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• Horse Training and the Nervous System: What's Really Happening in Your Horse's Brain | Dr. Stephen Peters (Pt. 2) 14.07.2026 50นาที

  We say we want a willing horse. Then we climb on, and we start cramming. And when the horse gets tight, or slow, or stuck, we do the one thing that guarantees it gets worse — we add pressure. This is Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Stephen Peters, and this time he brought a horse's brain. Cut in half, in his hands, on the table between us. He points to the cingulate. He points to the little kidney-bean pituitary. And he shows me, physically, the difference between a horse who can talk itself back down and a horse who has no way back. That difference has a name. It's a chemical called GABA. An empowered horse can produce it — can send the "stand down" signal before the cortisol ever floods the system. A horse in learned helplessness can't reach it. Same event, two completely different animals, and most of what separates them is what we wired in, and the state we wired it in. We get into the cocktail — dopamine, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, oxytocin, serotonin — and why drilling the same exercise seven times flattens every one of them. Why release is not the same thing as relief, and only the horse gets to tell you which one it was. Why recovery, the part everyone skips, is where the learning actually locks in. And why an hour on the clock is a human invention your horse never agreed to. Then it opens out — touch, exercise, diet, the five domains, allo-grooming, the prairie voles who fall apart in isolation and settle the second the herd rushes back in. And we close on Charles Darwin. Not the line everyone quotes. The one almost nobody does — the one where he says it's the cooperative communities, the ones that bond and help each other, that represent the highest level of evolution. Horses have the chemistry for that built in. Dr. Peters' whole argument is simple: let's use it. Start with Part 1 if you haven't — this picks up right where we left off. Dr. Stephen Peters is a neuroscientist who directed a clinic for brain health and memory, and co-author of Evidence-Based Horsemanship (with Martin Black). His most recent books are Horse Brain Science and A Horse's Life (with Mark Rashid and Chrissy McDonald), which pairs 19 real case studies with the neurological detective work behind each one. You can find all the books by Dr. Stephen Peters here: https://www.horsebrainscience.info/books  Horse Brain Science: The Neuroscience of Ethical Horsemanship Horse Brain Science: A Foundation for Equine Neuroscience The Book of Neuropoetry Evidence Based Horsemanship A Horse's Life: The Neuroscience of Equine Welfare You can find out more about Dr. Stephen Peters on his website -  Horse Brain Science And on Substack Episode Sponsored by: Total Feeds Our mission to provide quality nutrition to people and animals puts us in contact with all manner of interesting folks. Whether you're interested in our animal feed, or the people involved in the animal industry: you'll find it at Total Feeds! Check out our line of Quality Animal Feeds here: https://totalfeeds.com 0:00   Why we get in the way of our own horses 2:00   A horse brain, cut in half: corpus callosum & the cingulate 5:00   The stress circuit — HPA axis, cortisol, and GABA 8:00   Empowered vs. helpless: who can reach the brake 9:06   Wiring confidence vs. wiring fear 11:15  Lady's three stations: rebuilding a horse's love of learning 13:40  The neurochemical cocktail — and why drilling drains it 16:00  Sending the horse away: oxytocin, prediction, and the payoff 18:00  Release is not relief 19:25  A word from Total Feeds 23:00  Recovery, hippocampal replay & why silence matters 27:38  Short sessions, switching horses & the neurodivergent brain 28:57  Spaced vs. massed learning; every nervous system is a snowflake 32:11  The petals on the flower: touch, exercise, diet & the five domains 40:45  Allo-grooming, oxytocin & the prairie voles 44:13  Darwin's Descent of Man: cooperation as the highest evolution 46:43  Dr. Peters' books, Substack & wrap Interested in more from Noëlle? Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.  https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com You can also download the app - NF+ App Thank you for your listening!  
• Your Horse Isn't Being Bad — Dr. Stephen Peters on Horse Behavior, the Nervous System & Learned Helplessness Part 1 sponsored by Total Feeds 07.07.2026 52นาที

  Every rider has said it. He's being stubborn. She's testing me. He knows better. Here's the harder, truer thing underneath: the horse isn't being anything. The horse is a nervous system, doing the one job every nervous system has — trying to stay safe. Dr. Stephen Peters spends this conversation taking me under the behavior, into the brain that produced it. He's a neuropsychologist, co-author of Evidence-Based Horsemanship, and the person I call when I want to actually understand my horses instead of just managing them. This time we sat down as two diagnosed neurodivergent people talking about horse behavior from the inside — which is its own kind of honesty. He explains why the horse that shoves past you off the trailer isn't defiant. It's running a pathway you built, three good grazes at a time. He calls it myelination, and once you hear how it works, you stop blaming the horse and start watching what you're teaching when you think you're not teaching anything. We go into the thing so many of us get exactly backwards. You hit a wall, so you add pressure. More leg, more spur, more insistence. And Peters says it plainly: almost always the answer was to let the nervous system reset, not to push harder. Push harder and you don't get through the noise — you become the noise. Then we get to the part I asked him to slow down on. Learned helplessness. The old experiment neither of us can listen to without flinching, and what it tells us about the quiet, compliant, "well-behaved" horse who has simply learned that nothing he does matters. That's not a trained horse. That's a horse who stopped voting. And near the end, something bigger opens up. Peters describes the freeze — the shutdown that isn't a choice, the body flooding itself with its own opioids so it can survive what it can't escape. He says the thing I most needed someone with his credentials to say out loud: that response is the nervous system deciding, not the animal, and not the person it happens to. If you've ever been asked why you didn't fight back, this part is for you as much as your horse. What you'll hear, underneath all of it, is a kinder and more accurate way to be with a horse. Not softer for its own sake — more correct. Work with the nervous system and you get performance and behavior far past anything pressure buys you. The willing partner everyone wants isn't obedient. He's involved. Dr. Stephen Peters is a board-certified neuropsychologist and co-author of Evidence-Based Horsemanship with Martin Black. He studies the equine brain and nervous system and is launching a new podcast, The Skeptical Horseman, with Jillian Kreinbring, M.S., dedicated to separating good research from pseudoscience in the horse world. This is Part 1 of our conversation. In Part 2, Steve puts a real horse brain on the table, cut in half, and shows me exactly what agency does to it. If someone you ride with keeps calling their horse the problem — send them this one first. You can find out more about Dr. Stephen Peters here: Horse Brain Science Chapters: 0:00 — "They have good days and bad days": meeting the horse's nervous system where it is 0:26 — Who Dr. Stephen Peters is, and why brain-first is a different conversation 2:19 — Critical thinking, bias, and the "baloney sandwich" problem in horse science 4:50 — Two neurodivergent people on masking — and the horse equivalent 8:00 — The predictive brain: why "predictable = readable = safe" 9:42 — Myelination, oligodendrocytes, and paving the horse's highways 11:59 — The trailer example: habit vs. the labels we assign it (defiant, disrespectful) 15:24 — Clever Hans: the horse who was reading, not counting 17:11 — Nervous systems, sympathetic arousal, and why more pressure adds noise 21:03 — Down-regulation, pendulation, and training the nervous system itself 23:30 — [Sponsor: Total Equine by Total Feeds] 26:45 — Dopamine, "special forces" horses, and solution-seeking vs. robotic horses 32:41 — Learned helplessness: the Seligman experiment and what it does to the brain 37:27 — The five domains, agency, and why every creature needs its behavior to matter 38:55 — The freeze response, the periaqueductal gray, and the opioid flood 43:35 — When words fail the nervous system: compliance is not consent, or courage 46:53 — Dissociation, wearable tech, hyperscanning, and Peters' Substack work 50:37 — "We're stopping here": the cliffhanger into Part 2 and the real horse brain This Episode is Sponsored by: Total Feeds Our mission to provide quality nutrition to people and animals puts us in contact with all manner of interesting folks. Whether you're interested in our animal feed, or the people involved in the animal industry: you'll find it at Total Feeds! Check out our line of Quality Animal Feeds here: https://totalfeeds.com Interested in more from Noëlle? Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.  https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com You can also download the app - NF+ App  Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe wherever you listen, leave us a review — it genuinely helps more people find these conversations — and please share this episode with someone who needs to hear it ..........thank you!!!  
• Joe Stockdale on Riding Confidence, Grief & the Show Jumping Career He Inherited 30.06.2026 1ชม. 5นาที

  Everybody wants the clear round. The win. The photo at the top of the podium. Here's the part the sport keeps offstage — the doubt, the grief, the voice at the in-gate asking if you even belong here. Joe Stockdale knows that voice well. He calls it imposter syndrome, and he feels it at the very top of show jumping, which is its own kind of honesty for a 26-year-old already riding at five-star. In 2018 he lost his dad, Tim Stockdale, to cancer. Almost overnight Joe inherited a business, a famous name, a string of owners, and a mare his father picked out before he died. A young rider usually eases into all of that across years. Joe got a phone call and a yard to run. This one goes straight at the thing under the results — what grief does to ambition, where riding confidence comes from, and why Joe would rather be home doing the work than chasing a spotlight. He takes me inside the year everything turned. Less than five years after losing his dad, he's standing at the World Championships in Herning on the mare his father found, winning team bronze for Great Britain. He says it plainly: stories like that barely happen to anyone. We talk about the people who caught him. William and Pippa Funnell, his dad's closest friends, who started watching every one of his rounds on video and calling with notes they took on their own. Joe is blunt about it — that web of mentors is the reason he's still standing here. And we get to the line I keep turning over. Joe wants the pressure: last to go in a Nations Cup, the whole thing resting on him, the chance to be the hero. Then he goes home and rides like a horseman over a competitor, because the horse gets to have an off day, and his job is to listen. When Joe was young, he told his dad he wished he could be as good as him. His dad's answer: you're going to be way better than me. Trust me. He carries that. You can hear it. If you've ever stood at the edge of something you wanted, certain everyone could see right through you — this one is for you. Riding confidence, the real kind, sounds a lot like Joe describes it here: hours of work off-camera, so you're ready the day someone finally watches. Joe Stockdale is a British show jumper based at the family yard his parents made with their own hands. He rides for Great Britain at five-star level and trains alongside his mentors William and Pippa Funnell. His late father, Tim Stockdale, was a well-regarded British show jumper who selected the mare Joe later took to the World Championships. If someone you love is carrying a name, a loss, or a doubt they keep to themselves — send them this one. You can find out more about Joe Stockdale here: website | instagram | youtube This episode is sponsored by - Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services, Inc. The friendly and knowledgeable team at Connaway & Associates brings together more than 30 years of experience to offer a wide range of insurance services, including horse insurance, farm insurance, and liability insurance. Visit www.connaway.net | @connawayassociates | facebook.com/connawayassociatesequine   Chapters 2:42 — Losing a parent young: the grief he and Noelle share 6:55 — A famous name, two paths, and the weight of a legacy 22:00 — Inheriting a yard, a system, and his dad's owners 24:34 — William & Pippa Funnell: the mentors who answered the phone 30:10 — From loss to bronze: the World Championships in Herning 41:29 — Home vs the spotlight: wanting the pressure 46:54 — The Olympic medal on the bingo card 56:18 — Patience: letting the horse have an off day 57:18 — Why John Whitaker is the greatest horseman 1:01:52 — Mares, stallions, geldings Interested in more from Noëlle? Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.  https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com You can also download the app - NF+ App Thank you for your listening!  
• How to Read Horse Behavior — Elsa Sinclair on the 5 Types of Leadership 23.06.2026 1ชม. 5นาที

  There is a question almost every one of us carries to the barn and never says out loud. Not how do I get him to do this. But: does he actually trust me — or is he just complying? This is Part 2 of my conversation with Elsa Sinclair, and it's the half where I kept having to stop and close my eyes. Because Elsa reads horse behavior in a way most of us were never taught to. She breaks leadership into five kinds — dominant, persistent, assertive, passive, supportive — and then says the thing that reorganized my brain: that leadership is simply any action that results in harmony. That dominance and abuse are not the same thing. She takes us back inside the year she spent with a wild mustang named Myrnah — three to six hours a day, five days a week. The morning she got on at three months, did it badly, and wasn't allowed back on for another three. Not because anything went wrong. Because her timing was off by a hair, and the horse simply told the truth about it. Then comes the line I haven't stopped repeating: "I'm not going to try to be the best horse trainer in the room. I'm going to try to be the most accurate." This is freedom based training as a craft — not a philosophy you admire from a distance, but a practice you can take to the barn tomorrow. Elsa shows how to actually see a horse's thought before you reward it — the ear that flicks, the eye that moves, the breath — and gives a homework exercise you can start in the morning. We get into why hyperfocus on the goal keeps you tripping over the next step. Why confidence, quietly, trumps every strategy. And Atlas — the horse she bought off a slaughter truck, the one who broke everything she thought she knew. If you've ever felt like you're learning too slowly with your horse, this episode reframes that ache as the whole point. Elsa Sinclair is a lifelong horsewoman, horse behavior researcher, and filmmaker. Her year with the mustang Myrnah became a documentary, Taming Wild, and a book by the same name. She now teaches freedom based training to students across Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. If you have a horse who's been trying to tell you something — this one is for you. And if you know someone still fighting the horse they love, send it to them. IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN Elsa's full leadership spectrum — dominant, persistent, assertive, passive, and supportive — and why she defines leadership as any action that results in harmony The difference between dominance and abuse, and how a single raised hand tells her which one a horse has lived through Why she got on Myrnah bareback and bridleless at three months — and the timing mistake that cost her the next three The distinction between feel and timing, and why she'd rather be the most accurate trainer in the room than the best one How to read a horse's thoughts through its senses instead of projecting the thought you wish were there Why confidence can trump every technique, and how to build it from the bottom up if you don't have it yet The case for the slowest training method on Earth, and how slowing down actually deepens what you learn To find out more about Elsa Sinclair: website | instagram | facebook | patreon CHAPTERS & TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Leadership options most training never breaks down [00:23] The leadership spectrum: dominant, persistent, and assertive [04:36] Building it bottom-up: passive and supportive leadership [07:30] Riding bridleless: the year with Myrnah, and getting on at three months [10:00] Feel versus timing, and rewarding the thought, not the action [12:47] Why she'd rather be the most accurate trainer than the best [15:33] Untraining yourself: the sensory system over mechanical habit [21:44] "Playing in Puddles": letting go of the goal of riding [36:00] The horse who decided humans always make bad decisions [40:20] Confidence wins: when it trumps every technique [45:36] The two horses who shaped her: the generous one and the mold-breaker [54:00] The beauty of slowness, and learning to enjoy the snail's pace [56:24] Rapid fire: the one book, the most undervalued skill, mares vs stallions This Episode is Sponsored by: Total Feeds Our mission to provide quality nutrition to people and animals puts us in contact with all manner of interesting folks. Whether you're interested in our animal feed, or the people involved in the animal industry: you'll find it at Total Feeds! Check out our line of Quality Animal Feeds here: https://totalfeeds.com Interested in more from Noëlle? Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.  https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com You can also download the app - NF+ App Thank you for your listening!  
• What If Your Horse Could Say No? Elsa Sinclair on Freedom Based Training Part 1 16.06.2026 57นาที

  Most of us learned to ride before we ever learned to ask. We learned the halter, the rope, the pressure, the release. We learned how to make a horse do the thing. And somewhere in there, quietly, a lot of us started to feel that something about it wasn't quite right — and didn't have the words, or the permission, to say so. Elsa Sinclair had that feeling at twelve. She's the creator of Freedom Based Training and the documentary Taming Wild, and this conversation is the story of where it came from — which is really the story of a question she couldn't put down. It started with a student, who asked her: do you think horses actually like being ridden? And then, before Elsa could finish answering — do you think they ever had a choice? She didn't have an answer. So she went looking for one. What follows is one of the most honest origin stories I've had on this show. A lonely girl on a spirited Appaloosa named Demi. Years of clinics and books and methods that never felt like the thing she was reaching for. An offer from a near-stranger she couldn't refuse. And finally a year in a field with a wild mustang named Myrnah — no halter, no rope, no treats, no way to make her do anything — just the freedom to walk away, and the hope that she'd choose to stay. Elsa says something in here I keep coming back to. That she never set out to be spiritual or soft about it. She wanted something "logical and practical and understandable" — a way of being with horses built on peace instead of domination, that still actually worked. We talk about why she refuses to promise her horse a calm, composed version of herself. About trust as the willingness to suspend judgment. And about the idea that rearranged how I see every herd I've ever stood in: that in a healthy herd, awareness replaces dominance — because dominance only shows up when nobody was paying attention in the first place. This is the beginning of Freedom Based Training, told by the woman who built it. Elsa Sinclair is a lifelong horsewoman, behavior researcher, and filmmaker. Her year with Myrnah became the award-winning documentary Taming Wild and a book of the same name, and she now teaches Freedom Based Training to students around the world. If you've ever wondered whether your horse would choose you — this is Part One. Stay for Part Two, where she shows us exactly how it's done. IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN The single question from a student that made Elsa stop and ask whether horses actually choose to be ridden Why she trains with no halter, rope, or treats — and what the horse's freedom to walk away forces you to get right The reason she refuses to promise her horse a calm, composed version of herself, and what she does instead How she defines trust as "the willingness to suspend judgment," plus the 80/20 rule for how often you're allowed to get it wrong What Ari, the aloof stallion who needed no one, taught her about reaching a horse who isn't interested in you Why she calls it the slowest training method on Earth, and the honest reason it isn't for everyone The herd-dynamics reframe that replaces dominance with awareness To find out more about Elsa Sinclair: website | instagram | facebook | patreon CHAPTERS & TIMESTAMPS [00:00] A surreal reunion and the wish list that started the road trip [00:44] Elsa's origin story: Demi and "good buckers make good jumpers" [05:51] The birth of Freedom Based Training: peace over domination [09:02] The question that changed everything — do horses choose to be ridden? [11:34] The offer she couldn't refuse, and a documentary called Taming Wild [14:24] Training without tools: timing, curiosity, and day one with Myrnah [18:35] Companionship as currency: matching, mirroring, and sensory association [21:31] The promise she won't make: congruence over composure [28:22] Showing up on a bad day, and what trust actually is [34:32] Ari, the aloof stallion, and the 80/20 rule [40:49] Why the slowest training method on Earth isn't for everyone [47:00] Herd dynamics: replacing dominance with awareness Episode Sponsored by Total Feeds Our mission to provide quality nutrition to people and animals puts us in contact with all manner of interesting folks. Whether you're interested in our animal feed, or the people involved in the animal industry: you'll find it at Total Feeds! Check out our line of Quality Animal Feeds here: https://totalfeeds.com Interested in more from Noëlle? Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.  https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com You can also download the app - NF+ App Thank you for your support!  
• Horse Health: The Virus Almost Every Horse Already Carries — What to Know Before the Next Outbreak with Dr. Bruno Karam 09.06.2026 55นาที

  Right now, somewhere in the horse world, a horse is shedding a virus it's carried since it was a foal. Its owner doesn't know. The horse looks fine. That's EHV-1. Equine herpesvirus. And Dr. Bruno Karam, equine internal medicine specialist, wants you to understand it before the next outbreak — not during it. We recorded this conversation in the wake of last year's EHV-1 cluster at the National Finals Rodeo. Horses stumbling. Famous horses hospitalized. People asking whether the event should have run at all. And a lot of horse owners left with unanswered questions about a virus they'd heard about but didn't fully understand. This episode answers those questions. EHV-1 isn't new. The neurological form — EHM — isn't new either. What's changed is the density of horse movement. Western circuits don't park in one city for two weeks. They move. And they move on timelines shorter than the incubation period. By the time a horse shows symptoms, it's already three states away from where it got infected. Bruno breaks down how the virus behaves in the body — biphasic fevers, white blood cell hitchhiking, the vasculitis cascade that leads to spinal cord involvement. He explains why your vaccinated horse can still shed. Why a healthy horse with no symptoms can spread it. And why giving Banamine the moment your horse feels warm is the single most counterproductive thing you can do in an outbreak. The practical guidance in here is specific. Take temperatures twice a day. Know what's normal for your horse before you need to know what's abnormal. Don't share thermometers. And if your horse is questionable at a show — be okay with not showing. He also talks about something that doesn't get said enough: we don't yet have data on why some horses get sick and others don't. We're still retroactively analyzing the outbreaks. The science is moving, and what we do today may not be what we do in ten years. That's not a reason to panic. It's a reason to pay attention. Dr. Bruno Karam is an equine internal medicine specialist. He trained at Texas A&M under Dr. Michelle Coleman and has worked some of the most complex infectious disease cases in the field. He ended up on the news last year because of EHV-1. He came on this podcast to give you the version of the conversation that the news couldn't. If your barn shares thermometers, send this to your barn manager. Subscribe to the NOËLLE FLOYD Podcast — formerly Dear Horse World — wherever you listen. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN Why nearly every horse already carries EHV-1 latently — and what triggers shedding with no visible symptoms The exact biological pathway from respiratory infection to spinal cord damage that causes EHM Why the western show circuit's travel structure created exponential exposure chains in 2025 What the EHV vaccine actually does and doesn't do, and why it still matters for herd immunity How to take and interpret your horse's temperature using their individual baseline, not just 101.5°F Why giving Banamine at the first elevated temp can mask early outbreak warning signs The most overlooked transmission vector at shows: human hands moving between horses To find out more about Dr. Bruno Karam DVM - Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital - Equine This episode is sponsored by Pegasus Training & Rehabilitation Center Here at Pegasus, our mission is to run a first class horse training, rehabilitation, and conditioning facility; provide horses of all disciplines with full and complete care of the highest quality; partner with our clients to ensure that we not only meet, but exceed, their individual goals and needs; and maintain our facility and equipment with the highest level of care. To find out more about Pegasus - website | instagram | facebook Interested in more from Noelle? Noelle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.  https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com CHAPTERS & TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Introduction to Dr. Bruno Karam, Equine Internal Medicine Specialist [00:38] What an Equine Internist Does and Why It's Unique [02:00] Memorable Cases — From Yellow Fat Disease to Aspiration Pneumonia [09:34] What Is EHV-1 — Horse COVID Explained [11:10] How EHV-1 Spreads and What Recrudescence Means [13:11] Why Some Horses Go Neurological and Others Don't [16:00] Shedding Explained — Subclinical Carriers and Transmission [18:06] Vaccines for EHV — What They Do and Don't Protect Against 21:00] Vaccine Risk, Hesitancy, and How to Think About Risk Assessment [24:28] The 2025 Outbreak — What Really Happened in Texas Before NFR 37:38] What Horse Owners Can Do — Monitoring and Biosecurity at Shows  Interested in more from Noëlle? Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.  https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com You can also download the app - NF+ App Thank you for your listening!  
• Welcome to the NOËLLE FLOYD Podcast! 01.06.2026 25นาที

  Have you ever moved through a community — any community — feeling like you were watching from just outside the circle? Like everyone else had found their tribe and you were still looking? That feeling of not belonging might not be something to fix. It might be exactly what makes you exceptional. In this first solo episode of the Noelle Floyd Podcast, Noëlle Floyd makes the case that not belonging is one of the most underrated strengths a person can have — and shares the personal story, the science, and the poetry to back it up. You'll hear why Noëlle started this platform in the first place: not to broadcast to the horse world, but to be in genuine conversation with it. Fifteen years of writing, a magazine, a media platform, and now a podcast and Substack — all of it built on the belief that clarity and connection matter more than belonging to the right group. You'll learn about Noëlle's late ADHD diagnosis and how it reframed everything she'd believed about herself. For years, she told herself her questions were too many, too deep, too irritating. Neurodivergence, she now understands, was never a handicap — it's the engine behind everything she does. If you've ever been told you think too differently, ask too many questions, or just don't quite fit, this conversation is for you. You'll also hear Noëlle's introduction to the concept of outroversion — a framework proposed by psychologist Ramin Kaminski in The Gift of Not Belonging — and why she believes the horse world, and the world at large, would be better if outsiders were celebrated as much as insiders. The diversity of perspectives, backgrounds, disciplines, and ways of being that people bring is not a problem to solve. It's the whole point. Noëlle also shares why clarity is a form of care — not just for yourself, but for your horse. Because horses don't have a voice. Your unresolved questions, borrowed beliefs, and secondhand certainties become their lived experience. Seeking clarity isn't self-indulgence. It's responsibility. This episode closes with an original poem Noëlle wrote — Who Do You Think You Are? — a meditation on identity, individuality, and what it means to be exactly, irreducibly yourself. This is the Noelle Floyd Podcast — an equestrian podcast for curious minds, outsiders, and anyone who has ever felt like the horse world, or any world, was asking them to be a little less than they are. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN Why not belonging is a documented psychological strength — and how psychologist Ramin Kaminski's concept of outroversion reframes the outsider experience as a competitive advantage rather than a social failure How Noëlle's late ADHD diagnosis transformed the story she'd been telling herself about being too curious, too questioning, and too much — and why neurodivergence can be one of the most powerful traits a thinker and storyteller can carry Why your personal clarity directly affects your horse's welfare — because horses cannot articulate confusion, your unresolved questions and secondhand certainties become part of their daily experience What the difference is between communicating for a community versus to it, and how that single distinction shapes the kind of platform, podcast, and conversation Noëlle is building How to participate in Noëlle's upcoming Q&A series through Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, the Noelle Floyd+ platform, and Substack — where she will personally read every question submitted Why staying outside any single tribe or discipline gives you the objectivity to see patterns, ask harder questions, and contribute something no insider can What finally got Noëlle in front of the camera after months of hesitation — and the mindset shift that transformed a personal roadblock into the foundation of this episode Interested in more from Noëlle? Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.  https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com You can also download the app - NF+ App Thank you for your listening! CHAPTERS & TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Welcome to the Noelle Floyd Podcast: Why the Name Changed  [00:30] Fifteen Years of Writing For the Horse World, Not To It  [01:16] What These Solo Episodes Will Be: Real Conversation, Real Community  [02:00] Clarity and Connection: The Two Pillars Behind Everything Noëlle Does  [04:41] The Question Behind Every Question: How "Feel" Became a Central Theme  [05:22] Why Information Is Power — and Withholding It Is a Welfare Issue  [07:22] Noëlle's Origin Story: Barn Brat, Working Student, and a Lot of Jobs Before 21  [09:17] The Late ADHD Diagnosis That Reframed Her Entire Story  [11:25] Tribal Belonging in the Horse World — and Why You Don't Have to Join One  [12:52] The Gift of Not Belonging: Outroversion, Outsiders, and Why They Thrive  [18:52] Who Do You Think You Are? — An Original Poem by Noëlle Floyd  [21:00] How to Join the Conversation: Q&As, Substack, and What Comes Next  
• The Rider Ego vs. The Horseman Standard: Turnout, Horse Karma, and Clear Boundaries Daniel Bluman Part 2 27.05.2026 44นาที

  It is easy to get wrapped up in the competitive environment when prize money and recognition wait at the gate. Our natural human instinct causes us to objectify horses as high-speed pieces of equipment or treat them like sentimental human pets, yet both approaches cause immense confusion for the animal. When challenges arise, a rider focuses strictly on overriding the obstacle in front of them, whereas a horseman steps back to evaluate the wider picture and protect the partnership.  Daniel Bluman breaks down the psychological differences between these choices, sharing the real-world management practices that establish what he calls horse karma. He discusses why daily turnout and social connection create a healthier brain for an athletic horse, allowing them to remain sound and happy for years. What is Horse Karma?: Daniel shares a childhood story from Colombia that shaped his belief that treating every horse with empathy always pays it forward. Clarity is Humanity: Loving a horse means giving clear, decisive training directions instead of treats, carrots, and confusing human sentimentality. Becoming Indispensable: Learning how the animal functions biologically makes a person scarce and highly valued, securing a sustainable livelihood. Managing Social Validation: Daniel urges us to handle the craving for online recognition and instead celebrate the unseen daily lifestyle. Meet Daniel Daniel Bluman is an Olympic athlete and co-founder of Bluman Equestrian. He is an entrepreneur and a producer of horses who believes patience is a massive competitive advantage. His philosophy rests on the conviction that horses are our teachers, and our primary mission is to provide them with respect and dignity. Explore the mission at: BlumanEquestrian.com This episode is brought to you by: Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services, Inc. The friendly and knowledgeable team at Connaway & Associates brings together more than 30 years of experience to offer a wide range of insurance services, including horse insurance, farm insurance, and liability insurance. Visit www.connaway.net | @connawayassociates | facebook.com/connawayassociatesequine  Interested in more from Noëlle? Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.  https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com Chapters and Time Stamps: 0:00 Horses are not equipment 4:00 Stop canceling riders you don't understand 5:10 Why clarity is kindness 8:32 The problem with humanizing horses 9:33 Why Daniel turns his horses out together 11:26 What stall life does to a horse's eyesight 12:54 When science catches up to horsemanship 14:00 Why the same ring every day limits your horse 17:00 The disappearing horseman 21:40 Horsemen always earn more than riders 25:35 Show jumping's social license problem 28:00 Managing the social media validation trap 35:50 Rapid fire questions
• The Rider Ego vs. The Horseman Standard: Choosing the Animal Over the Accolades with Daniel Bluman 21.05.2026 43นาที

  We have all walked into the barn carrying the weight of a chaotic day, a mile-long to-do list, and a rider ego that thinks jumping twenty fences is the only way to improve. We get clumsy because we try hard to chase points, ribbons, and instant gratification. We end up losing the horse.  Three-time Olympian Daniel Bluman helps us trade that frantic energy for a higher standard. Daniel represents Israel on the world stage, but his true strength lies in his ability to do less. He reminds us that our horse is an animal rather than a tool, and our success belongs in the quality of our bond instead of the ribbons we collect.  If you feel tired of the frantic cycle, this conversation provides permission to stop performing and start listening. We dive into the shift from rider goals—those check-box milestones we want for ourselves—to horseman needs, which are the mental and physical foundations our horses require to thrive. The Glamorous Farmer Mindset: Daniel explains why elite success requires appreciating the daily, weather-independent lifestyle of a simple farmer. The Trap of Accolades: Chasing endless victories and high rankings leads to an unfulfilled career, whereas finding joy in the daily routine changes the game. Educating the Next Generation: Daniel shares his focus on raising his children to be great horsemen and happy, well-balanced people. Postponing Your Own Gratification: A true horseman stays honest to the path, protecting the horse above immediate ring results Meet Daniel Daniel Bluman is an Olympic athlete and co-founder of Bluman Equestrian. He is an entrepreneur and a producer of horses who believes patience is a massive competitive advantage. His philosophy rests on the conviction that horses are our teachers, and our primary mission is to provide them with respect and dignity. Explore the mission at: BlumanEquestrian.com This episode is brought to you by: Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services, Inc. The friendly and knowledgeable team at Connaway & Associates brings together more than 30 years of experience to offer a wide range of insurance services, including horse insurance, farm insurance, and liability insurance. Visit www.connaway.net | @connawayassociates | facebook.com/connawayassociatesequine  Interested in more from Noëlle? Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.  https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com  CHAPTERS & TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 Daniel Bluman Joins Dear Horse World: Why He Reached Out  00:02:09 What Watching Other Riders Teaches You About This Sport 00:03:56 Glamorous Farmers: The Connection to Nature Every Horseman Needs 00:06:27 What Show Jumping Must Not Forget as Prize Money Pours In 00:10:06 Why Chasing Fame in the Horse World Leads to a Miserable Career 00:13:28 The Barns Around the World That Showed Daniel What Really Matters 00:15:19 How to Fall in Love With the Life of the Horseman 00:16:35 The Mentors Who Showed Him You Can Be Both Horseman and Champion 00:20:46 Rider vs. Horseman: Daniel's Full Breakdown 00:25:02 What's Happening Inside a Rider's Mind When the Horse Gets Left Behind 00:29:11 The Riders Daniel Fears in Competition — and Admires Most as Horsemen 00:31:27 Horse Karma: Treating Every Horse Right Is How Champions Are Made
• How Equine Bodywork for Horse Owners Transforms Your Horse Partnership with Jim Masterson 14.05.2026 1ชม. 21นาที

  What if everything you've been calling a behavior problem is actually your horse asking for help? On this episode of Dear Horse World, Noëlle sits down with Jim Masterson — founder of the Masterson Method and a leading voice in equine bodywork for horse owners — to explore exactly that question. Jim has worked hands-on with an estimated 700 horses a year at peak, trained over 10,000 students worldwide, and built a method shaped entirely by what horses told him. This conversation will change how you see your horse. Jim and Noëlle unpack how the horse nervous system moves between sympathetic arousal (guarding, bracing) and parasympathetic release (dropping the head, yawning, shifting weight). You'll understand why an agenda — even a caring one — can block that release, and how approaching your horse with quiet, clear intention changes what becomes possible. Natural horsemanship principles run through everything: you're not working on the horse. You're working with it. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN Why the poll-atlas junction is the single most important tension point in your horse's body, and how releasing it can shift movement, behavior, and comfort throughout the entire horse — not just the neck. How to identify when your horse's "behavior problems" — head-shyness, resistance to bridling, difficulty with one canter lead, sudden bucking — are expressions of physical tension, not disobedience. Jim's five levels of touch (air gap, egg yolk, grape, lemon, and hard lime) and how to stay beneath your horse's bracing response so tension can actually release instead of getting blocked. How to start the bladder meridian technique today — free, with no equipment — by following the blinks, yawns, and lick-and-chew responses your horse is already giving you. How your horse's nervous system moves between sympathetic guarding and parasympathetic release, and what visible signs tell you a real tension release has happened. Why approaching body work without a "fix it" agenda is essential — and how your own intention and presence either opens your horse up or causes them to shut down and block out the work entirely. Why regular body work is one of the only things you can do with your horse that is all give and no take — and how even one bladder meridian session can begin to transform your horse's trust in you. Jim Masterson is the creator of the Masterson Method Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork, author of Beyond Horse Massage, and former body worker for the US Endurance Team. He has certified over 650 practitioners in 20 countries and taught more than 10,000 students since 2006. Start your equine bodywork for horse owners journey at MastersonMethod.com. Instagram and Facebook Watch the free bladder meridian video on YouTube, and share this equestrian podcast with every horse owner in your life who has a horse they don't fully understand yet. Interested in more from Noëlle? Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.  https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com Chapters: 00:00:00 When Behavior Is Pain: The Lens That Changes Everything 00:01:33 Jim Masterson on 10,000 Students and a Method Born From Horses  00:04:32 From Groom to Bodywork Pioneer: How It All Started 00:07:09 Discovering the Bladder Meridian and What Horses Were Showing Him 00:14:23 Congo, Baboons, and Learning to Read Animal Cues 00:20:09 The Three Key Tension Junctions Every Horse Owner Should Know 00:29:09 How Tension Travels Through the Body: Compensation and Connection 00:39:36 Why Releasing Tension Changes Your Horse's Performance and Well-Being 00:44:25 Body Work as the Fastest Path to Real Horse-Human Connection 00:51:45 Subtle Signs of Discomfort and How to Spot Them Before They Become Problems 00:56:03 Levels of Touch and What Makes the Masterson Method Different 01:07:15 How to Start Doing Body Work on Your Own Horse Without an Agenda
• What Your Horse's Nervous System Reveals About Trust and Liberty with Kaleigh Marie - Sponsored by Triple Crown Feeds 06.05.2026 1ชม. 28นาที

  Liberty trainer and Braveheart Beasts founder Kaleigh Marie shares how training oxen, mammoth donkeys, and mules before ever seriously working with horses shaped everything she knows about connection, trust, and the nervous system. Kaleigh Marie is a liberty trainer and performer based in the Northeast who has spent the last decade developing a nervous system-informed approach to horsemanship rooted in connection, positive reinforcement, and the foundational lessons she learned working with cattle, donkeys, and mules long before horses became her focus. In this episode you will learn: Why Kaleigh's foundation in training oxen and mammoth donkeys gave her a unique edge with horses What "conversational quality" means and how it shows up in your relationship with your horse Why donkeys ask "why should I?" — and why that's actually a gift to any trainer How the nervous system underlies everything from leg aids to liberty work The honest story of how clicker training almost derailed her liberty performances — and what she rebuilt from the ground up The difference between expectation and intention when you're struggling in a session What to do when you're not showing up as the trainer you want to be Why dull horses are often the most sensitive ones — and how they got that way The "backpack" concept and how co-regulation with your horse actually works Why self-regulation — for both horse and human — matters more than connection To find out more about Kaleigh Marie: website | instagram | facebook This episode is sponsored by Triple Crown Feeds The secret to raising a healthy horse begins with nutrition that goes beyond. The team at Triple Crown is dedicated to helping our customers succeed by understanding your horse's unique needs and working to develop the right feeding program for the horse you love. www.triplecrownfeed.com | instagram.com/triplecrownfeed | facebook.com/TripleCrownFeed | youtube.com/@triplecrownfeeds If you love honest conversations about horsemanship, trust, and the ongoing practice of becoming a better horse person, subscribe for more. Chapters: 00:00 Meet Kaylee Marie 01:10 Road to the Horse Memories 03:38 First Meeting with Tik  08:12 Braveheart Beasts Origins 08:31 Farm Kid to Oxen Trainer 13:07 Riding Cows and Controversy 18:39 Back to Horses and Draft Life 20:16 Mammoth Donkeys in the City 24:01 Connection and Motivation Lessons 8:05 Conversational Quality Explained 32:22 Nervous System Awakening 38:31 Rescue Rehab and Roman Story 45:18 First Q&A Reset as a Trainer 47:30 Gut Brain Connection 48:27 One Percent Better 48:55 Expectation Versus Intention 51:44 Stop And Regulate 53:28 Co Regulation Release 56:41 Leg Aid Without Fight 58:40 Sensitivity Versus Expression 01:00:46 Rehab Dull Horses 01:04:17 Clicker Training Ethics 01:09:42 Rock Bottom Without Food 01:15:47 Pressure And Resilience 01:18:53 Clicker For Quality 01:22:10 Keep Learning Through Pain 01:24:03 Rapid Fire Favorites 01:28:23 Final Thanks And Wrap Interested in more from Noëlle? Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.  https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com You can also download the app - NF+ App Thank you for your listening!  
• "Easy Keeper" Horses Are a Warning Sign… Here's Why with Dr Kent Tooman sponsored by Pegasus Training & Rehabilitation Center 30.04.2026 1ชม. 18นาที

  In this episode of Dear Horse World, equine veterinarian Dr. Kent Tooman breaks down the truth about equine metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and why more horses than ever are at risk of laminitis. Dr. Kent Tooman is an experienced equine veterinarian with over 30 years in practice, specializing in performance horses and metabolic health. In this episode you will learn: What's really happening inside your horse's body Why "easy keepers" may be misunderstood The subtle signs most owners miss (including fat deposits and barn blindness) Breed predispositions (ponies, Arabs, draft crosses, and more) Practical steps to reduce risk and manage weight safely How insulin affects your horse's health The connection between weight, metabolism, and laminitis Why modern horse management is increasing risk How to spot early warning signs before it's too late If you care about better horse health, training, and management, subscribe for more expert conversations. This episode is sponsored by Pegasus Training & Rehabilitation Center Here at Pegasus, our mission is to run a first class horse training, rehabilitation, and conditioning facility; provide horses of all disciplines with full and complete care of the highest quality; partner with our clients to ensure that we not only meet, but exceed, their individual goals and needs; and maintain our facility and equipment with the highest level of care. To find out more about Pegasus - website | instagram | facebook Interested in more from Noëlle? Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.  https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com You can also download the app - NF+ App Thank you for your listening! Chapters: 0:00 – The "Easy Keeper" Myth (Why This Matters) 1:12 – Meet Dr. Kent Tooman 3:45 – Why More Horses Are Developing Metabolic Issues 6:20 – What Is Equine Metabolic Syndrome? 9:10 – Insulin Explained (Simple Breakdown) 12:30 – Where Fat Shows Up (Signs Most Owners Miss) 16:15 – Barn Blindness: Why You Don't See the Problem 20:40 – Breed Risk: Ponies, Arabs & "Thrifty" Horses 25:10 – Why Modern Horses Are Getting Overweight 30:25 – The Link Between Weight & Laminitis 35:50 – How to Reduce Risk (Practical Steps) 41:30 – Feeding, Exercise & Management Mistakes 47:10 – Can This Be Reversed? 52:00 – The Future: Ozempic for Horses? 56:30 – Final Advice for Horse Owners ⚠️ Disclaimer - This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.
• The Most Powerful Thing you can Train isn't Your Horse—it's Your Mind with Barbra Schulte - sponsored by Total Feeds 22.04.2026 1ชม. 32นาที

  Champion cutting horse trainer Barbra Schulte joins the Dear Horse World Podcast after teaching host Noelle her first cut in Weatherford, Texas, explaining her teaching approach through mechanics and nervous system regulation. They discuss staying in an optimal state between under-arousal and fight-or-flight, slowing down when things speed up, and building skills through fundamentals, clear sequences, repetition, and positive reinforcement (dopamine) to install neurological pathways rather than "muscle memory." Barbra Schulte outlines beginner learning, the discouraging "messy middle," refinement, and mastery, emphasizing between-lesson work, visualization, scripts/mantras, and self-coaching tools like "what's my job?" and "what do I control?" They address negative self-talk, fear of judgment, blame vs responsibility, and self-worth, and Schulte shares how human performance training influenced her competitive success, plus retreats and book recommendations.  To find out more about Barbra - Website | Instagram | Facebook Barbra Schulte is hosting a Cutting Clinic September 17-20th 2026 in Pony, Montana. Click here for more info. What You'll Learn: Why your nervous system — not your technique — is the real ceiling on your riding performance How to find and stay in the sweet spot between flat and frantic, and what to do when you lose it  Why positive reinforcement creates a dopamine cycle that accelerates skill acquisition  The truth about muscle memory — and where new riding skills actually live in your body How to navigate the messy middle of learning without losing confidence or motivation Why nervousness is closer to peak performance than you think — and how blame moves you furthest away How Barbra used visualization and nervous system work to win two legs of cutting's triple crown This episode is brought to you by Total Feeds: Our mission to provide quality nutrition to people and animals puts us in contact with all manner of interesting folks. Whether you're interested in our animal feed, or the people involved in the animal industry: you'll find it at Total Feeds! Check out our line of Quality Animal Feeds here: https://totalfeeds.com Chapters: 00:00 Meet Barbra Schulte 01:00 Teaching With Awareness 03:40 Cutting Fundamentals Explained 07:06 When Things Speed Up 1 2:41 Dopamine And Learning Waves 19:38 Installing Skills And Practice Plans 31:41 Surviving The Messy Middle 35:48 Taming Negative Self Talk 38:46 Scripts Mantras And Regulation 42:38 Why You Ride In The First Place 43:54 No Failure In Learning 44:07 Total Equine Feed Story 47:19 Coming Home To Yourself 49:50 Visualization For Show Nerves 52:05 Do You Be You 01:00:28 Why Judgment Hurts 01:09:02 Nervous Anger Blame Rings 01:17:09 Hard Things Build Confidence 01:19:34 Why Nervous System Work 01:24:18 Retreats And Courses 01:26:37 Rapid Fire Wrap Up Interested in more from Noëlle? Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.  https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com You can also download the app - NF+ App Thank you for your listening!  
• Bring a Proven System Into Your Riding - an NF+ Masterclass Exclusive with Ian Millar and Amy Millar sponsored by Connaway & Associates 14.04.2026 9นาที

  NF+ is proud to present our exclusive new Masterclass, The Millar Method Complete Training System, where Ian & Amy Millar introduce their system for building winning horses. Olympian Ian Millar returns on NF+ with Amy Millar to introduce the first of 16 episodes of the Millar Method, a consistent, repeatable system designed to develop horses that stay sound, confident, and ready to win. They share their backgrounds—Ian's record 10 Olympic Games, role with the Canadian show jumping team, and scholarship work in Ontario; Amy's two Olympic appearances, Canadian championship, team ambitions, and efforts to improve accessibility through Can Jump. The episode explains how their method applies from trail riding to top sport, grounded in understanding the horse's nature and using tools like lunging, round penning, gymnastics, grids, and courses. They emphasize principles that stay consistent while adapting teaching to how each horse and rider learns. A Program Responsible for nine Olympic Horses across two Generations. The Millar Method | Complete Training System -  Save 25% on annual memberships with code DHW25 Learn the system that has developed top-level horses for Olympians lan and Amy Millar. Chapters: 00:00 Meet the Millar Method 01:12 Ian and Amy Introductions 02:26 Why Teaching Matters 04:44 Sharing the Method 05:28 What the Method Covers 06:47 Tools and Foundations 07:45 Principles and Adaptation 08:19 How Horses and Riders Learn 08:55 Teaching Wins The Millar Method | Complete Training System -  Save 25% on annual memberships with code DHW25 Exclusively available on NF+, the equestrian masterclass platform for riders of all levels and disciplines. This episode is brought to you by: Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services, Inc. The friendly and knowledgeable team at Connaway & Associates brings together more than 30 years of experience to offer a wide range of insurance services, including horse insurance, farm insurance, and liability insurance. Visit www.connaway.net | @connawayassociates | facebook.com/connawayassociatesequine         
• Give the Horses Time - Peter Charles on Developing Riders and Horses that Last Sponsored by Connaway 07.04.2026 56นาที

  Peter Charles on Starting from Nothing, Building Champions, and Giving Horses Time Peter Charles joins the Dear Horse World Podcast for his first podcast and recounts leaving Liverpool at 15 after his parents died, starting as a groom in Ireland, getting limited early riding opportunities, and working up through top European yards before winning the Brussels World Cup at 24 on the 7-year-old April Son.    He contrasts his non-equestrian start with raising and training his children—Harry, Scarlett, and Sienna—emphasizing basics, hard work, confidence, and separating father from trainer; Harry learned on modest horses, was encouraged to choose riding himself, and later achieved multiple major medals and wins. Charles critiques the American hunter pathway versus Europe's pony system for developing competitive reactions, argues modern sport's nonstop schedule reduces time for partnerships, and stresses patience in producing horses, later starting ages, breeding selection via strong mare lines, and managing soundness by learning, asking questions, and knowing each horse's movement. This conversation explores: What starting from nothing actually teaches you (and what money can't replace) Why the European pony-riding system produces more instinctive, competitive riders The difference between giving your kids opportunity and making it too easy How to build a genuine partnership with a horse — and why rushing it will cost you later What to do when your string of top horses disappears overnight How confidence is built, not born — and why Peter never once doubted himself Why the mare matters more than the stallion in any breeding program How to become your own horse's best advocate when the vet doesn't have all the answers You can learn more about Peter Charles here:   Intagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathcroft_farm/ Website: https://heathcroftfarm.com   This episode is brought to you by: Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services, Inc. The friendly and knowledgeable team at Connaway & Associates brings together more than 30 years of experience to offer a wide range of insurance services, including horse insurance, farm insurance, and liability insurance. Visit www.connaway.net | @connawayassociates | facebook.com/connawayassociatesequine  Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast  01:25 From Liverpool to Horses  02:43 First Rides and First Win  03:47 Training the Charles Kids 07:52 Keeping Them Hungry  08:59 Europe vs America Systems  10:37 Letting Kids Choose 13:39 Learning From Mistakes  14:56 Giving Horses Time  20:08 Talent Versus Work Ethic  23:42 Modern Showjumping Chess  27:35 Building Confidence Today  29:27 Rotating Horses On Tour  29:49 Confidence Through Preparation  30:20 Show Circuit Eats Time  31:57 Basics Beat Money  33:29 Nations Cup Glory Days  37:18 Mentors And Giving Back  45:19 Breeding Starts With Mares  47:15 Soundness And Vet Wisdom  52:55 Rapid Fire And Farewell   Interested in more from Noëlle? Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.  https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com You can also download the app - NF+ App Thank you for your listening!  
• Solving Horse Separation Anxiety: Why Herd-Bound Behavior Isn't Disobedience — It's Instinct with Kathy Baar 31.03.2026 1ชม. 16นาที

  Horse Separation anxiety is something most horse owners will face at some point. Sometimes it shows up as calling when a buddy leaves.  Sometimes it's a refusal to leave the barn.  Sometimes it escalates into behavior that feels dangerous, overwhelming, or emotionally exhausting. And despite how common it is, it can feel isolating — especially when even experienced professionals don't always have a clear roadmap. In this episode, we sit down with clinician and author Kathy Baar to unpack herd-bound behavior through the lens of psychology and biology. Kathy has spent decades studying how horses bond, how they regulate, and how easily their instincts can be misunderstood. This conversation explores: What separation anxiety is (and what it isn't) Why horses bond so deeply — especially when traveling or stabled together The difference between connection and codependency How to expand your horse's comfort zone safely What to do in show situations when you don't have weeks to rebuild patterns How your own personality type impacts how your horse learns Why safety and comfort must come before food or reward This episode is for you if: Your horse struggles leaving the barn or their buddy Show warm-ups feel unpredictable You feel embarrassed or alone in this challenge You want to understand herd-bound behavior at its root You're ready to build confidence in your horse without escalating intensity Kathy's book that she would read to the horse world - Natural Horse-Man-Ship: Six Keys to a Natural Horse-Human Relationship (A Western Horseman Book) by Pat Perelli Kathy offers understanding — when you understand what your horse is truly seeking, your approach begins to change. Kathy Baar is a clinician, trainer, and author known for her thoughtful, psychology-based approach to horsemanship. Drawing influence from the lineage of Tom and Bill Dorrance and Ray Hunt, Kathy focuses on developing both connection with the human and internal confidence within the horse. Recently, Kathy was a judge at Road to the Horse and enjoyed the opportunity to experience the event from a judges perspective. Her book, Solving Separation Anxiety: Over 77 Savvy Solutions for Herd Bound Behavior, is a practical guide for riders navigating barn sour and buddy sour behavior. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 3:00 How Motherhood Sparked a Book About Horse Separation Anxiety 7:00 What Is Herd Bound Behavior and Why Does It Happen 11:00 Building the Kind of Relationship That Replaces the Herd 17:00 How Common Is Separation Anxiety — and Is It Ever Solved? 22:00 Why Horses Bond So Deeply When They Travel Together 23:00 Horses in Pastures and Herds: Strategies That Work 28:00 Noelle's Feral Mare and Learning to Slow Down 36:00 Horses in Stalls: Training From the Comfort Zone 40:00 Nature vs Nurture — Is Your Horse Born Anxious? 45:00 Horses Kept in Pairs: The Hardest Scenario 51:00 Groundwork That Actually Transfers to the Saddle 58:00 Pressure, Yielding, and the Man's Horse Myth 1:00:00 Riding With a Buddy Horse — and Staying Present 1:06:00 Emergency Strategies at Horse Shows 1:08:00 Extroverted vs Introverted Horse Learners 1:14:00 Key Takeaways Before You Go 1:15:00 Barn Sour vs Buddy Sour: What the Terms Really Mean 1:17:00 Rapid Fire Questions with Kathy Barr Interested in more from Noëlle? Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.  https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com You can also download the app - NF+ App Thank you for your listening!   Amazon Disclosure: Third-party books and products denoted on this page and website may be hyperlinked to the Amazon affiliate program. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.  
• From Alaska to Argentina on Horseback: The Untold Aftermath with Filipe Masetti Leite Sponsored by Total Feeds 24.03.2026 1ชม. 8นาที

  What does it really mean to commit to something that scares you? In this episode, we sit down with Filipe Masetti Leite, a journalist, filmmaker, and long rider who traveled more than 27,000 kilometers on horseback from the Canadian Rockies to the southern tip of Argentina. Over eight years, he crossed 12 countries, navigated remote terrain, built partnerships with 11 horses, and lived at the speed of a walk. But this conversation goes far beyond the mileage. We talk about what happens when you slow life down to three kilometers an hour. What leadership looks like when your team has four legs. The bond of a heart horse. The tension between loving horses and using them. The identity crisis that can follow achievement. And why having an "X" on your map might matter more than the destination itself. This is a conversation about fear, resilience, ego, spirituality, and the responsibility that comes with living a dream out loud. You can find The Long Rider - Filipe's award-winning film documenting his ride across the Americas here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7hudXw67yw Resources mentioned in this episode: Filipe's memoir detailing the journey, the borders, the horses, and what it changed in him - Long Ride Home: Guts, Guns and Grizzlies Tschiffely's Ride by Aimé Tschiffely - The 1925 account of a Swiss schoolteacher who rode from Buenos Aires to New York on two Criollo horses — the book that inspired Filipe's dream as a child.  The Long Riders' Guild - An organization preserving the history and stories of modern long-distance equestrian explorers. Children's Cancer Hospital in Brazil - The ride to Ushuaia helped raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer support. Follow Filipe on instagram - https://www.instagram.com/filipemasetti/ Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Dear Horse World wherever you listen, leave us a review — it genuinely helps more people find these conversations — and share this episode with someone who needs to hear more adventure horse stories. This episode is brought to you by:  Total Feeds Our mission to provide quality nutrition to people and animals puts us in contact with all manner of interesting folks. Whether you're interested in our animal feed, or the people involved in the animal industry: you'll find it at Total Feeds! Check out our line of Quality Animal Feeds here: https://totalfeeds.com Interested in more from Noëlle? Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.  https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com You can also download the app - NF+ App Thank you for your listening! Chapters: 00:00 Inro 02:06 NFR Host Origins 02:57 Writing the Dream 05:19 War Room Planning 05:37 Finding the First Horses 08:13 Bruiser Heart Horse 09:57 Living Like a Herd 14:19 Presence at Three KPH 17:59 Lessons on Fear 20:47 Defining Resilience 22:06 Finding Your Purpose 25:21 Grounded by Walking 29:18 Loving vs Objectifying 34:46 Intent Over Outcome 35:39 Natural vs Forced Riding 39:01 Trail Riders Matter 40:14 Judgment and Humility 44:55 Bruiser the Heart Horse 48:32 Cowboy Life and Meaning 50:54 Leadership Lessons from Horses 53:20 Wild Horses and Border Chaos 55:13 PTSD Depression and Recovery 01:00:01 Staying Whole with Horses 01:03:14 No Excuses Mindset 01:04:45 Rapid Fire
• Road to the Horse Prep: Elisa Wallace Reveals her Secret to Staying relaxed under Pressure - Sponsored by StableFeed 17.03.2026 1ชม. 22นาที

  Not every rider has access to the perfectly bred, professionally produced sport horse. Many are figuring things out with the horse they could afford, learning as they go, and trying to build a partnership along the way. In this episode, 5★ event rider and trainer Elisa Wallace shares what she has learned from producing horses many others overlook, including Mustangs and off-the-track Thoroughbreds. Alongside competing at the highest levels of eventing, Elisa has built a career developing unconventional horses into dream ones. In this episode of "No Stupid Questions," we discuss: How to evaluate a horse when shopping on a budget The red flags riders should pay attention to early on The first steps to building trust with a new horse How to rebuild confidence after setbacks Signs your horse is progressing, even when improvement feels slow What unconventional horses can teach riders that highly produced horses cannot The book Elisa would read to the horse world - Four Square by Lucinda Green For riders navigating the journey with one horse, modest resources, and a lot of determination, this episode is a reminder that your dreams are possible with the horse you have. Resources: https://wallaceeventing.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/WallaceEventing https://roadtothehorse.com/elisa-wallace-usa/ This epidsode is generously sponsored by: StableFeed - What You Feed Your Horse Matters StableFeed is redefining equine nutrition with all natural horse feed and supplements made from real, whole foods. Using a unique forage, Sainfoin, as the base of their forage prodcuts and clean plant ingredients, never chemicals, fillers , or by products. StableFeed helps horses thrive with nutrition designed the way nature intended. Real food with real results. Explore more at stablefeed.com | @StableFeed   Chapters: 00:00 Ocala Week Announcement  00:39 Meet Elisa Wallace  01:57 Road to the Horse Nerves  04:46 Mustangs to Eventing Path  06:30 Fledge and Mustang Magic  14:03 Mustang Sensitivity Explained  19:59 Pressure and Communication  23:53 No Stupid Questions Begins  26:29 Underdog Success Story  28:49 Permission to Be Unorthodox  35:41 Producing Horses and Fear  40:57 Mentors and Asking for Help  44:40 Choosing Horses by Intuition  45:32 Overthinking Choices  46:32 Colts Versus Fillies  48:32 Mare Mindset Lessons  52:16 Format Change Gameplan  56:55 Learning From Past Rides  59:23 Green Horse Basics  01:05:43 Pressure Off Progress  01:10:50 Play Builds Partnership  01:13:29 Fun Groundwork Ideas  01:15:42 Gratitude And Perspective  01:16:47 Rapid Fire Wrap   Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Dear Horse World wherever you listen, leave us a review — it genuinely helps more people find these conversations — and share this episode with someone who needs to hear this. And you can follow us on instagram too! Click here 👉 www.instagram.com/dearhorseworld        
• The Truth About Black Cowboy Culture that Nobody Taught You with Drake LeBlanc sponsored by YETI 10.03.2026 1ชม. 18นาที

  What if the story of the American cowboy is bigger than the version most of us were handed? In this episode, Noëlle sits down with Drake LeBlanc, a Creole cowboy from Louisiana, filmmaker, and cultural preservationist. The conversation that unfolds is about history, identity, and what it really means to live a culture rather than wear it. Drake was raised in a community where horses are not a hobby or an aesthetic. They are Sunday trail rides, music in the air, food cooking by trailers, land passed down through generations, and families riding together. They are belonging. Together, they explore the untold history of Black cowboys, how the image of the American cowboy was reshaped through media, and what was lost when culture became costume. This conversation is not just about the past. It is about how the stories we are handed down, the way they shape how we see ourselves, and who we believe belongs in the horse world. In this episode you will learn: Creole identity and language in Louisiana Haitian Creole cultural parallels Native American symbolism in Western fashion and saddle design The history of cattle herding practices rooted in African tribes The book Drake would read to the Horse World - Black Ranching Frontiers: African Cattle Herders of the Atlantic World, 1500-1900 About Drake LeBlanc: Drake LeBlanc is a Lafayette, Louisiana-based filmmaker, documentarian, and photographer. He is one of the most compelling cultural voices working today in the preservation of Creole heritage and black cowboy history. His documentary Footwork has brought international attention to the Louisiana Creole cowboy tradition and the Louisiana trail rides that keep black cowboy culture alive every weekend across the American South. You can find Drake on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lovebenoir/  Drake's film work can be found here https://filmfreeway.com/FootworkLA Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Dear Horse World wherever you listen, leave us a review — it genuinely helps more people find these conversations — and share this episode with someone who needs to hear the real story of cowboys in America. This episode is generoulsy sponsored by: YETI Made for early mornings in the barn and long days in the saddle. Whether you're hauling feed, chasing daylight on the trail, or loading up for a weekend on the road, YETI coolers and drinkware are built to handle it. No shortcuts. No compromise. Just gear that works as hard as you do. Explore more at YETI.com | @YETI | facebook.com/YETI Chapters: 00:00 Introduction & the moment on the Atchafalaya Basin that set the tone 03:00 "I know my community" — why deep roots change everything 04:00 What is a Creole cowboy? Defining Creole culture and Louisiana's gumbo pot 07:00 What is a parish? Louisiana's Napoleonic Code explained 08:00 The vulnerability of introducing yourself as a Creole cowboy 10:00 Why Drake feels called to educate even when it's exhausting 12:00 The real history of black cowboy culture Hollywood erased 14:00 Why "1 in 4 cowboys were Black" is actually an undercount 15:00 "Cowboy" was a derogatory term — the truth about who built the West 17:00 What Hollywood took from Black cowboy culture and what it missed 19:00 Why money can't buy the spiritual bond between horse and rider 22:00 Tribal designs, turquoise, and the hidden origins of Western style 26:00 The spiritual meaning of turquoise in Native American horse culture 29:00 "You not pap" — live your culture or kill it, there's no in between 32:00 Shoutout to Chris Lewis & reining horses in the Creole community 37:00 Cultural gentrification in the horse world — what it is and why it matters 42:00 Advice for horse communities feeling threatened by change 45:00 Feeling alone in the horse world — Drake's answer 47:00 "Move to Louisiana" — and what community actually looks like 51:00 Time and intention: the only two things a horse truly needs 53:00 How to be brave when you're afraid to speak up 56:00 Find something you fear MORE — Drake's philosophy on courage 58:00 When Drake realized the outside world didn't know Black cowboys existed 1:07:00 Trail rides, thousands of riders, and how Creole horse culture thrives 1:11:00 Zydeco music, food, and why making it fun kept the culture alive 1:13:00 Rapid fire: book rec, most iconic horse, most undervalued skill 1:17:00 Greatest horseman of all time and mares vs stallions vs geldings
• Laura Kraut's Road to the Top and the Future of American Show Jumping 03.03.2026 1ชม. 16นาที

  There is a whole generation of insanely talented young riders who feel like the system is not built for them. You want the top sport, you want the big moments in show jumping, you want to know what it actually takes to get there, yet the pathway feels gated and the access feels invisible. That is exactly why this conversation with Laura Kraut hits so hard. Laura is a legit icon in show jumping and she shows up here with zero ego, full transparency, and a real blueprint for what it takes to rise in a sport that can feel impossible to break into. Laura brings us inside Road to the Top, the program she created with Katie Prudent to give hungry riders the mentorship, horsepower, and behind the scenes education they never get access to. She talks openly about the emotional and financial pressure of show jumping, how real horsemanship gets built, and what separates riders who make it from riders who burn out. This episode is equal parts wisdom, reality check, and hype. If you're dreaming big, this one will light a fire under you. In this episode, you will learn: How Road to the Top actually works and why it gives overlooked riders a real shot in show jumping The mindset mistakes that hold promising riders back and how to avoid them How to think about horse management, horse picking, and building real feel What mentorship looks like at the absolute top and how it shaped Laura's Olympic career How to stay grounded when social media makes everyone else look perfect How owners and supporters can get involved and genuinely move the sport forward The book that Laura would read to the Horse World - The Perfect Horse by Elizabeth Letts This episode is brought to you by: Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services, Inc. The friendly and knowledgeable team at Connaway & Associates brings together more than 30 years of experience to offer a wide range of insurance services, including horse insurance, farm insurance, and liability insurance. Visit www.connaway.net | @connawayassociates | facebook.com/connawayassociatesequine and YETI Made for early mornings in the barn and long days in the saddle. Whether you're hauling feed, chasing daylight on the trail, or loading up for a weekend on the road, YETI coolers and drinkware are built to handle it. No shortcuts. No compromise. Just gear that works as hard as you do. Explore more at YETI.com | @YETI | facebook.com/YETI Chapters: 00:00 Why Riders Feel Stuck 00:24 Meet Laura Kraut 01:47 Road to the Top Explained 04:12 Horsemanship and Horse Sense 05:53 Funding Model and First Riders 11:38 Owners and Horse Rotation 16:47 Beyond the Highlight Reel 19:07 Building Community Support 25:41 Keeping US Talent Competitive 35:26 Mentorship Versus Teaching 42:30 Passing the Torch 44:04 Scarcity vs Sharing 45:55 Road to the Top Vision 47:53 Mentorship and Independence 49:00 Applying Like Harvard 52:52 Grit and Handling Failure 57:41 Mentors Who Shaped Laura 01:05:13 Love of the Horse 01:06:29 Pay It Forward Chain 01:10:33 Rapid Fire and Wrap And for even more expert-led workshops, in-depth courses, and exclusive lectures designed to elevate your riding and horsemanship, visit NoelleFloydPlus.com NF+ brings you direct access to top equestrian professionals, training insights, and a passionate community of riders dedicated to learning and improving. And you can follow us on instagram too! Click here 👉 www.instagram.com/dearhorseworld