The Elevated Equestrian

In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian, Samantha Baer interviews William Micklem — international equestrian coach, author of The Complete Horse Riding Manual, and inventor of the world-famous Micklem bridle. Known for his welfare-first approach to horse training, William shares how his philosophy of calm, forward, and straight helps riders build confidence, achieve personal bests, and create h...

Could your barn lights be quietly making your horse worse? In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian , Samantha Baer sits down with Dr. Barbara Murphy, Associate Professor at University College Dublin and founder of Equilume, to explore the surprising connection between light and equine health. Barbara shares how barn lighting influences circadian rhythms, reproduction, metabolism, coat condition...

Every riding lesson drills position, technique, and discipline. But what about the piece no one talks about—the one that makes or breaks your confidence, focus, and connection with your horse? In this episode, Samantha Baer sits down with Lisa Eklund, founder of The Mindful Equestrian, to uncover the mindset side of riding most riders never get taught. From breaking perfectionist loops and handlin...

Lockie Phillips of Emotional Horsemanship joins Samantha Baer to challenge the industry’s favorite half-truths. They dissect what “empathy” actually means beyond buzzword status, why feel is a trained sense—not mysticism—and how escalating pressure became the default solution for imaginary emergencies. Lockie outlines a richer pressure alphabet (soft, firm, sliding, bouncing, motivational) and exp...

In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian , Samantha sits down with equine sports performance consultant Tim Worden to explore what it really takes to develop horses for long-term soundness and success. Drawing from his background in biomedical science and kinesiology, Tim shares how principles from human athletics translate to equestrian sport — from conditioning and recovery, to data-driven tra...

Resilience has become the go-to buzzword in sport — especially in the horse world. But what if it’s actually working against us? In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian , Samantha Baer sits down with Dr. Jenny Susser, a clinical sport psychologist and former UCLA swimmer, to unpack why “just be resilient” is the most dangerous advice riders can follow. Together they dig into burnout, hustle cul...

n this Hack Chat, Samantha Baer dives into one of the most overlooked parts of horse training: teaching horses to truly relax. Too often riders mistake licking, chewing, pawing, tripping, or grabbing reins as signs of calm. In reality, those are self-soothing behaviors — not genuine release. Samantha explains why she never lets horses “reward themselves,” how to recognize the difference between di...

Is your horse really “lazy,” “grumpy,” or “stubborn”… or is it pain? In this episode, equine orthopedic specialist Dr. Sue Dyson breaks down the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram . We dig into how subtle signs—like pinned ears, tail swishing, or breaking gait—are too often brushed off as training issues, when in reality they’re red flags for musculoskeletal discomfort. Dr. Dyson shares how to spot these...

Samantha Baer sits down with Celeste Lazaris, founder of the Balance Through Movement Method , for a conversation that goes far beyond biomechanics. Together, they trace the journey from chasing adrenaline and “fixing” horses through force, to realizing that what most horses need is space, softness, and access to their own bodies. Celeste shares how bodywork opened her eyes to nerve compression, f...

Dr. Rachel Bellini, an equine veterinarian with over 30 years of experience, shares her holistic approach to equine health. From her years on the racetrack to her work with sport horses, she explains how posture and the nervous system are deeply connected to soundness, healing, and performance. Listeners will learn why traditional rehab often falls short, how joint extension and thoracic sling fun...

What really happens inside the hoof when laminitis strikes — and why are negative palmar angles becoming such a common issue? In this episode, Samantha Baer is joined by Alicia Harlov, hoof care provider, rehab facility owner, and host of The Humble Hoof Podcast . Together, we break down: The hidden role of the lamina and what “rotation” actually means Why 90% of laminitis cases are metabolic in o...

In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian , Samantha Baer sits down with equine-partnered life and business coach, animal communicator, and author Kate Neligan for a powerful conversation on what horses can teach us about perfectionism, burnout, and trust. Kate shares how she went from corporate America to building a life around horses, and why our relationship with them goes far beyond riding. T...

In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian , Samantha sits down with Paul T. Haefner, Ph. D & Justin Haefner from Riding Far to unpack the concept of nervous system regulation in both horses and riders. With decades of experience spanning sports psychology, horsemanship, and young horse development, they explore how dysregulation shows up in the arena, why obedience isn’t the same as partnersh...

Join Samantha Baer with FEI/Olympic coach Christoph Hess as he reveals how to create true horse‑rider harmony, chase Olympic dreams, and modernize equestrian training.

In this episode, Abbie Senesac Lopez of Reverence Equine shares her transformative journey from traditional horsemanship to a horse-first approach rooted in empathy, biomechanics, and thoughtful communication. Discover how Abbie’s experiences with “problem” horses reshaped her perspective, the pivotal lessons from her mentors, and practical strategies for building trust and connection with horses....

In this powerful and eye-opening episode of The Elevated Equestrian , Samantha Baer sits down with Dr. Gerd Heuschmann—renowned veterinarian, author, and classical trainer—dives deep into what we've lost in modern equestrian sport. We explore the true foundations of classical riding, why biomechanics and horse-friendly training have been overshadowed by flashy outlines, and how we can rebuild...

In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian , Samantha Baer sits down with Stephanie Carter of Indigo Ancestral Health to explore how functional nutrition can transform our horses' health. Stephanie shares her journey from veterinary technician to functional nutritional therapy practitioner, breaking down how inflammation, poor feeding practices, and overlooked stress contribute to chronic issues l...

In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian Podcast , Samantha Baer is joined by equine fitness expert Jec Ballou to talk about all the things nobody teaches you about conditioning horses. We cover the real reason your horse struggles with topline, how to build strength without breaking them down, the difference between postural vs. gymnastic muscles, and why most horses are actually under-trained...

Is your horse really being difficult—or are you missing what they’re trying to tell you? In this powerful episode, professional trainer Lisa Kay joins Samantha Baer to dive deep into classical in-hand work, emotional fitness for both horse and rider, and the truth about what "foundation" really means. They unpack how posture, pressure, and performance connect, why collection can stir up big emotio...

What if your horse’s “mystery lameness” isn’t in the legs at all? In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Juli Silliman of Denali Equine , a rehab and body soundness expert who’s changing how we look at performance issues in horses. We unpack the difference between soundness and function , how to spot the early signs of body lameness , and why your OTTB might actually be struggling with asymmetry...

In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian podcast, Samantha Baer sits down with Inga Wolframm, Professor of Sustainable Equestrianism, to uncover the hidden biases in dressage judging. From eye-tracking research to AI-assisted scoring, they dive into the future of equestrian sports, sustainable horse training, and why flashy movement gets rewarded over correct biomechanics. Don't miss this de...

In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian podcast, Samantha Baer sits down with Gareth Maré of Heartfelt Horsemanship to dive deep into the real key to safe, happy, and connected horses. We discuss the Pyramid of Empathy, why relaxation is the foundation of good training, and how to create confident, willing horses without fear-based tactics. Whether you're a competitor or a leisure rider, th...

Horse whorls—just a random swirl of hair, or a hidden key to understanding your horse’s mind? In this episode, Samantha Baer talks with Noche Miller, an expert in equine whorls, to uncover what these patterns reveal about personality, temperament, and performance. Whether you’re horse shopping or just want to connect better with your own horse, this conversation will change how you see them foreve...

Discover The Future of Equine Wellness with Kim Smith-Bingham, founder of KSB Equine and a trailblazer in the horse industry. In this episode, we explore groundbreaking equine supplements, the science behind seaweed-based nutrition, and the benefits of natural equine care. Kim shares his journey from racing to creating innovative products that support horse health, performance, and recovery. Wheth...

In this episode, Samantha Baer sits down with Stephen Bradley, an accomplished event rider, instructor, and clinician, to dive into his incredible journey in the equestrian world. From humble beginnings on a small farm in Virginia to winning at the highest levels of eventing, Stephen shares how passion, perseverance, and pivotal mentorships shaped his career. We discuss the evolution of eventing,...