The Performance Refinery - Ride.Lab Academy

04/22/2026

Green Flags that actually matter in the Rider Physiotherapy realm 💚

Our equestrian world is a complicated one at the best of times. We have both Rider & Horse as integral parts of the team which both require finesse in quality of care

These are the top 10 hard rules & standards for my team ⬇️

04/20/2026

🎂 44 trips around the sun and still happiest with a little scuff on my shoes, chalk or dirt on my hands, and my favorite people by my side 🌎✨

Motherhood, adventure, and family chaos … honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. From mountains to beaches, horses to climbing walls, ski slopes to spontaneous road trips, I live for the adventures shared together along the way.

A huge thank you to everyone from both the Southern and Northern Hemisphere who reached out with birthday love, messages, and kind wishes, my heart is full ❤️

And to my hubby, thank you for the most fun-filled birthday kickoff … starting with the Coronado Flower Show, followed by a seaside dinner, speakeasies, and wrapping up the night laughing way too hard at show 🍸🌸😂

Day 2 rolled straight into a delicious family brunch, and then dusting the hand chalk off and getting back to climbing walls 🧗

Because apparently at 44 … I still choose adventure first & can’t let the boys have all the fun!

Here’s to another year of living fully, laughing loudly, and making memories with the people I love most 🤍✌🏼

04/10/2026

New Zealand 🇳🇿 & Australia 🇦🇺
March 2027 ~ IM COMING BACK DOWN UNDER!!!

Currently opening expressions of interest for Clinic hosting locations

Email: britta@performancerefinery.com

04/06/2026

Cash shredded his first Black diamond for Spring Break! at 6️⃣🤙🏼

I had to sideline some mom fear & let it sink in that he was ready! ⛷️

There was some speed
There was a tumble
There was a full send slide down the mountain …

But no hesitation, he got back up and sent it again.

Mumma lesson = Trust the process. Not perfect lines. Not pretty runs. Resilience > everything.

Spring break = family, mountains, and raising a kid who knows how to fall … and keep going.

The Flying Squirrel strikes again 🐿️💥

03/30/2026

Excited to head back to help the amazing group of riders at Serenity Rose Equestrian Center in Lincoln, NE coming up! Let’s get down to business 😉✨🐴

We are PUMPED to have Britta join us April 11/12 at Serenity Rose for a biomechanics clinic. We are ready to do the work needed out of the saddle to improve our rides in the saddle 💪🏼💪🏼 Auditing available only April 12th, hope to see you there!

03/24/2026

To stand on the sidelines and support my team in moments like this is something I never take for granted.

An extraordinary well deserved weekend for Next Level Eventing Tamie Smith, securing triple wins in South Carolina across the CCI4*, CCI3* and CCI2* levels. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

To say I am proud feels insufficient. As her friend, colleague, and sports physiotherapist, it has been a privilege to work alongside Tamie for the better part of nine years. Since we first connected in 2018, I have had a front-row seat to the relentless work, resilience, and unwavering commitment she brings to every aspect of her career.

What stands out most is not just the results, but the consistency of her standards, the care she shows for her horses, and the integrity with which she operates, even in the face of external noise.

Tamie, you continue to set the benchmark in this sport. This success is a reflection of years of dedication and an approach that truly prioritizes both performance and welfare.

Always in your corner. 💪🏼

Britta

(And kudos to an incredibly well written article from another one of my favorites Sally)

https://chronofhorse.com/en/article/Tamie-Smith-Sweeps-Three-FEI-Divisions-At-Setters-Run-Farm-Carolina-International/?fbclid=IwZnRzaAQvdaBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeHNomqramQOgMao8SpO72hVyIDQBkWhKGfhvotBz-nQPELLY3VifiH0_S77I_aem_KBuv5TfW9Kzfjgox5SizKw

Tamie Smith and Lillet 3 finished the weekend on a score of 29.7 in the CCI4*-S, adding just three seconds’ worth of time penalties to their initial two-phase score. © Sally Spickard / Eventing Nation Tamie Smith Sweeps Three FEI Divisions At Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International Eventing By...

03/02/2026

Cold muscles make sloppy athletes.
Warm muscles make precision artists 🎿🐎

If you’re about to ski steep lines or ride with feel and finesse, your body needs circulation, coordination, and joint prep before you ask it for power.

Here’s your 8–10 minute rider + skier ignition sequence:

x30 Jumping Jacks
Flip the switch. Elevate heart rate. Wake up the whole system.

x30 Cross-Body Rotations
Turn on thoracic rotation so your upper body can stabilize while your legs do the work.

x30 Air Squats
Prime quads and glutes for shock absorption and strong leg drive.

45 sec Jog in Place
Get blood moving. Warm tissues perform better and react faster.

x30 Ankle Rockers
Mobilize the ankles for edge control on skis and stable lower leg position in the saddle.

x20 Skater Lunges
Lateral strength + balance. Control side-to-side load like an athlete, not a passenger.

x20 Roller Glute Bridges
Fire hip extension. Strong glutes protect knees and low back.

x20 Shoulder Taps
Core stability under shifting load. Independent arms, steady trunk.

x20 Star Planks
Integrated strength. Hips, core, shoulders all online.

Why this matters?
📍Warm tissue responds faster
📍Activated hips protect knees
📍Stable core improves precision
📍Mobile ankles improve control

You’re not just warming up.
You’re building control before speed enters the equation.

Perform with intention. Then go earn your turns. 🎿🐎

03/01/2026

Your boots aren’t the only thing that need warming up. Your nervous system does too⚡️

Whether you’re clicking into skis or swinging into the saddle, your body needs mobility + activation + control before you ask it for power, precision, or balance.

Here’s a short, punchy morning reset that wakes up your hips, primes the core, and clears neural tension so you move like an athlete, not a folded lawn chair.

1️⃣ TFL / Glute / Hamstring Rolling
Unstick the lateral hip. Free the posterior chain.
If your hips are locked, your edge control and leg stability suffer. Period.

2️⃣ Lower Extremity Neural Flossing
Clear the wiring. Better neural glide = cleaner coordination, quicker reactions, less “tight but I stretched” feeling.

3️⃣ Dynamic Adductor Rollouts (Foam Roller)
Open the inner thigh engine.
Adductors stabilize the pelvis for carving turns and keeping a steady leg under the saddle.

4️⃣ 1/2 Kneeling Quad + Psoas Mobility on Stability Ball. Restore hip extension without dumping into the low back. You need hip extension for stacked posture, shock absorption, and efficient leg drive.

5️⃣ Long sitting Deep Core Rotations with an ISO Foam Roller Hold. Build rotational control without wobble. A Stable trunk = independent legs. That’s how you stay quiet on the horse and strong on the downhill.

6️⃣ Plank → Downward Dog Walkouts
Integrate everything. Shoulders, core, posterior chain. Now your body talks as one unit.

This takes around 8 to 12 minutes.
It saves you sloppy turns, unstable legs, and compensatory low back drama.

Warm up with intention.
Then go perform. 🐎🎿

See you on the hill today ✌🏼

12/18/2025

Some messages stop you in your tracks in the very best way 🤍

As we wrap up the year, I received this note from a client that perfectly captures why I do what I do. Coaching, physiotherapy & rider biomechanics … it’s never just about movements or milestones. It’s about belief, trust, and helping someone reconnect with what their body can do.

I’m deeply grateful for the trust my clients place in me and for the moments like this that remind me how meaningful this work truly is.

Here’s to continued growth, exciting breakthroughs, and riding forward into 2026 with purpose. 💫

“Hi Britta!
As we approach year end, I like to let folks know how much difference they make in my life. Everyone has choices every day. You have a very unique set of skills and experience that is a gift to your clients.

I really appreciate the time you’ve invested with me this year. As an older amateur who is somewhat new to the sport, it would be so easy to give up on myself and see others do the same.

I think we were all dismayed at my apparent lack of being able to make my body do what was needed despite trying so hard all the time.

With your help this year, my riding and communication with my horse(s) has improved dramatically. The horses are happier and my trainer now comments ‘well ridden!’ fairly regularly. She can focus more of her comments on adjusting to the horse’s weak spots Instead of always having to correct my body position to improve communication.

This year I was finally able to:
- Get canter from trot on my upper level horse
- Nail almost every canter departure
- Get changes consistently, especially left
- Start and keep counter canter to second level pattern requirements
- Really execute and feel the difference between my aids for working vs medium gaits
- Ride and communicate well enough for my upper level horse to stop balking or spinning to avoid my aids every ride
- Start shoulder in, haunches in and half pass
- Complete or practice second and third level tests

I’m looking forward to more exciting progress and to working with you in 2026!
Hope you have wonderful holidays surrounded by those you love,
Lisa Black”

12/09/2025

Our 2026 Rider Performance Travel Clinic Schedule is now open for expressions of interest on calendar dates

Reach out to: britta@performancerefinery.com
To secure your barn a date

2025 RIDER PHYSIO AND PERFORMANCE CLINIC SCHEDULE DECEMBER 6/7: UNAVAILABLE 12/13: 20/21: 27/28: 2026 RIDER PHYSIO AND PERFORMANCE CLINIC SCHEDULE EXPRESSIONS OF DATE ALLOCATION INTEREST NOW OPEN JANUARY 3/4: UNAVAILABLE 10/11: 17/18: UNAVAILABLE 23/24: Tierra Rejada Equestrian – Caroline Hoffman ...

12/06/2024

What’s on your Christmas wishlist 🎄❤️

There’s a reason we are the founders & creators of Functional Equestrian Sling training 🛑 Don’t fall for the copycats & make sure you use our 4-way stretch product with a loading breakpoint for your on horse training 🎤🧠

Postage dates as follows;

Within the United States : December 18
International Standard: December 9
International express: December 16

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=892403153074883&id=100069156199052&mibextid=xOYQyo

11/28/2024

As we gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, we are reminded of the incredible support and trust you have placed in us. This season is a time to reflect on what truly matters, and you, our clients, are at the top of our list.

We are deeply honored & grateful for the opportunity to work with you, grow alongside you, and contribute to your success. Your loyalty and partnership mean everything to us, and we are committed to continuing to provide exceptional service for years to come.

Thank you for being part of our journey. From our team to yours, we wish you a Thanksgiving filled with joy, love, and gratitude. Here’s to family, friends, and the moments that make life special.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Britta & the P.R team 🍁🦃🧡