In most traditional sports — from football to track and field — athletes go through baseline strength and performance testing. Coaches and medical staff collect data at the start of the season to know exactly where each athlete stands. That information becomes the foundation for:

• Setting training goals

• Monitoring progress

• Identifying weaknesses or injury risks

• Tracking changes across the season

But here’s the thing: in equestrian sport, this data doesn’t exist.

That gap leaves many riders guessing on if they are training enough, and with enough specificity.

💪 Why Riders Need Baseline Testing Too

Just like in traditional sports, your baseline strength tells the story of where you are right now. With using a dynamometer to measure strength, I can measure:

• Core stability for balance and posture

• Hip strength for alignment and shock absorption

• Shoulder stability for upper body control and endurance

• Grip strength important for overall wellness + longevity

We can get specific numbers of force output for each of those tests. These numbers give us a snapshot of your current capacity — not just “how you feel” — and create a measurable starting point to work from.

Over time, retesting shows how training, showing, or even injury and recovery are impacting your body.

🍂 Why Fall is the Perfect Time

Whether you’re entering an off-season or gearing up for a championship, fall is the ideal moment to get baseline data:

• For riders wrapping up shows → It gives you a clear picture of how your body handled the season, so you can build a smarter off-season program.

• For riders still competing → It shows how your body is holding up under pressure, and whether you need to adjust training before big events.

By testing now, you’ll know whether you’re maintaining strength, losing ground, or ready to build toward new goals.

📍 Rider Strength Testing in Portland Metro

This fall, I’m offering baseline strength testing for equestrians in the Portland metro area, including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, and Oregon City.

These sessions can be done for groups of 8–10 riders at no cost, making them a great opportunity for barns, riding programs, and teams who want to:

• Give their riders the same professional-level testing that traditional athletes receive

• Identify athletes who may benefit from extra support before issues show up in the saddle

• Collect objective data on rider strength, posture, and stability that can guide training all year long

Each rider receives their own individualized results, while the program gets a big-picture look at overall trends and areas for improvement.

By gathering more data, we’re taking an important step toward raising the standard of care for riders in the same way we do for our horses.

👉 Contact me to schedule a group strength testing session in Portland Metro