Can Science Identify the Next Secretariat? With Dr. Emmeline Hill
Release Date: 07/19/2019
Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association Founder, Bob Cacchione
Because of Horses
Today’s guest on Because of Horses is Bob Cacchione — a living legend in the horse world — and one to whom so many owe immense gratitude for founding the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA)!
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An Incredible Story of Healing and Transformation: The Horse Boy, with Rupert Isaacson
Because of Horses
Following one’s passion isn’t always about making our own life better — sometimes, we get a very unique opportunity to fully harness the skills, talent, experience, connections, and interests we possess in the service of someone we love. This is precisely what happened in Rupert Isaacson’s case when his young son, Rowan, was diagnosed with autism. And in Rupert’s very real quest to help his little boy, he discovered a therapeutic approach that could help others who are on the same journey
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Listeners’ Choice Collection: Excerpts From Our Most Popular Guests
Because of Horses
This week Elise is bringing you an especially fun episode because it’s all about you — the listeners! This episode will be featuring the four guests that listeners have chosen as their favorites from the 103 episodes that have aired in Seasons 1 and 2 thus far! Elise will be sharing the best excerpts from these incredible episodes as she counts down the top favorite guests, including Stacy Westfall, Through Rider Gillian Larson, Guy McLean, and King Ranch's James Clement
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Helping Our Horses Dance, with Visconte Simon Cocozza
Because of Horses
Elise’s guest today wondered about the difference between the horse that moves so beautifully it’s like dancing vs. a horse that doesn’t… or possibly can’t. He recognized that it’s all about the horse’s inner strength and balance and that the way to help the horse achieve this difference is through applying yoga principles, designed and intended for humans, to our equine partners!
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What Science and Experience Tell Us About How Horses Learn with Dr. Stephen Peters
Because of Horses
Elise’s guest today, neuroscientist, author, and horseman, Dr. Stephen Peters, was frustrated by the many often opposing views about training and working with his own horses. Dr. Peters decided to apply his knowledge of the human brain to developing science-based horsemanship to understand how a horse’s brain and its behavior are related and how they, in turn, affect learning
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EQUUS Film Festival: Horses in the Arts
Because of Horses
Lisa Diersen is the Founder and Director of the EQUUS Film Festival, recognized as the largest showcase of equestrian film, art and literature in the world. An avid horsewoman and movie lover, Lisa believes in the power of telling stories through film. She founded the EQUUS Film Festival with the mission of showing the world how horses can bring everyone together regardless of race, age, gender, ability or disability
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Shawn Flarida: NRHA $6 Million Reiner
Because of Horses
This week, the Because of Horses Podcast is celebrating its 100th episode with a very special conversation with legendary reiner, Shawn Flarida! Shawn is the winner of five gold medals at the World Equestrian Games, winner of the All-American Quarter Horse Congress nine times, and the first person to break the $6 million mark in Reining, which he did at the 2017 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity.
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Mark Rashid, Considering the Horse
Because of Horses
Mark Rashid is an internationally acclaimed trainer, clinician, and prolific author, renowned for taking the guesswork out of communicating with our horses. His ability to understand the horse’s point of view and solve difficult problems with communication rather than force is unmatched.
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Desert Flight: A Love Letter to Show Jumping, with Filmmaker Samia Staehle
Because of Horses
"Desert Flight" is an award-winning film documentary that explores the horse-human bond through the world of show jumping. Filmmaker Samia Staehle’s goal was to capture the visceral way horses enrich our lives and our senses. The film provides an honest look at how much the sport of show jumping means to its participants through the perspectives of equestrians from different walks of life.
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The Hampton Classic Collection: Talking with the Greats
Because of Horses
This week is a very special edition of Because of Horses! Your host, Elise Gaston Chand, talks with some of the horse world’s most accomplished equestrians — sharing their riding and training philosophies, their insights into horses, advice for aspiring competitors, and their fondest memories of the Hampton Classic Horse Show! These featured guests are Georgina Bloomberg, Kelli Cruciotti, Peter Wylde, Joe Fargis, and Chief Press Officer Marty Bauman
info_outlineHumans love horses. We all know this. And just one expression of this passion is to breed horses for particular jobs — a skill that has historically been based upon horsemanship, knowledge of bloodlines, and a significant amount of instinct. We also know that each foal brings with it a genetic legacy with the potential for qualities that make for a talented jumper, or a superb cutting horse, or a blazing fast racehorse.
In this week’s episode, Elise is joined by geneticist Dr. Emmeline Hill, all the way from Ireland, to discuss the genetics that can determine Thoroughbred racing potential. Dr. Emmeline Hill’s breakthrough discovery of the “speed gene” means that we can predict a horse’s optimal race distance by examining its DNA to determine whether it possesses genes that are more suited to sprints, to middle distance, or to longer races! This gene could also have the added benefit of helping racehorses who might otherwise get labeled “too slow” when, in fact, they may actually be fast enough if they are entered in the correct distance races.
Join Elise and Dr. Emmeline Hill in this episode to hear all about her incredible findings, the studies that have been conducted around this research, and much, much more!
Topics of Discussion:
[:25] About today’s episode with Dr. Emmeline Hill!
[1:30] What is the “speed gene” and how does it correlate to performance in racehorses?
[3:06] How have Dr. Hill’s findings matched up with actual performance on the track?
[7:35] Beyond racing: how genetic studies might someday maximize the potential of each individual horse, highlighting the discipline they are most suited for.
[13:05] Have Dr. Hill’s studies extended through the generations of horses to determine the degree to which parents pass on this gene to their offspring? And what other factors play a role in determining a horse’s potential?
[18:47] Is the gene only found in blood? Or is it possible to isolate it in tissue or hair -- even in ancient horses’ remains?
[22:30] How fast can we expect Thoroughbreds to realistically run? Is there an evolutionary or anatomical speed ceiling?
[29:10] How does Dr. Hill see breeders addressing negative components in a limited gene pool (whether it’s Thoroughbreds or any other breed with a closed stud book)?
[32:12] The importance of genetic diversity.
[33:35] How Dr. Hill’s findings can be applied to humans as well!
[36:22] Could we identify the horse-loving gene in people someday?
[36:52] About next week’s episode of the Because of Horses Podcast!
[38:08] About Dr. Hill’s legendary equestrian roots and why she originally became so captivated by horse breeding.
[40:05] How Dr. Hill applied her education in human genetics to horses and breeding.
[44:00] Where to discover more of Dr. Hill’s work.
Know Someone Inspirational, Whose Life Has Been Forever Changed Because of Horses? Because of Horses would love to get to share their story!
To recommend someone please send an email to [email protected].
Mentioned in this Episode:
A Parent’s Guide to Riding Lessons: Everything You Need to Know to Survive and Thrive with a Horse-Loving Kid, by Elise Gaston Chand
EquestFile (Use coupon code: BOH10 to receive a 10% discount for two months off your subscription)
Next week’s episode of Because of Horses
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