We all know we can always improve at riding our horse, but it can feel overwhelming at times, so much so that you don't even want to begin thinking about it, or you might not even realise what you need to do. So you just keep doing what you already did. And likely you are getting the outcome you always did. Potentially even slowly getting less if&n...
You might have seen one of the blogs on the website about the "Groen" of Groen Equestrian. If you haven't and are wondering, let me tell you a little about myself, but more importantly: about my horses that brought me here. I am Esther Groen, I am a Dutch endurance rider, based in the UK. I don't come from a horsey family, and definitely not from a...
When did you last challenge yourself to do something new or scary? For me the big challenge was always trying a 160km... And then another one to see if it wasn't a fluke. And then see if I could do more, like the European Championships in 2019. Covid was a big break, and to be honest, I've never really came back from that. My fitness levels took a ...
This is the first in a series of articles I wrote for the EGB endurance magazine in 2023. I have added it as a blog as well for you to enjoy and use. You can find all follow up articles in the Free GE Community, so have a look there for a lot of information. I (well, really hubby and me ???? ) bought a new car. Our older (very fuel-efficient) diese...
We have been working on this project for a while, and on Saturday 30th March, we began the first session of the Groen Equestrian 2024 Comparative Heart Rate Study in Banbury, Oxfordshire. As many of you have noticed, I am very interested in heart rates, particularly how various breeds of horses respond to the same workload and how we can provide be...
This is the second in a new series of articles in which we will investigate the quality aspect of training and how to maintain a healthy, sound, and happy equine athlete. While logging miles is important, the manner in which we do so is equally, if not more, crucial. The first article touched on the basics and "riding in the box," and in this insta...
This is the third in a new series of articles in which we will investigate the quality aspect of training and how to maintain a healthy, sound, and happy equine athlete. The first article touched on the basics and "riding in the box," and in the second I gave you information, tips and exercises for the practical quality aspect of training In this t...
Groen Equestrian invites you to take part in a new (FREE!) partnership challenge from 1 to 9 November 2025 that encourages you to deepen your connection with your horse—no matter your discipline. Whether you are passionate about endurance, dressage, jumping, team chasing, eventing, or simply enjoy hacking, everyone is welcome to join the exper...
How is it the 1st of September already! This season has flown by, or should I say "evaporated". It's been hard and hot. And many of you will have had a similar lack of grass and that for the 2nd year in a row.It is quite a worry. But we finally have had rain, everything has softened up and is starting to get greener again.A great time to have ...
Happy New Year! As you probably have seen just about everywhere, it is the year of the Horse, the Fire Horse to be exact. Officially the year of the Fire Horse doesn't start until February 17, this is the Chinese New Year and we'll move from the year of the Snake to the year of the Horse. And apparently we will be going from introspection to bold o...
A "Watt" appreciation post is in order and perhaps even long overdue. We are still out competing together, last weekend a CER80, which had been a while due to my heart condition. And or course we have done twice that distance in the past, so it should be easy but both of us are getting that bit older. More noticeably for me I'm as not as ...
This a perfect time to sign up for one of the 2 endurance coaching courses Groen Equestrian has to offer to get ready for you new upcoming endurance season. Yes 2 courses!Besides the year long course Endurance: Step by Step" we now also offer the 4 month (extension possible) course "Endurance: train smarter not harder"Have a look at this video in w...
This autumn we've been working hard to make a printed workbook for your training. Many of you enjoy the online information provided by our Online coaching courses "Endurance: Step by Step" and the "Endurance: Train smarter" or our webinar series "Prepare your season" and the "Midsummer progression".These include online worksheets, but the ide...
Have you ever heard of the term "Social Licence"? I came across the term recently and I realised improving our social licence, as equestrians, but also as endurance riders is for a large part why I do what I do: I want riders to learn and know more, so they can become better ambassadors for our sport each day. But what is a "Social...
I'll let you think on that question for a moment, and while you are thinking about the type of equestrian you are, also think on whether you are happy being that type or if you perhaps want to be different? Many of you will be the "Passenger type" maybe even without realising you are...Or perhaps you know you are the passenger type a...
Have you followed the World Endurance Championships 2024? If you didn't, have a look at the different media available. A start in the dark in a huge thunderstorm and then 160 km of tough muddy conditions, really testing all combinations at this top level of our sport. Being a Dutchie in the UK, I supported 2 countries, cheering on both the Dut...
Making your training schedule can be hard: how much should you train, what rides to do, what about tapering, rest and other things you need to consider to compete your horse happy and healthy? Groen Equestrian can help. We have a lovely package to help you:3 recorded webinars and 2 30 minute face2face zoom sessions to give you the th...
This is an old piece (4 years ago to be precise) I wrote after being part of the Dutch team for the 2019 European Championships. It still resonates very much with me, especially now I have taken a little break from endurance until the youngsters are old enough to start. Watt and me will be doing other fun stuff in the mean time. Have a read, s...
What a year. What a horse!A total of 8 rides ( 9 ride days) and 460 km (the most she's ever done), nearly 9000m (!!) elevation including the Golden Horseshoe 80 km and Red Dragon 80 km! In 2022 I have solely focused on competing Asphodele Larzac, my small (but huge ) amber champagne part bred Arab mare. So why is she both small ...
They say oxygen is the source of life ,and of course that is correct, (nearly) all metabolism needs oxygen to perform. So we could say: More oxygen = better performance We could have a huge heart, the best muscles for the job and an unlimited supply of fuel. But without the oxygen, and with that the lung capacity to get oxygen to t...
