You just found your path to true athletic partnership with your horse.


Endurance riding is your passion. The thrill, the connection, the achievement! But let's be honest. After a long ride, it's not just your horse who's feeling it. But who has time to fit in fitness?

Still...The aching muscles. The stiff lower back. The fatigue that sets in way too early. And deep down, the nagging worry that you might be the weak link in your partnership.

The truth is, your endurance horse is athlete. But are you?

As a young endurance rider, general fitness kept me feeling pretty good on long rides. But when I returned to riding 100-milers in my mid-forties, I discovered it wasn’t so easy! I tapped my background as a personal trainer to identify the exact strength, mobility, and cardiovascular fitness that endurance riders need to go the distance. Putting them into practice launched my game to a whole new level. Now, I’m sharing my program with you.

Endurance is a Team Sport


You know how hard your horse works toward your distance riding dreams. You know you can help him by riding your best from first mile to last. But let's face it:

You're busy. You have obligations to work and family, plus horse conditioning and care. Where does fitness fit?

You're not sure what to do. Getting fit sounds great, in theory, but which exercises are worth your effort?

You struggle to stick with it. Once your motivation wanes, you give up despite your best intentions.

You can get away with it. Thanks to your horse's strength and forgiveness, you can complete rides without focusing on your own fitness...at least, until accumulated injuries and age catch up with you.

How Does This Sound?


Short, flexible workouts


Exercises selected specifically for distance riders


Education and camaraderie from a personal trainer and your fellow equestrian athletes


The exact mobility, fitness, and strength you need to ride longer in a day...and longer in life


An TSE Membership - with full access to the entire Essential Endurance Rider Fitness Program - has what you need!




Why Riders are Joining










Shouldn't Riding Be Enough?

The process of conditioning our endurance horses does, indeed, make us more fit for the sport. However...

Horses don't require as much exercise as humans do to maintain optimal fitness. Most of us - yes, even 100-mile competitors - simply don't ride long, hard, and often enough to maximize our fitness through horse time alone.

Riding, by its very nature, creates muscle imbalances that must be counteracted with different fitness activities. If you work at a desk to pay your hay bill, those imbalances are only getting worse!

Most of the time, riding is not intense enough to improve cardiovascular fitness and strength beyond our current levels. This goes for daily barn chores, too.

None of us are getting younger. Unless we take action to counteract the loss of muscle mass and bone density that come with age, we're accepting increased injury risk and decreased longevity on the endurance trail.

Think about it...

Are you fitter now than you were six months of riding and farm chores ago?

Doing more of the same won't lead to change. It's time to shake things up!

Enter Essential Endurance Rider Fitness


Finally, a fitness program designed by an endurance rider, for endurance riders! This isn't about becoming a gym rat. It's about becoming the athletic partner your horse deserves.

This program is designed for distance riders who want:

To ride longer, in greater comfort

To be a supportive partner for your horse, even if you aren't the "fitness type"

A gentle introduction to personal fitness, whether for the first time or after an extended break

The knowledge and motivation to take specific actions that will make you a true equestrian athlete

Your Journey to Full Partnership

With Essential Endurance Rider Fitness, you will:


Establish habits that set you up for a lifetime of better health and horsemanship

Correct common muscle imbalances to reduce discomfort (and look better!) both in and out of the saddle

Improve suppleness, balance, and core stability, contributing to reduced injury risk and better riding

Strengthen key muscle groups so you can support your horse over long miles of trail

Achieve the cardiovascular endurance to cover 2.5 miles on foot in half an hour - that's 10% of a typical Limited Distance ride! - and trot out for the vet with ease


This is Your Investment in Excellence


Yes, you CAN transform yourself into the full athletic partner your horse deserves.


Your Extra Mile Membership Includes:


COMPLETE CARDIO & STRENGTH WORKOUT PLANS tailored specifically for distance riders

EQUESTRIAN-SPECIFIC mobility and balance routines

SHORT, FLEXIBLE WORKOUTS to fit into your busy equestrian lifestyle

VIDEO COACHING demonstrations of all exercises

MONTHLY LIVE CALLS with your trainer and fellow members

DIRECT EMAIL ACCESS to your personal trainer

MONTHLY CHALLENGES for fun and extra motivation

ACCOUNTABILITY & SUPPORT in our members-only Facebook group

TRAINER TALKS for ongoing motivation, education, and support

RIDER OPT-IN EXERCISES to integrate your increasing fitness into your distance riding sport, where it counts

MINIMAL EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS so you can work out at home

Meet Your Trainer

Hi! I'm an endurance rider in the northwest region of the United States and creator of The Sweaty Equestrian website, which is my way of giving back to the community by providing free resources for endurance riders and managers.

As a National Academy of Sports Medicine certified personal trainer and nutrition coach, I am endlessly fascinated by the athletic partnership between distance riders and our horses. I'm especially passionate about helping distance riders overcome pain and fatigue to achieve longevity in the sport.

My degrees in education and writing support my natural desire to share this life-changing information with my fellow endurance riders... that is, with you!

I hope you'll join me on the road to true athletic partnership with your distance horse.

~ Tamara Baysinger

Dang girl! You are so good! First video and I'm just feeling so taken care of and like I will get to the bottom of why I hurt here or get so tired there. Thank you!!!!!


~ Terri Powell

FAQ


Who is this program designed for?

The Essential program is designed for active and aspiring distance riders who wish to ride longer, in greater comfort, while properly supporting their equine partners.

The program is appropriate for personal-fitness beginners and riders returning to the saddle after injury or illness (with your doctor's permission, of course).

If you want to maintain your status quo, simply doing your regular rides and farm chores, this program is NOT for you. If you're ready to up your endurance game and make progress with purpose, you are in the right place!

How fit do I need to be to do this program?

If you are currently able to ride and perform the basic tasks associated with horse care, you are fit enough to start this program.

Essential Endurance Rider Fitness offers a very gentle, gradual introduction to cardiovascular fitness and resistance training, plus mobility, balance, and even plyometric work to help you gain (or regain) new levels of physical ability and confidence as an equestrian.

It's okay if you're working through some physical challenges, including past injuries, bodyweight struggles, or plain old aging. As long as your doctor has cleared you to get started, you can do this!

What if I already exercise regularly? Will this program benefit me?

It depends. Current moderate exercisers (like those who take daily walks in addition to their barn time) will absolutely benefit from the equestrian-specific nature of the Essential program, which targets the exact needs of distance riders.

If you are already committed to regular weight-bearing cardio and strength training, plus balance and mobility work, you might want to wait for my upcoming Next Level Endurance Rider Fitness program.

Do I really have to run?

Essential is designed to elevate your cardiovascular fitness benefits beyond what walking can provide. Running is the simplest, most efficient method for most people, and it is a useful skill for endurance riders.

However, some riders are unable to run for various reasons. The Essential Rucking Mod - included with your TSE Membership - explains how to use rucking (walking with a weighted pack) as an excellent alternative to running.

I usually struggle to stick to a fitness program. Will Essential help me stay motivated?

Absolutely. Essential is different from other fitness programs! It doesn't just assign workouts and leave you to implement them on your own.

As a TSE Member, you'll be able to connect directly with your trainer and fellow riders for accountability and support. You'll have access to live calls, monthly challenges, our member-only Facebook group, and even be able to email your trainer with questions anytime.

The Essential program includes weekly Ride Meeting videos and Trainer Talks to keep you encouraged and educated about why the exercises are relevant to you, as an endurance equestrian.

Your Rider Opt-In exercises will keep your new skills top of mind and applicable in the saddle.

Is this a riding instruction program?

No. Essential Endurance Rider Fitness is a personal fitness program designed to complement your riding. It will not teach you to ride, but it will build the balance, mobility, strength, and cardiovascular fitness you need to ride longer and better.

Will I lose weight on this program?

Essential is not specifically designed for the purpose of decreasing body fat. However, the additional physical activity it requires - especially resistance training - supports the metabolic environment needed for fat loss if combined with appropriate nutrition.

The program does not include meal plans, but it does offer basic recommendations for appropriately fueling your fitness.

How much time is required each week?

Essential Endurance Rider Fitness offers flexible workout programming totaling about 3.5 hours per week, broken into 30-minute segments that you can fit into your schedule as needed.

The program also includes Trainer Talks to provide support and motivation. These brief lessons (plus optional homework) can be accessed at your leisure.

What equipment do I need?

The Essential program is designed to use minimal, inexpensive equipment that you can use at home. You might have some of it already!

The full equipment list includes:

  • Resistance bands (loop style with removable handles and door anchor)
  • Stability ball (optional)
  • Yoga mat
  • Foam roller

You'll also need a good pair of shoes and, ideally, a horse to be your partner as you integrate your new skills into your riding life.

The program includes a shopping list with links to each item, so it's easy to get exactly what you need. The same equipment will continue to serve you if you choose to graduate to the upcoming Next Level Endurance Rider Fitness program after completing Essential.

How long do I get access to the Program?

You will have access to the Essential program - plus the Rucking Mod and upcoming Next Level program - as long as you're a TSE Member.

Are you ready to ride stronger in a day

...and longer in your life?