About Me
Hi! My name is Erika Schlicht, and I started Fitness Eventing to help Thoroughbreds have the best life possible. We start youngsters, retrain and sell OTTBs, and help current TB owners achieve their goals. We focus on the eventing discipline but we accept anyone and any breed, no judgement here!
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I have over 10 years experience as a professional trainer and instructor. I have worked for top names in the sport, including Stephen Bradley, Lauren Nicholson, Stacy Pattison, and David Hopper. Over the years I have worked as a groom, barn manager, rider, trainer, and coach so I am competent in all aspects of your horse's training and care. My husband Victor is a jockey so we have a clear understanding of the Thoroughbreds' track life, and make their adjustment to life on the farm as stress free as possible. I became a trainer because my love of horses and educating far outweighs anything else. My goal is to help you achieve your goals with your horse, whatever they may be.
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Training Philosophy
Here at Fitness Eventing we focus on teaching the horses how to use their bodies correctly so they stay sound throughout their lives. What does this mean? To put everything simply, when a horse is balanced back to front and side to side, it can carry its bodyweight using muscles evenly (no bulking up one side/other side staying very weak) and without putting undue pressure on any one limb (causing strain on joints, tendons, ligaments).
How do we do this? Erika TEACHES the horses with patience and consistent techniques. When training OTTBs, we realize that we are RE training them; they already had a career and know how to gallop on a track very well. Consistency and patience are the key elements required to teach an OTTB that their old career is over, and that now they must respect new aids from the rider and use their bodies differently. Here is what Erika focuses on when retraining OTTBs:
How do we do this? Erika TEACHES the horses with patience and consistent techniques. When training OTTBs, we realize that we are RE training them; they already had a career and know how to gallop on a track very well. Consistency and patience are the key elements required to teach an OTTB that their old career is over, and that now they must respect new aids from the rider and use their bodies differently. Here is what Erika focuses on when retraining OTTBs:
- Pushing evenly from behind; having an even rhythm with their hind legs so each leg pushes with the same amount of force
- Maintaining side to side balance through their hips & shoulders so they stay level especially when turning (how many horses drop their left shoulder to turn left?)
- Bending through their ribcage (not just their neck) to encourage relaxation over their back & increase flexibility
- Patience; to wait for the rider's aids without anticipating or panicking
- Focus; to think about their own feet and balance instead of rushing through exercises
