Ep. 15: I Made the Internet Angry...

I’m back! After a little holiday pause and a busy January enrollment inside TEP Training, it feels really good to hit record again.

In this episode, I unpack a post I shared recently that stirred up more than a few strong reactions. It started with a simple observation: riders being asked to do laps in two point “to strengthen their legs.” I questioned whether that’s really the most effective way to build strength, and whether we’ve quietly normalized outsourcing our fitness to the time we spend in the saddle?

This conversation is not about banning two point (it's not even about two point!). It is not about saying squats are superior to riding. And it is absolutely not about attacking coaches or tradition.

It is about this:

• The difference between skill development and strength development

• Whether riding alone is sufficient to build physical capacity

• The message we send young riders when we frame mounted drills as “fitness work”

• Efficiency, intentionality, and athlete identity

• Why surplus capacity matters when things get hard or unpredictable

• And how tradition shapes what we defend

I talk through the common counter-arguments I received, from “two point builds strength and skill at the same time” to “why can’t we just do both?” I also zoom out to look at how every other sport separates skill practice from physical preparation, and why equestrian sport often resists that model.

At the core, this episode is about responsibility.

Our horses are our partners. If we identify as athletes, then part of that identity is showing up with strength, endurance, mobility, and resilience already built. Time in the saddle should primarily serve skill, communication, and the horse’s development. Strength can be built far more efficiently off the horse, in a way that creates a real buffer for the unexpected.

This is a nuanced conversation. It is not black and white. But I believe it is one worth having.

If this episode resonates with you, challenges you, or even frustrates you a little, I’d genuinely love to hear from you. Message me, tag me, share your thoughts. Let’s keep raising the standard together.

Welcome to Season 2.

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