The USEA is excited to share this roundtable discussion from Coach Tony Sandoval and Coach Sando Training!
In this video, Coach Sando is joined by Dr. Jenni Douglas from Event Fit Rider Performance, Natasha Gunston from The Eventing Physiologist, and Lisa Bauman from Om Riding for a conversation moderated by Nicole Brown of the Equiratings Eventing Podcast and USEA Official Podcast for a discussion on the topic of low back pain in riders.
After each of the panelists introduces themselves and shares a bit about their background, the panel dives into answering questions submitted by viewers on the topic of low back pain. The panel covers a discussion of the reasons why riders get into pain, what actions they can take to make them more robust, and other topics that could help keep riders pain-free.
Would you like to share feedback on this roundtable discussion? Share your feedback with Coach Sando at [email protected].
Over 15 years ago, Coach Tony Sandoval aka "Coach Sando" started his career as a Division 1 collegiate strength and conditioning coach. In 2016, he had the opportunity to rehab a severely injured rider. Working side by side with her, she returned to competition months before her doctors expected. It was that experience that gave Sandoval new passion and inspiration to focus on solely training equestrian athletes. Since then he has immersed himself in the equestrian world - he loves to spend time watching his riders during lessons and in competition to better understand the rider as an athlete. He even rides himself!
Eventers who are new to the sport may feel a little overwhelmed by the often-misunderstood world of saddle fitting. Riders are often bombarded with information from peers online or self-described experts, putting them at risk of following bad advice related to equipment that impacts horse welfare perhaps more than any other piece of tack. Finding a qualified expert to answer these questions is crucial. Who better to turn to than both a qualified Master Saddle Fitter and a fourth-generation saddle designer to answer some of these questions?
Did you know that the USEA Foundation awards over 150 grants each year to deserving individuals who are involved in the sport of eventing? With grants that assist riders with accomplishing their competition goals, grants geared toward licensed officials, grants that are specific to continuing education for coaches, grants that assist competitions with obtaining frangible technology, and so much more, there really is a grant opportunity available to almost anyone!
With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.
Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.