Dressage Today Podcast

In this month’s episode, Aviva and Stephany interview Jennifer Mutchler, owner and operator of Half Pass Farm in Catlett, Virginia. Jennifer is our second Unsung Hero (formerly Hometown Hero, we like “unsung” better!) and was nominated by Sandy Mueller. She has earned her USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold Medal, taking several different horses (and breeds) to the Grand Prix level. She trains, teaches a...

In this episode of the Dressage Today Podcast , sponsored by Tribute , we talk to Grand Prix dressage rider Lauren Chumley about her superstar partner Leeloo Dallas and the Dressage Foundation Anne Barlow-Ramsay grant she and the mare received in 2024, her experience training a variety of breeds for dressage and her passion for teaching up-and-coming dressage professionals to prioritize developing...

In this episode of the Dressage Today Podcast, Stephany and Aviva interview dressage rider, upper-level eventer, mom and life-long learner Chelsea Canedy. The avid Mustang and meditation advocate talks about her debut memoir Finding Purpose: A Life Managing the Passion, Compulsion, and Borderline Addiction Called “Horses.” The book documents Chelsea’s time with horses and how they’ve shaped the tr...

In this special episode of the Dressage Today Podcast , we talk to rising dressage superstar and Team Prac memeber Christian Simonson fresh off his double silver podium placing with Indian Rock at the 2026 Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in Fort Worth, Texas. Christian tells us about his experience at his first-ever World Cup™ Final, his close partnership with "Rocky," what he loves so muc...

In this episode of the Dressage Today Podcast , we have a twist on our usual format with two interviews! Instead of doing our normal catch-up and “Ask the L” segment, we welcome back our friend and former Dressage Today editor Stephanie Ruff. She tells us what she’s been doing at The Horse and offers insights on her new podcast, “ Feeding Horses .” Our other interview in this episode arose from a...

As part of our 2026 Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final post-coverage, this episode, sponsored by Tribute, features a press conference with the top three riders following the freestyle competition—Becky Moody, Christian Simonson and Sandra Sysojeva. British dressage powerhouse Becky Moody and her homebred 11-year-old gelding Jagerbomb delivered a dynamite and near flawless freestyle 2026 Zen E...

This month, Aviva and Stephany interview Noel Williams of Noel Williams Dressage, based in Maryland. They catch up with what has been going on with each other – Mary Wanless, Maui and an exciting trip coming up (or going down centerline!) for Stephany, and a bittersweet sharing for Aviva. In the Ask the L, they discuss what is needed to have a successful move from Training to First Levels – thanks...

In this month’s episode, Stephany and Aviva interview their first Hometown Hero, Anne Mouen Stahl. With more than forty years of experience teaching both amateur and professional riders, Anne has come to appreciate the profound importance of establishing a strong, reliable foundation in every rider’s training. She has been fortunate to train horses and riders through every level of dressage, from...

This month, we are bringing back an older interview from Stephanie Ruff and Aviva, where they interviewed Chelsey Canedy. The reason we are revisiting this interview is that Chelsey has a new book out, and we are looking forward to getting her BACK on the podcast to talk to us about her latest book. We thought it would be great for people to hear her original story so they could be up to date when...

This month is a little different for a couple of reasons – first, we do not have Ask the L question for the first time in a long time! Please, loyal listeners, send us your burning questions about showing, your tests, a specific movement or anything else that Aviva can answer in that segment! We introduce our new segment, Hometown Heroes – we are interested in hearing form our listeners about peop...

It’s November, the month to be thankful. Aviva and Stephany open the podcast with the things that they are thankful for in their worlds. In the Ask the L segment, Aviva talks about the 2x coefficient on the tests, where it shows up, why it shows up and what it should tell you! In this month’s episode, Aviva and Stephany speak with Jenny and Sara from The Dressage Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit...

In this month’s episode, Aviva and Stephany catch up with each other, talking about their latest wins, losses and learns.  Stephany shares her experience at Regional Championships and Aviva shares some very exciting news about going to Israel!  In addition to these big moments, Stephany talks about her 2 latest articles that came out, one on DressageToday.com and one in print In Practica...

In this episode, Aviva and Stephany catch up about what they have been doing, including some interesting conversation about Stephany’s Fourth Level Freestyle with Dante. Aviva tackles a difficult Ask the L question from Cass about horses being behind the bridle in the show arena, and gives us some different things to think about in relation to that! In our interview, both of the ladies got to chat...

Intro and Ask the L – Aviva and Stephany catch up and talk about the heat and how they are each dealing with it. In the Ask the L segment, Aviva answers a question from Sarah about what to do if your horse does a flying change in a 2nd level test instead of the proscribed movement. Interview with Dr. Wendy Rice – Aviva and Stephany get to know Dr. Wendy, how she got to be a psychologist and how sh...

In this month’s episode, Aviva reflects on the weight of social media on our riding, how easy it is to criticize in the name of “critiquing” and how we can never know the full story just from a picture of a video. She and Stephany share their thoughts on how we can all be kinder, and as riders we can always work to be better, but that most people are out their doing their best every ride. Stephany...

Aviva and Stephany catch up about Stephany’s recent horse show experience and how Dante is now an official 4th level horse! They also talk about one of Stephany’s cows coming home, and the new babies… In the Ask the L segment, Aviva talks about switching the whip during a class, the do’s and don’ts of that. We also talk about when you are allowed to carry a whip in a class and when you cannot! We...

Aviva and Stephany catch up on what’s going on – Stephany’s travels, her new baby cows, Aviva has a potential buyer for Ralphie!   Aviva has an amazing question from Alex about conformation, effort and how that is recognized in a test.  She gives us a lot to think about with her answer – are you riding a 6 mover?  Are you a 6 rider?  What is a good expectation for an avera...

We Interview Mehrdad Baghai of JRD Saddlery about saddle making and saddle fitting. Connect with the Hosts: Email Aviva Nebesky ( horsepenhillfarm@aol.com ) | Email Stephany Fish Crossman ( stephanyfish@gmail.com ) Connect with the Show: Website (DressageToday.com) | Socials (@DressageToday) Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest Guest: Mehrdad Baghai of JRD Saddlery | Connect with JRD Saddler...

Aviva and Stephany catch up on what’s been going on lately – Stephany talks about her 6 days with Mary Wanless, the selling of her Brooksville farm and the purchase of her new young horse, So Special!   In the Ask the L segment, Aviva answers a great question from Jamie:  If I am in a test and things start going badly and I feel unsafe – is it ok to dismount?  Thanks Jamie for...

Stephany and Aviva catch up on their own pony journeys, with Aviva dealing with yet more snow and Stephany recounting how her latest lessons went with Kathy Connelly.  We get a really great question for “Ask the L” about corners, and as usual, Aviva makes it so much more digestible!   We have a word from Purina, who is the sponsor of this month’s podcast.   In this episode...

In this episode of the  Dressage Today Podcast , sponsored by  EQUESTRIAN+ , our interview is with Aviva herself! We talked about how she started riding, what prompted her to fall in love with dressage, the decisions she’s made and the horses she’s loved—all the pieces that have shaped her career. Aviva also shared her experience representing the U.S. at the Maccabee Games in I...

Aviva and Stephany catch up on what is going on with them, and Stephany has some exciting news about a grant she received from The Dressage Foundation! Next, Aviva gives us input on how to improve your leg yield from the point of view at C, in our Ask the L segment We have a word from our sponsor, Purina and then we step into interviews from USDF Convention. Stephany interviews Lindsay Burns from...

Aviva and Stephany discuss the latest L question from Sasha regarding how to ride the shallow loop in Training Level Test 3.   We go to commercial from our sponsor, Equithrive , on its supplements to make your horse’s life better and your life easier!  Aviva and Stephany interview Mary Wanless, the creator of the Ride With Your Mind Rider Biomechanics system.  We talk about how...

Welcome to the Training Buzz sponsored by Purina. Hear a bit from retired FEI 5* judge Axel Steiner as he challenges a rider to ride without stirrups as she schools First and Second Level movements on a schoolmaster. He suggests practicing this skill to work on the rider’s position and help activate the rider’s core muscles during the training session. Members of Equestrian+ can watch the full vid...

Welcome to the Training Buzz sponsored by Cosequin . Hear a bit from FEI dressage rider and trainer Ashley Donadt as she shares strategies for dealing with competition nerves. She discusses acknowledging the source of your nerves to help take away their power, looking at the physical effects nerves have on your body and thinking about how your nerves are affecting your horse. Members of Equestrian...