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.

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

Come say hi!

• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @theequestrianphysio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: @theequestrianpt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: theequestrianphysio.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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Empowering equestrian athletes of all levels and disciplines with evidence-informed rehab, strength & conditioning, care and education.

Do Barn Chores Count as Training? And what is the Physical Activity Paradox?

Unless you've been living under a rock, you're likely aware that riders (or any athlete, really) need to be doing some kind of dry-land training to supplement their riding. If not for the performance aspect of it, at least training to give your horse the same courtesy they give you; namely, showing up as a active partner, not a passive burden.

But, in the comments, the DMs, and sometimes even in person, one of the biggest pushback comments I get to this statement is, "But I do barn chores/muck 25 stalls/get 30k steps in a day... I don't need to go to the gym too!".

In this podcast, we'll talk through why that statement doesn't hold up against what we know from research, from principles of tissue adaptation, and more. We'll explore the differences between recreational and occupational physical activity, highlighting a principle known in research as the Physical Activity Paradox.

Takeaways

• Occupational activity is shown in research to have a more neutral health impact, and may even lead to more injuries than benefits.
• Recreational fitness has clear health benefits for function, health, disease prevention and longevity.
• This discrepancy is known as the Physical Activity Paradox.
• For similar reasons as to why this paradox exists, barn chores alone aren't enough for building mobility and strength.
• Barn chores, like other manual labour jobs, are often too low load or low intensity, too repetitive, too single sided, and don't offer enough recovery time between bouts to see true tissue adaptation (like strength or mobility gains) past a certain point.

• Our bodies only adapt to be capable of what we ask of them.
• If we make our chores = our training, our bodies will only adapt to be capable of the daily tasks, not more. Leaving us operating close to our threshold on a daily basis.
• Dry-land training should prepare you for daily demands, meaning it needs to be performed in a way where we are building up our body's capacity to exceed what is required for day to day tasks.
• In this way, we build up a "buffer zone" with our training, working to "over-engineer" our bodies for the daily demands of chores and riding.

Keywords

equestrian fitness, physical activity paradox, strength training, riding performance, occupational activity, recreational sports, equestrian training, injury prevention, cardio training, equestrian health

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Life Updates

04:38 Understanding the Physical Activity Paradox

10:39 The Implications for Equestrians

14:38 Training for Daily Demands

16:59 Conclusion and Call to Action

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.