OklahomaHorses Magazine May 2022

May/June 2022 • OklahomaHorses 13 E questrians agree that owning horses is physically demanding. Everything from throwing feed sacks and hay bales to cleaning stalls and saddling up requires a certain level of physical fitness. “More often than not, we’re straining, not strengthening, our muscles and body when we’re doing everyday work,” said Kelly Altschwager, an avid equestrian and certified as both a nutrition specialist and a personal trainer. “Taking 20 to 30 minutes to do different strengthening and mobility exercises can make day-to-day tasks better just as much as one’s strength and stamina in the saddle.” Altschwager split her time between athletics and horses growing up. She has competed in a wide variety of disciplines and perused the whole gamut of fitness options out there. “The connection between a rider’s fitness and the ability to properly support and cue the horse was always there, but I didn’t really consciously think about how much it was missing in the western discipline,” explained Altschwager. She branched out as an entrepreneur more than 10 years ago when she be- gan Western Workouts — a one-on-one coaching program that addresses nutrition, strength, mobility, and mind-set. Gettin’ Western “I was working at Schwartzenberger Equine when I noticed different individuals who could really benefit from improving their balance, strength, and mobility to better cue and be consistent partners with their horses,” Altschwager said. “Often, we think our horse is being stubborn or fighting us when in reality the horse is doing exactly what we ask, but we aren’t paying attention to how we’re asking or where our body is positioned.” Being “fit for the ride” — a term Altschwager coined for her Western Work- outs program — isn’t a new concept, but it is certainly becoming more visible. Rodeo competitors, for example, are starting to view themselves as athletes and working out according to the event. That is something Altschwager already had experienced in the world of jumping and dressage, where inches can separate one cue from the next on a horse’s side. “I believe a lot of top trainers are working out to stay in shape and balance out their weaknesses so they can compete at a more intense level,” Altschwager said. “I don’t think many talk about it; they just do it.” The Next Level “I tell everyone I work with and talk to that exercising to improve your riding has noth- ing to do with not being a good rider but instead becoming an even more confident and capable rider,” Altschwager said. “There’s always a next level we can reach when we choose to focus and work for it.” Trunk stability, balance, and hip mobil- ity are key factors in riding with instead of against the natural movement of a horse. Altschwager strives to teach her clients how to be better partners for their horses through a combination of nutrition, strength, and mental training. She can create a program for clients from all walks of life, but she ca- ters to people who live the western lifestyle. Almost two years ago, Carrie Jansen from Wayne started to work with Altschwager. “I feel like a lot of programs or coaches are trying to sell you on something, and you’re just a number,” Jansen said. “Kelly is interested in who her clients are as people. That’s what drew me to Kelly. She was able to listen to my whole story and help me develop a plan to reach my specific goals. She’s lived the on-the-road horse life, so she can empathize and help me through those struggles.” The typical weight-loss story of fluc- tuating up and down 10 pounds for several years ultimately brought Jansen to Altschwager. The two first focused on Jansen’s nutrition before dialing in her workout routine. Everyone knows abs are made in the kitchen, and Altschwager and Jansen have seen this firsthand. Jansen said, “I learned so much about nutrition and all the misinformation that’s out there, and I quickly realized I wasn’t eating enough protein and was eating three times the fat I needed because it’s in When you improve balance, trunk stability, and hip mobility, you can improve your ability to work with rather than against the natural movement of your horse. Kelly Altschwager recommends planks and various modifications of the plank for trunk stability and strength.