods are fine) - but it's not a four hour gym class and there's no need to break a sweat if you don't want to!
About your trainer - Henry Carter, founder of Optimal Equestrian Performance
Henry is a high-performance Strength & Conditioning (S&C) coach with a background in both equestrianism and professional sport. He has been running his business for over three years, training riders across all disciplines, and prior to that he worked with England Athletics, Newcastle Falcons Rugby Union team and Loughborough University among others. Henry also holds a Masters degree in S&C, an undergraduate in Sports Science and a whole load of other interesting qualifications! He combines his first-hand experience as a rider with his knowledge and experience of S&C coaching to provide the highest quality service to his clients, helping horse riders of all levels across the country.
About the training day
9.30 Registration; tea and coffee (and biscuits!)
10.00 Training fundamentals
- What is strength and conditioning?
- How can it help riders?
- The physiological demands of riding
- How strength and conditioning fits alongside other professional support such as riding coaches and physiotherapists
- Who, what, why, when and where?
- Types of injuries - impact, trauma and overuse/repetitive strain injuries
- Injury mechanisms
- Injury minimisation through strength and conditioning
- The basics of injury rehabilitation
- Warm-up and preparation tips and tricks
- Movement efficiency, strength and power endurance, aerobic muscular capacity
- Key takeaways from the day - planning which ideas you'd like to introduce how you'll do it
NB. Programme subject to change at organiser's discretion. Attendance at this training day counts for 4 CPD points for BHS Accredited Professional Coaches (APCs) - APCs must attend the full day to qualify for CPD points. This training day may qualify for CPD points for other organisations but it is the attendees responsibility to check with them - attendance certificates can be provided on request. Please see full T&Cs for full details.