What Your Horse Really Wants for Christmas
This time of year my tack trunk sees an influx of horse treats, like majorly. I’m talking baby...
Kristen Kolenda holds a B.S in Equestrian Studies from Lake Erie College. A former trainer and professional rider, she is now a mental health researcher and clinical Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT). In her personal business she combines her knowledge of horses and riding with her training in yoga therapy and mental health to help equestrians achieve peak performance in (and out of) the saddle. She’s created the Rider Training Scale (think dressage scale, for the rider) to help riders optimize their biomechanics, mobility, mental and emotional health and more for form and function. Kristen can be found presenting at conferences such as Equine Affaire and the Symposium on Yoga Research in addition to providing workshops at private training and boarding facilities. She teaches weekly online group yoga therapy classes to help equestrians connect with their body and their horse, physically, mentally and emotionally. While Kristen has spent most of her life in the jumper and eventing rings her two senior horses, Bittersweet and Mighty Maverick, have her enjoying quiet trail rides more often than not these days. For a little twist she’s recently begun western riding lessons to help better understand her western riding clients and hopes to take a polo lesson or two soon.