Equi-Athlete

Equi-Athlete Specialized fitness training for equestrians to improve performance and horse-rider communication

Equi-Athlete provides personalized fitness training for equestrians of all disciplines and walks of life. Passion and experience are the driving forces behind Equi-Athlete: Passion to identify and correct rider imbalances to boost horse-rider communication and performance and learned experience to help riders to achieve their full potential.

06/19/2026

If you’re constantly fighting to keep your heels stable in the stirrup, dealing with foot or ankle pain, or feeling unstable through your lower leg, the solution may not be more stretching—it may be better foot and ankle function.

These two drills target different pieces of the same puzzle.

The kettlebell dorsiflexion exercise trains true ankle dorsiflexion strength. Notice that the movement comes from the ankle itself—not from pulling the knee up with the hip flexors and shortening the leg. This helps develop active control through the ankle joint and teaches the body to access dorsiflexion without compensation.

The plate-elevated arch activation drill focuses on the intrinsic foot muscles and the arch’s ability to create and maintain stability under load. A strong arch creates a strong foundation, allowing force to transfer efficiently through the ankle, knee, hip, and ultimately the saddle.

For riders, this is huge. Stable feet create stable ankles. Stable ankles create a quieter lower leg. And a quieter lower leg means you no longer have to brace through your calves, knees, or stirrups to maintain position.

The goal isn’t to force your heels down.

The goal is to build a foot and ankle complex that naturally supports the position you’re trying to achieve.

Strong from the ground up. 🐴💪

I currently have select in-person availability and a few online coaching spots available. Send me a message if you’d like to build a stronger foundation for your riding.

One of my biggest goals as a coach is to make myself less necessary over time.That doesn't mean I'm not there for my cli...
06/18/2026

One of my biggest goals as a coach is to make myself less necessary over time.

That doesn't mean I'm not there for my clients. If you're at a horse show, have an especially tough ride, take a tumble, or run into a challenge, I'm always available as a resource.

Because telling you what exercises to do is just half of my job. The other half is teaching you *why* you're doing them.

Why we're focusing on hip stability right now. Why your program shifted after a competition. Why a mobility exercise matters. Why one phase builds into the next.

Because when you understand the "why," you don't have to wait for me to solve every problem. You can recognize what's happening, make informed decisions, and immediately start addressing issues when they arise.

I build self-sufficient riders who understand their bodies, understand their training, and have the confidence to take ownership of their progress because they've learned the "why's" behind their programming.

That's coaching. Not just giving workouts, but creating educated athletes who can succeed whether I'm standing next to them or not. 🐴💪

06/17/2026

This is an inverted row, and it’s one of my favorite exercises for riders because it trains full-body integration.

Most people think rows are just a back exercise, but your entire body is working here. Your glutes and legs create a stable base, your core prevents your ribcage and pelvis from drifting apart, and your shoulder blades must move and stabilize correctly throughout the pull.

The primary muscles working are the lats, rhomboids, middle traps, rear delts, and deep shoulder stabilizers.

For riders, that’s huge.

A stronger mid-back helps maintain posture, while healthier shoulders support quieter, more elastic hands that can follow the horse’s motion.

The better your body becomes at creating stability through the trunk and shoulders, the easier it is to maintain a balanced position in the saddle.

Because riding well isn’t about staying rigid—it’s about staying stable while everything around you moves.

06/17/2026

This is how I will be counting reps from now on.

06/16/2026

Lauren has been putting in the work to build a strong foundation, and it’s exciting to start layering athletic power on top of that strength. 👏

Interested in improving your strength, stability, and performance in the saddle? I currently have select in-person availability and a few online coaching spots open. Send me a message to learn more.

Why do I train? 🐴💪I haven't been able to ride much for the past several months between a procedure for Glory and then ba...
06/15/2026

Why do I train? 🐴💪

I haven't been able to ride much for the past several months between a procedure for Glory and then battling the weather. But training for performance doesn't stop just because time in the saddle does.

Instead, I've been using this time to work on the things I know will make me a better rider when I get back: strengthening my foot and ankle complex (a long-time weak spot for me), building stronger hips through both external and internal rotation, and developing healthier, more stable shoulders.

The goal isn't just to be stronger in the gym. It's to be more effective in the saddle.
When Glory and I are finally back to consistent work, I want to be able to focus on rebuilding her fitness, strength, and confidence—not spend our rides trying to rebuild both of us at the same time. Multitasking is hard enough without adding two conditioning programs into the mix. 😅

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do for your riding isn't ride more—it's prepare your body so you're ready when the opportunity comes.

Quick check-in 👇What is ONE thing you wish felt easier in the saddle right now?• Keeping your lower leg steady• Sitting ...
06/12/2026

Quick check-in 👇

What is ONE thing you wish felt easier in the saddle right now?

• Keeping your lower leg steady
• Sitting the trot
• Staying balanced over fences
• Riding longer without fatigue
• Something else?

Drop your answer in the comments.

A lot of these issues aren’t just “riding problems”—they’re often movement, strength, and stability problems off the horse that directly carry into the saddle.

If you’re noticing patterns like this, I offer:
• In-person 1:1 and semi-private training
• Online coaching (3 tiers)
• Hybrid training (in-person + online support)
• In-barn biomechanics clinics
• Rider-specific fitness events at Freedom Fitness Wentzville

Training is designed to help you build the strength, control, and body awareness that actually translates to better riding—not just gym fitness.

If you comment your answer, I can point you toward what type of training would fit your goal best.

06/11/2026

If you’re only doing bilateral lower-body exercises, you’re leaving a lot of riding-specific benefits on the table.

Unilateral training, like B-Stance and single-leg RDL variations, teaches the body how to produce force while resisting collapse, rotation, and weight shifts. In this B-Stance Landmine RDL, the majority of the load is placed through one leg while the opposite leg provides balance and assistance. This creates a unique demand on the foot, ankle, hip, and core that closely mirrors the stability requirements riders face every ride.

The landmine setup adds another layer of challenge by creating a forward and rotational force that must be controlled. The obliques, transverse abdominis, and deep core stabilizers work overtime to keep the ribcage stacked over the pelvis while the glutes and hip external rotators stabilize the femur. Meanwhile, the foot and ankle are constantly making subtle adjustments to maintain balance and create a stable foundation.

For riders, these qualities matter. Whether you’re riding through a corner, maintaining your position on a circle, supporting a canter lead, or staying balanced over a fence, your body must be able to control rotation and weight distribution without collapsing through one side.

Many riders try to solve asymmetries from the top down. Exercises like this address them from the ground up.

Stronger feet. More stable hips. Better control through the core. More effective riding.

Interested in improving your riding through targeted off-horse training? I currently have select in-person availability and online coaching spots available. Send me a message to learn more.

It's safe to say she likes her farrier. He makes a great headrest.
06/10/2026

It's safe to say she likes her farrier. He makes a great headrest.

06/09/2026

Struggling with busy hands, shoulder pain, or feeling unstable through your upper body while riding?

Your shoulders might be the missing link.

Riding places unique demands on the shoulder complex. Every time you hold the reins, your shoulders are maintaining a subtle degree of external rotation while your rotator cuff and shoulder blade stabilizers work isometrically to keep the joint centered.

At the same time, your horse is constantly creating movement underneath you.

That means your shoulders need to be stable enough to support the arm, but mobile enough to allow your hands to follow the motion.

When that stability isn’t there, riders often compensate by gripping through the neck, elevating the shoulders, stiffening the elbows, or bracing through the reins.

And the effects don’t stop at the shoulder.

Instability can travel throughout the kinetic chain, influencing posture, spinal movement, rein contact, seat symmetry, and even lower-body stability.

That’s why shoulder training is such a critical part of equestrian performance.

Exercises like these strengthen the rotator cuff, improve scapular control, and build the endurance needed to maintain a quiet, effective upper body throughout an entire ride.

Because a soft, following hand doesn’t start at the fingers.

It starts at the shoulder.

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1074 Crosswinds Court
Wentzville, MO
63385

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 6am - 6:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 6am - 6:30pm
Friday 8am - 6:30pm

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