New Year, New You

2017 has arrived!

 

2017 is bringing a lot of new and exciting things to the world around us. For example, on August 21st, the moon's shadow will fall across the United States from Oregon to South Carolina during the first total solar eclipse in the continental United States in 38 years! It is the year of the fire rooster, meaning that lucky numbers are 5, 7, and 8 while lucky colors are gold, brown, and yellow. In December, NASA plans to launch an exoplanet seeking TESS mission. The 2017 World Expo will be held in Kazakhstan and will feature  "Future Energy" ideas.

 

Equicizer 2017

That all sounds grand, but let's make it a little more personal. For us, 2017 will bring the 35th birthday of the Equicizer. In 1982, the same year the Toyota Camry was born and Time Magazine's "Man of the Year" was the computer, an idea was born that would grow and develop into what we know today as Wooden Horse Corporation.

Frankie in his jockey days.

Jockey Frankie Lovato Jr, creator of the Equicizer and founder of Wooden Horse Corporation, designed the original Equicizer when he found himself between a rock and hard place. After a devastating and life changing injury at the racetrack, Frankie faced a long, arduous recovery. He found there was basically no rehab options that simulated the function of a real horse in a way that could allow his flexibility, strength, and balance to regenerate enough for him to feel safe "back in the saddle". That was the spark that lit the Equicizer fire and we are happy to be celebrating 35 years! (Read more about the development of the Equicizer here)

2017 and YOU

Now that we've talked about us... we want to know what 2017 means to you? Have you made some resolutions? Are you hoping to see some changes come about? Do your goals perhaps look similar to one or more of the below?

-Learn to ride a horse

-Become a stronger, more effective rider

-Get more time in the saddle

-Level up in competition (English, Western, Other)
-Become a stronger, fitter jockey or become an exercise rider (Read more)

-Rehabilitate from an injury or illness (Read more)

-Develop a more balanced seat

-Get into or back into shape (Read more)

-Lose weight

You might think it's a little bit cliche to make New Year's resolutions in the month of January, but what better time than today? A new year is a fresh start and a new opportunity to succeed. New year, new goals, new you! 

The Equicizer can help with a range of different resolutions and goals. It was invented as a means of rehabilitation and therapy and thus has many applications toward fitness. The Equicizer can also help you rise to new levels as an Equestrian by extending your access to "ride time" almost infinitely. 

For Owners

If you haven't yet, Equicizer owners or those who have regular access to an Equicizer should check out the fitness training offered by long time Equicizer owner and friend, Heather Sansom. Heather's primary area of expertise is dressage, but she has also trained and competed in hunting, Prince Philip Games, polo, competitive trail, liberty training, and natural horsemanship. She offers coaching and training for helping fix rider movement pattern and posture issues, injury post-rehabilitation for riding and other sports, programs for people with health conditions or generally older bodies, and well-being/general fitness/weight loss coaching. Let Heather help you "Equicize" your way to a healthier lifestyle!

#FitnessFriday

Another way to start achieving new goals is to look at your Equicizer in a new way! Try "mixing it up" by trying out new exercises outside the box of traditional riding. Depending on your fitness and experience level, you could try new things on the Equicizer like riding side saddle, backwards or doing "around the world" exercises. You may even incorporate free weights for building more upper body strength and cardio exercise as you ride. Follow us on social media for #FitnessFriday, where we are constantly showing new and fun ways to stretch and workout on your Equicizer!

Potential Equicizer Owners 

You might be wondering to yourself whether or not the Equicizer is a smart investment toward helping you achieve your 2017 goals. If those goals have anything to do with fitness, riding horses, or a combination of the two.... the answer is a resounding YES! We have many options for payment, including financing options.

Chester says "Brrr it's cold in Ohio!"

One of the best benefits of an Equicizer workout this time of year is that it can be done inside. Many people in fluctuating climates find themselves limited during winter months by the environment. (Temperatures around the Wooden Horse Corporation office dipped below 10 degrees this past week - brrr!) Daylight hours become shorter, temperatures are much lower, and cool down times for your horse are longer. It's hard to stay in tip top shape when all these things are considerations for an equestrian athlete. While we hope you still give your equine teammate(s) all the love and affection they need, we also hope you could imagine swapping some of the frigid winter workouts for warm and cozy ones!

Not only can you ride anywhere on the Equicizer, but you can ride anytime. Squeeze an early morning ride in between your coffee and the office without ever walking outside! You can ride on your lunch break or before you go to bed. If you are like us, you could even keep the Equicizer in your office so it's ready and waiting for a quick ride to shake you out of a funk during the workday! Having the Equicizer in your home lends itself to many conveniences that the barn may not. You don't have to worry about childcare, you don't get dirty nor is there cleanup, and your house is never closed like some barns may be during certain hours or days of the week.

For those just starting out or for those who teach newbies, consider that on the Equicizer, you never have to "share the arena". This can be really helpful for riders learning new skills or feeling the motion of a canter or gallop for the first time. There is no steering which helps make these new ventures less intimidating.

Are you and your equine partner competitors? Ever feel like you yourself are playing catch up in the spring as you bring your horse back into competition condition? The best way to go about that is for only one of you to be conditioning! You can stay in shape all year round so you are never playing catch up. This allows for continuous improvement of both your fitness and your skill set! We can always become a better version of who we were yesterday. This same idea applies if your equine teammate is laid off with an injury or resting in late pregnancy.

Looking Ahead

All things considered, we here at Wooden Horse Corporation want what's best for you. We hope that means bringing the Equicizer into your home, barn, lesson/therapy facility, or office to spice up your 2017 goals and your riding ambitions. The Equicizer is a great investment into your future as both a healthy individual and successful equestrian. It's a fun way to get you (and your kids/friends/family members/students) up off the couch and active.

Shoot us an email if you are interested in learning more about the Equicizer. Feel free to explore our shop online, as well.

For owners, please always keep in mind that we are interested in your feedback and follow up. We just love hearing from you and seeing how the Equicizer has impacted your life and/or the life of your students. We welcome pictures, videos, stories, and even guest bloggers! Connect with us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest)

We wish you the best of happiness, health, and prosperity in this new year. Stay tuned to our blog and newsletter for all kinds of fun updates, contests, and exciting new Equicizer products!

by Amanda Chicotel

www.equicizer.com