The Equestrian Connection (wehorse - The Online Riding Academy)

Taryn Young is a USDF bronze and silver medal amateur Dressage competitor, and the woman behind the social media presence, Warmbloods + Wine. Taryn is a Director of Marketing by day, an avid equestrian by nights and weekends, and a 24/7 new mom. One of Taryn’s priorities with her social media has been to showcase the ‘working woman equestrian lifestyle’ – as it is all about balance and realness but one should never give up on your goals whether in your career or riding dreams.

Alexa Linton is the founder of the Whole Horse Apprenticeship, a culmination of almost 20 years of learning about all things equine wellness. She is also the creator and host of the Whole Horse Podcast, and she has written a variety of articles for Horse Journals. Alexa also specializes in supporting with transitions, including death and dying, but also herd, human and barn changes, and physical transitions including illness, injury and aging. Alexa wrote a book to support those who are navigating the death of their animals called Death Sucks: The Straight-up Guide to Navigating Your Pet’s Final Transition. In this episode, we discuss navigating those transitions. It can be a tough subject but Alexa’s advice and wisdom is something that all of us could benefit from at some point in our lives.

Alizée Froment is a former international Grand Prix rider turned show performer, now known for her artistic and beautiful performances, bitless riding, and horse-first philosophy. Alizée has six courses with us on the wehorse platform, with everything ranging from bitless riding to liberty training to flying lead changes. On this episode, we chat about having individual programs for each horse, the benefit of bareback pads, pre-and-post-ride care routines, transitioning to bitless, mastering the basic of groundwork and liberty training, and more!

Ian Benson’s focus is the relationship between horse and human. He believes that all change comes from us as humans. This means: “We need to be the change we want to see in our horse”. The method of Humanship is about the whole relationship between you and your horse, all the parts of each of our characters coming together to create the relationship as it is now. Humanship includes a comprehensive philosophy and a practical approach with everyday exercises from the ground and from the saddle. The focus of the exercises is on implementing them in everyday life with the horse and on refining communication from horseback. Connect with Ian: Website: http://www.humanship.co.nz/

Over two decades ago, Amber started a successful business focused on helping performance horses with behavioral issues. However, she soon realized that a major part of the horses' problems stemmed from the humans, and at that time, no one was addressing how to support the human side of things. While Amber knew there was a disconnect, she wasn't sure what to do about it, so she continued to train horses to be safe for humans instead of also working towards making humans safe for horses. Years later, Amber experienced a life-changing moment that helped her understand the power of energy. It inspired her to bridge the gaps that she observed throughout her career working with horses. To broaden her perspective and enhance her ability to assist others, she pursued several certifications, including coaching, ThetaHealing at multiple levels, and Somatic Breathwork. Amber has since combined these modalities to create a unique approach to healing. Whether it’s through meditation, somatic experiences, or tailored interventions, Amber works with individuals both in groups and one-on-one. Connect with Amber & find out more about The Art of Equine Alchemy event: Website: https://www.amberlydic.com/ The Art of Equine Alchemy event registration page: https://www.amberlydic.com/The-Art-of-Equine-Alchemy The Art of Equine Alchemy Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/532608742570210/?ti=ls Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_amber_lydic_/

*Important to note: This podcast episode was originally recorded in June 2024 in German for the wehorse podcast. We used translation software to dub the episode for our English podcast, The Equestrian Connection. Please excuse any imperfections in the conversation as a result. Richard Vogel is a German rider who started riding horses at the age of four, following in the footsteps of his family who have always had a strong passion for horses. He began competing at the age of seven and since then has has achieved numerous national and international successes. After a riding apprenticeship and valuable years of training with Ludger Beerbaum starting in 2015, today Richard Vogel is the No. 1 German show jumper and sits at No. 10 in the world rankings. Currently, Richard continues to compete internationally and represents Germany in various equestrian competitions. At the same time, he runs a business together with Sophie Hinners and David Will; a sports and sales stable in Hesse with two locations, known for the first-class training of show jumpers. Richard's philosophy can be summarized by his motto "The more you work, the luckier you get." In this podcast episode, Richard Vogel tells host Christian Kröeber how he worked for his success from an early age, why his business partners rarely compete in the same competitions as he does, what he thinks makes a good rider, and what he thinks needs to change if we want to still be able to experience equestrian sport in 20 years. Connect with Richard: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_richardvogel_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RichardVogelsporthorses

Mary Ann Simonds has worked as a researcher, educator, coach and consultant for over 40 years in the fields of human and animal behavior, communication, consciousness and ethology. Lecturing and consulting nationally and internationally primarily on horse-human interactions, her work blends the application of science with intuition integrating cultural issues and finding solutions for the well-being of people and animal. She has produced numerous educational materials including videos and books and has a new book “A Horse by Nature” recently out. Currently living in Wellington, FL, Mary Ann has retired from a rigorous teaching with the Institute of Integrated Sciences and the Whole Horse & Equestrian Science Institute to focus on writing and speaking. Her pioneering work has focused on stress management in animals and how humans influence animal behavior both in the wild and in captivity. Integrating a whole systems approach to interspecies psychology, Mary Ann has worked with governments, communities, businesses, non-profit organizations and universities. On this episode, we discuss signs of stress in horses, horse personality assessments, skills of a good horseperson, welfare, and the future of the sport. Connect with Mary Ann: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equinesbynature/ Website: https://maryannsimonds.com/ Order the Book: https://maryannsimonds.com/a-horse-by-nature-release/

Jim Masterson is known as the founder of the Masterson Method. As a Horse-Massage-Therapist he spent some years with the US National team on tour. During this time he learned a lot about the neurological reactions horses have shown to certain touches. He also figured out that horses begin to relieve tension on their own if we humans interpret their reactions correctly and follow them. He was one of the first to develop an animal-centric approach instead of just using a human-centric method. As many people want to learn his method, he began to travel around the world and still is, to give seminars and to show people how his method works. In this podcast episode he gives an insight into his life and describes how the Masterson Method exactly works.

Cathy Woods created the unique concept “Body, Mind, Equine”. This program focuses on the use of yoga principles and posture to improve horsemanship from ground to saddle. In the latest episode of “The Equestrian Connection” Cathy explains that Yoga is more than one stretching exercise after another. It's a complete mindset and a way of living as it combines breathwork, meditation and energy awareness. When Cathy has to describe Yoga in one word it would be “Awareness”. A decade ago, when she began to create yoga exercises for equestrians, people weren't open to that. But in our fast-moving world, people are more and more open to see how Yoga can improve their horsemanship and relationship with their horse. This Podcast episode is really inspiring for our daily work with horses. It lets us pay more attention to the smallest signals of our horse as well as of our environment and surroundings.

Neil Jones has been working with top riders like British Legend Michael Whitaker and the Belgian Show Jumper Ludo Philippaerts before he decided to start his own venture, Neil Jones Equestrian. Neil Jones Equestrian turned into one of the most leading horse sales businesses worldwide. In this episode, Neil shares his experience about how he became an expert in finding the perfect match between horse and rider.

Ingrid Klimke is considerably one of the most successful riders worldwide. A multi Olympic medalist, and a successful competitor in multiple disciplines, including Dressage, eventing, and show jumping. On this episode, we discuss everything from bringing along successful horses, to balancing training regimes and horse welfare, setting goals, staying present and mindful as a rider and trusting your own intuition, and so much more.

Jessica Parr is a horse trainer turned human coach. As the owner of Springen Equestrian, Jessica is a freelance trainer and offers a variety of options for lessons, training & competitions. Her team actively competes on the Silver Series West Circuit and attends select A Circuit shows. Nowadays, you can find Jessica coaching as many humans out of the saddle as she coaches in the saddle. She combines the knowledge and experience she’s gained as an equestrian coach to help others in business and in life. In this episode we discuss the importance of your equestrian environment for your personal and business success, connecting with fellow equestrians, work-life balance, and more.

Adele Shaw is a Certified Horse Behaviour Consultant, an endorsed trainer with the World Bitless Association, as well as an internationally recognized mentor and trainer focused on creating a positive relationship between horse and human through science-based training and care practices. This holistic approach examines the horse’s environment, lifestyle, and physical and mental soundness to ensure that the horses are not simply surviving, but truly thriving in their life and relationship with their human caretakers. While training with positive reinforcement is fairly mainstream in a lot of areas of the animal training world, it's still in its infancy in the horse community. Adele’s mission is to make this information accessible and achievable for the average horse owner through The Willing Equine. In this episode, we discuss misconceptions, advice, exercises, and so much more related to positive reinforcement training.

Lorre Mueller is a registered Equine Osteopath, graduating from the Vluggen Institute for Equine Osteopathy in September 2014. Lorre has also been a certified Masterson Method® Practitioner since 2010. Lorre was an instructor, mentor, and coach for the Masterson organization for several years. She has also trained in myofascial release. In this episode, we chat about osteopathy, TMJ and how imbalances in the mouth can affect movement as well as the connection between teeth and feet, self-healing, and the importance of relaxation for release. Connect with Lorre: Website: https://trinityequineservices.com/

This is a replay of our classic episode, originally recorded and aired in late 2022. Christian Kroeber, wehorse CEO, traveled to Denmark to interview the dressage superstar in person. Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour is a Danish dressage rider who is currently ranked 2nd and 3rd in the world, as of July 2022. Cathrine is an olympic athlete, having competed in 2016 at Rio and 2021 at Tokyo, and she won double individual silver as well as helped her team win gold at the 2022 World Dressage Championships in Herning, Denmark. But apart from her career success, Cathrine embodies much of what the dressage world wants in a champion - her riding skills, love and understanding of her equestrian partners that led her to become one of the world’s best. Connect with Cathrine on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathrinedufour/

Dr. Tracy Rainwaters holds a very long list of education and credentials, including but not limited to a Doctor of Chiropractic and Animal Chiropractic certification, Neo-Shamanic Breathwork Practitioner certification, and so much more. Her mission is to bring harmony between horses and their humans. She utilizes a whole-being approach to healing by looking at an issue from the perspective of the physical, mental & emotional as well as the energetic & the spiritual. With that, she combines her medical knowledge as an human and animal chiropractor with her intuitive abilities as an interspecies intuitive and shamanic practitioner to bring whole-being healing to both horse and rider. Through this approach, she is able to help improve harmony, performance, connection and health.

Margie Goldstein-Engle is a true legend of horse riding. Not only has she recorded a world-record-high jump of 2,36m in 1987, she represented the U.S. in numerous Nations Cups and Championship. A living legend of the sport and a person with real horsemanship and passion for Equestrian sport. In this episode, Margie explains what the beauty of riding means for her and what paved her way from a horsey family to more than 195 Grand Prix victories in Show Jumping.

Jess Roberts is the owner and trainer of Harmonized Horsemanship, an approach to horse training designed to be fulfilling and rewarding for both horse and human. Jess combines a variety of different training techniques and approaches to create a deeper connection that results in a willing and happy equine partner. Jess has studied directly with some of the world’s renowned liberty trainers, and has immersed herself in many different training approaches and styles in her lifetime. This experience, combined with a degree in psychology and years of watching and interacting with hundreds of horses, helps Jess to be a translator between horse and human. She focuses on some of the subtleties of horse behavior that are often missed or overlooked, giving the horse a voice and a choice throughout the training process. In this episode, we discuss the horse-human connection, the power of energy, “what to do if” scenarios, how to navigate changing your approach to working with your horse at a barn that might not “get it,” and so much more.

Christa Myers is the woman behind the Equestrian Bookkeeper and the Equestrian Entrepreneur. Christa grew up as most of us horse-loving kids do, which is filling their days with barn time but not fully living out their dreams due to financial limitations. In 2020, Christa began to build out the idea of combining her love for horses, passion for continuous improvement, and knowledge of business and financial operations to create her own business, which launched January 1, 2021. Through this, she realized that what is common sense to her in business and finances was not common sense to everyone else. Now, Christa’s days are now filled with helping equestrian entrepreneurs build businesses that are profitable, stable, and fuel their passion. This episode is all about things equestrian entrepreneurship, funding the horse girl dream, squashing money myths, and so much more.

Beccy Smith is the CEO and founder of Holistic Reflections CIC & Holistic Equine. She is an independent equine podiatrist and barefoot trimmer, equine body worker, consultant, therapist, wellness coach, equine facilitated learning practitioner, Reiki master, and healer. Beccy has over 30 years of equine industry professional experience and is a highly proficient and respected holistic equine podiatrist. She is qualified in advanced equine podiatry and her body work qualifications include being a SCENAR-cosmodic therapist, Equine Sports Massage therapist, a Heart Math Coach, and Lazaris Nerve Release Method Practitioner, and she considers herself an independent lifelong pupil of the horse. Connect with Beccy: Website: https://www.holisticequine.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beccyatholisticequine

Wendy’s desire to understand the function of both horse and human, her curiosity, and her love of teaching have led her to be able to help both the horse and the rider. She combines her creative talents with her scientific training to break down larger concepts of horseback riding as well as horse health into simple, easy-to-understand, bite-sized “chunks” for students of all ages, abilities, and disciplines. Her ability to make learning enjoyable, engaging, and fun through in-depth presentations helps her students connect the dots and achieve their goals. Wendy’s willingness to embrace new ideas led her to develop the SURE FOOT Equine Stability Program and SURE FOOT Equine Balance Pads, which allow horses to reprogram their own brain in order to feel more grounded, secure, and confident so they can become a more willing partner. In this episode, we discuss nervous systems, balance, SURE FOOT pads, personal experiences, giving the horse a say, and so much more. Connect with Wendy: Murdoch Method Website: https://murdochmethod.com/ Murdoch Method Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murdoch_method/ Murdoch Method Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MurdochMethod SURE FOOT Website: https://surefootequine.com/ SURE FOOT Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surefootequine/ SURE FOOT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SUREFOOTEquineStabilityPads SURE FOOT Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/338470610073519

Steffi Spielhaupter is an Equine Scientist and Holistic Horsewoman. With a Bachelor's and Master's in Equine Science, Steffi has dedicated her life to helping horses and their humans build deeper, more meaningful connections. Her goal is to support you on your individual journey of conscious horse-human connection and personal growth, training your eye for the subtle shifts in not only your horse’s, but also your own, state. Steffi’s passion is working with the fine nuances of your horse's soundness (physical, emotional, mental and spiritual states) and helping you distinguish between them, always considering the health of your horse's nervous system in the process. Since founding Science for Soundness in 2014, Steffi has worked with horse enthusiasts across the globe, using science and heart to guide them out of survival mode and into a space of trust, safety, and genuine partnership with their horses. Connect with Steffi: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scienceforsoundness Website: https://scienceforsoundness.com/ Inner Circle Membership: https://scienceforsoundness.thinkific.com/bundles/innercircle

Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu is the Canadian Dressage Rider at the moment holding the Olympic High Score for Canada. Also, with her horse “All In” she is the best Canadian in the FEI world rankings. She lives by the motto: “Never give up on your dreams.”. Listen in and learn from her secrets to success. In this episode, Brittany tells us what her childhood dreams were and how they came true. She also tells us about her experiences at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Lockie Phillips is the founder of Emotional Horsemanship, a training method that recruits 3 fundamental lenses; Science, Empathy & Feel. Originally starting his career as a professional dancer, Lockie has since transitioned into an international clinician, trainer, and coach. He focuses on both the horse and the human in a groundbreaking approach that allows for a safe learning environment for all. In this episode, we discuss what “feel” really means, the importance of body awareness, holding space for both horses and humans, and so much more.

For over 30 years, Buck Brannaman has been working with horses and their owners and today is one of the world’s leading practitioners of handling horses based on classical concepts from the California vaquero tradition; which includes working with the horse's nature, as well as using an understanding of how horses think and communicate to train the horse to accept humans and work confidently and responsively with them. One of his goals is to help horses feel safe and secure around humans so that the horse and rider can achieve a true union. In this episode, we discuss common issues in today’s horse world, his inspiration as a horseperson, career highlights, and more.

Shelby Dennis is a horse trainer and Equine Behaviour Consultant based in British Columbia, Canada. She is also the owner of Milestone Equestrian, a training and equine sale business, and the author of her debut book, ‘The Other Side of Horsemanship.’ Apart from her academic education, Shelby also has varied horse experience from the Arabian horse circuit to hunter/jumper, to dressage, to exercising race horses. The understanding and correct application of equine learning theory that she’s learned has allowed Shelby to hone her skills as a horse person and continue modernizing her approach as a trainer, with emphasis on equine ethology and ethical practice. In this episode, we discuss equine behaviour, training horses with their learning theory in mind, and how we can do better in the horse industry from the perspective of ethics and understanding.

Agustin Arellano is a professional American polo player, eco-entrepreneur, and model. Agustin is also the newly appointed operations manager at Rinehart Polo, where he further assists with the organization’s goals to create a holistic future for the sport. Both Agustin and Rinehart Polo are dedicated to the long-term betterment of the sport of polo by focusing on polo education, sponsoring youth polo programs, and most importantly, making polo more inclusive, while improving equine welfare. When he is not on the field practicing or playing polo, Agustin is tirelessly working on his co-founded companies, the Project Pampa and The Range, which focus on equestrian lifestyle, interior design, luxury furniture, and real estate. Agustin also practices philanthropy, which is centered around sustainability and well-being for animals through his ambassadorship with the Fauna and Flora International Non-Profit Organization.

In this Podcast Episode we have the world-famous Linda Tellington Jones as a guest. She is well known for her Tellington TTouch Method, which is also scientifically proven. Linda speaks with us about her view and beliefs about horses and how her famous TTouch can improve the well-being and performance of every horse. As the TTouch Method can bring your horse in a mental, physical and emotional balance. She also explains how each TTouch works and how the method can be perfectly integrated into everyday life.

Connie Flores is a certified Equine Nutrition Advisor and the owner of 17 Hand Equine Nutrition. Her goal is to help horse owners understand the purpose behind every ingredient in their horse’s diet and to help develop a personalized feed program specific to the horse as a unique individual. Connie works independently of any feed company and provides unbiased feedback and recommendations, as well as keeps the owner’s goals in mind. On this episode, we discuss Connie’s why behind empowering owners to understand their horse’s nutrition, advice for both hard and easy keepers, hay testing, and so much more. Connect with Connie: 17 Hand Equine Nutrition Website: https://www.17handequine.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/17handequinenutrition/ The Forage Porridge Website: https://theforageporridge.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theforageporridge/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connieincolorado/

Rebekka Klubien graduated from Roskilde University in 2021 and started working at the public broadcast tv station TV2 in 2022. Currently, she holds the position as a TV producer in the investigative journalism department. In 2023, Rebekka went undercover as a groom to see firsthand the daily operations at the Danish base of Helgstrand Dressage, which also has locations in Germany and Florida. Inside the barn, Rebekka found horses with welts from whips, mouth sores that were not given time to heal, and spur marks that were disguised with shoe polish when customers visited. She also filmed Helgstrand riders riding aggressively in training sessions with tight draw reins and the use of rollkur. Later that year, the documentary “The Secrets of the Horse Billionaire” aired on Danish national televisions station TV2, resulting in the indefinite suspension of owner Andreas Helgstrand from the Danish National Dressage Team. These stories are becoming all too common, and is a very important topic of discussion within the industry. On this episode, we chat with Rebekka about her experience, the welfare issues within the industry, the future of the sport, and her advice on speaking up. Connect with Rebekka: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebekkaklubien/ TV2 Article: https://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2023-11-20-operation-x-afsloerer-voldsom-behandling-af-heste-hos-milliardaer “The Secrets of the Horse Billionaire” Documentary: https://play.tv2.dk/serie/operation-x-tv2/hestemilliardaerens-hemmeligheder-del-1-32b5280a-8f89-4052-b653-6eb52b230f1d

Martha Cook is the managing director of Trafalgar Square Books, a publishing company serving the horse industry with beautifully illustrated, well-written books to supplement the growth and development of horse people. Martha runs the daily operations of Trafalgar Square Books, as well as handling contracts, print buying, rights, and promotion and marketing. Trafalgar Square Books believes that, with the help of their authors, we can all learn to ride better; teach our horses to perform better; feed them and house them more in accordance to their needs; care for them when they fall ill and help them recover from injury; and above all, treat them in a fair and just manner, as they deserve. On this episode, we’re chatting all about books and the publishing of education materials to support the growth of the horse industry. Connect with Martha and Trafalgar Square Books: Website: https://trafalgarbooks.com/

Dave Thind is the founder of the Dave Thind Method, otherwise known as DTM, which is the breakthrough combination of Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement® and the German classical training system. DTM helps you improve your seat, feel what your horse is communicating and improve the effectiveness and clarity of your aids. Originally from Canada but now living in the US and spending summers in Germany, Thind has himself competed at the Grand Prix level in dressage and jumping. He is a noted equestrian biomechanics authority, with several published articles and appearances as an expert guest or lecturer to his credit. He received his German 'Trainer A' license in 2007 with a nearly perfect score awarded to him from the German National Federation. He holds an International Trainer Passport Level III and is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner, which means he is able to teach both Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement and the hands-on work, Functional Integration. With DTM, you’ll awaken your body’s innate ability to ride softer, with greater feel and better results. You’ll learn how to release the physical and mental tension, as well as “over-effort” that blocks the full expression of your horse’s talent. In this episode, we discuss common riding challenges, self-carriage of the human, and Dave walk us through an exercise to introduce us to Feldenkrais. Connect with Dave: Website: https://www.davethindmethod.com/ Save 20% on the 14-Day Challenge: Unlock Your Hips and Swing With Your Back, or the 60-Days to a Better Seat course. Use coupon code WEHORSE (offer valid until June 1, 2024)

Miah O’Cain is an equine sports massage therapist and the owner of Highland 3:5 Equine Services. She has a vast knowledge of additional supportive techniques and modalities - many of which we’ll discuss today. This includes redlight therapies, Tuning Forks, Bemer, and cryotherapy. Her ultimate goal is to find the root cause of pain and dysfunction and then fix the problem at the core, not mask it. She does this by bringing body, mind, and soul back into alignment. On this episode, we discuss the different body work modalities and technology, how to know what is best for your horse, and so much more. Connect with Miah: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highland35equineservices/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089139490856

Linda Tellington-Jones is a true icon in the horse world. With her innovative method, the Tellington TTouch method, she has helped countless horse owners to establish a deeper connection with their beloved four-legged friends. In this episode, Linda shares her unique insights and experiences of how the Tellington TTouch Method can successfully enhance the connection between humans and animals. She shares how these gentle touches and movements can help build trust, relaxation, and harmony between horse and rider.

Jenn Savage is an equine bodyworker and educator with the mission to help educate and empower horse owners who want what’s best for their horses above all else. She believes in the importance of giving back as much as we can to our equine athletes, especially when we ask big jobs of them. So, she’s on a mission to empower others with knowledge and resources to help prehab their horse while training like a Savage. In this episode, we discuss signs your horse may need body work, what your warm-up routine may be missing, the importance of prehab, building a community of like-minded horse people, and so much more. Connect with Jenn: Website: https://www.savageequineservices.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savageequineservices Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SavageEquineServices/

Elena Dotoli is an equestrian photographer and video artist. Elena combines equine and creative elements in order to capture the special moments between horses and their riders and owners. On this episode, we discuss things like how she got started with combining horses and photography as her career, what it’s like working within the equestrian industry in a creative way, her advice for photoshoots, and so much more.

The purpose of EquUSCAN is to engage equestrians (specifically in the US and Canada, though everyone is welcome) in social justice work and global activism. EquUSCAN is a resource hub, highlighting and amplifying important humanitarian causes around the world and providing actionable avenues through which you can get involved and contribute to making a difference, help those who need it most, and reduce harm and suffering for vulnerable and targeted populations. EquUSCAN believes that your voice matters and they want to empower you to use it for the greater good! Founders Kait Miller and Elsie Reford truly believe that aligning equine advocacy work with social justice and global activism is the next evolution of the horse-human partnership and they are excited to be creating a platform that intentionally fosters the merging of those spheres. Connect with EquUSCAN: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equ.us_can/ Website: https://equuscan.my.canva.site/

Scott Cieslar has 20+ years experience as a professional nutritionist, receiving an MSc in physiology and nutrition from the University of Guelph. He started working on a PhD, but put his degree on hold to run his company, Mad Barn. Scott has dedicated his life to better understanding the nutritional requirements of horses and helping horse owners put the latest research into practice. In this episode, we’re learning all about equine nutrition and how we can ensure our horses feel, look, and can perform their best.

Karen Rohlf was always in love with horses. Since she grew up with them, it wasn't long before Karen recognized that she was responsible for her animal's life experience. She was a student of Anne Gribbons for many years and got even more into horsemanship when a completely “shut-down” Grand Prix horse was willed to her. She wanted to bring him “back to life”, so she joined a horsemanship clinic with him. Those years of experience led her to found "Naturally Dressage": A more natural approach to training, combining Dressage and Horsemanship. As an internationally successful instructor, she teaches her students how to help their horses become happy athletes. So she created her own Training Scale: "The Happy Athlete Training Scale"! In this podcast episode, Karen gives you the opportunity to take a Look at her Life, what “Naturally Dressage” is about and also describes how to build a true relationship with your horse.

MD Equestrians is a company that designs and sells bitless bridles and accessories, as well as their new bareback pads. With products available in sizes from miniature to extra-large, the mission is to make this way of working with horses accessible for everyone. The founder, Marloes Blok, is a young entrepreneur who had the idea of starting this company after going on her own bitless journey when her horse was showing signs that he didn’t want to wear a bit. On this episode, we discuss what it’s like to start and run your own business, her advice to other young equestrian entrepreneurs, being a social media influencer, getting started with bitless riding, the differences between side-pull bitless bridles and hackamores, and so much more. Connect with Marloes: Website: https://www.mdequestrians.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diegoandmarloes/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@diego.marloes MD Equestrians Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdequestrians/ MD Equestrians TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mdequestrians

Holly Barnett is a professional Breathwork Facilitator with a background in Applied Neuroscience, and the founder of her method, Intero Breath. You may recognize Holly from episode #31 where we chatted about saddle fit. Holly has been a saddle fitter and equine bodyworker for two decades but was beginning to notice a shift in herself and a shift in the way she worked with horses. Holly used her knowledge in breathwork and applied neuroscience to create a modality to reduce stress, manage emotions and regulate the nervous system. Holly’s method, which she calls Intero Breath, is a practice that combines the profound healing and regulating properties of Interoception & Breathwork. In this episode, we discuss Intero Breath, how it can change our relationship with our horses, how it can impact us as equestrians and humans, the ability to heal, and so much more. Connect with Holly: Website: https://www.interobreath.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holly_barnett_wellness/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/holly.barnett.505

Andrew Welles is an international showjumping rider and started very early on to pursue his riding career. Not only has he represented the US several times at high-class competitions, he also competes regularly and produces clear rounds in FEI World Cup™ Jumping qualifiers around the country. In this episode, Andrew tells us how he got where he is right now and also talks about what he learned from some of the best coaches in the world.

Celeste-Leilani Lazaris is the founder of the Balance through Movement Method, a revolutionary equine development method focused on improving performance and preventing lameness. Celeste herself is a biomechanical lameness specialist and an expert in equine movement and muscle development. But more than anything, she says she is a student of the horse. Over the last decade, Celeste has carefully reverse-engineered her bodywork and performance training knowledge to dissect the core reasons of why horses struggle so much in the first place, and from there she has developed a unique lens and ability to body map the condition of the horse to find it’s strengths and weaknesses from a balance point of view. Her primary specialties include nerve impingements, thoracic sling development, spinal integrity, and balanced equine movement. If some of those terms sound foreign to you, don’t worry, we discuss it all, and so much more, in this podcast episode.

Jochen Schleese, the founder of the internationally recognized saddle company, Schleese. Jochen is a former member of the German young rider’s 3-Day Event team, and qualified for the European Championships in 1984. Unfortunately, he had to retire his horse due to lameness, which abruptly ended his riding career. Years later, through research Jochen discovered his horse’s lameness was caused by damage to the scapular cartilage from an ill-fitting saddle. This was the catalyst for Jochen’s life-long mission to prevent saddle related damage for all horses. In 1985, Jochen became a certified Master Saddler, and throughout his work, he later discovered that many female riders struggle with pain and health issues from riding in saddles designed for male riders (due to pelvic and anatomical differences). Now, Schleese Saddlery Service is the world leader in anatomically appropriate saddles, which can be fit and adjusted according to the biomechanics of movement and the development of the horse, through personal on-site or online saddle fit evaluations. Connect with Schleese: Website: https://schleese.com/ Saddlefit 4 Life: https://saddlefit4lifeacademy.com/

Baylee Summer is a marketing and business strategist expert, dedicated to helping the equestrian industry. She works with ethical horse trainers and helps them create, launch, and sell out online programs, so they can work less while making more profit and impact. Her goal is to help them create profitable businesses by leveraging social media. In this episode, we discuss what horse trainers are missing with their marketing, why leaving social media or outsourcing it to someone else isn’t always a good idea, why large followings aren’t important, what to do when you don’t know what to post, and so much more. PS: Baylee created a FREE download for you to kickstart your 2025 social media marketing! Download it here: https://baylee-summer.mykajabi.com/ultimate-guide-to-social-media-marketing Connect with Baylee: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bayleejoysummer/ Baylee’s coaching program, Ethical Trainer Alchemy: https://baylee-summer.mykajabi.com/eta-609553a3-5234-4d1e-a2bb-8c746f04010b

Noor Slaoui is the first rider to represent Morocco in Olympic eventing as well as the first person from the Middle East and North Africa to compete in Olympic eventing. She started riding when she was very young, riding mules through the mountains of Morocco with her family. As a teenager, Noor attended the École Nationale d'Equitation de Saumur in France. It was here that she developed her riding skills as well as trained to be a groom. Noor’s success in the saddle could be accredited to her focus outside of the saddle, while caring for the horses on a daily basis. She has said that a partnership with a horse just doesn't happen when you ride it; it happens when you're on the floor. We’re going to be discussing everything from the lessons she learned from grooming, the connection she has with her horse, her journey to the Olympics, and so much more. Let’s dive in! Connect with Noor: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noor_slaoui_eventing/

Kerri’s early awareness included a natural ability to communicate with animals and all of life in subtle realms of consciousness, through energy and presence. With wisdom, guidance and communication from many teachers (human and non-human), she assists to help you recognize your capacity to experience connection and communication through presence, through the heart. Without dependence on a modality or system, Kerri has blazed a new trail on the road to freedom from limitations and conditioning. On this trail, all species are welcome and integrate through frequencies of communication. The greatest gift she can give to you is her own purity of expression, sharing her own journey, to help you see that if she can do it... so can you. On this episode, we hear Kerri’s inspiring journey and discuss horse-human communication, becoming more aware of your own intuition, and so much more. Connect with Kerri: Website: https://www.generateharmony.com Activating and Facilitating Feel - Live Q&A (May 27th): https://www.generateharmony.com/events/activating-and-facilitating-feel-live-qa

Paul Court is a renowned horse trainer and gained fame for his notable achievements in the racing world. He made history as one of the youngest trainers to win the esteemed New Zealand Cup, guiding Terror To Love to victory for three consecutive years—an accomplishment matched by only two other horses and not seen since 1960. With 32 wins and earnings of $2.5 million, Paul's exceptional training abilities shone through. His expertise transcends borders, earning him respect across Australia for his versatile methods. Paul's success extends to Australia and Canada, demonstrating his proficiency in managing bustling stables and keeping owners satisfied. Starting his journey at 29, Paul's experience handling 40 to 50 horses simultaneously has provided invaluable insights into effective communication and dedication required for success. His dedication to improving the industry led to the creation of Stable Hub, aimed at enhancing stable management and supporting fellow trainers. Learn more about Stable Hub: Website: https://stablehub.ca/

Betsy Vonda is an Equine Postural, Performance, & Behavioural Consultant and Trainer. Although raised with horses her entire life, Betsy went on to pursue a career as a paramedic. However, through her education and work experiences she began to see parallels between troubled people and horses. She learned that people’s actions and behaviors can be heavily influenced by their past experiences, living conditions and nutrition, and it became quite clear that horses are also influenced by the same. Betsy believes that by better understanding the factors that influence our horse’s behavior, we have endless opportunities to overcome challenges and set our horses up for a balanced and successful life.

Ifa Simmonds is a certified fitness professional with over a decade of experience working with, coaching, and instructing people over their fitness hurdles and towards their goals. Ifa has spent 6 years now helping equestrians with their riding fitness challenges in areas related to stability, suppleness, strength, and stamina. Realizing that many equestrian clients have prior injuries, imbalances, overuse strains, and have fallen off without proper recovery, which are all issues that continue to affect their riding and competitive confidence, Ifa developed a systemized approach to their fitness training that allowed them to make the most progress. This program strengthens rider weaknesses for more impactful riding, while enhancing the overall technique for an enjoyable, effective and efficient riding experience. On this episode, we discuss fitness, nutrition, and mindset for equestrians, how to get started, common blocks like making time, overcoming challenges, and more.

Anna Buffini is a professional dressage rider with accomplishments such as being a 2022 World Cup finalist, a rider on the 2021 Compiègne, Rotterdam & Aachen 5* Nations Cup Teams, the 2016 U25 Champion, and the 2014 US Young Rider Champion. Anna is such an inspiration to many dressage riders, and riders in general, and her joyful and motivating social media content makes her a role model athlete for equestrians of all ages to follow. On this episode, we discuss things like improving yourself on and off the horse, staying motivated in the sport, equestrian life balance, and so much more.

Christian Kroeber is Co-Founder & CEO of wehorse, a brand of welearn GmbH. wehorse is Europe's leading streaming education provider for equestrians, and now has users in over 40 countries around the globe, including an expansion into North America. Born in Germany, Christian has a distinguished background in both entrepreneurship and equestrian sports. Having successfully competed in Dressage and Show Jumping on a national level, he has been deeply rooted in the equestrian world from early on. For example, his father founded EQUITANA, the Equestrian Sport World Fair, in 1972. Christian shares the passion to connect horse-lovers globally and push the frontiers of technology and education. He pioneered the concept of online equestrian education by transforming the former company “pferdia TV” from a DVD-based e-commerce site into wehorse, the equestrian education and video streaming platform we know and love. Christian continues his involvement in the sport as moderator and host of major equestrian events such as EQUITANA, World Cup Events, the German Championships in Dressage and Show Jumping, and many more.

Gabriela, aka Gaby, Reutter is the reigning #1 female Chilean show jumper. Her career is decorated with accolades, including more recently the team Bronze Medal at the 2022 South American Games in Paraguay, as well as victories in FEI classes, Nations Cup events, and European tours. Gaby’s career is a true testament to her spirit and unwavering dedication. From leading performances at Spruce Meadows and The Hampton Classic to securing top ranks at junior/young rider South American Games, her journey is filled with impressive accomplishments. Notably, her partnership with Rocky saw them on top in prestigious competitions in recent years. In 2018, Gaby founded Lumiere Horses Inc., a testament to her vision and entrepreneurial spirit. Throughout the year, you can find her travelling across the United States, Canada, and Europe, fueled by her ambition to become the first Chilean woman show jumper to represent her nation's colors at the Olympics since 1972. In this episode, we discuss all things ambition, balance, staying on track with big goals, and so much more. Connect with Gabriela: Website: https://www.lumierehorses.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabriela.reutter/

Nikki Porter is an Equestrian Mindset Coach, author, and podcast host. Through her books, podcast, and coaching, Nikki teaches how to grow your mindset to transform you from feeling disconnected, frustrated, and anxious to connected, present, & confident. Nikki’s work is focused on personal growth for horse owners who are invested in strengthening their connection with themselves, their equine partners, and everyone else they communicate with. In this episode, Nikki discusses things like making difficult choices, the benefits of meditation and how to get started, knowing your truth and living it authentically, why working on yourself is critical for a true partnership with your horse, and so much more.

Lauren Maas is the executive director of Canter California and Canter USA, non-profit organizations providing retiring Thoroughbred racehorses with opportunities for new careers by helping to place, rehabilitate, and retrain these amazing athletes. It began leasing her first love, a 1985 OTTB gelding named Sunny, just before her eleventh birthday. Lauren’s love of thoroughbreds has continued and grown ever since. After holding multiple volunteer positions throughout the years, Lauren became the executive director of 501c3 thoroughbred aftercare organizations CANTER California and CANTER USA, which has placed more than 25,000 OTTBs in a new home. Lauren has been hard at work to revamp the adoption and listing program and plans to continue to grow CANTER’s presence and place an even greater number of OTTBs into their forever homes. Amongst all that, Lauren is now also a first-year veterinary student at the Royal Veterinary College in England. Connect with Lauren & CANTER: CANTER California Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canterca/ CANTER USA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canterusa/ Lauren’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equineendeavor/ Website: https://www.canterusa.org/

Madelyn Houser, a.k.a. the Blonde and the Bay, is a USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist and equestrian influencer. Maddie documents her journey with her now retired Dutch Warmblood mare, Leah, and her new quarter horse gelding, Ryder, a former western pleasure horse that she’s been retraining for dressage. Maddie’s instagram @theblondeandthebay_ showcases their training progressions, and her blog, The Blonde and the Bay is an extension of the supportive community Maddie built through Instagram. You will see and read her transparent, honest thoughts, and it’s a refreshing take on the often “highlight reel” of most equestrian Instagram accounts. In this episode, we discuss things like being equestrian influencer and building a personal brand, retraining a western pleasure horse for dressage, and so much more.

Cheryl Eriksen is an author, blogger, horse midwife, and eternal student of the horse-human connection. While earning her MSW from Western Michigan University, Cheryl took a special interest in the effects of trauma on the developing brain, and she applied that learning, along with her personal experiences as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, into her memoir, Follow Me, Friend. Additionally, Cheryl has spent decades as an equine professional and extensively studied equine behavior and how it is influenced by what the human brings to the relationship. Through her work in the field of equine assisted psychotherapy and learning, Cheryl has seen and experienced firsthand the healing power of the horse-human relationship. Her books (current and upcoming) and her blog explore this powerful relationship. Cheryl has also developed and taught continuing education courses on Equine Assisted Psychotherapy as a viable adjunct therapy, and on Trauma, Resiliency, and Horse Sense for social workers.

Kathy Sierra is the creator/curator of Intrinzen and the Pain Science Workshop, and she’s well known on Instagram as PantherFlows. Kathy has ten years working in human sports medicine as a training director in Los Angeles. She then went back to school for computer science, working after as a game developer and software architect. Kathy eventually worked in Hollywood and taught “interaction design for intrinsic motivation” at UCLA Entertainment Studies and Universal Studio, and went on to create an educational book series in technology that sold over 2 million copies. Horses have been a lifelong passion, but not her profession. However, when her beloved horse Draumur was nearly euthanized, Kathy felt it was her fault, so she took everything in her background on motivation, learning psychology, neuroscience, and movement science, and synthesized a path forward to help him when conventional methods failed. In this episode, we discuss movement motivation, the nervous system, pain science, and so much more.

In this podcast episode, we are talking to Sabine Schut-Kery, the newly crowned Olympic Team Silver Medallist with the US Team. In addition to her incredible performances at the Olympic Games and other competitions, she is also known for her horse friendly training, prioritizing quality over quantity. Sabine tells us about her career, how she came that far and also gives advice on how you can come so far too. She also gives us an insight into the world of dressage professionals and talks about what she has planned for the future.

Holly Barnett is the founder and CEO of August Equine. August Equine takes a whole horse approach to saddle fit, combining the knowledge of saddle fit with anatomy, conformation, biomechanics, and the nervous system. For over 20 years Holly has studied and transformed equestrian partnerships of all levels and disciplines. She specializes in dressage, eventing, and jumping as well as western and endurance riding. Holly’s innate ability to both spot and resolve performance blocks, as well as temper the nervous system, harness the foundations of movement, and optimize the fit of equipment, enables clients to create quantum leaps in their riding performance. In this episode we discuss the importance of proper tack fit, the common signs of an ill-fitting saddle, the factors that can affect saddle fit, and so much more.

Chiara Poscente is a Mindful Horsemanship Coach, Horse and Rider Biomechanics Trainer, and BTMM Rider Pillars Apprentice Instructor. Zak Maytum is a Mindful Horsemanship Coach, Equine Behavior Specialist, and Innovative Traditional Western Saddle Maker. Together they have founded Un-Natural Horsemanship. Un-Natural Horsemanship is not a method, doctrine, or school. It is an Idea: Both horse and human can be equally valued and worthy parts of a balanced partnership. The highest goal is to find a good feeling for ourselves and for our horses. Beyond that, it can be fun to see how far we can carry it together. Un-Natural Horsemanship strives to honor the minds, hearts and bodies of both ourselves and our equine companions to the best of our ability and we wish to help ourselves and others find a way of existing with and without horses that negates the need for a set of orchestrated steps to achieve a pre-determined out-come. When the “how” we do everything leads us to a good feeling, the “what” we do just seems to show up. On this episode, we discuss how Un-Natural Horsemanship came to be, as well as biomechanics, behaviour, and mindful horsemanship. Connect with Chiara & Zak: Website: https://www.un-naturalhorsemanship.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unnaturalhorsemanship/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insightequine

Madison Shambaugh, also known as “Mustang Maddy,” from her work with wild horses, can be found roaming amongst her beloved horse herd in the ancestral lands of the people of Sun Mountain where she spends much of her time tending her herd of milk goats & sheep, making cheese, tanning hides, and engaging in land based craft and lifeways. While the focus of her work has shifted in recent years, she continues to work with horses–primarily rescues and mustangs with significant trauma who have “failed” conventional training programs. Maddy continues to work with people who wish to deepen the horse-human connection and is devoted to teaching methodologies that honor the diverse ways in which we come to inhabit knowledge that go beyond our minds and the intellectual realms. Maddy is also a weaver of words and a student to the craft of storytelling. She currently shares her writing in Demeter, the Wild Rose, & the Raven, a publication that examines the intersections of animal-human relations, psychology, sociology, and ecology. Her wider devotion is to play some small part in the restoration and repair of our relations with our more-than-human kin, in particular the hooved and cloven-footed ones. They are her greatest teachers and source of guidance and inspiration. Connect with Maddy: Substack: https://demeterthewildroseandtheraven.substack.com

John Haime is a human performance coach, who helps you to bring the best out of yourself. Many athletes around the globe trust him to enhance confidence and self-awareness. He is also the author of the book “Ride Big” in which he interviewed numerous world-class riders to find out their secret to success. In this episode, host Christian Kroeber sits with him to talk about what confidence exactly means and how you can improve yourself.

Kelly Artz is the founder and CEO of Entrigue Consulting. An avid eventer turned FEI dressage rider, with a knack for marketing and branding, her connections in American Thoroughbred Horse Racing, Dressage, and Eventing led her to help equestrian brands and professional riders across horse sports strategize their digital identity. Kelly has represented many Olympians and top riders and has collaborated with some of the largest organizations in equestrian sports including the Kentucky Derby, Breeder's Cup, Adequan Global Dressage Festival, and Longines Global Champions Tour. In this episode, we discuss the importance of marketing in the success of the equestrian industry, the current challenges and potential places of improvement in the equestrian industry today, the Ingrid Klimke Masterclass happening December 2023 in California, and so much more.

Philippe Karl is world-famous for the Ecole de Légèreté (School of Lightness). The principles of his training are a classical alternative based on understanding, competence and respect for the horse. His philosophy provides a cohesive and comprehensive training program to train horses of all types and breeds in all equestrian disciplines. He offers training courses all around the world, to teach his philosophy, which brings together a clear, effective and measurable equestrian concept. He excludes any use of force and or coercive aids. The main aim is to get the best out of any horse.

Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour is a Danish dressage rider who is currently ranked 2nd and 3rd in the world, as of July 2022. Cathrine is an olympic athlete, having competed in 2016 at Rio and 2021 at Tokyo, and she won double individual silver as well as helped her team win gold at the 2022 World Dressage Championships in Herning, Denmark. But apart from her career success, Cathrine embodies much of what the dressage world wants in a champion - her riding skills, love and understanding of her equestrian partners that led her to become one of the world’s best.

Amelia Newcomb is a USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medalist. She has trained and competed close to 50 horses in almost 500 competitions, and has trained several horses that she started as youngsters all the way up to the Grand Prix. Her online platform, Amelia Newcomb Dressage helps to develop a trusting and confident relationship between horse and rider. Using elements from both natural horsemanship and classical dressage, Amelia creates a holistic approach to dressage training that adapts to fit the needs of each individual horse and rider. Starting with basic groundwork and progressing to the Grand Prix, Amelia emphasizes trust, understanding, and relaxation for both horse and rider. Connect with Amelia: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amelianewcombdressage/ Website: https://amelianewcombdressage.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmeliaNewcombDressage Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ameliasdressageclub

Steven Wilde travels the world to talk about horse sport. He grew up in the sport of show jumping with his mother, an international rider, and began equestrian sports commentating in 2001. Steven has had great success organizing shows as well. With a long list of events on his resume, Steven has commentated at many shows including multiple Olympic Games, European Championships, World Championships, over 100 World Cup Qualifiers, and over ten years on the Longines Global Champions Tour. His voice is a staple at WEF and other shows in the US and abroad. Connect with Steven: X: https://x.com/stevenwilde1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steven.wilde.127/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenwilde1/

Felicity Davies is a Horsemanship and Mindset Mentor, and an expert at helping both horses and humans feel confident, whenever and wherever. A former competitive rider, she was committed to finding a better way of working with horses and landed a job working in Germany at Will Rogers Performance Horses where she learnt how to help horses relax in any environment. Felicity then moved back to Australia and implemented everything she had learnt while continuously learning from the horses she worked with, their owners and a ton of online horsemanship and mindset resources. In this podcast episode, you’ll hear how Felicity learned how to consistently and successfully help hot, spooky, and shutdown horses relax in any environment, as well as build her own confidence around horses, riding, and training, to now be able to help anyone else do the same.

Sarah Louise Lilley is a clinical EFT Practitioner and EFTU Mentor who specializes in helping equestrians overcome their fears and find confidence after traumatic falls. EFT is an evidence-based, trauma-, and polyvagal-informed stress reduction technique which combines modern western psychology and the ancient eastern art of accupressure. And, it’s an easy tool anyone can use to emotionally regulate and show up with integrity in all areas of their life, including their time at the barn! In this episode, we discuss rebuilding confidence after traumatic events, such as falls, as well as how EFT can support riding goals by releasing shame, limiting beliefs, procrastination, and so much more.

Maddie Houser is a USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist with her now retired Dutch Warmblood mare, Leah, and since 2021 has been focused on helping shed light on the versatility of the Quarter Horse and their place in the dressage ring. Maddie’s Instagram account, The Blonde & The Bay, showcases her training progressions, the ups and downs of horse and farm ownership, equestrian fashion, and more. In this episode, we’re focusing on the new year. Maddie didn’t have the year she expected with her horses, and rather than taking that energy into 2024, we’re talking about how to realign goals, set expectations, pivot when necessary, and stay on track when things get hard. This is the perfect episode to listen to for new year inspiration, whether you need a fresh start like us, or whether you just want to hear different perspectives on the goals and often “highlight reels” of the equestrian world.

Josepha Guillaume is an international horse trainer and instructor, and author of the book Dressage In Hand. Based in Belgium, Josepha comes from a solid classical dressage background, but has been working mostly with injured and traumatized horses for the last 20 years. The art of keeping horses healthy and happy, or bringing them back to health and happiness, no matter what happened to them, has become her specialty and her life’s work. On this podcast episode, we discuss things like dressage in hand, collection vs. contra collection, body language and breathing, how we can give our horses the best life, and so much more.

Katie Hawkins is the founder of Unbridled Equine, a business focused on the use of integrative modalities to heal horses both physically and emotionally through proven, research based solutions. With 25+ years horse experience, Katie is a certified Animal Acupressure and Massage Therapist with accreditation from Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure and Massage—earning the title of certified Equine Therapeutic Massage Therapist (ETMT). She is also certified as a Permitted Equine Therapists for FEI level competitions. As a competitive show jumper, Katie has dedicated her work through Unbridled Equine to educating owners, riders, and other horse care professionals through hands-on and virtual platforms, and showing other equestrians the correlation between rider’s muscle limitations and their horse’s performance. In this episode, we discuss things like rehab modalities, equine performance, and how we can ensure our horses are healthy and happy.

Cheryl Eriksen is an author, blogger, horse midwife, and eternal student of the horse-human connection. While earning her MSW from Western Michigan University, Cheryl took a special interest in the effects of trauma on the developing brain, and she applied that learning, along with her personal experiences as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, into her memoir, Follow Me, Friend. Additionally, Cheryl has spent decades as an equine professional and extensively studied equine behavior and how it is influenced by what the human brings to the relationship. Through her work in the field of equine assisted psychotherapy and learning, Cheryl has seen and experienced firsthand the healing power of the horse-human relationship. Her books (current and upcoming) and her blog explore this powerful relationship. Cheryl has also developed and taught continuing education courses on Equine Assisted Psychotherapy as a viable adjunct therapy, and on Trauma, Resiliency, and Horse Sense for social workers. Connect with Cheryl: Website: http://www.followmefriendbook.com/ Blog: http://www.peacehorsejourney.wordpress.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CherylLEriksenAuthor YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pathofthepeacehorse6037