Horse Training in Harmony

In this episode I will talk about leadership vs partnership… and will explore how I don’t think you have to make a choice between being a partner or being a leader for your horse… in fact one of those can’t happen without the other. If you’ve ever wondered if you have to choose between ‘being nice’ to your horse and meeting your goals, you’re going to love this episode!   About the Host: Kare...

In this episode, I want to talk about the power of clarity… how it is one of the MOST important things to focus on with your horse. Lack of clarity of communication is a leading cause of contortion and disharmony. When you are able to find clarity you and your horse will be much happier! About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinici...

In this episode I’ll tell the story of my horse’s recent colic surgery… how we knew he needed it, how I navigated the emotional rollercoaster and how something helpful can come of experiences like this…   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 studen...

I interview Antonia Henderson, Ph. D, to discuss how stress effects horses from a scientific point of view. She talks about Learned Helplessness, the importance of the Seeking Reflex, and how traditional ways of keeping horses is not so healthy to the horse!  About the Guest:  Antonia Henderson, Ph. D. is a Research and Equine Psychologist in the Department of Psychology at Langara Colle...

In this episode I’ll talk about the most common solutions to dressage problems… and give you 5 NEW solutions that will help you even more… These 5 solutions are based on 5 truths for learning dressage that are not often discussed… Here we go Episode 13: The 5 truths for learning dressage. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinic...

In this episode of Ask Karen Anything, I answer 2 questions from students in my Video Classroom. One is about helping a horse maintain the canter, and the other is about a horse who balks. 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...

In this episode, I’ll talk about 9 habits for excellent horsemanship. These habits are what will help you problem-solve and better understand what is going on with your horse, and will give you more possibilities for things to change in order to make things better. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the...

In this episode, I will take a look at the physical side of training for you and your horse. I’ll give you a blueprint for building strength, stamina, and coordination while avoiding falling into the trap of drilling, fatiguing, or boring your horse in the process. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the...

In this episode, I talk about paying attention to not just WHAT you do, but HOW you do it. I’ll share how I structured my courses in a way that helps students develop essential skills sooner, and be able to problem-solve better… This episode will help you get unstuck, get to the next level, find more ease, or simply enjoy the process of learning even more. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and c...

In episode 7 I went deep into the arguments for and against doing dressage with or without a bit. In this episode I’ll share some stories of particular horses that I started and trained using a mixture of bits and bitless. I’ll share how I made decisions about equipment at different stages and how that effected the training. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is...

The topic of bitless dressage is one of THE biggest hot-button subjects. When I wrote a blog on this it broke my server because so many people were sharing and reading it. Many people believe you can’t do ‘real’ dressage without a bit. Other people say bits are cruel. My goal is to present experience-based thoughts on the pros and cons of each, and to answer the common arguments from both sides. I...

I answer students’ questions! This episode is about biomechanics and motivation! I’ll be discussing a question about whether short strides are from a blocked back and how to help remedy that, as well as a question about how to help a horse with a downhill conformation become more balanced. Next I’ll answer questions about how to really motivate your horse to do things for you with enthusiasm and p...

Finding the right teacher for you and your horse is a really important decision. Riding, competing, training, and teaching are all separate skill sets and not every professional is talented in all of them. In order to really learn from someone, you have to trust them, so when it comes to choosing your instructor - choose wisely. In this podcast I will share some of my thoughts on how you can make...

Karen explains why the phrase: ‘Get your horse on the bit’ is a less than ideal way to teach riders to create the desired posture we are looking for in dressage. She’ll explain an alternative way of helping students create a healthy posture that focuses on balance, communication, and partnership. You’ll learn the three criteria Karen uses to help students and horses find their Working Gaits,...

In this episode Karen will give you 3 Guidelines to follow when doing exercises to improve the way your horse moves. You’ll hear the difference between healthy and unhealthy biomechanics, and the two different kinds of unhealthy biomechanics. These guidelines will help you get the most out of any exercise that you do with your horse About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Natur...

This episode is based on one of Karen’s most popular blogs by the same name. Karen takes a look at one of the root sources of frustration and disappointment that riders often experience. She’ll take a 10,000 foot view of our core way of thinking about working with horses and the core assumptions we are making about the training process. You’ll be left with a new appreciation for your horse and som...

We’re kicking off our podcast by exploring the most important factor in our riding success: US!  Karen Rohlf answers the question: What Makes A Good Rider? The answer may be different than what you think! Karen answers this question by explaining how she thinks about who she would trust with her own horses. You’ll hear a list of 6 criteria Karen uses and you’ll be invited to take the ‘Good Ri...