YOUR HORSE'S TRAINING EQUESTRIANS & THE MENOPAUSE | HOLISTIC HEALING
PART TWO
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WOMEN GOING THROUGH the menopause suffer from declining sex hormones and this, in turn, causes issues that include weight gain, changes to where they store excess fat, less reliable energy levels, strong sugar cravings, irritability and bloating. None of these problems are fun for a woman to deal with, but add in a horse or two to ride and care for and this period of life can turn a love of all things equestrian into a chore or, worse, a fear, making riding a debilitating, angst-filled activity.
There are, however, ways that women can empower themselves with a greater understanding of their changing hormones and consequently move towards being able to fully enjoy a beloved sport or hobby.
Empowerment can come from following the five pillars of the holistic toolkit (Your Horse, May, Training/Menopause), the first of which is an exploration of nutrition and hydration. Simple eating principles enable the body to be fuelled with optimum nutrition (without added sugars and trans fats) so that it can come to a more balanced state, therefore reducing perimenopausal symptoms and leaving the woman feeling ready to enjoy their horse with renewed vigour.
Those fluctuating hormones
There are several ways in which fluctuating hormones in perimenopause and menopause can affect equestrians, and these include…
■ Increased abdominal fat, particularly visceral fat around the mid-section.
■ An increase in adipose tissue overall can come from increased
