What is Forward Stride Fitness?
Forward Stride Fitness is an online platform delivering equestrian focused fitness programs designed to improve your riding. We help riders increase their strength, stamina and suppleness out of the saddle to improve their performance in the saddle.
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Our programs are delivered through the Forward Stride Fitness app which is easy to use and tracks your progress so you can see your improvements each month.
Individual monthly catch up calls with Nessa to answer any of your questions and to ensure you are getting the most out of your workouts.
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In app chat where Nessa can answer any of your queries about the programs each week and a community chat to celebrate your successes.
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Meet Nessa
Nessa is the founder of Forward Stride Fitness. Competing up to 4* in eventing, Nessa has been part of 5 European eventing teams for Ireland, twice national champion and produced many young horses with lots of great results along the way. Her love for fitness developed over the years along side her riding and she has been working in fitness for over 5 years now.
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Nessa is both a qualified personal trainer and a level 1 HSI coach and has combined the two roles over the last few years to be able to deliver comprehensible fitness programs for riders at all levels. She sees first hand as a rider, riding coach and fitness trainer the importance of rider fitness and how it effects the horse.
Her aim for Forward Stride Fitness is to provide athletic training programs for all equestrians and to create a safe community space for equestrians to learn and grow their own fitness journey.
Who we are for?
Forward Stride Fitness is for equestrians of all disciplines, at any level. From riding one horse once a week to riding eight horses per day, the principles of training are the same.
Our programs are designed with all levels of fitness in mind, how heavy you lift and how hard you push is completely up to you. You work to your own ability.
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Our fitness programs are for anyone who wants to work hard, get stronger, more supple and improve your cardiovascular health. Horse riding is a blend of strength, cardio and mobility and our programs are a blend of just that.
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Forward Stride Fitness is for anyone who is willing to train as hard as they train their horse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need equipment?
Yes you will need either a gym membership or minimal equipment for at home workouts. For at home workouts you will need 1 exercise mat, 1 set of light dumbbells and 1 set of heavy dumbbells (eg. 2 X 5kgs + 2 X 10kgs). Our programs cannot be completed with no equipment - would you expect your horse to improve it’s jumping if you didn’t use any poles?
How do I know if I will be able to participate in the program?
Our programs are completely adaptable to your fitness level, it is up to you what weights you lift or how intense you complete the exercises. For example; if the program is for 12 reps of a front squat, one person could be lifting 20kg and one person could be lifting 5kg but they are both completing 12 reps of the same exercise.
I can’t complete every day of training each week, will the programs be of benefit to me?
Of course you will benefit from training even if you don’t complete all the sessions. Discuss in your monthly meeting with Nessa and decide which sessions would suit you best and how to get the most out of fewer sessions.