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| Adrienne Tomkinson. Photo by Simon Wackerle |
Improving
Performance:
An Interview
with Adrienne Tomkinson
No duplication without permission.
“…prepare to spend all your money on
your horse, free time smelling like stables, and dressed in dirty (expensive) clothes…”
The proprietor and
creator of the ImPuls Methode™, Adrienne Tomkinson
was born and raised in horse-crazy Australia and has spent most of her life
working with horses. She developed her passion for the majestic four-legged
creatures as a child. Adrienne has been involved with horses for over 30 years,
breeding, training, treating and formerly participating in competitions. With a
deep and keen interest in the equine athlete and improving performance through
many channels, Adrienne has built a fine reputation and is considered a
guarantee for exceptional results.
Her curiosity in
musculo-skeletal issues, how to overcome them and how to prevent injuries
stemmed from her own experience. This encouraged her to develop preventative
and ongoing management techniques coupled with performance enhancement.
Adrienne has developed her own method, the ImPuls Methode™, which consists of
Massage, Energy balancing and Aktivgymnastiks™. These important elements complement
each other and are the basis for the success of ImPuls Methode™ along with
Sport Conditioning/ Coaching for the best ongoing results.
Adrienne has been in
demand for her work with sport horses of the highest standard for many years.
Regular customers include the horses of the World Equestrian Games (WEG) and
some of the successful European Dressage, Western and Jumping horses. In
Australia, she has worked with the elite of Thoroughbred Racehorses and Harness
racers. Adrienne believes all horses, regardless of age or discipline, deserve
the best care and management, achievable through ImPuls Methode™.
GM: Welcome Adrienne!
Congratulations on your success! I am thrilled to meet you and introduce your
passion for horses! When was your first encounter with a horse?
AT: So long ago that it’s hard to remember! Definitely
around 2-3 years of age. As with most ‘horse people’ I am sure I was born with
a passion for horses in my blood.
GM: The ImPuls Methode™ is an intriguing and innovative
program that has helped horses and horse owners around the world! When did you
begin your program and how has it progressed through the years?
AT: I have been practicing for around 15 years. Firstly, as
an Equine Physical Therapist in Australia. Now in Austria as a Masseurin,
Energy Worker and Sport Coach. I started many, many years ago as a teenager
massaging my own horses and appreciated the positive effects of regular massage.
I then completed certificates in Equine Massage, Sports Therapy and as an
Equine Veterinary Nurse. During this time, I also began to treat other horses
professionally. ImPuls Methode™ was set in motion as I began using self-developed
routines based on years of experience and extensive learning on my own horses.
This involved the use of Energy work. Not to be ridiculed in my profession in
Australia, I kept fairly quiet about this ‘secret’ to my success. About six
years ago I asked myself why should I not be more open about this. Then I put
together the principle techniques that provided the best results. ImPuls
Methode™ was officially established three years ago - although I have been using
this approach for many years.
GM: You were a competitor on the field as well as a trainer
and motivator behind the scenes. What was/is your favorite event?
AT: I stopped competing about ten years ago. Now I just
enjoy being indispensable to my clients in their competition endeavors! My real
interest is in building a solid foundation in training and musculo-skeletal
management, strength and condition. I believe taking the time to develop the
structures required for a long term and relatively injury free competition
career is imperative and for me a lot more fun! I still enjoy attending
competitions. Western Reining (I have a lot of reining clients in Italy) is
high up as for a spectator as it is exciting and there is a good vibe.
GM: With extensive training in equine medicine (and an
Equine Veterinary Nurse), equine sports therapy, and horse massage, your
methods offer experience and wisdom to equine performance. What are your methods
for bringing a horse from mediocre to excellent?
AT: As previously mentioned, a solid foundation in
conditioning the horse for the demands of the sport is the first step. A horse
cannot perform the tasks required if its body cannot sustain the demands.
Horses learn tasks quicker than their body adapts to perform these tasks
regularly. I consult to develop appropriate Training Adaptation Plans (TAP’s)
designed to suit individual needs or goals. This involves a mixture of
exercising for correct muscle development, bone/tendon/ligament strengthening,
cardiovascular training and technical training as per discipline. A plan should
involve activities to improve the function of each of the above-mentioned
factors, sufficient rest periods to allow for regeneration of tissues and
replenishment of necessary nutrients. Increasing intensity/stress intervals
need to be balanced with sufficient intermission, to allow the body time to adapt
without over stressing the structures. This is in order to reduce the risk of
injury. In my professional opinion, time for adaptation/conditioning is the
biggest factor to improving the performance of a horse. It is true to say that
athletic ability differs amongst horses and with the right training program
these athletically gifted horses are more likely to be winners. That being
said, bad training or pushing a horse too quickly will often result in
performance/ stress injuries and impair a competition career, regardless of
natural talent.
Secondly, but equally important, care of the muscles through
methods such as ImPuls Methode™ (including Massage, energy balancing and
Aktivgymnastiks™) ensures that blockages and tension are removed before they
become problematic. Many people underestimate the effect tension and blockages
in muscles can have on the whole body. Aktivgymnastiks™ is like yoga - active
and passive stretching and strengthening exercises to keep the joints mobile
and flexible, and also helps muscle health. And Energy balancing is so
underrated! It is also extremely important in preventing a horse becoming sour
and improving willingness to work.
GM: Horses, like barrel horses, suffer from repetitive
movements and high expectations. What is the best plan for horses in a high-stress
environment and what is key to helping them maintain a quality life?
AT: Any discipline has performance-based stress problems.
Just like our human counterparts that suffer from sport related injuries (such
as tennis elbow or groin injuries) and that is a fact. As mentioned above, an
appropriate time orientated Training Adaptation Plan (TAP) and regular
massage/energy balancing sessions are key instruments in maintenance. It is
essential to observe changes in the horse during heavy training and competition
so that the first indications of potential performance related problems are
noticed. Addressing these problems immediately and ensuring adequate time to
resolve issues is additionally imperative. As for stress - changing workouts
styles frequently reduce the impact of stress and boredom. Sufficient breaks
during the season provide much needed rest and aim to reduce stress. Cross
training is part of my TAP so there is a preventative measure considered here
as with rest periods.
GM: Impressive! There are so many aspects to consider when
conditioning horses. You also provide cranio-sacral and chakra balancing. What
are these techniques?
AT: Cranio-Sacral balancing and Chakra balancing are
energetic techniques to help remove blockages and increase energy flow within
the energetic body as compared to the physical body. Both are techniques
commonly used in the human fields. You may have heard of Aura’s? We all know
that the physical body possesses energy fields that are not so easily defined.
A living being gives off an energy (some refer to this as an electromagnetic field)
which can become stagnant through disturbances in the physical body. Think of
phantom pain that amputees often experience, this is to do with the energetic
body that is linked to the physical body. Cranio-Sacral balancing works with
improving the energy pulse from the head (cranium) to the base of the spine or
the Sacrum (the triangular part of the spine that sits within the pelvis). In
horses this includes the tail although the technique is still called
Cranio-Sacral. Chakra Balancing works on the principle that each part of the
body is governed by its own energy field (chakra). Balancing work here clears
blockages and increases the flow of the life force through stimulating the chakras.
This improves vitality (no it won’t make your horse crazy!) and encourages a
sense of calmness. There are many energetic balancing techniques, some are more
esoteric as others. My own modus operandi resonates with me and is an integral
part of my massage routine. I work with the energy connection between the
physical and energetic body. The benefits are to help the body return to its
natural state of balance and release ‘muscle memory’ blocks. Muscle memory
blocks are those where the horse expects an uncomfortable response to using a
muscle in a particular way and thus makes compensatory changes to biomechanics
and stance. Removal of these blocks with energy balancing assist recovery as a
compliment to other treatments.
GM: You are a licensed vaulting trainer (FENA). What are the
benefits of vaulting? What does it entail?
AT: The benefits of vaulting are for both the person and the
horse!!! Vaulters must be extremely fit, strong and flexible with exceptional
balance. For the normal rider, training techniques from vaulting can assist
with core muscle strength. Core muscle strength is necessary for riders to
assist with good balance when riding, so as to interfere as little as possible
with the horse’s mechanics and learn to move in harmony with the horse. Too
often horses have back or muscular problems due to imbalanced riders or
disharmony between rider and horse. The horse changes movement to accommodate
an imbalanced/disharmonic rider resulting in tension or stress in particular
muscles. Coaching riders to look after their own fitness and body is also part
of the ImPuls Methode™, although this aspect is relatively new to the services
offered by myself.
GM: Do you have advice for those who are looking to purchase
their first horse?
AT: Oh please, please, please, take an experienced person
with you! And only buy a schoolmaster or proven horse, one that can teach you
and is patient. There are so many problems that can arise when an inexperienced
person buys an inexperienced horse that may inevitably become chronic issues or
life threatening (for you!). Have lessons regularly, form good relationships
with your vet, farrier, therapist and nutritionist. Ask an expert when in
doubt. Take the advice from qualified people (like your vet!) And prepare to
spend all your money on your horse and free time smelling like stables dressed
in (expensive) dirty clothes ;). For that you will be eternally happy, and your
soul will be enriched!!
GM: What does horsemanship mean to you?
AT: For me horsemanship is first understanding that a horse
is and always will be a horse!! Never should a horse to be compared to a human,
they are a different species and do not have the same thought process. Then
being able to develop a positive relationship between horse and human. Good
horsemen/women have an understanding and a special talent in working with
horses without the necessity for dominance, aggression or severe punishment.
Being able to teach a horse well, have healthy human/horse boundaries and have
a horse willingly attempt to do all that is asked for. Communicating with
horses is part of having good horsemanship skills, communicating oneself
clearly with the horse so that it understands what is being asked of it, and recognizing
what the horse wants to communicate. Being able to respond accordingly and
without instilling fear. We need to respect horses and at the same time receive
respect from horses. Horse have an amazing ability and willingness to learn,
which means they can also be taught not to perform undesirable behavior. That
being said, often undesirable behaviors are communication tools that are
misunderstood. As with almost everything, some people have a natural talent and
gift for bringing out the best in horses, usually they are good horsemen/women!
Connect with Adrienne…
Gina McKnight is a
freelance writer from Ohio USA. gmcknight.com
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| Adrienne Tomkinson. Photo by Simon Wackerle |
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| Adrienne Tomkinson. Photo by Simon Wackerle |
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| Adrienne Tomkinson. Photo by Simon Wackerle |
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| Adrienne Tomkinson. Photo by Simon Wackerle |
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