Equestrian Voices
83 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 251 ratingsEquestrian Voices dives deep into the emotions, lives, stories, and everything we don't talk about when it comes to life as an equestrian. Join our host, Caroline Culbertson, for vulnerable, different, and sometimes hilarious chats with riders from all backgrounds. We want to get the 'human' out of horse people. Thanks for being here.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Why Play Is Key for Building “Try” in Your Horse, and How to Do It with Tik Maynard
March 26, 2024 10:00 - 56 minutes - 77.8 MBWhen you picture adding “play” into your horse’s training, what comes to mind? Do you imagine your horse chasing around a large ball or nosing carrots out of a container? Or maybe you see your horse trotting joyfully behind you as you run? The fact is, play can look like a lot of different things, but it doesn’t have to be any of the above. Play’s purpose is to teach your horse how to “try”–and in the process, both horse and trainer achieve a cooperative partnership. Equestrian Masterc...
It Doesn't Have to Feel This Stressful: What Your Nervous System Has to Do with Performance, with Natalie Hummel
March 12, 2024 10:00 - 1 hour - 90.5 MBWhy do competitions make our hearts hammer, mouths go dry, and hands tremble? We may never get nervous riding at home, but as soon as we step into that show ring (or clinic, or in front of peers, or riding a difficult horse), it can feel like something primal just takes over. As it turns out, that is exactly what’s happening. Competition (whether you’re actually at a show or not) is deeply rooted into our biology and the presence of it can cause our bodies to fight, flight, or freeze. Cert...
Toplines: Spotting Pain, Dysfunction, and Myths that Need to Be Busted with Ansley Bevan
February 27, 2024 11:00 - 58 minutes - 79.8 MBMuscle tension and underdevelopment are a precursor to injury, making topline development crucial to keeping horses healthy and sound. Elasticity through the back allows horses to move freely, support riders, and meet our performance expectations. So why do so many performance horses have underdeveloped muscles and signs of discomfort? Unfortunately, a lack of knowledge, overlooking pain symptoms, and the absence of species-appropriate care keeps many horses in constant tension–but we can ...
Tempo, Pace, and Rhythm: It’s Not Just Semantics. With Hunter/Eq Judge Rob Van Jacobs
February 13, 2024 11:00 - 1 hour - 83.1 MB“More impulsion!” Most of us have heard our coaches cry – usually accompanied by a hearty clap or imitation of riding forward. But what does ‘impulsion’ actually mean to you, your trainer, or the judge scoring you? By listener request, we’re breaking down riding terms that have mystified riders for years. Caroline is joined by Rob Van Jacobs, a USEF “R” Rated judge for hunters and equitation. As a judge, trainer and rider, Rob interprets the differences between rhythm, tempo, pace, and...
It’s 4:30 AM and Your Goals are Calling, with Paralympian Amelia White
January 30, 2024 11:00 - 1 hour - 86.1 MBAmelia White was just 18 years old when she was the victim of a traumatic car accident that changed her entire life. A university student and active eventer, Amelia suddenly found herself out of school, out of the saddle, and in ongoing surgeries. Despite doctors’ best efforts, Amelia was left with a permanent disability that required her to change her goals and aspirations. In this inspiring episode, Amelia sits down with Caroline and reflects on her journey that took her from lying in a...
How to Change a Spooky Horse into a Thinking Horse, with Josh Nichol
January 16, 2024 11:00 - 1 hour - 92.7 MBThere’s no taking the spook out of a horse. As prey animals, horses will always want to run away first. Combine this fact with modern breeding programs that produce lighter, more responsive horses and many of us may find ourselves riding with a pounding heart and sweaty palms, fearing that inevitable spook. But a spooky horse isn’t a problem; it’s the symptom of a problem that starts with your relationship. Josh Nichol has helped countless of riders develop healthy partnerships with thei...
Evolve Your Student/Trainer Relationship, with Annette Paterakis
January 09, 2024 11:00 - 56 minutes - 77 MBThinking about all the ways our sport needs to evolve can be overwhelming. When there are so many organizations, individuals, and stakeholders we want to inspire change in. However, evolving the sport doesn’t need to start at the top. It can start with you right now; with your mindset as a rider or trainer. Annette Paterakis is a mindset coach for equestrians and the author of “Winning Habits – How Elite Equestrians Master the Mental Game.” Annette helps all levels of riders, including Oly...
Rewind the Year With Us! 5 Favorite Moments of EV from 2023
December 26, 2023 11:00 - 39 minutes - 53.7 MBIt was a record-breaking year for Equestrian Voices, as we won two more awards (W3 Awards) and topped the Goodpods chart. We couldn’t have done it without you, our listeners! From the entire EV team - THANK YOU. To celebrate this remarkable year, host Caroline Culbertson is rewinding 5 favorite moments of the pod in 2023 with colleague and longtime media friend, Sally Spickard. Many of you will already know Sally Spickard–you’ve definitely read her content before. Sally has written ove...
Why Michael Pollard Quit the Sport at the Height of His Career
December 12, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 103 MBMichael Pollard had what most of us could only dream of - a meteoric rise in the discipline of Eventing (including winning a Pan Am Games team Gold Medal in 2011), a string of talented horses, a strong non-horse business that supported his riding career, and a supportive group of sponsors, friends and family. But then, to the surprise of many, Michael retired from the sport in 2016, selling all of his horses. He went from spending most of his time training and riding, to not sitting on a ...
Why a Hot Bran Mash Doesn’t Keep Your Horse Warm, and other Blanketing Myths Busted with Dr. DeBoer
November 29, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 93.5 MBAs the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, the time comes once more for the biggest decision of the winter: Do you blanket your horse, or not? And, which one? (Heavy, medium, medium-light, neck or no neck?!) Some riders put a sheet on at the slightest sign of a chill, while others keep their horses bare regardless of outside conditions. And of course, there are the temperature charts that pop up each year, which are meant to apply hard and fast rules to blanketing, but never act...
Can We Help Horses Heal from Trauma and Grief? Using Physical Touch to Heal Emotional Wounds with Good Shepherd Gabriel
November 14, 2023 11:00 - 55 minutes - 76.4 MBHorses are well known for their power to heal. The positive feelings we have after spending time with our horses are, after all, one of the main reasons why we ride, and equine therapy is used to treat a wide range of physical and mental health challenges. How often, though, do we think about the flip side of the coin - how do our actions help, or hinder, our horses’ mental and emotional well being? How can we as horse lovers be more in tune with the spiritual needs of our partners, and s...
Changing Your Goals, Finding a New Horse, and “My-horse-itis” with Chelsea Canedy
October 31, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 85.4 MBYou’ve just left the barn after another frustrating lesson, and you don’t know what to do. You know that your horse is more than capable of achieving the goals you’ve set for your riding, but in your heart, you also don’t feel like your horse is having fun in the process. How do you go about deciding when it’s time for a new direction for both you and your horse? What are the feelings that come up during the process, and once the decision is made, how do you move forward with a new partnersh...
Is the Forward Seat Still Relevant? Peter Wylde on Rider Style, Feel, and Evolution of Position
October 10, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 94.7 MBAmericans are known for their smooth, forward positions on the horse, so much so that it became known as the ‘American Forward Seat’. But how has it evolved over the years as our light, sensitive Thoroughbreds have blended with the heavier horses of Europe? Does it still provide the same effective foundation today as it did before, or is it less relevant today? In this episode, Caroline sits down with Olympic Gold Medalist and former top show jumping rider, Peter Wylde. Peter, whose depth ...
What It’s Really Like to Run a Horse Rescue (All Seated in a Barn & Storeybrook Farm)
September 26, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 99.8 MBWe’ve all seen the pictures: the emaciated horse who looks ancient, but in actuality is in their prime, their coat dirty and their eyes dull. We’ve all also had the desire to just hook up our trailer (or commandeer one) and take them home to a better life. Unfortunately, few of us have the resources or the means to follow through on that impulse - so how do we go about helping all of the horses who are in dire need? And what are the lives like of the people who do follow through and take ...
Why Doesn’t Riding Have An Athletic Culture? Embracing Rider Wellness with Ifa Simmonds
September 12, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 97.8 MBWhen you go to a horse show, you can see riders diligently warming up their horses prior to competition, making sure their partner is both mentally and physically ready for the task ahead. But you rarely (if ever) see those same riders warming themselves up before they mount up, making sure they are just as prepared. Why is there such a vast disconnect between horse preparation and wellness and rider self-care, and how is it affecting our sport? On today’s podcast, Caroline is joined by ...
Amy Skinner: “If you don’t understand pressure, you’ll be forced to overuse it.”
August 29, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 85.3 MBThere are many ideas about what good training looks like with horses. We imagine a well-trained horse as one who is able to perform its job at a high level, and view subsequent competition results as a validation of correctness. But what if that same horse can’t be mounted without being held, or has trouble loading onto/unloading off the trailer? Can we still say the horse is well trained if it’s not able to navigate the world around it with confidence? These questions, and so many more, ...
Understand Your Competitive Drive So That It Doesn’t Work Against You (Or Your Horse)
August 08, 2023 10:00 - 56 minutes - 78.2 MBFor most of us, competition is a large part of why we choose to ride, and also for most of us, we allow this drive to steer our behavior without really giving it too much thought. But science shows that our competitive drive is not a mystery. In fact, learning about this powerful force behind our motivation can help us shape it towards positive, growth-minded outcomes, and avoid the potential negative consequences it can also bring. In our latest episode of Equestrian Voices, host Caro...
4 Ideas to Make Show Jumping More Engaging (and Why That Matters)
July 25, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 88.2 MBWhile many riders need no excuse to tune into a livestream to watch the top show jumping athletes of our day duke it out at the FEI level, there are a lot of people who consider themselves sports enthusiasts who are nonetheless pretty lost when they try to watch the upper levels of the sport. Let’s not even start on how many of our friends and family would politely decline an invitation to a 5* Grand Prix viewing party. They would rather spend the weekend watching a football or basketball ga...
“Age Is Not A Disease”: Considerations for Caring for Aging Horses with Dr. Katie Sheats
July 11, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 135 MBThere are stereotypes for just about everything when it comes to the horse world, and aging horses are no exception. We picture a hard keeper becoming increasingly thin over time, or maybe we imagine a recently retired athlete going out to a big pasture with a herd of other horses and immediately feeling content. But just like with every stereotype, these perceptions do not tell the full story, and can actually be harmful in the long run to our equine partners. In this episode, we dive int...
The Horses, Breeding, and Evolution of Show Jumping with Helena Stormanns
June 27, 2023 11:59 - 58 minutes - 80.5 MBThere’s no question that the show jumping horses of today are different from the horses of 30, even 20 years ago. As courses continue to get increasingly technical and fast, breeders are producing increasingly athletic horses to match…or is it that cause/effect relationship the other way around? And what about the horses who are bred to jump 1.60, but either through a bad start or through genetics (or both), never reach that level - can a horse bred for a top Olympian still be rideable en...
Symmetry, Strength, and Optimizing the Rider's Seat
June 13, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 117 MBThere’s so much more to your seat and symmetry in the saddle than meets the eye. It’s not just about good equitation or looking pretty in the saddle. Your horse’s health, musculature, and soundness are profoundly impacted by your balance while you ride. Also, it’s just plain miserable to constantly be fighting your own position while you ride. If you’re constantly focusing on just turning your toes in, or not falling off the left side of your horse, there’s little hope to be effective and...
Asking the Hard Questions: A Conversation with Noëlle Floyd
May 30, 2023 16:44 - 1 hour - 121 MBIf you’re listening to this podcast, then you probably know the name of the company producing it: Noëlle Floyd. What you might not know, though, is that this is also the name of our CEO and Founder. Noëlle started her namesake business as a personal blog meant to detail her career and experiences in the world of show jumping, and since then it’s become what you know today - a hub for media, discussion, and education, now in its 11th year. Caroline Culbertson sat down with Noëlle to talk a...
Deep Dive: Understanding Kissing Spines
May 09, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 128 MBYour horse is cold backed and unpredictable at the mounting block. Under saddle, he goes around inverted, and can sometimes even kick out or spook suddenly. One of your friends casually says, “Maybe he has Kissing Spines,” and your heart skips - you’ve heard of it before, and know that it’s definitely not good. Kissing Spines disease in horses has been increasingly diagnosed in recent years, and can even be a reason why some people pass on a horse during a pre purchase exam - but we know ...
Bitting Roundtable: Liza Towell Boyd, Liz Halliday-Sharp, Betsy Steiner, and Stephanie Brown-Beamer
April 25, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 102 MBIf you’re a regular to the Equestrian Voices podcast, you know that bitting is a subject we return to time and again. This is because bits have such a dramatic impact on a horse’s happiness and performance - and it’s an area we still have so much to learn about! So we decided to come back to this topic, this time bringing together top professionals from the Hunter/Jumper, Eventing, and Dressage disciplines to discuss how their ideas about bits and bitting developed over the course of their...
(Part 2) Creating Openness and Growth in the Horse/Rider Relationship
April 11, 2023 10:00 - 44 minutes - 60.8 MBWhen it comes to riding, more often than not the focus is placed on the horse - what are they doing, how are they feeling, what can we improve with them, etc. But we all know that the horse is only 50% of the equation - the other 50%? You: the rider. So why does it always feel like focusing on yourself, especially out of the saddle, is somehow selfish or irrelevant in terms of your time and effort? In the second of this two-part podcast, host Caroline Culbertson continues her conversation...
Creating Openness and Growth in the Trainer/Student Relationship (Part 1)
March 28, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 86.4 MBIf you’ve ever taken a riding lesson, you know that it goes something like this: Your trainer stands in the middle of the ring giving you instructions, and you’re on the horse trying your darndest to follow those instructions precisely. It works… kinda. But bridging that gap between your trainer’s instructions and feeling/understanding can be challenging. Additionally, it can put the rider in a mindset of listening to the instructor which can, in turn, tune out the horse. So why does it c...
Do We Need More Toughness, or More Softness? With JJ Tate
March 14, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 112 MBMost riders desire to develop a horse who is a happy, willing participant in whatever task or discipline they’ve set out towards. But where the training narrative used to revolve around making sure the horse knows who’s the boss, newer methods value give and take and making sure your horse is heard in the conversation. The balance of toughness vs softness in riding has never been more at the forefront of discussion. We want our horses to respect boundaries and listen to our requests (espe...
Archie Cox on Generational Knowledge, Tradition, and Trainer Responsibility
February 28, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 93.6 MBYou hear it all the time: “Young riders today don’t know about horsemanship.” “Kids today just want to get on and ride.” “There are no more barn rats.” These complaints point to a larger potential issue of losing generational knowledge. Is it something we, as horsepeople, should be concerned about? To help us answer this question, we turned to Archie Cox, owner and head trainer at Brookway Stables. Along the way, our broad conversation covered a lot of ground that should hopefully make us...
What Makes a Good Vet (& How to Be a Good Client)
February 14, 2023 11:00 - 58 minutes - 81 MBVets are one of the unsung heroes of horse sport. Horses are unfailingly creative (and effective) at hurting themselves; from a mystery lameness to a sudden colic to every type of laceration you could dream up, a day that goes by without some sort of injury is a good day by default. Because of this, having access to a good vet is a critical part of horse ownership, but the criteria for what makes someone a “good” vet is cloudy at best. How responsive and available should your vet be? What...
Let’s Talk About That Helmet Study
January 31, 2023 11:00 - 40 minutes - 55.9 MBIf you ride horses and have been on the internet in the past two months, chances are good you’ve heard about “that” helmet study -- specifically, the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab’s Equestrian STAR Helmet Rating Project. On the plus side, we learned that a fancy helmet wasn’t necessarily any safer than a basic, no frills (and much less expensive) helmet when it comes to protecting against brain injury and concussion. On the not so plus side, many of us suddenly found ourselves with lower scori...
Riding from the Inside, Out and Understanding Confidence with John Haime
January 10, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 85.2 MBMindset Check! Welcome to 2023. We're kicking off with a mindset conversation because even if you're riding less in the cold, dreary month of January, you can still be doing major work to improve your riding. This conversation will inspire you to pour some time, effort, and energy into yourself, not just your horse. (If you, perhaps, would like some equestrian-specific mindset coaching, EquestrianMasterclass.com offers courses on consistency, fear, and more.) Today we speak with human per...
5 Listener-Chosen Moments - Rewinding the Year of Equestrian Voices
December 27, 2022 11:00 - 51 minutes - 70.4 MBThat’s a wrap on 2022! In this episode, two Equestrian Voices listeners join Caroline to count down 5 of their favorite clips and moments from the pod this year. We can’t wait to learn, question, discuss, and celebrate more with you in 2023! Happy New Year!
(Part 2) Is Saddle Fit a Bigger Deal Than We Think?
December 13, 2022 11:00 - 54 minutes - 75.1 MBAs promised, we’re back with Part 2 of Caroline’s conversation with Amanda Anderson of Saddlefitting.us. We know many of you have been eagerly awaiting the rest of this chat, so let’s dive right into the good stuff. In this episode, host Caroline Culbertson and Amanda discuss: When it may be warranted to stay off your horse entirely (a hard truth, we know) A case for checking your horse daily - including your saddle Why it shouldn’t be considered “normal” for a horse to have one “g...
Is Saddle Fit a Bigger Deal Than We Think? (Part 1)
November 29, 2022 11:00 - 48 minutes - 67.3 MBAre we collectively aware of how profoundly saddle fit can affect our horses? As today’s Equestrian Voices episode guest would argue, probably not. Saddle fit can cause real (and, as far as we know, potentially irreversible) damage to your horse’s body. That’s the bad news. The good news is, a well-fitting saddle doesn't have to be expensive or complicated - it just has to respect the horse's anatomy. And (for some this might feel like a relief, and for others it might be a point of...
A Chat About Travel Stress in Horses, with Dr. Kevin Keane
November 08, 2022 10:00 - 56 minutes - 78.1 MBBefore you hit the road with your horse again, give this ep a listen. Your horse will thank you. Travel can be stressful on your horse and, in some cases, even harmful for his health. For the humans, traveling with our horses can be daunting because there are lots of elements you can’t control (traffic, how well your horse eats or drinks on the trailer, weather, accidents, etc.). Never fear. The thrill of those early-morning trailer trips to your favorite destination can still be yours...
A Dressage Queen and a Cowboy: Kasey Perry-Glass and Dana Glass
October 25, 2022 10:00 - 59 minutes - 81.1 MBKasey Perry-Glass and Dana Glass may be married and in business together, but their backgrounds in horses couldn’t be more different. But, that’s what makes them interesting – and what makes their business work. In fact, it’s almost like their secret weapon. What can dressage and horsemanship learn from each other? How did they decide to integrate their businesses together, and how does it work? How did they meet, in the first place? Today on Equestrian Voices, Caroline Culbertson sits...
Understanding Trauma + Therapy Through A Rider’s Experience
October 11, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 87.2 MBIf you’re in the horse world long enough, you or someone you know will probably experience trauma. For almost all of us, it has been – or will be – a part of life and the horse world is no exception. And horse people are really, really good at trying to ignore it or “tough it out”. Many of us can miss the signs of it or feel confused about why we’re feeling overwhelmed, or irritable, or can’t sleep, or just don’t feel like ourselves. Horse people value grit and toughness and think that me...
All About the Flying Change with Shannon Dueck
September 27, 2022 10:00 - 57 minutes - 78.6 MBHave you ever whispered a silent prayer to the flying change gods to please let this change be clean? Have you ever felt a twinge of temptation to throw your weight to get the change, or pull on the inside rein? Flying changes don’t have to be dependent on luck (although luck always helps) – but many of us don’t understand the flying change as deeply as we could. There’s a LOT to know about the flying change and this in-depth dissection will help you understand, train, and exec...
Staying Focused on What Matters with Young Horses, w/ Piggy March
September 20, 2022 10:00 - 46 minutes - 64.7 MBWhat do you need to focus on in those 3- and 4-year old years? How do you cope with the pressure to “not mess up” a young horse? What matters most in the early years for a horse? Top British eventer Piggy March has an FEI record the length of a novel and has had many illustrious wins to her name including Badminton, Burghley, the European Eventing Championships and the World Equestrian Games, to name a few. But she knows that there are millions of moments, steps, and decisions in a horse’s li...
Horseperson vs. Businessperson: On Priorities, Chasing Dreams, and the Money Problem w/ Erin Lane and Paige Jardine
August 30, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 93.8 MBBeing a successful rider in this sport is an uphill battle — and not just in terms of the skills and time necessary to make your way up the ladder. The ups and downs can be extreme and unpredictable, it’s often “one step forward, two steps back”, and money more often feels like a problem than a solution. And for many ambitious riders like our guests today, there is a palpable tension between “businessperson” and “horseperson”. Today on #EquestrianVoices, host Caroline Culbertson is joined...
Buying and Selling Horses Under $40K
August 09, 2022 10:00 - 56 minutes - 77.4 MBWhat if you don't have $100k to spend on buying a horse? Join the club - there's a whole lot of us! It's time to give this portion of the horse market some air time. What's the buying or selling experience like in the, say, $40,000USD and under range? How do we find good quality horses in budget? Where do we look? What's a PPE like in that price range? How are those horses valued? Today on the podcast I have the lovely Pippa Moon to walk us through this. Pippa has described selling ...
The Barefoot Vs. Shod Debate
July 26, 2022 10:00 - 53 minutes - 73.2 MBWe’re taking on a spicy topic this week! (But why is this such a heated debate? We’ll get to that, too!) If horses are born without shoes, why do they need them? Are we disrupting their natural gait/growth/biology by putting shoes on them, or are we actually helping them cope with their lifestyle and demands by nailing some steel on their feet? Rich Affonso is a seasoned farrier and Equestrian Masterclass instructor who has worked for decades on horses of all disciplines, from working ran...
Bringing a Scientist's Approach to Your Horse
July 12, 2022 10:00 - 58 minutes - 80.1 MBAre you an expert on your horse? Do you see your peers or even your trainer “winging it” when it comes to structuring rides, or figuring out why that rail fell down, or why your horse seemed tired in today’s ride? We’re learning about ways to use science and data to drastically improve the performance of ourselves and our horses – and it’s exciting. On this episode of Equestrian Voices, Dr. Tim Worden and Nicole Lakin from the Equine High Performance Sports Group join us to discuss how we...
What's Going on with Horse Slaughter in the U.S.?
June 28, 2022 10:00 - 42 minutes - 58.5 MBDo you know what’s going on with horse slaughter in the States? Most of us don't - or didn't. And that includes me, your host, Caroline. The equestrian community is pretty good at turning a blind eye to this issue. It's easy to think, "those horses aren't our horses." I did it, too. But today, we're going to bring some transparency to horse slaughter in a way that doesn't aim to feel divisive, or inflammatory, or set out to shock you. This is an emotionally charged topic with implications ...
A Tale of Two Pros: Very Different Routes to Careers in the Industry
June 14, 2022 10:00 - 43 minutes - 60.4 MBThere are a million ways to “make it” - depending on what “making it” means to you. While many riders might dream of winning a gold medal in a pinque coat on a shiny, impeccably braided horse, sometimes you’ll find an even more fulfilling way to be in the horse industry that you hadn’t considered before. Today on the podcast, we have two equestrian professionals with very contrasting backgrounds, journeys, and careers reflecting on how they found their way in the horse world. Nikko Ritte...
Bits, Behaviors, & Teeth: Misconceptions About Your Horse’s Mouth
May 31, 2022 10:00 - 41 minutes - 57.2 MBAs important as the horse’s mouth is for his health, as well as our riding, most of us don’t know much about it. For many of us it’s a long, black tunnel of mystery that we try to understand by experimenting with a variety of feeds or anatomical bridles or bits or… you name it. Today, we’re shining a metaphorical light up into that mouth to give you some information that we bet you didn’t have (we sure didn’t know all of this!). Dr. Bess Darrow, a DVM, certified equine dentist and Equestr...
Make or Break? Discussing the Importance Placed on Riders' Junior Years
May 10, 2022 10:00 - 48 minutes - 66 MBIn our sport, you can go to the Olympics when you’re 21… or when you’re 60. Or, you can never make a team but still have a profound impact on the athletes around you and equestrian sport as a whole. Success in horses is a lifelong endeavor, but our sport in the U.S., places a huge emphasis on riders 21 and under. What are the effects (both positive and negative) of focusing so many resources on that age group? And what about the pros in their late 20s, their 30s, and beyond who are tryin...
What Goes Into Building & Running a Boarding Business
April 26, 2022 10:00 - 39 minutes - 54.7 MBIt seems like at least once a week, you'll see a social media post or an announcement about another boarding barn closing its doors. A lot of boarding barns that are up and running have long wait lists, and it calls into question what boarding barns are up against. To understand that, you have to understand all of the things that go into running them. In this episode of Equestrian Voices, Caroline Culbertson chats with Julia Tucker who owns Ardenwood Farm in Chapel Hill, NC, about the rea...
What Does 'Doing Better' Mean? Reflections on Horse Training Following the Mark Todd Video (with Anne Kursinski, Matt Brown & Jeremy Steinberg)
April 12, 2022 10:00 - 57 minutes - 78.6 MBSeveral weeks back, a video from a Mark Todd clinic circulated around the internet - it was a clip taken during a clinic, and it caused a lot of conversation and controversy on social media. This podcast is not about that video in particular, but the video did spark some reflection and larger conversations around what we deem acceptable in horse training, what we don’t, and how those standards are set and upheld. In this episode of Equestrian Voices, host Caroline Culbertson sits down wit...
Supplements: Worth the Money? Do We Need ‘Em?
March 29, 2022 11:00 - 53 minutes - 72.9 MBIt has become pretty much the norm to keep our horses on supplements, especially if we ride them. But so many of us are clicking the checkout button on a supplement with little more than a hope and a prayer that it does something for our horse, and proves to be worth the money. There’s so much marketing to wade through with equine supplements that it’s hard to determine what’s legit and what isn’t. So often we feel like more is better, so more supplements and nutrients must be better for ...