Spooky Nook Sports

I don't dare talk back to these guys! (But I love them) 

Many people don't consider riding to be a real sport. It's understandable-after all, when riding well, it does appear that the rider is merely a passenger while the horse does all the work. However, in order to achieve an international level of riding, it takes an astronomical amount of strength, flexibility, "feel," quick reflexes, and utter control over your entire body. One must easily be able to isolate muscle groups while managing to think about a test or course etc, and aren't these components consistent with all other extreme sports? Herein, I feel, lies the issue with our sport-especially in America. Too many people consider riding something that any person can go do. This is where horses suffer at times. Imagine the discomfort a hose has to endure if a very larger person with minimal coordination or balance hops on and starts flapping about?
I strongly advocate a high level of fitness, and truly feel riding is a privilege and not a right. I don't wish to offend anyone, but I've seen too much of vastly overweight people pounding on a rose's back, and its painful to watch! Please, be kind enough to at least be in a healthy body weight range before attempting to gallop off into the sunset. * #endrant
In order to ride at a very competitive level, then, it makes sense that one must strive to have a superior level of fitness and all aforementioned attributes, no? It is ESPECIALLY important for para athletes to go the extra mile when not in the saddle. We have less to work with than our able bodied counterparts, and must maximize what we have! 
Which brings me to this massive news that I'm very proud of:
In Manheim, PA (about 8 miles from my apartment) is the largest indoor sports complex in North America. Spooky Nook Fitness is home of the USA women's Olympic field hockey team, and they are renowned as one of the very top programs for turning out professional level elite athletes in many sports, including NFL, MLB pro tennis, pro volleyball, track and field, pro soccer, and the list goes on. They have top trainers of strength/fitness/agility/speed, who customize workouts for athletes who are attempting to go pro. They also focus on young athletes, molding them for futures as stars in their chosen arena. 
I have a close friend who pointed me to 'The Nook' to try to gain them as a sponsor. I figured why not, and I went in and deposited my brochure with little hope of hearing back. I was promptly contacted by the head of sponsorship department who stated that though they could not offer me financial backing, they would like to offer me full sponsorship of their elite pro athlete training program. 
A better thing could not have fallen into my lap!
I started there about 3 weeks ago, and let me tell you: this is not for the faint of heart! It is so hard that I can't remember a day where some muscle group didn't hurt, and there have been a handful of days where I sincerely didn't know how I was going to physically be capable of walking out of the Nook after a workout. 
*Keep in mind, this level of activity is harder for me on the premise that half my body has been working at only 50% or less for the last 15 years!* I will outline what they make me do. The workout takes 2 hours and I am expected  5 days a week. Right off the bat I was asked if I wanted to be treated any differently (they already knew the answer) and I workout with about 7 guys gearing up for the NFL draft, one girl who is going for pro tennis, and a couple pro baseball guys, and I am absolutely expected to keep up. Here's what a typical day looks like:
10 min warmup at full speed on elliptical

shuffle runs: (60yds down and back, meaning 120yds total 4x)

walking: as fast as possible 120yds perfectly straight 3/4inch line, one foot directly in front of the other (4x)

over/unders: a ballet bar with 2 heights of bar (like a paddock fence) that i straddle the lower bar and have to squat to duck under the top bar (so going between) back and forth 3x16

single leg hamstring holds: like a reverse plank, I lie on my back with feet elevated on lower bar and one leg at a time i lift my body so it's a straight line angle off the floor. Each leg I have to hold for 45sec. x3.

glute raises: feet up with knees bent, I have to raise my hips high up while squeezing everything down the back side. 3x12

ab/aductor: lying on my side I have to do straight legs apart as high as possible (abductor) then cross the top leg with knee bent and lift the bottom leg up off the floor (adductor) and do both 3x12 on each side. 

abs: leg lifts 3x20 between 30sec bicycling hold(3x30sec)

firehydrants: On hands and knees I have to raise one leg at a time from the hip outward with knee bent like a dog peeing on a hydrant. 3x12 on both sides

kickbacks: on hands and knees I have to kick straight out backwards with heel going high as possible toward the ceiling. 3x12 each side

Birdogs: On hands and knees I have to raise the opposing arm and leg  straight out in front and behind at the same time like a hunting dog. 3x12-you cannot imagine how hard it is for me to balance on left arm!!! But now I can.:)

Sorry for the novel, but now you can see why I have been absolutely wiped out, because after all that, then I get to go ride! And then all I want to do is sleep! 
I can't say I love the butt-whooping, but I GRATLY appreciate it, and the noticeable progress keeps me going. I've cut off a whole half hour from the date that I began to today! That is something to be proud of. I'm positive I would not be able to ride Right Tyme if I didn't have this program in place. Lets just say I hibernate on the weekends! 

Proud to be sponsored by this world class facility