Talking About Horses

In this episode of the Talking About Horses podcast, Patrick King welcomes back neuroscientist Dr. Stephen Peters to explore the biological intersection of horse training and brain science. The conversation dives deep into the concept of allostasis—the horse's ability to adapt to arousal during learning—and emphasizes why "rest and digest" periods are neurochemically essential for consolidating ne...

In this episode of Talking About Horses, Dr. Stephen Peters, a neuroscientist and horseman, discusses the intricate relationship between horse behavior and brain science. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the horse's brain to improve communication and training methods. Dr. Peters explains concepts such as sympathetic arousal, myelination, and the impact of trauma on horses. He advocate...

Summary In this episode of Talking About Horses, Patrick King interviews Paul Belasik, a respected international rider and author, discussing the evolution of dressage and the importance of classical equestrian ideals. They explore the significance of fundamentals in riding, the influence of classical literature, and the challenges faced in modern dressage. Paul emphasizes the need for critical th...

Summary This conversation explores the upcoming Best Horse Practices Summit, focusing on the importance of collaboration, practical application, and the diverse backgrounds of the presenters. The discussion highlights the significance of creating a welcoming environment for learning, the role of body work in horsemanship, and the various techniques that will be shared at the summit, including rela...

Summary In this episode of 'Talking About Horses', host Patrick King is joined by Dr. Paul Haefner and Justin Haefner from Riding Far to discuss their new program, 'Emotions in the Arena'. The conversation explores the importance of emotional awareness in riding instruction, the challenges instructors face in managing student emotions, and the need for a safe learning environment. The guests share...

In this episode of Talking About Horses, host Patrick King interviews Dr. Claire Tunes, an equine nutritionist, about the complexities of horse nutrition. Dr. Tunes shares her journey into the field, the importance of understanding equine digestion, and how to assess a horse's nutritional needs. The conversation covers the significance of forage in a horse's diet, methods for determining a horse's...

In this episode, Patrick King and Tammy Elkayam explore differing perspectives on the effectiveness of backing a horse up, the significance of proper execution, and the potential physical and emotional impacts on horses. Through their dialogue, they emphasize the need for professional collaboration and the importance of setting horses up for success in their training and care. They delve into the...

In this engaging conversation, Jim Masterson and Patrick King discuss the intricacies of horse training and bodywork, emphasizing the importance of the horse's active participation in the process. They explore how to read horse responses, the significance of tension release, and the correlation between bodywork and training. The discussion also touches on the challenges of uncovering hidden issues...

In this episode of Talking About Horses, Patrick King interviews Karen Rohlf, a renowned horse trainer who blends traditional dressage with natural horsemanship. Karen shares her journey from a young rider to a professional trainer, emphasizing the importance of understanding the horse's emotional and mental well-being. The conversation explores the evolution of training methods, the significance...

In this episode of Talking About Horses, Patrick King engages with Dr. Paul Haefner and Justin Haefner of Riding Far, exploring their unique approach to equestrian training that combines sports psychology with horse training. They discuss the importance of understanding both the horse and rider, the significance of collaboration in training, and the need for effective communication in horse-human...

In this episode of Talking About Horses, Patrick King interviews Daniel Dauphin, clinician and expert on bits and horsemanship. They discuss the science behind bits, the importance of understanding horse behavior, and the journey of becoming a skilled horse trainer. Daniel shares his experiences with colt starting, the pressures of training, and the significance of mentorship in developing as a ho...

In this episode, Patrick King interviews Donna Snyder-Smith, a seasoned equestrian educator with over 40 years of experience. They discuss Donna's recent retirement, the challenges she faced, and her journey through the equestrian arts. Donna shares her insights on the evolving equestrian industry, the importance of continuous learning, and the impact of her experiences with horses on her life. Th...

In this conversation, Patrick King and Jec Ballou delve into the intricacies of equine fitness and conditioning. They discuss the importance of customized fitness plans for horses, evaluating movement through video analysis, and understanding horse physiology to enhance training effectiveness. The conversation emphasizes identifying imbalances and asymmetries in horses, training techniques for dre...

This episode somehow was lost in the shuffle and missed getting an official "episode number," so I'm calling it episode 53.5, as that's where it fell on the calendar of interviews (between episode 53 with JJ Tate, and 54 with David Koss). In this episode, Charles de Kunffy joins me to talk about the principles of classical horsemanship. 

In episode 53, JJ Tate joins us to talk about classical dressage in the competitive arena.

In this episode, Charles de Kunffy joins us to talk about riding in Academies and the importance of remembering history.

In this episode, Dominique Barbier talks about his background, relationships with horses, and the idea of collecting the horse rather than compressing the horse.

In this episode, Anja Beran joins to talk about classical dressage and her history and approach.

In this episode, Patrick is joined by Dr Gerd Heuschmann to talk about classical horsemanship, the horse in good balance, and good riding vs what we often see in modern competitive dressage.

In this fascinating and deep-dive episode, Bettina Drummond joins me to talk about the dimensions of riding, the "myths and legend" of Nuno Oliveira, the direction of modern dressage, and more. Bettina is  a highly regarded trainer and teacher in the French classical system of riding.  O ne of only two Americans and two women to be named an Honorary Écouier of Saumur's Cadre Noir, she sh...

Carl Bledsoe joins me in episode # 55 to talk about his back story and what led him to make a drastic change in his career and life path, plus horse welfare, continuous learning, and more.

In this episode, David Koss and I talk, face to face, about cross training, the role of competition in training, and more.

In episode # 42, Wendy Murdoch again joins, this time to talk about COVID and SureFoot pads

In episode # 48, Linda Parelli joins us to talk about communication, psychology, and natural horsemanship being applied in dressage.

In episode # 41, Charles de Kunffy joins to talk about the rider's seat and aids.