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_outlineElise’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!
After 30 years refining his work with some of the finest equines and trainers in Europe, as well as his own horses, Visconte (Viscount) Simon Cocozza wrote his book, Core Conditioning for Horses: Yoga-Inspired Warm-up Techniques: Increase Suppleness, Improve Bend, and Unlock Optimal Movement. Simon is also a performance coach and examiner for the French Equestrian Federation, a British qualified trainer, and one of Europe’s leading bio-dynamics researchers. He has made it his life’s work to apply a scientific approach to the principles of equitation with the goal of helping each horse to become the healthiest he or she can be!
In this fascinating episode, Simon is joining Elise from his equestrian center in Normandy, France, where he trains and, as he says, enjoys far too much cheese.
Tune in to learn more about Simon’s philosophy and approach about core conditioning for horses and learn how you can utilize it for yourself as he walks listeners through the ideal warm-up, the benefits behind his approach, and all you need to know about what goes on in a horse’s body!
Topics of Discussion:
[:25] About today’s guest, Visconte Simon Cocozza.
[1:22] How do yoga-inspired warmup techniques increase suppleness, bend, and optimal movement in our horses?
[2:25] Simon describes the core muscles in horses and explains what can cause them to become stiff or painful.
[5:22] Why does Simon think that most people tend to interpret a horse’s body language as stubborn rather than being in pain or discomfort?
[8:44] The importance of finding out what is causing your horse’s discomfort or point of pain.
[12:02] Simon explains why it is so crucial to understand where a horse’s discomfort is coming from and why we should address it as soon as possible, as well as the reason behind why he wrote his book, Core Conditioning for Horses: Yoga-Inspired Warm-up Techniques.
[15:25] How can a rider differentiate between a horse experiencing discomfort vs. simply not having the talent for a particular discipline?
[18:15] How can riders utilize Simon’s approach and philosophy throughout their training and not just during warm-up?
[20:50] Simon explains the differences between fitness and elasticity in horses.
[27:15] Simon walks listeners through an ideal warm-up to employ when they first begin using his techniques.
[31:10] The incredible purpose that Simon’s yoga-inspired warm-up technique serves.
[33:27] How does a rider know when they’re successful in helping their horse’s core muscles become more conditioned?
[35:02] The positive outcomes of using Simon’s technique.
[37:44] In talking about releasing tension in our horses’ bodies, how can we release tension in our own so we’re not bringing that to the barn?
[40:32] Simon explains how he first made the connection between yoga principles and horses and provides some examples that illustrate the improvements he has seen in applying yoga principles to horses.
[43:18] Simon reflects on his childhood and growing up in Rome, Italy, with a family who was passionate about horses.
[45:24] When Simon thinks far into the future, what would he like his legacy to be?
[47:57] About next week’s episode of Because of Horses!
[49:04] Where to find Simon’s book online and learn more about his approach!
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:
Core Conditioning for Horses: Yoga-Inspired Warm-up Techniques: Increase Suppleness, Improve Bend, and Unlock Optimal Movement, by Visconte Simon Cocozza
Visconte Simon Cocozza’s Website (VisconteCocozza.com)
EquestFile (Use coupon code: BOH10 to receive a 10% discount for two months off your subscription)
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