Show Notes
In this conversation, Patrick King and Jec Ballou delve into the intricacies of equine fitness and conditioning. They discuss the importance of customized fitness plans for horses, evaluating movement through video analysis, and understanding horse physiology to enhance training effectiveness. The conversation emphasizes identifying imbalances and asymmetries in horses, training techniques for dressage and working equitation, and the significance of frequency, intensity, and duration in a comprehensive training schedule. Jec shares insights on how to build confidence in horses and the necessity of varying training to achieve optimal results. In this conversation, Jec and Patrick discuss the importance of variety in training sessions for horses, emphasizing the need for different durations and intensities to prevent plateauing and enhance fitness. They explore the significance of proprioception and how it can be affected by repetitive training. The discussion also covers the benefits of incorporating high-intensity workouts, the cumulative nature of fitness gains, and the value of utilizing natural obstacles for training. Additionally, they address how to tailor workouts for individual horses, monitor the fitness of senior horses, and the advantages of track systems for promoting movement.
Find out more about Jec and her books, programs, and services at jecballou.com, Facebook at facebook.com/JecAristotleBallou and YouTube at youtube.com/user/jecballou
The book we were talking about in this episode is 33 Strength and Fitness Workouts for Horses, and it can be found here: jecballou.com/store/p/33-strength-and-fitness-workouts-for-horses-pre-order
The customized fitness plan can be found here: jecballou.com/store/p/private-online-coaching
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In this episode of the Talking About Horses podcast, Patrick King welcomes back neuroscientist Dr. Stephen Peters to explore the biological intersection of horse training and brain science. The conversation dives deep into the concept of allostasis—the horse's ability to adapt to arousal during learning—and emphasizes why "rest and digest" periods are neurochemically essential for consolidating new information. Dr. Peters explains how handlers can move beyond just "shaping behaviors" to effectively "reshaping the brain" by understanding nervous system states, utilizing the power of the pause, and providing horses with agency to create lasting, positive habits.
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