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...
STARTING WITH ENDURANCE When you become a (free) member of the groen Equestrian Endurance community (just sign up via this tab: Become a free member or log in if you have subscribed before) you can view a lot of free content:Information about Esther Groen and all her horsesIntro's for all the series in the libraryInformation about the "Enduran...
I was reminded of this phrase in a chat with an endurance friend recently, don't dive before you can swim, or perhaps in horse riding terms: Don't gallop before you can walk. Some might want that 100 miler, some might want "that special ride" and some want to win the biggest races. Big goals are amazing, but often there i...
Now the schools have started again, the structure of "normal" life has started once more. And what better time for us to do some "studying" as well? In my coaching I often get asked about heartrate monitors, which one to use and how to use them. They can be a super tool to aid your training so that's why I will start with 2 webinars...
As an equestrian sports coach (focusing on endurance) it is always interesting to visit rides without taking part as a competitor. My previous blog (Exercise physiology 1: the importance of warming up for our energy stores) was about my experiences at a ride I was helping out at. I talked about the importance of a proper warming up by comparing our...
As an equestrian sports coach (focusing on endurance) it is always interesting to visit rides without taking part as a competitor. Crewing or volunteering can give fascinating insights into what some endurance riders get up to. It helps me finding issues people might need help with, and I can give something back to the ride organisers that ar...
It is January in the UK, and many (as am I) are looking forward to the rides and competitions ahead. We all have an idea in our head what we want out of our season, but have we actually prepared for it? And if we have, have we really and honestly looked if our goal is feasible and what we should do (or sometimes even harder, what we have...
Through centuries and cultures, wintertime is seen as a period to reflect. To look back at the year behind you and to look forward to see what is potentially upcoming. Many of us had a few tough years, but we all hope next year will be a bit easier, or at least a little less unpredictable. Like many of you, I am reflecting as well. About last seaso...
"Believe you can and you are halfway there"And I'll help you with the other half!) The Groen Equestrian endurance community Is ready for you now!You can become a (FREE) member of this community which allows you to browse tutorials that introduce all about endurance, intro's for the more in-depth series on endurance, the online endura...
DID YOU KNOW.... ... that you can buy separate parts of the "Endurance Step by Step"online coaching course! So if you want to pick and choose that's possible.For now we have series 1 (Preparing your upcoming season) available as a separate purchase. All the others will become available soon as well. Some of the tutorials out of the series wil...
Thunderbirds are go! Yes! It is finally time to launch the online endurance coaching course on the website!An all-new and innovative formula to help everyone wanting to do or doing endurance with loads of tutorials AND personal help. Suitable for anyone, anywhere in the world, with any type of horse and any type of experience or am...
I can tell you: there is no shortage of passion in Aqui and a lot of power as well. Though maybe that's not really passion but just testosterone, him being a young virile male.The passion I'm talking about is the passion for our horses. That truly is a powerful thing! What is it about these animals that make us love them so? We spent loads of money...
A while ago I turned 50... And I took stock of my body and how it is doing, looks and wear-and-tear wise. And I must say, I have seen a lot of 50 year olds that look a lot worse (and a good few who look better ?), but overall I'm not too bad. Wear-and-tear wise it's probably a little less, I am getting more and more aches and pains, but t...
Nominated! You might have seen that the Wonderful Watt and me have been nominatively entered for the European Championships 2021 in Ermelo The Netherlands! We have worked hard for it, and even though the preparation did not all quite go as planned, but I am proud to be on that list. Even more exciting as it is in our home country and it would ...
I have done Windsor twice now, both with experienced horses coming back to a big ride after a competing break. And both times not with good results. Of course, there is always some (bad) luck involved in bit rides, but most of the time there are lessons to be learned from mistakes. They are lessons, not nit-picking or putting myself down. We a...
Hi! Welcome to my very first blog on my new website. I am so proud to show you everything I have been working on for the last few months. It was a challenge getting all the content for the website. As English is not my native language, it was a good exercise in writing. I realised that speaking English is quite different from writing it! I'm ...
This picture (photo by Ruud Overes) is so very special to me. It is the finish of my 1st 160 km ride in 2013. I was the only one to finish, we were 6 combinations starting out and I just had a few minutes of the maximum time allowed left to finish.The horse is Shadiya, a Russian bred power mare with plenty of stamina, but not a great recovery in he...
2020 was the weirdest year (so far ;) ) ... No competing in my case, not only because of Covid, but mostly because I had no means of transport for a good part of the year..). Not much IRL coaching because of Covid... Several horses with little health scares (colic mostly due to the weird temperature ch...
Now and then people ask me to help them find a horse for endurance. It can be daunting because there are so many horses out there and they want THAT special one. Which of course then puts the pressure on us all ;) . I'll do some blogs to hopefully help you think about the options when you want to buy a horse (and it really...
In this week of mental health awareness, I felt like writing a little piece to share some of my thoughts and experience about this. What we all see on the outside is not necessarily what is going on on the inside. We try to look our best, act confident and pretend all is well. Social media is aiding that: don't we all select th...
