How I Became a Personal Trainer for Equestrians

     I grew up in Tualatin, Oregon, in a family with little to no interest in horses. However, even though I did not grow up around horses, I have always been drawn to them. I got my first job at a barn at age 11 and was hooked!

     Health and fitness have also always been important parts of my life. I find I am happier when I am consistently going to the gym and working hard. The gym is a safe place to let my frustrations out and walk away feeling refreshed. When I don't work out consistently, my riding feels awkward, unbalanced, and uncoordinated. That feeling always provided extra motivation for me to go to the gym! 

      I always thought my career would involve horse training. But, I had a chip on my shoulder about it- I was told by so many people I should choose a more traditional career choice that I was determined to prove them wrong. I felt extremely unsupported and doubted by others, and I was stubborn enough to become a horse trainer just to spite them. I never allowed myself to explore other options- just horse training. I decided to attend Oregon State University college and study Animal Sciences to broaden my equine knowledge. I was so excited to go, but something didn't feel right. I was doing well in school and loved living in Corvallis, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. I just knew I was not where I was meant to be. After a year and a half, I decided to step away from college and start looking for a job working for a horse trainer full time- but I never got the chance. Covid happened; I lost both my jobs, busted my hip after getting kicked by a stud, and, to top it off, my horse bucked me off and severely injured my back. I couldn't walk for days, and it took me six months to start exercising again. After months of rehab, my physical therapist told me my back would never fully recover, making life as a horse trainer a challenging career choice. I felt crushed and lost- how could I be a horse trainer with a career-ending injury at 20 before I even got to try? But everything happens for a reason- I firmly believe that. 

     One of the older ladies in my barn once said to me, "Ellie, I truly think you will make a fantastic horse trainer. You have the work ethic and the look. If you bust your a**, you will make it. But I think you have another calling in life. This industry NEEDS someone with your knowledge of horses and fitness to work with the riders to make them stronger. This is what you should be doing!" I brushed the comment off at the time, and it sat with me for about a year before I really heard it. 

     My back injury slowed my life down. Since it happened right at the beginning of covid, I couldn't do much. I couldn't exercise, couldn't work, couldn't drive, couldn't leave the house. So there I was, stuck at home with nothing to do, and I thought about what I wanted my life to look like. I knew college still wasn't my path, but horse training wasn't either. I also knew a typical 9-5 corporate job would not suit my lifestyle or make me happy. I realized I love coaching people- horse people specifically. So I decided to take the NASM personal trainer certification course to see where it would take me. What else was I going to do? After about six months, I was certified and took a job at a commercial gym to gain experience. I knew starting my own business was eventually the goal, but I figured that would happen sometime down the road. Well, then came the second covid shutdown, and yet again, I was without a job. So I said screw it; time to start my own personal training business! Before I knew it, Lopin' Down The Rail Fitness was born. 

     Lopin' Down The Rail Fitness is unique because it is an exercise program engineered explicitly for equestrian athletes. I noticed a trend in the industry: so much time and energy is spent on perfecting the horse that the rider is often neglected. I want to change that. To be competitive, the rider should be as good of shape as the horse. So, I developed a fitness program that prepares competitive riders for All-Around events. My program improves stability, flexibility, strength, and overall endurance in the saddle.

     As I said, everything happens for a reason. If I hadn't injured my back, I would be somewhere riding and training horses all day, wondering if I was where I was supposed to be. Without covid, I would not have started my own business- yet. I also believe my back injury makes me a better coach. I understand how tough and discouraging an injury is not only on the body but on the mind. Once I could finally exercise again, I was so excited, but that feeling quickly turned into frustration. I could no longer do the things that were once easy for me. My once strong core could not stabilize my back in the simplest exercises. My endurance was gone entirely; I felt winded after walking a mile- where before my injury, I could run six miles with no problem. I could barely even do a proper body weight squat where 50+ pounds moved like butter before. Frustration does not even begin to describe how I felt.

     Riding was worse- I had little to no stabilization in my back, which greatly affected how I rode. I could not properly use my left side, sit straight, or even put weight on my left seat bone. I had little control of my entire left side, from my ankle to hip to my shoulder, because my back was so unstable. To say I was crooked in the saddle is an understatement. I became extremely ineffective in the saddle. I thought about quitting entirely- I felt like I could never get back to where I was. I felt my body was working against me. I'm not sure why I kept trying, but I did. I worked harder in the gym to stabilize and strengthen my back and slowly saw improvements both in the gym and in the saddle. Almost three years later, it still affects me; but not nearly to the degree it used to. My injury makes me more connected to my older or previously injured clients because I understand how they feel in their daily lives and in the saddle. I know what it feels like to have your body work against you. I also understand how the body is all connected and how when one body part isn't working, it dramatically affects the rest.  

     Today, I am fully self-employed with my business. I live in Corvallis, Oregon, and travel throughout the Willamette Valley into the Portland area to work with my in-person clients- but most of my business is online! I have clients throughout the country and in Canada! 

     I show with Ambition Performance Horses throughout the Northwest at AQHA and APHA shows. My favorite events are the horsemanship and the showmanship. I also really enjoy the trail! Unfortunately, I have not had my own horse for a few years but I am lucky enough to have a supportive and generous barn family that lets me lease and show their horses throughout the year. One day I will again own a horse, but for now, I am investing my time and resources into my business!

     I feel fortunate my business is successful enough that I do not have to have other part-time jobs to make ends meet. Since I only work for myself, I have an extremely flexible schedule for my clients! When I started my business, it was important to me to have as open a schedule as possible to benefit my clients. 

     If you are interested in learning more about my program, send me a message!