Dr Fiona Hargraves PhD, exercise/sports scientist, nutritionist, and behavioural scientist, presents the science behind training equestrians for performance in the saddle. Dr Fi covers a range of topics from the demands of horse riding as a sport, the various types of fitness and skills to work on off the horse, as well as how to build habits to develop a lifestyle that will support your riding. Dr Fi offers accessible online fitness resources for Equestrians worldwide - see the FitScience EQ website for more. https://www.fitscienceeq.com/
High-Performance Equestrian Ep 13: Habits and building a lifestyle that supports equestrian fitness.
Dr Fiona Hargraves PhD, exercise, nutrition, and behavioural scientist addresses what to do - and what not to do - when you want to improve fitness as a rider, but realise you struggle to prioritise yourself with a busy equestrian lifestyle & the rest of your responsibilities. Dr Fi discusses:- why you might not have 'failed' if you've tried to get fit before, because you might not have actually tried evidence-based strategies for adherence- how to gain clarity on what will actually ...
13 Mar 2024
High-Performance Equestrian Ep 12: What to do when stretching is getting you nowhere for mobility.
Have you been trying and trying to stretch those tight hip flexors or other areas and feel like it's just not getting any better? There's a good chance it really isn't working because the muscles are habitually in a shortened position and not only are they tight, but they are weak. Yes, that's right - tight AND weak. Tight doesn't = strong. This episode goes through why this is a problem for riders and what to do about it!
24 Jan 2024
High-Performance Equestrian Ep 11: Proprioception; is your body applying aids how you think it is?
Proprioception could be considered a sixth sense and is our ability to detect where are body parts are in space. This episode discusses how skilled riders have symmetry of movement, pressure, force, and position, detected and controlled by proprioception - along with coordination and balance - and also what riders can do to improve this off the horse!
29 Dec 2023
High-Performance Equestrian Ep 10: Optimising rider position
Fiona discusses the influence of rider alignment and balance on the horse and on the ability to deliver effective aids. She also reviews the ideal riding seat and identifies common issues that may be the result of a non-optimal rider position, as well as how the saddle fit for the rider is a key factor to consider.
27 Mar 2022
High Performance Equestrian Ep 9: Rider Mobility - for moving with the horse.
What is Mobility? And what about Flexibility? Mobility is one of the key ingredients to moving with the horse. Fiona discusses how significantly it affects riding, the important body parts you really need to be able to move through an efficient and correct range of motion, how mobility may be affected by other activities, and also strategies to improve mobility.
12 Mar 2022
High Performance Equestrian Ep 8: Strength, muscles and principles of training for riders.
Fiona discusses muscular strength and endurance and why equestrian athletes need to consider this in their training, as they do for their horse! She also outlines principles of training such as specificity, progressive overload and recovery and how they shape an athlete into a performer over time with careful programming. Learn about why strength is the key to having energy and is the real fountain of youth!
23 Jan 2022
High Performance Equestrian Ep 7: Rider fitness - cardiovascular fitness
Should riders focus on cardiovascular fitness?
What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic fitness and what should I be doing?
Fiona guides riders though considering how training for more energy can increase rider performance by considering the demands of the sport and aligning what is expected of the rider with what is expected from the horse in the six-legged athlete team.
9 Dec 2021
High Performance Equestrian Ep 6: Periodisation for equestrian athletes
What is periodisation? How does is apply in equestrian sports and how can it help athletes peak at just the right time for competitions?
Periodisation means your training has strategy to achieve progression and purpose, it also prevents burnout and injury. It applies to horses and riders both separately and together, is essential for serious competitors yet also applicable to recreational athletes to help them achieve riding goals.
In this podcast, Fiona covers the main phases and sub-phases of periodisation, a key principle of athletic training, and how to use this principle to peak for success.
29 Nov 2021
High Performance Equestrian Ep 5: Skill acquisition - how are top riders so good?
Have you ever wondered how top riders are so good? Is it talent, is it skill? Have you got what it takes? How can you get what it takes to be a top rider?
Podcast episode 5 examines skill acquisition and the elements that can help any riders progress… as well as what inhibits acquiring skill to top levels.
I discuss characteristics of skilled performers and how they are developed through their characteristics as skilled learners, as well as what promotes and diminishes learning. I also considering skill versus talent and what it really takes to excel as an athlete.
21 Nov 2021
High Performance Equestrian Ep 4: What are the demands of equestrian sports on the rider?
What do riders need to do in training to make sure they perform at peak when it counts?
Fiona provides a sports science analysis of the various aspects of skill and biomechanics riders can consider to improve performance as equestrian athletes.
13 Nov 2021
High Performance Equestrian Ep 3: Is riding enough for fitness?
Isn’t riding enough to keep me fit? This episode explores the concepts of riding fitness versus rider fitness, match or game fitness, the various definitions of fitness in the context of what equestrians do every day and in terms of striving for enhancing performance. What do you think? Do you think riding alone is enough to really keep you fit as an equestrian athlete? As fit as it keeps your horse for whom the training is actually designed?
6 Nov 2021
High Performance Equestrian Ep 2: The six-legged athlete
Considering the concept of the the six-legged athlete; Is your horse the real athlete on the team? What about the rider? We put so much focus, time and money shaping our horses into fine athletes, are there things we can do differently to match their performance as their rider? Fiona considers these questions and also discusses the types of health, wellness, fitness trainers that can help equestrian athletes.
1 Nov 2021
High Performance Equestrian Ep 1: Introduction
This episode is a welcome to High Performance Equestrian and outlines the content of the podcast and introduces the host, Fiona Hargraves.
The podcast will include information on sports and nutrition science, exercise, fitness, strength and conditioning for equestrians, health and wellness, health behaviour change and lifestyle all geared at enhancing rider performance.
Host, Fiona Hargraves, is a qualified exercise physiologist, sports scientist and nutritionist, currently completing a PhD in lifestyle medicine and behavioural psychology, specialising in exercise science, health behaviour change, digital technology and mental health. She has over three decades of experience in all facets of fitness, wellness and sports industry, clinical research and academia as a university lecturer.
https://www.highperformanceequestrian.com/
https://www.fionathomashargraves.com/
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
33,630
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 38 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
18
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
68
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