Podcast · Business

The Elevated Equestrian

by Samantha Baer · English · Business

The Elevated Equestrian is where horse people come to think deeper about riding, training, and connection. Hosted by professional event rider Samantha Baer, the podcast dives into biomechanics, horse welfare, mindset, and the realities of modern equestrian sport. Each week brings honest conversation

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 58 min
Latest: 30 Sep 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

30 Sep 2026 · 59 min

Seeing Your Horse Clearly in a World of Too Much Information — Fran Leach

There's more horse information at your fingertips than ever, and somehow owners are more anxious than ever. Fran of The Honest Equine wants to help you become a better observer of your horse without becoming an anxious one. Fran is an equine musculoskeletal and rehabilitation practitioner based in the north of England. She spent years in racing and racehorse retraining before studying equine therapy and rehabilitation at university, and her work now spans functional assessment, hands-on treatment, rehab, prehab, and owner education. She's built her practice around knowing her scope, working…

Play episodeWhatsApp Download

Earlier episodes 29 most recent

14 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
Why Horse Professionals Stay Broke — Colton Woods
Every horse professional has been told there's no money in horses. Colton Woods thinks that belief is exactly what's keeping you broke. Colton spent a decade training hunters, jumpers, and dressage horses in Lexington, Kentucky before pivoting to what he does now: helping established horse professionals build businesses that actually pay them. He and his wife Meredith run Horse Business Builders out of North Texas, and in this episode he walks through his own story, from starting with $3,000 and a two-door Acura full of tack, to a half-empty barn at $800 a month full training, to the mentor…
24 Aug 2026 · 52 min
The Equestrian Founder #2: Why Barn Owners Aren't Getting Paid - Cheryl Johns
What if you worked out your hourly rate and it came to six pence? That's exactly what happened to one barn owner — and it's more common than you think. In this episode, Samantha Baer sits down with Cheryl Johns, founder of LiveryList (the UK's leading livery yard directory) and the Yard Owner Hub, to talk about the business side of the horse world nobody wants to discuss: why barn owners consistently undervalue their time, why cheap yards stay full while high-quality barns struggle to fill stalls, the guilt culture around raising board prices, and how unregulated the livery industry really…
10 Aug 2026 · 54 min
The Equestrian Founder #1: Fixing How We Sell Sport Horses - Laura St Clair
Not everyone with a deep passion for horses ends up making a living riding them. Some of them end up orbiting the sport instead — building the products, platforms, and services the rest of us depend on. That's what this new series is about. First up: Laura St. Clair, Hanoverian breeder and co-founder and CEO of ICONEQ, a sport horse platform people tend to describe as Zillow for sport horses. Every horse in one place, fully searchable, pedigrees hyperlinked, priced, located, and not buried under fifty Facebook groups. Laura's background is commercial real estate, and it shows — she came into…
27 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 17 min
The Hidden Cause of Chronic Lameness — Dr. Karen Gellman
Why does your horse stand crooked — and what is it costing him? In this episode, Dr. Karen Gellman, veterinarian and research scientist behind Postural Rehabilitation, explains how neutral posture is the foundation of soundness, and why the most common lamenesses we treat trace back to a horse who simply can't stand up square. We cover the three factors driving abnormal compensatory posture — the hooves, the teeth, and the upper cervical spine — and why fixing only one of them means the horse reverts within weeks. Dr. Gellman breaks down how the TMJ is hardwired into postural control, why an…
20 Jul 2026 · 56 min
What the World's Best Farriers Know About Keeping Horses Sound - Harry Spinks
What does it take to keep the world's top horses sound — and what can everyday horse owners learn from it? In this episode, I sit down with Harry Spinks, a UK-based farrier who shoes everything from family ponies to international competition horses and served on the IOC farrier team at the Tokyo Olympics. Harry breaks down why the average hoof visibly grows out of balance in just three and a half weeks, why so many front end lamenesses actually start in the hind end, and what a truly healthy foot should look like. We dig into the barefoot debate with refreshing honesty, why your farrier,…
13 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
The Hidden Reason 97% of Horses Carry Trauma - Mandy McConechy
What if your horse's mystery lameness, spooky behavior, or separation anxiety isn't a training problem — but stored trauma? In this episode, I sit down with Mandy McConechy, founder of The Neural Shift Method, to explore how the nervous system holds onto physical and emotional trauma in both horses and riders — and how releasing it at the root cause can change everything. Mandy is a former intermediate-level eventer whose career ended in burnout and chronic pain. After being told she'd have to live with a herniated disc, she discovered how suppressed emotions were physically reshaping her…
22 Jun 2026 · 45 min
RERELEASE: Why Your Horse Isn’t Building Topline (And What Actually Works!) — Jec Ballou
In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian Podcast, host Samantha Baer sits down with equine conditioning expert and best-selling author Jec Ballou for a deep dive into training horses for longevity and soundness. Drawing on her background in equine exercise physiology and classical dressage, Jec breaks down why fitness is protective — and why pulling your horse out of work the moment something goes wrong often does more harm than good. You'll learn the difference between the small postural muscles that stabilize your horse and the big gymnastic muscles that tend to take over, how to make…
15 Jun 2026 · 55 min
The Science of Why You Ride the Way You Do — Suzanne Galdun
Follow The Elevated Equestrian so you never miss an episode—and if this one shifts something for you, share it with a riding friend who needs to hear it. What if the way you ride—your busy hands, your collapsing core, the leg that just won't stay quiet—isn't a habit you need to drill away, but a pattern your body has been building for decades? In this episode, I sit down with rider biomechanics coach Suzanne Galdun, one of only a handful of people in the world certified at her level in Mary Wanless's Ride With Your Mind method. We get deep into the physics, anatomy, and neuroscience of how…
8 Jun 2026 · 58 min
91% of Horses Have This Hidden Back Problem - Simon Cocozza
Most horses aren't born with the core strength to carry us — and the ones that are tend to sell for a fortune. Everyone else? We have to build it, deliberately and patiently. In this episode, Samantha sits down with classically trained European rider Simon Cocozza, author of Core Conditioning for Horses . After years of buying and producing high-level horses across Germany and Holland, Simon kept hitting the same hidden wall: backs that weren't functioning, and horses quietly coping with pain they're hardwired to disguise. He shares the research that reframed his entire approach — including…
1 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
The Signs Your Saddle Doesn't Fit (That Look Like Something Else) - Julia Alebrand
That "training problem" might not be a training problem at all. In this episode, Samantha Baer sits down with Julia Alebrand, a certified equine and saddle ergonomist with Saddle Fit 4 Life, to unpack how saddle fit issues hide in plain sight — masquerading as behavioral quirks, performance plateaus, ulcers, or "just how my horse goes." Julia explains why saddle fit is never a one-time event (your horse's back changes with season, training, nutrition, and age), how to read the behavioral cues your horse is already giving you, and the self-checks every owner can do before they ride: wither…
25 May 2026 · 1 hr 8 min
The Neuroscience of a Calm Horse - Shawna Karrasch & Jessie Hillegas
In this episode, Sam sits down with Shawna Karrasch — who spent a decade as a marine mammal trainer at SeaWorld before bringing positive reinforcement to Grand Prix show jumping at Beezie and John Madden's barn — along with trainer Jessie, who made the leap from traditional methods after one dangerous horse changed everything. Together they break down the science most riders were never taught: why pressure-and-release lights up the fight-or-flight system while positive reinforcement activates the "seeking system," how to build relaxation and self-regulation into every behavior, and why…
18 May 2026 · 45 min
Giving Horses Agency in Their Own Lives - Emmie Speckens
In this conversation, Samantha Baer and Emmie Speckens, co-founder of Equithink dig into learning theory and positive reinforcement training, puzzle design and environmental enrichment, and why agency and choice are quietly some of the most important pieces of equine welfare. They talk through the difference between compliance and a true yes, how curiosity transforms not just enrichment time but ridden work and confidence under saddle, why mares absolutely do play (despite what you've been told), and what it looks like to build a "smart stable" where horses can turn on their own lights or…
11 May 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
Why Do the Same Issue Keep Coming Back? - Elisse Miki
If your horse's back pain, lameness, or behavior issues keep coming back no matter what you try, this conversation is for you. Equine and human osteopath Elisse Miki of Equilibria Therapeutics joins Sam to unpack what osteopathy actually is — and why it's so much more than massage or fascial work. Elise breaks down why structure governs function, the science of spinal facilitation and how gut inflammation drives chronic back pain, why "tight" doesn't always mean "short," and why fluid flow is the foundation of healing. We also get into when to call an osteopath and the environmental shifts —…
4 May 2026 · 52 min
Rethinking Balance, Function, and the Thoracic Sling - Tara Osborne
What if the way your horse stands in the cross-ties is telling you everything? What if the "good" horse in the show ring is actually the most dysfunctional one? Sam sits down with Tara Osborne of Long Drove Holistic Horse Training for a conversation that will change how you watch horses move. They cover Tara's assessment process for spotting compensation, the seesaw of front-to-back balance and why every horse she assesses has a balance problem, and why the thoracic sling is the linchpin connecting the back end to the front end. The conversation goes deep on hypermobility — the explosion of…
27 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Rethinking Everything We Know About Feeding Horses - Stephanie Carter FNTP
Is your horse's feed doing more harm than good? In this episode, functional nutrition therapy practitioner and veteran vet tech Stephanie Carter of Indigo Ancestral Health joins Sam to break down why so many performance horses — not just ponies and draft crosses — are being diagnosed with metabolic issues like elevated insulin, EMS, and Cushing's. Stephanie explains her Won't Thrive 25 list of common feed ingredients that contribute to inflammation, why a "perfect" guaranteed analysis can still promote sickness, and how 150 years of modern feeding has imposed more change on horses than 22…
20 Apr 2026 · 44 min
What's Hiding in Your Horse's Saliva? - Dr. Kimberley Mackenzie
What if a simple cotton swab could tell you more about your horse's health than a blood draw? In this episode, molecular biologist and cancer researcher Dr. Kimberley Mackenzie breaks down her groundbreaking work at For Martin Bio, where she's developing a saliva-based test that analyzes the sugar molecules — called glycans — attached to your horse's antibodies to reveal what's really going on inside their body. We get into how glycan research in humans has been able to predict type 2 diabetes up to seven years before traditional testing catches it, and why Dr. Mackenzie believes the same…
13 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Training the Prey Animal Brain - Dr. Janet Jones
What's really happening in your horse's brain when the pressure is on — and why does it matter for how we train? In this episode, neuroscientist and lifelong horse trainer Dr. Janet Jones (author of Horse Brain, Human Brain and the upcoming A Horse's World ) joins the podcast to unpack the science behind the prey animal brain at every level of performance. We get into what's actually happening neurologically when a horse is stressed at a show, why confinement and tight tack make fear worse, how trust is built (and how quickly it can be broken), the difference between learning and performing…
6 Apr 2026 · 55 min
The Lost Language Between You and Your Horse - Dr. Allison Baier
Physical therapist and lifelong equestrian Dr. Allison Baier of EquiPT joins the podcast to explore why so many riders feel disconnected from their bodies in the saddle — and what to do about it. Drawing from her training in somatic experiencing and over a decade of physical therapy, Allie explains the "felt sense," how fight, flight, and freeze states show up in your riding, and why no amount of stretching or positive self-talk can release what's actually stuck in your body. We talk about why adult amateurs struggle with fear more than kids, how orienting to your environment can break a…
30 Mar 2026 · 52 min
The Chemistry Behind How You Show Up for Your Horse - Katie Edmonds (F)NTP
Are you white knuckling your way through barn chores, rushing between rides, and wondering why your body keeps revolting? In this episode, nutritional therapist and endometriosis educator Katie Edmonds of Heal Endo breaks down the difference between CAN chemistry (cortisol, adrenaline, norepinephrine) and DOSE chemistry (dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, endorphins) — and why the one you're living in is shaping everything from your hormones to your horse's behavior. We talk about chronic inflammation as the root of conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, and Hashimoto's, why high-performing…
23 Mar 2026 · 52 min
The Behavior Problem That's Actually a Tack Problem — Linda Hauck
In this episode Samantha Baer sits down with Linda Hauck, founder of Tapestry Equine Products, racetrack trainer, eventing technical delegate, and competition coach with over 40 years in the barn. Linda didn't design her products from a boardroom — she designed them because her horses were telling her something wasn't working, and she actually listened. They talk about why horses go to the back of the stall when you tack up, how the wrong girth kills movement and willingness, the spur Linda built after testing every option on the market on herself, and why the neck strap belongs on every…
16 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
Giving Horses a Voice - Grete Jørgensen
Grete Jørgensen is a researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy Research who's spent years studying how horses communicate preferences — including the viral blanket study that taught horses to use symbols for yes and no. In this episode, we talk about what it actually took to teach horses to make choices, and what it revealed about how we train them. We get into why some horses were too shut down to even touch the board, the cold-blooded horse who kept asking for a blanket when everyone assumed he'd be fine, how positive reinforcement was the only way to make the study work,…
9 Mar 2026 · 53 min
Competition Culture & Doing Right by the Horse - Matt Brown
Samantha Baer sits down with Matt Brown, a five-star eventer and horse trainer based in Pennsylvania who's been vocal about rethinking how we use tools like whips in competition. In this episode, we talk about his journey from traditional, dominance-based training to a more horsemanship-focused approach - and what it took to make that shift while competing at the highest level. We get into why being named a Rio Olympic alternate was actually his lowest point, the difference between a shut-down horse and a horse with a voice, his decision to ride Kentucky 2025 without a stick, how…
2 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 43 min
Why 95% of Riders Have Back Pain (And How to Finally Fix It) - Matthias Agneessens
What if the resistance, crookedness, and tension you feel in your horse is actually coming from you ? In this episode, I sit down with Matthias Agneessens — manual therapist, biomechanics specialist, and the man treating some of the world's top show jumpers — to break down exactly why rider posture and muscle activation is the missing piece most trainers never address. We talk about why your gym work might be making things worse, how a blocked psoas affects both you AND your horse, and why "fix the rider and all the horses get better" is the most underrated truth in equestrian sport. Work…
23 Feb 2026 · 58 min
How to Actually Stay Present With Your Horse (And Why It Changes Everything) - Natalie Hummel
Presence is one of those things everyone in the horse world talks about but almost nobody explains how to actually get there. This week I sat down with high performance and nervous system coach Natalie Hummel and honestly this might be one of my favorite conversations we've had on the pod. We get into why presence is the single most powerful thing you can bring to your horse, what's actually blocking you from accessing it (and why it has nothing to do with focus or discipline), the real root underneath fear and performance anxiety, why awareness alone isn't enough to change your patterns,…
16 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
Your Horse Knows You're Not Okay — Josh Nichol
What if your horse's biggest problem isn't behavior — it's that they can't feel you? In this episode, Josh Nichol joins the podcast to break down why so many horses shut down, spook, buck, or refuse to go forward — and why the answer almost never starts with the horse. We talk about the difference between lightness and softness, why tension stored in your horse's body is actually dormant behavior waiting to surface, and how your own unresolved triggers are showing up in every ride whether you realize it or not. Josh shares his framework around mind, space, and pressure — three core needs…
2 Feb 2026 · 1 hr
RERELEASE: Will AI Make Dressage Judging Fair? - Inga Wolframm
In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian podcast, Samantha Baer sits down with Inga Wolframm, Professor of Sustainable Equestrianism, to uncover the hidden biases in dressage judging. From eye-tracking research to AI-assisted scoring, they dive into the future of equestrian sports, sustainable horse training, and why flashy movement gets rewarded over correct biomechanics. Don't miss this deep dive into the biggest judging controversy in horse sport!
26 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
Do Horses Actually Want To Be Ridden? - Elsa Sinclair
In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian, Samantha Baer sits down with horse trainer, author, and filmmaker Elsa Sinclair to ask the uncomfortable question that changed her entire approach to horses: do horses actually want to be ridden—if they truly had a choice? What starts as a simple question quickly opens the door to a radically different way of thinking about training, consent, and partnership. We talk about what it really means to train from the horse’s point of view, including Elsa’s decision to start a mustang without a halter, without food rewards, and without trapping or forcing…
19 Jan 2026 · 51 min
When “Metabolic” Is the Symptom, Not the Cause - Allison Lepanto
When a horse is labeled “metabolic,” it often feels like the end of the conversation. In this episode, I’m joined by Alison Lepanto, founder of Cataract Nutrition, to challenge that assumption and explore what may actually be driving inflammation, behavioral changes, and metabolic red flags in horses. We unpack the difference between sugar management and toxic load, what GMO and herbicide exposure really means for equine health, and how nutrient density is lost from many modern feeds and pastures. We also discuss why some horses seem constantly hungry despite being fed “enough,” and how…
12 Jan 2026 · 52 min
Building a Brave Young Horse - Gabi Neurohr
Starting a young horse will expose your nervous system faster than any training issue ever could. In this episode, I sit down with Gabi Neurohr of Understanding Horses to talk about emotional regulation—why it matters, how horses mirror it, and what happens when we lose it under pressure. We dive into what it actually means to be a steady leader for a young horse, how to tell the difference between a horse that feels safe versus one that is simply compliant, and why spooking isn’t the problem—poor recovery is. Gabi shares her relationship-based approach to starting young horses, including…

About The Elevated Equestrian

The Elevated Equestrian is a English business podcast from Samantha Baer. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Samantha Baer
Language: English
Category: Business
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 58 min
Latest episode: 30 Sep 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1767712132
Rights: Samantha Baer

RSS feed Apple Podcasts

More English business

Take it with you

The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.