Horse Training in Harmony

In this episode I answer a student’s question about trusting the program she is in when it doesn’t seem to be working for her horse.  About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the wo...

In this episode I answer a student’s question about how to handle fear as an older rider - but it really applies to riders of any age. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dr...

In this episode I’ll talk about how sometimes pressure, deadlines, and a bit of imagination helps you break your own patterns and discover better results.    About the Host:   Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disci...

In this episode I’ll talk about rider balance, horse balance, and how to improve both when each is taking the other out of balance. I’ll also relate this to improving body work and movement dynamics. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disci...

In this episode I talk pressure and release and positive reinforcement in an (hopefully) helpful way, freeing you from the extreme opinions and helping you play where the truth is - in the middle. I also have a big announcement    About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian education...

In this episode I talk about how YOUR way is more important than THE way. The path is only right, if it’s right for you.  About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in...

In this episode I talk about Emotional Freedom Tapping with Sarah Louise Lilley and we are also joined by DN Instructor Shawna Lewis who uses EFT for herself and her horses. I think you’ll find this episode really interesting and useful. About the Guest: Sarah Louise Lilley is a clinical Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT or “Tapping”) practitioner. A sought after coach and speaker, she helps equest...

In this episode I share a story about the power of accepting praise and contemplate whether to hold on to, or not, the old measures of success.  About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the w...

In this episode DN Instructor, Shawna Lewis and I talk about learning in online courses - why so many are disappointing, and what makes it possible to totally transform your riding in an online course. This discussion will help you spend your education money and time more wisely. About the Guest: Shawna Lewis is a Dressage Naturally Licensed Instructor, living in North Carolina. Shawna has been Ka...

In this episode I talk about the pillars of rehabilitation I use when helping an equine athlete return to a mentally, emotionally, and physically healthy state. And the good news, is you can use these same pillars to train in a way that avoids the problems in the first place. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is ch...

In this episode I reflect on my recent conference with all the DN Instructors, and share one piece about priorities for teaching. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressag...

In this episode I explain a way to use the HATS to make better progress while prioritizing your horse’s well-being. It’s a short but hopefully very helpful episode that you can put into practice right away.    About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches s...

In this episode I talk about when my horse makes the best decisions, and how we need to be paying attention and ready to set aside our egos when that happens.  About the Host:   Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from aroun...

In this episode I talk about how we should feel about our horse getting ‘big’ when online or at liberty. Will it make it more likely they’ll leap and buck under saddle? Is it OK or not OK to allow it?    About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches student...

In this episode I continue my exploration of what we can do to help horses when they are being mistreated. Helping to improve horse welfare isn’t just about taking action in the worst cases, it is about bringing awareness to the smaller moments in a way that creates change.  About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who i...

In this episode I am joined by the USPC Equine Welfare Task Force, made up of: Dr Stacy Anderson, Heather Bell, Dr Laura Thompson, Christina Keim. In creating this, they are leading the way for education on equine wellness and will have a huge influence on a new generation of horsemen. This is so important and I’m excited to have these wonderful women on the pod. I think you’ll love hearing about...

In this episode I speak with high performance expert Dr Jenny Susser, a self described athlete, scientist, horse lover and people expert. She helps people with high performance, but today I’m going to ask her about embracing contentedness with “low performance”… and what that even means. This talk will get personal as I share some challenges I’ve been having at this point in my life & career.&...

In this episode I am joined by Dr Judith Shoemaker and Dr Karen Gellman. They talk about Postural Rehabilitation and why horses may not respond to treatment. It is often due to underlying imbalances and they discuss different areas you’ll want to look at. Free webinar about Postural Rehabilitation . About the Guests:   Judith M. Shoemaker , DVM, is well known practitioner and educator in inte...

In this episode I talk about your horse’s M.O. Is there a quirk or behavior that continues through as you train? That even if you improve it, it comes back…  how do we feel about that and what do we do about it?  About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches stu...

In this episode I muse about how my horses and I navigate our feelings of ‘wanting to’ do things together (or not). I’ll share some stories of my horses and hopefully leave you feeling a little more free.    About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches stu...

In this episode I talk about how perfect my horses are - not just my horses, but your horses, and all horses! This is not some superficial positive thinking, it’s  a context and an attitude that has a tremendous influence on how you train and live with horses.  About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the...

In this episode I’ll be talking with Scott Beckstead of the Wild Horse Refuge in Colorado. We’ll talk about how he is helping wild horses who have been rounded up by the Bureau of Land Management return to a life of freedom. About the Guest: A lifelong student and admirer of horses and all equines, Scott Beckstead grew up with horses on his family’s farm and spent much of his childhood and youth o...

In this episode I talk with Elsa Sinclair of Taming Wild. I invite her to discuss her opinion on pressure, escalating pressure, and freedom. She offered a unique and nuanced opinion about pressure and how it fits into her Freedom-Based training techniques.    About the Guest:   For ELSA SINCLAIR , horse training has been a lifelong pursuit, but her career took a turn when one day a...

In this episode I talk about the power of narration. It’s a technique I use to build confidence, gain clarity, minimize fear, and to stay in the moment.    About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the...

In this episode I have some fun with numbers, starting with a loose calculation of how much time I’ve spent practicing with horses, then somehow I move on to balance, connection, and resistance. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disci...