The power of body awareness for horse and rider 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 th ..read more

How to stay motivated when working towards big goals 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 ..read more

Awaken your body’s innate ability to ride softer, with greater feel & better results 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 bio ..read more

How breathwork can impact your horsemanship 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 ..read more

Being the change we want to see in our horses 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 ev ..read more

Bringing whole-being healing to both horse and rider 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 ..read more

How her horse led her to a life-changing breakthrough 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 ..read more

Reflecting on 2023 and Looking Ahead in 2024 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 ..read more

A conversation with the Horse Whisperer 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 episo ..read more

The what, why, and how behind respectful horsemanship 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 yea ..read more