Introducing, Dear Horse World...
Equestrian Voices
Hi Equestrian Voices listener, we are so grateful for all your support of this podcast over the last few years, but as they say, all good things must come to an end. But we're not done with the podcast world! Dear Horse World is the brand new podcast from NOËLLE FLOYD. After 12 years of productions, I, Noëlle, am returning to my roots – being on the ground, learning from horse people. I’ll be diving into the heart of horsemanship, connecting with cowboys, Olympians, veterinarians and everyday riders to challenge conventions and redefine our practices. We’ll explore every corner of the...
info_outline
Sexual Abuse in the Horse Industry: A Conversation with Annette Paterakis on Isolation, Hope, and Healing
Equestrian Voices
TW: Descriptions of grooming, sexual abuse as a minor. Listen with care. Growing up in the Netherlands, Annette Paterakis rode ponies competitively and had Olympic aspirations. However, transitioning to riding horses was difficult, and teenage Annette found herself going from top placings to being eliminated in the show ring. With dreams and investments on the line, Annette needed some help. Unfortunately, it came in the form of a predator. In this forthcoming interview, Annette shares how she was groomed into a sexual relationship with her trainer, who was thirty years her senior....
info_outline
Why Play Is Key for Building “Try” in Your Horse, and How to Do It with Tik Maynard
Equestrian Voices
When you picture adding “play” into your horse’s training, what comes to mind? Do you imagine your horse chasing around a large ball or nosing carrots out of a container? Or maybe you see your horse trotting joyfully behind you as you run? The fact is, play can look like a lot of different things, but it doesn’t have to be any of the above. Play’s purpose is to teach your horse how to “try”–and in the process, both horse and trainer achieve a cooperative partnership. Equestrian Masterclass instructor (and newly minted Road to the Horse Champion!!!) Tik Maynard is a horsemanship...
info_outline
It Doesn't Have to Feel This Stressful: What Your Nervous System Has to Do with Performance, with Natalie Hummel
Equestrian Voices
Why do competitions make our hearts hammer, mouths go dry, and hands tremble? We may never get nervous riding at home, but as soon as we step into that show ring (or clinic, or in front of peers, or riding a difficult horse), it can feel like something primal just takes over. As it turns out, that is exactly what’s happening. Competition (whether you’re actually at a show or not) is deeply rooted into our biology and the presence of it can cause our bodies to fight, flight, or freeze. Certainly not the modes we want to be in when we’re trying to remember a course, or relax our tense...
info_outline
Toplines: Spotting Pain, Dysfunction, and Myths that Need to Be Busted with Ansley Bevan
Equestrian Voices
Muscle tension and underdevelopment are a precursor to injury, making topline development crucial to keeping horses healthy and sound. Elasticity through the back allows horses to move freely, support riders, and meet our performance expectations. So why do so many performance horses have underdeveloped muscles and signs of discomfort? Unfortunately, a lack of knowledge, overlooking pain symptoms, and the absence of species-appropriate care keeps many horses in constant tension–but we can change that. In this conversation, Caroline is joined by licensed equine bodyworker and educator Ansley...
info_outline
Tempo, Pace, and Rhythm: It’s Not Just Semantics. With Hunter/Eq Judge Rob Van Jacobs
Equestrian Voices
“More impulsion!” Most of us have heard our coaches cry – usually accompanied by a hearty clap or imitation of riding forward. But what does ‘impulsion’ actually mean to you, your trainer, or the judge scoring you? By listener request, we’re breaking down riding terms that have mystified riders for years. Caroline is joined by Rob Van Jacobs, a USEF “R” Rated judge for hunters and equitation. As a judge, trainer and rider, Rob interprets the differences between rhythm, tempo, pace, and speed not as semantics but as part of a show ring strategy. Understanding...
info_outline
It’s 4:30 AM and Your Goals are Calling, with Paralympian Amelia White
Equestrian Voices
Amelia White was just 18 years old when she was the victim of a traumatic car accident that changed her entire life. A university student and active eventer, Amelia suddenly found herself out of school, out of the saddle, and in ongoing surgeries. Despite doctors’ best efforts, Amelia was left with a permanent disability that required her to change her goals and aspirations. In this inspiring episode, Amelia sits down with Caroline and reflects on her journey that took her from lying in a hospital bed, to achieving her Master’s, to trotting down the centerline at the Paralympic...
info_outline
How to Change a Spooky Horse into a Thinking Horse, with Josh Nichol
Equestrian Voices
There’s no taking the spook out of a horse. As prey animals, horses will always want to run away first. Combine this fact with modern breeding programs that produce lighter, more responsive horses and many of us may find ourselves riding with a pounding heart and sweaty palms, fearing that inevitable spook. But a spooky horse isn’t a problem; it’s the symptom of a problem that starts with your relationship. Josh Nichol has helped countless of riders develop healthy partnerships with their horses through his method of Relational Horsemanship™. He joins Caroline for a thought-provoking...
info_outline
Evolve Your Student/Trainer Relationship, with Annette Paterakis
Equestrian Voices
Thinking about all the ways our sport needs to evolve can be overwhelming. When there are so many organizations, individuals, and stakeholders we want to inspire change in. However, evolving the sport doesn’t need to start at the top. It can start with you right now; with your mindset as a rider or trainer. Annette Paterakis is a mindset coach for equestrians and the author of “Winning Habits – How Elite Equestrians Master the Mental Game.” Annette helps all levels of riders, including Olympians, build confident, consistent, and powerful mindsets and behaviors. In this episode,...
info_outline
Rewind the Year With Us! 5 Favorite Moments of EV from 2023
Equestrian Voices
It was a record-breaking year for Equestrian Voices, as we won two more awards (W3 Awards) and topped the Goodpods chart. We couldn’t have done it without you, our listeners! From the entire EV team - THANK YOU. To celebrate this remarkable year, host Caroline Culbertson is rewinding 5 favorite moments of the pod in 2023 with colleague and longtime media friend, Sally Spickard. Many of you will already know Sally Spickard–you’ve definitely read her content before. Sally has written over 4000 equestrian articles, currently produces Equestrian Masterclasses for NOELLE FLOYD,...
info_outlineYour horse is cold backed and unpredictable at the mounting block. Under saddle, he goes around inverted, and can sometimes even kick out or spook suddenly. One of your friends casually says, “Maybe he has Kissing Spines,” and your heart skips - you’ve heard of it before, and know that it’s definitely not good.
Kissing Spines disease in horses has been increasingly diagnosed in recent years, and can even be a reason why some people pass on a horse during a pre purchase exam - but we know more about diagnosing, treating, and managing this condition than we ever have. In this conversation, Dr. Kara Brown helps us break down the in/outs of this disease, as well as what you should be worried about (and what you shouldn’t) if your horse is diagnosed with it.
Along with listener questions, Caroline and Dr. Brown discuss:
-
The anatomy of the back, and how it relates to Kissing Spines
-
What we know (and don’t) about what causes this condition
-
The grading system vets use to assess severity
-
How to properly palpate your horse’s back
-
The best (and most recent) diagnosis methods
-
Surgical and non-surgical treatment options
-
Longer-term management and strengthening methods
The book referenced with regard to rehabilitation and strengthening: Activate Your Horse’s Core by Hilary Clayton and Narelle Stubbs
A bit about Kara Brown, VMD, DACVSMR: Dr. Brown attended veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania and completed specialty training (including a fellowship in Large Animal Cardiology and Ultrasound and residency in Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation) at the University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center. She is also a diplomate of the American College of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation and will be joining the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania in July. She has a special interest in complex poor performance in the sport horse, and has published research on varied topics within this subject.