Empowered with Dr Jenni Douglas

About Empowered with Dr Jenni Douglas

Equestrian Performance & Fitness explores the science, practice, and lived experience of rider health, fitness, and performance. Hosted by Dr Jenni Douglas, an applied exercise physiologist and researcher, the podcast bridges sport science and equestrian performance to translate evidence into practice. Episodes cover strength and conditioning, physiology, female health, performance analysis, coaching practice, and wellbeing across the lifespan, with conversations grounded in research, real-world experience, and the realities of equestrian sport. www.eventingfit.com Join Ride for Life: https://www.trainerize.me/profile/jenni-douglas/DrJenni.Douglas/

Publisher

Dr Jenni Douglas

Category

education · health & fitness · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

14 Jul 2018

Latest episode

1 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

88 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   1 Sept 2026

   EP 27: "Core Gets a Bit Overplayed" in Equestrian Athletes

   Great Britain just had one of its best championship weeks in years — eventing gold, dressage silver, showjumping bronze, and an LA28 qualification for the para dressage team at the FEI World Championships in Aachen. The same week, a spinal surgeon told Horse & Hound that "core gets a bit overplayed" when it comes to rider back pain. In this solo episode, Jenni unpacks what that actually means — the real mechanism behind disc disease in riders, why a scan showing "degeneration" doesn't automatically explain your pain, and the McGill Big Three exercises a leading spine surgeon is actually recommending. Then she goes deep into the research: why up to 68% of riders report chronic back pain, why barn work is its own independent risk factor separate from riding itself, and why dressage riders specifically carry more hip pain than jumpers or eventers — plus an honest look at where that research is strong, where it's thin, and why no population statistic can tell you what your own horse, your own hours in the saddle, and your own fitness actually demand of you. In this episode: What actually happened at the Aachen World Championships, and why it took more than horsemanship The real spine mechanics behind rider back pain — and why "core gets a bit overplayed" isn't as controversial as it sounds The McGill Big Three, and why full-body strength matters just as much as core work A proper research deep-dive: Balog et al., Ohrnberger et al., and Ramsauer et al. — including a critical look at their limitations, not just their headline numbers Why rider conditioning is so context-dependent, and why that makes equestrian sport unlike most other elite sports when it comes to strength and conditioning What's next: the Find Your Form Challenge, starting 7 September Grab the Find Your Form Challenge (starts 7 September, £25): https://www.trainerize.me/checkout/jenni-douglas/DrJenni.Douglas?planGUID=91705d3380bc434395ef80ae356abdc7 (https://www.trainerize.me/checkout/jenni-douglas/DrJenni.Douglas?planGUID=91705d3380bc434395ef80ae356abdc7) Read the full write-up: https://eventingfit.com/f/team-gbs-medals-a-surgeon-and-the-truth-about-rider-back-pain (https://eventingfit.com/f/team-gbs-medals-a-surgeon-and-the-truth-about-rider-back-pain)

2. 

   21 Aug 2026

   Ep 26: The Pre-Ride Activation Protocol: Why Riders Need to Warm Up Too

   Ever wonder why you spend twenty minutes warming up your horse and zero minutes warming up yourself? In this episode, Jenni and Lee break down the EventFit Pre-Ride Activation Protocol, the free warm-up routine built specifically for riders, and explain why it exists, the science behind it, and how to make it work for your own riding. Download your FREE PRE-RIDE ACTIVATION HERE: https://mailchi.mp/de477acdaaa0/pre-ride-activation We cover why a reactive sport like riding needs a reactive warm-up (not static stretching), what's actually happening in your nervous system during activation, how the protocol changes depending on whether you're schooling on the flat, jumping, or heading cross country, and how to modify it if you're short on time or carrying an old injury. We also talk about why clearer, more stable riders get clearer, more consistent responses from their horses — and what's next for EventFit. Grab the free Pre-Ride Activation Protocol and find out more: Website: https://www.eventingfit.com (https://www.eventingfit.com) Join the conversation and the community: WhatsApp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/IpkXWrxYmh61x1azpVmZWn?s=sh&p=i&mlu=4 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/462390187277850/ If this episode helps your warm-up, share it with a fellow rider  and let us know how you've modified the protocol for your own riding.

3. 

   8 Jun 2026

   Ep. 25: Im Back! Ride for Life

   After a bit of a break, I'm back — and so is EventFit. In this episode I'm telling you exactly what's been going on, why I stepped away, and what EventFit looks like now. Spoiler: it's simpler, more sustainable, and more me than it's ever been. I'm also announcing Ride For Life — a rolling monthly membership for equestrian athletes who want science-led fitness training built specifically around riding. No fixed start dates, no challenges, no faff. Just evidence-based coaching from a PhD exercise physiologist who's spent 10 years in this space. If you've been listening for a while and never taken the next step — this is the episode. 👉 Join Ride For Life at eventingfit.com Ride for Life: https://www.trainerize.me/profile/jenni-douglas/DrJenni.Douglas/

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.4 / 5

13 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 17 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

14

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

50

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