The Magic of Horsecraft

Welcome to another episode of Kitchen Table Talks with my Dad - Octogenarian Veterinarian, Dr Chuck Lockton. Today you will hear us talk about … Poly-whaaaaaaat? Polyvagal theory and whether anyone should have to know anything about it. We argue about this all the time! Stick around to hear us talk about;  * My Dad’s NUMBER ONE THING he thinks horses wished we understood about them * My number one...

Welcome to the first of a series of interviews with the people who shaped me. I come from generations of horse people. Today, you meet my Mom Keitha, and my Dad Chuck, and get to know some of the stories that shaped them. Listen-in, for a talk at my kitchen table with my parents to hear us discuss: * The impetus for my Dad becoming a veterinarian “It made me want to find a way to do it better. It...

When I met William Micklem in February of 1989, I must confess that I had no idea of who he was. Forgive me, but I was only 18 years old, and the Internet hadn’t been invented yet! Nowadays, if you haven’t heard of William Micklem , a quick Google search will tell you that he is one of the horse world’s most iconic figures. His articles appear in respected publications like The Chronicle of the Ho...

 You’ve gotta love an episode that starts with a confession! Toda’ys interview with Master of Horsecraft Don Healey ended with an unexpected bit of serendipity that gave me chills. On the way to interview Don, I pulled over on the side of the road in my little VW Bug Mable to settle my nerves, and went Live on Facebook to deal with them out loud, in hopes of dispelling a few myths and helping othe...

I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing someone special for my very FIRST interview EVER, for my podcast and course. I was so nervous, I stayed up all night! Apparently, so was Marty … On the way to the interview, I stopped to do a LIVE Facebook post and tell folks where I was heading. It is part of my process - appearing in the world without an edit button or a filter. I am always as surpr...

When I met William Micklem in February of 1989, I must confess that I had no idea of who he was. Forgive me, but I was only 18 years old, and the Internet hadn’t been invented yet!  Nowadays, if you haven’t heard of William Micklem , a quick Google search will tell you that he is one of the horse world’s most iconic figures. His articles appear in respected publications like The Chronicle of the H...

Denny Emerson is an old dog in the horse industry, showing us that it is never too late to learn new tricks.  Denny’s life with horses began with the pure pleasure of riding bareback around his neighborhood on his first horse, Paint; then to riding Morgans in saddle seat and endurance races, and eventually to success in international sport that included a Team Gold at the World Championships in 19...

Tik Maynard is a lot of things. He is an athlete, a writer, a teacher, a horseman, a husband, a business partner and a father, and as near as I can tell he’s not done! Tik is definitely still open to evolving and wearing more hats. That’s because at his core, Tik Maynard has an insatiable curiosity about life and is a consummate learner.  In this episode, we talk about ~ Tik’s philosophy when it c...

To any horse-crazy girl from the 80’s, Kim Walnes is already an icon. Many of us know her as ‘Mother Goose’, famous for her unusual partnership with her horse, ‘The Gray Goose’ and their accomplishments in the world of International Three-Day Eventing.   Kim’s unlikely background and her intuitive approach with an ungainly, fearful horse .. .and the odds they overcame together to succeed in the ma...

Get ready to meet and love my friend Lesley Grant-Law! You will resonate with Lesley if you have ever looked at someone else's life and wondered how the hell they did it??? Lesley will tell you! Lesley's superpower is her honesty and ability to be gritty and real. She just LOOKS like a fairy tale princess, and we often assume that anyone who lives a life with horses is living a fairy tale.  That i...

*TRIGGER WARNING DISCLAIMER: this episode discusses trauma Today’s show is all about the elements of connection. In my experience as a coach, many riders struggle to access the elusive ‘feel’, instincts and timing needed to work the magic they witness in others and have always dreamed about having for themselves. It turns out, the same ingredients needed to establish these things, are also the fou...

*DISCLAIMER: This episode discusses severe physical injury trauma Welcome to the first episode of my first podcast – my ‘Mission Episode’; where you will find out what led to my theories about the magic of ‘feel’ being learnable and to discovering my superpower. Turns out, I can find joy in a shitstorm! I talk about how my life’s trajectory was blown onto a new course by the blow of a young horse’...

Dear Universe, Thank you for the gift of time. Time to spend in deep contemplation. Time to spend learning, reading, listening, watching, exchanging ideas, recording ideas, fixing up the farm, working with horses. Amazing! I know that not everyone gets this tremendous opportunity – to be housed and loved by my parents so I can spend my time this way, seems surreal. Is it too much to ask? And then...

Is There a Better Way? The story that is about to unfold over the next year, began when I started doubting myself; when I lost whatever apparent ‘Magic’ I once had with horses. And in my deep dive into how to regain it, following the incident when I was outed for this loss while trying to ‘fake it’, I learned some things that forever changed how I looked at Horsecraft and the possibilities that ex...

FINALLY! SOME FOCUS! I know ... I've been a little here and there. Some things, just had to play themselves out ... Waking up post cancer, was weird. I have a recurring vision seared into my brain that defines the era that followed - a near drowning victim, emerging from the water, all bulging eyes and gasping breath. On my fiftieth birthday, I woke up in my parents’ house in a bed that was once m...