David Shoobridge.
© Jessica Atkins
The COVID-19 Resilient Equestrian Community
By Dana Krause
2020 is a year that no one could have predicted; particularly in Victoria where coaching, equestrian businesses, and competitions were forced into a hiatus. The equestrian community’s adaptations and innovations, combined with online platforms, proved just how resilient the industry can be. However, these ideas have opened new pathways for the future of the equestrian industry that will be more global and inclusive.
The utilisation of Zoom enabled judges to continue their training throughout lockdown, thanks to the actions of Lee Howells (Chair of the Dressage Judge Education Panel Victoria) and a few supporting judges. These workshops covered everything from lateral movements, freestyles, rules, young horse classes and everything in between, as well as targeted sessions for those wishing to upgrade; they have been a huge success! This invaluable tool allowed not only judges from across the state of Victoria to participate but also judges from Queensland, Tasmania, New South Wales, Northern Territory and even Hong Kong and South America creating a broader wealth of knowledge and discussion that everyone benefited from.
It is no surprise that these online workshops will continue into the future. With the increased accessibility without compromising the content or understanding, COVID-19 has forced judges training to develop an online platform that both judges and presenters alike will continue to benefit from.
When face to face coaching throughout Victoria was banned, Grand Prix rider and coach David Shoobridge branched out to online coaching. Utilising platforms including Facebook messenger, Zoom, Microsoft Teams and FaceTime (albeit the last one not highly recommended), he found the software to be substantial enough to continue to help his students. The utilisation of these online platforms allowed him to not only continue to teach his Victorian clients, but also his interstate students and on a more regular basis.
“It’s not perfect, but it is a tool that we can use,” he says.
Being able to keep in touch with his riders has allowed them to keep progressing their own training techniques. David foresees that he will continue to use these platforms for those that it is “logistically more convenient for.”
EA A Level Judge and experienced coach Christine (Chris) Sievers had no idea what to expect when the lockdown began. Unlike David, Chris decided to cease coaching. Her life transitioned from being extremely busy conducting over 30 lessons a week and judging on the weekends, to staying home. However not one to sit still, in April Chris launched a private Facebook group entitled Dressage During Isolation, in an attempt to stay connected and discuss training with her students.
“What started as a small group has now nearly 100 members and we have systematically gone through so much theory and concepts along with photos, diagrams and videos.”
The success from this group sparked a further idea for Chris.
“This got me thinking,” she says, “that I could create a range of training notes, with great detail, theory explanations and exercises along with trouble shooting; as a single coaching 45 minute session just isn’t long enough discuss the what, why, where, how etc of most exercises, and riders often have no idea how to find the correct information to expand their knowledge.”
Therefore, during the winter lockdown Chris created 16 individual A4 professionally set up PDFs packed with information between the 10-12 pages. The topics covering the movements from Preliminary to Advanced as well as The Training Scale, Straightness, Basic Warmup routines etc.
To no one’s surprise, except maybe Chris herself, the immeasurable benefit for riders was mirrored in the popularity for these booklets. With Chris having plans for more topics, these booklets are becoming an invaluable tool for riders that will continue into the future.
Zoe Farrant’s business, The Riders Physio, based at Fiona Selby’s stunning Boneo Park, is now fully operational internationally! Zoe remarks that COVID-19 has provided her with one positive: “the kick in the gluteals that [she] required to set the Online Physio and Rider Fitness Programs in motion,” and she has certainly achieved this! Through platforms including Zoom, Doxy.me, YouTube and her website, riders can attend teleconsults, access pre-recorded exercise sessions, undergo video assessment of both riding footage and their own mobility out of the saddle, and health screening.
“There is a building body of evidence suggesting that telehealth physiotherapy consultations can be just as effective as face to face (F2F) consults for a myriad of musculoskeletal injuries/problems,” Zoe says, “the hands on techniques are an adjunct to all the other wonderful things you receive from your Physio, such as a thorough assessment and diagnosis, referral for imaging or for specialist input when required, advice regarding management of the problem, prescription of therapeutic exercise and self treatment techniques. Hands on treatment cannot be delivered during a video consult (teleconsult) but all the rest can, leading to excellent patient outcomes!”
It is no surprise that many, many riders have taken advantage of what Zoe has created! With even the twelve week program being altered and tailored to each rider’s individual needs, it certainly is exciting for both Zoe and riders interstate and internationally to have access to such an invaluable resource that Zoe has created as The Riders Physio.
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