At the inaugural Horse Industry Safety Summit, held April 23 at the University of Kentucky’s (UK) Spindletop Hall, in Lexington, Daniel Stewart, owner of Pressure Proof Coaching Academy, enlivened the crowd with his rollicking presentation about the role of nutrition and both mental and physical fitness in rider safety and performance.

The presentation combined elements of sports psychology, physical and mental training, and self-empowerment gleaned from Stewart’s experience as a high-level coach.

Stewart used humor to drive home important messages, particularly since so much of the horse industry focuses on the horse and its health and performance.

“We can control a lot things, so let’s not just look for frangible technologies and helmets,” he said. “Let’s look at the things we have control over, things that are closer to home,” he said