Episodes

Aug. 25, 2023

EP158: Needle-Shyness with Dr. Lily Wilson

In this episode I am joined by Dr. Lily Wilson, a veterinary surgeon who has created a new way of helping horse owners take the very best care of their equine partners. Today we will be talking about needle-shyness, and what…
Aug. 18, 2023

EP157: The Forest

In this episode I’ll talk about beautiful moments with horses and how we can be sure they are beautiful… Who gets to say? If a horse piaffes in the forest and no one is there to judge it, can it be beautiful? Let’s explore t…
Aug. 11, 2023

EP156: Stop Breaking Horses

In this episode I talk about one of the most unfortunate terms in the horse world: Breaking Horses. Help me eliminate that word, and even more importantly that practice. We don’t want to break horses, we want to prepare them…
Aug. 4, 2023

EP155: Desiderata

In this episode we’ll take a break from techniques, dressage, and horsemanship. I’ll share one of my favorite prose poems. It is something I read regularly. It’s a powerful piece and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Abou…
July 28, 2023

EP154: Ask Karen Anything: Physical Challenges

In this episode, I answer a student’s request for me to share more about my own physical challenges, and ways I have dealt with them, as well as how age affects our riding. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of …
July 21, 2023

EP153: Nothing Is Something

When is nothing something? What does the foamy head of a beer have to do with living in possibility? In this episode I’ll talk about one of the most powerful exercises I’ve never done. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and…
July 14, 2023

EP152: Self Carriage

I’ll talk about my perspectives on self-carriage. It’s not just the result of a perfect half halt, it is a mental, emotional, and physical state of being that can be developed much sooner than you think. About the Host: Kare…
July 7, 2023

EP151: Suspending Judgment

In this episode I’ll talk about a dynamic of human thinking, how it can help us and how it can hurt us. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is…
June 30, 2023

EP150:Equine Fitness with Jec A Ballou

In this episode I am joined by equine fitness expert, Jec Ballou. We talk about how to bring a horse back into foundational fitness after a break. You’ll get lots of valuable information you can use. Everyone is going to nee…
June 23, 2023

EP149: Listening To Horses with David De Wispelaere

In this episode I talk with international dressage rider, trainer and author David De Wispelaere. We talk about his love for horses, and his thoughts about the dressage world and what makes him and his horses happy. I found …
June 16, 2023

EP148: Pro-Horse Pros

In this episode I talk about the value of the heart-centered equine professional and how important they are for the welfare of horses. I’ll also talk about how some have lost their way, and how to help bring them back to the…
June 9, 2023

EP147: Riding Without Reins

In this episode I’ll talk about why you want to practice riding without reins It can be a humbling experience, but the benefits in the long term make it well worth the effort. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator …
June 2, 2023

EP146: Pushing It

In this episode I’ll talk about how to know if it’s OK to ‘push’ our horses to do something that seems hard for them. This is a very common question that all trainers and riders have at some point with every horse. About the…
May 26, 2023

EP145: Curiosity

In this episode I talk about Curiosity and why it has a big impact on your horse’s trainability and willingness to learn. You may be wondering if I am referring to your, or your horse’s curiosity… I guess you’ll have to list…
May 19, 2023

EP144: Nosebands

In this episode I discuss nosebands - What they are for, why I don’t use them, and enough information for you to make your own educated decision about using them in your practice. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and crea…
May 12, 2023

EP143: Slow is Fast

This episode is a note to students (and trainers) about taking the time to do the basics and why a horse education is about so much more than just riding skills. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Na…
May 5, 2023

EP142: Beginning With Regard

In this episode I talk about a happy shift I have noticed with beginner and novice riders I have seen these days compared to the past. It has to do with a change in priorities. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator…
April 28, 2023

EP141: Brain & Butt

In this episode I’ll be talking about the brain and the butt. How they relate, when you need to connect them, and when you need to separate them! About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an i…
April 21, 2023

EP140: Endings

In this episode I respond to a student’s question about ‘endings’, specifically when dreams we have with our horses come to an end. This will be more about life lessons than horse lessons… but isn’t it always horses who caus…
April 14, 2023

EP139: Dominant & Submissive

In this episode I’ll talk about the idea of dominance and submission. It’s less of a scientific dissertation, and more of a discussion of those terms and the practical application in real life. Plus there’s a bonus story abo…
April 7, 2023

EP138: Artistic Dressage Symposium

In this episode I’ll talk about a recent symposium hosted by the Baroque Equestrian Games & Institute where I was invited to do 2 demonstrations. I’ll share about the event and the highlights of my demonstrations and of cour…
March 31, 2023

EP137: Restoring Heathy Movement with Mary Debono

In this episode I’ll be talking with Mary Debono. She is a certified Feldenkreis practitioner focused on helping horses and riders enjoy freer, healthier movement even if challenged by injury, arthritis, anxiety or again. We…
March 24, 2023

EP136: Improve How Your Horse Moves: Part 2

This episode is Part 2 of last week’s pod, where I continue to look at how to improve your horse’s movement. We’ll look at some often-missed root causes for unhealthy biomechanics and the most important conversations you nee…
March 17, 2023

EP135: Improve How Your Horse Moves: Part 1

In this episode, I’ll look at how to improve your horse’s movement. I’ll talk about the very first steps that are usually over-looked. Instead of jumping right into aids to change their bodies, we’re going to take a moment t…