Time to Move On: Saying Goodbye to Strong in the Saddle (as a PT Business)
This isn’t the easiest blog to write. In fact, it’s one I’ve been putting off for months. But sometimes the only way forward is to rip the plaster off and say it...
I’m no longer offering personal training for horse riders... or anyone else.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know this page has been built around Strong in the Saddle and my work as a PT. I’ve poured so much of myself into it... content, resources, workouts, late-night planning, all in the hope that it might help someone out there feel stronger, more confident, or achieve something they didn’t think was possible.
And honestly? That’s always been my real passion. Not weight loss, not aesthetics.
It’s never been about that for me.
What drove me was seeing someone light up when they nailed a movement they’d struggled with, or when they finally realised that their body was capable of far more than they believed.
I had an extra soft spot for equestrians because I understood the struggles: the nerves, the self-doubt, the way confidence on the ground (or in the gym) can filter into how you feel in the saddle.
But here’s the truth I’ve been avoiding: my heart isn’t in it anymore.
Losing the spark
I still love fitness. I’ll always love fitness.(just not running) It’s such a huge part of my life personally. But somewhere along the way, my passion for coaching it as a career just... slipped. And once that switch happened in my head, it became harder and harder to keep pretending.
Since moving to France, I haven’t once introduced myself as a personal trainer. People find out eventually, usually when it comes up in conversation that I’m qualified. But that identity, that title... it doesn’t feel like mine anymore.
For months, I kept telling myself it was just a phase. That I’d find the motivation again. But the truth was sitting right in front of me: the spark had gone, and trying to force it only made me resent it more.
The content struggle
If you’ve noticed my posts getting less frequent or less polished, you weren’t imagining it. The quality has slipped, and that’s because I simply haven’t had the drive to create.
I used to spend hours working on posts, planning, tweaking captions until they felt right.
Lately, it’s been like dragging myself through mud.
It started to feel unfair. Unfair to me, because I was spending energy forcing something that no longer lit me up.
And unfair to you, because you deserve genuine passion... not half-hearted attempts to keep a brand alive that I no longer wanted to run.
To put it bluntly (and probably badly, given the context): I was flogging a dead horse. And for someone writing to equestrians, that’s... not exactly the phrase you want to use!
But you get the idea.
What comes next
So, what does this actually mean?
It means I won’t be actively taking on clients anymore. I won’t be promoting Strong in the Saddle as a PT business.
But I’m not disappearing. The page will still be here.
I’ll still post about my horse, share memes, maybe throw in the odd fitness tip if it feels right. I’ll keep reviewing products if they come my way. I’m not abandoning this space, I’m just shifting the focus away from coaching.
And just to be clear... this doesn’t mean I’m finished creating.
I actually want to do more.
I’ve realised I really enjoy writing, so I’ll be blogging more often. Partly because I need to hold myself accountable, and partly because I want to get into the habit. And also, I’m writing a book. I don’t know if it’ll turn out brilliant or trashy or somewhere in between, but that’s not really the point.
The point is I want to write, and I’m giving myself the space to do it.
For anyone wondering... yes, the resources I’ve created, like my workout PDFs for equestrians, are still available. And if you ever want advice, or you’ve got a question I might be able to answer, my inbox is always open. I’m not closing the door on helping people altogether. I’m just choosing not to carry it as a job anymore.
And if working with a PT is something you’re really interested in, there are so many brilliant trainers out there who specialise in equestrians. They’ll give you the focus and energy that I know I can’t anymore.
Why this matters to me
This has been such a tough decision because Strong in the Saddle has been part of my identity for years. I’ve spent so much time building it, putting myself out there, and pushing through my own doubts to make it something I was proud of.
Walking away from that isn’t easy.
But life changes. Passions change. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that clinging to something out of guilt or fear doesn’t do anyone any favours. By letting this go, I’m freeing up space for new opportunities, new projects, and new energy.
There are some exciting changes coming up in the next few months, and I’m looking forward to sharing them with you. Some of it might still be fitness-related, some of it might be completely different.
But it will all be things I’m genuinely passionate about... and I think that matters more than trying to keep up appearances.
Join me for the ride
So, if you’ve been here for the PT side of things, I hope you’ll join me for the ride (lol, horse pun). This page will still have plenty of horses, plenty of laughs, and probably still the occasional terrible jokes (not that the above one is a bad joke).
Some things never change.
But it won’t be about training plans or coaching anymore. And honestly, I think that’s a good thing. It’s time to close this chapter properly, so I can step into the next one without feeling like I’m leaving anything half-finished.
Final thoughts
If you’ve ever worked with me, messaged me for advice, liked a post, or even just lurked quietly in the background... thank you. You’ve been part of this journey, and I’m grateful for every single bit of support along the way.
This isn’t an ending so much as a shift. I’ll always carry the lessons and experiences Strong in the Saddle gave me, but now it’s time for something new.
Here’s to moving forward, making space, and finding the spark again... wherever it decides to take me.