Dear Horse World

There is a question almost every one of us carries to the barn and never says out loud. Not how do I get him to do this. But: does he actually trust me — or is he just complying? This is Part 2 of my conversation with Elsa Sinclair, and it's the half where I kept having to stop and close my eyes. Because Elsa reads horse behavior in a way most of us were never taught to. She breaks leadership into five kinds — dominant, persistent, assertive, passive, supportive — and then says the thing that reorganized my brain: that leadership is simply any action that results in harmony. That dominance and abuse are not the same thing. She takes us back inside the year she spent with a wild mustang named Myrnah — three to six hours a day, five days a week. The morning she got on at three months, did it badly, and wasn't allowed back on for another three. Not because anything went wrong. Because her timing was off by a hair, and the horse simply told the truth about it. Then comes the line I haven't stopped repeating: "I'm not going to try to be the best horse trainer in the room. I'm going to try to be the most accurate." This is freedom based training as a craft — not a philosophy you admire from a distance, but a practice you can take to the barn tomorrow. Elsa shows how to actually see a horse's thought before you reward it — the ear that flicks, the eye that moves, the breath — and gives a homework exercise you can start in the morning. We get into why hyperfocus on the goal keeps you tripping over the next step. Why confidence, quietly, trumps every strategy. And Atlas — the horse she bought off a slaughter truck, the one who broke everything she thought she knew. If you've ever felt like you're learning too slowly with your horse, this episode reframes that ache as the whole point. Elsa Sinclair is a lifelong horsewoman, horse behavior researcher, and filmmaker. Her year with the mustang Myrnah became a documentary, Taming Wild, and a book by the same name. She now teaches freedom based training to students across Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. If you have a horse who's been trying to tell you something — this one is for you. And if you know someone still fighting the horse they love, send it to them. IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN Elsa's full leadership spectrum — dominant, persistent, assertive, passive, and supportive — and why she defines leadership as any action that results in harmony The difference between dominance and abuse, and how a single raised hand tells her which one a horse has lived through Why she got on Myrnah bareback and bridleless at three months — and the timing mistake that cost her the next three The distinction between feel and timing, and why she'd rather be the most accurate trainer in the room than the best one How to read a horse's thoughts through its senses instead of projecting the thought you wish were there Why confidence can trump every technique, and how to build it from the bottom up if you don't have it yet The case for the slowest training method on Earth, and how slowing down actually deepens what you learn To find out more about Elsa Sinclair: website | instagram | facebook | patreon CHAPTERS & TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Leadership options most training never breaks down [00:23] The leadership spectrum: dominant, persistent, and assertive [04:36] Building it bottom-up: passive and supportive leadership [07:30] Riding bridleless: the year with Myrnah, and getting on at three months [10:00] Feel versus timing, and rewarding the thought, not the action [12:47] Why she'd rather be the most accurate trainer than the best [15:33] Untraining yourself: the sensory system over mechanical habit [21:44] "Playing in Puddles": letting go of the goal of riding [36:00] The horse who decided humans always make bad decisions [40:20] Confidence wins: when it trumps every technique [45:36] The two horses who shaped her: the generous one and the mold-breaker [54:00] The beauty of slowness, and learning to enjoy the snail's pace [56:24] Rapid fire: the one book, the most undervalued skill, mares vs stallions This Episode is Sponsored by: Total Feeds Our mission to provide quality nutrition to people and animals puts us in contact with all manner of interesting folks. Whether you're interested in our animal feed, or the people involved in the animal industry: you'll find it at Total Feeds! Check out our line of Quality Animal Feeds here: https://totalfeeds.com Interested in more from Noëlle? Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments. https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com You can also download the app - NF+ App Thank you for your listening!

Right now, somewhere in the horse world, a horse is shedding a virus it's carried since it was a foal. Its owner doesn't know. The horse looks fine. That's EHV-1. Equine herpesvirus. And Dr. Bruno Karam, equine internal medicine specialist, wants you to understand it before the next outbreak — not during it. We recorded this conversation in the wake of last year's EHV-1 cluster at the National Finals Rodeo. Horses stumbling. Famous horses hospitalized. People asking whether the event should have run at all. And a lot of horse owners left with unanswered questions about a virus they'd heard about but didn't fully understand. This episode answers those questions. EHV-1 isn't new. The neurological form — EHM — isn't new either. What's changed is the density of horse movement. Western circuits don't park in one city for two weeks. They move. And they move on timelines shorter than the incubation period. By the time a horse shows symptoms, it's already three states away from where it got infected. Bruno breaks down how the virus behaves in the body — biphasic fevers, white blood cell hitchhiking, the vasculitis cascade that leads to spinal cord involvement. He explains why your vaccinated horse can still shed. Why a healthy horse with no symptoms can spread it. And why giving Banamine the moment your horse feels warm is the single most counterproductive thing you can do in an outbreak. The practical guidance in here is specific. Take temperatures twice a day. Know what's normal for your horse before you need to know what's abnormal. Don't share thermometers. And if your horse is questionable at a show — be okay with not showing. He also talks about something that doesn't get said enough: we don't yet have data on why some horses get sick and others don't. We're still retroactively analyzing the outbreaks. The science is moving, and what we do today may not be what we do in ten years. That's not a reason to panic. It's a reason to pay attention. Dr. Bruno Karam is an equine internal medicine specialist. He trained at Texas A&M under Dr. Michelle Coleman and has worked some of the most complex infectious disease cases in the field. He ended up on the news last year because of EHV-1. He came on this podcast to give you the version of the conversation that the news couldn't. If your barn shares thermometers, send this to your barn manager. Subscribe to the NOËLLE FLOYD Podcast — formerly Dear Horse World — wherever you listen. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN Why nearly every horse already carries EHV-1 latently — and what triggers shedding with no visible symptoms The exact biological pathway from respiratory infection to spinal cord damage that causes EHM Why the western show circuit's travel structure created exponential exposure chains in 2025 What the EHV vaccine actually does and doesn't do, and why it still matters for herd immunity How to take and interpret your horse's temperature using their individual baseline, not just 101.5°F Why giving Banamine at the first elevated temp can mask early outbreak warning signs The most overlooked transmission vector at shows: human hands moving between horses To find out more about Dr. Bruno Karam DVM - Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital - Equine This episode is sponsored by Pegasus Training & Rehabilitation Center Here at Pegasus, our mission is to run a first class horse training, rehabilitation, and conditioning facility; provide horses of all disciplines with full and complete care of the highest quality; partner with our clients to ensure that we not only meet, but exceed, their individual goals and needs; and maintain our facility and equipment with the highest level of care. To find out more about Pegasus - website | instagram | facebook Interested in more from Noelle? Noelle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments. https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com CHAPTERS & TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Introduction to Dr. Bruno Karam, Equine Internal Medicine Specialist [00:38] What an Equine Internist Does and Why It's Unique [02:00] Memorable Cases — From Yellow Fat Disease to Aspiration Pneumonia [09:34] What Is EHV-1 — Horse COVID Explained [11:10] How EHV-1 Spreads and What Recrudescence Means [13:11] Why Some Horses Go Neurological and Others Don't [16:00] Shedding Explained — Subclinical Carriers and Transmission [18:06] Vaccines for EHV — What They Do and Don't Protect Against 21:00] Vaccine Risk, Hesitancy, and How to Think About Risk Assessment [24:28] The 2025 Outbreak — What Really Happened in Texas Before NFR 37:38] What Horse Owners Can Do — Monitoring and Biosecurity at Shows

What if everything you've been calling a behavior problem is actually your horse asking for help? On this episode of Dear Horse World, Noëlle sits down with Jim Masterson — founder of the Masterson Method and a leading voice in equine bodywork for horse owners — to explore exactly that question. Jim has worked hands-on with an estimated 700 horses a year at peak, trained over 10,000 students worldwide, and built a method shaped entirely by what horses told him. This conversation will change how you see your horse. Jim and Noëlle unpack how the horse nervous system moves between sympathetic arousal (guarding, bracing) and parasympathetic release (dropping the head, yawning, shifting weight). You'll understand why an agenda — even a caring one — can block that release, and how approaching your horse with quiet, clear intention changes what becomes possible. Natural horsemanship principles run through everything: you're not working on the horse. You're working with it. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN Why the poll-atlas junction is the single most important tension point in your horse's body, and how releasing it can shift movement, behavior, and comfort throughout the entire horse — not just the neck. How to identify when your horse's "behavior problems" — head-shyness, resistance to bridling, difficulty with one canter lead, sudden bucking — are expressions of physical tension, not disobedience. Jim's five levels of touch (air gap, egg yolk, grape, lemon, and hard lime) and how to stay beneath your horse's bracing response so tension can actually release instead of getting blocked. How to start the bladder meridian technique today — free, with no equipment — by following the blinks, yawns, and lick-and-chew responses your horse is already giving you. How your horse's nervous system moves between sympathetic guarding and parasympathetic release, and what visible signs tell you a real tension release has happened. Why approaching body work without a "fix it" agenda is essential — and how your own intention and presence either opens your horse up or causes them to shut down and block out the work entirely. Why regular body work is one of the only things you can do with your horse that is all give and no take — and how even one bladder meridian session can begin to transform your horse's trust in you. Jim Masterson is the creator of the Masterson Method Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork, author of Beyond Horse Massage, and former body worker for the US Endurance Team. He has certified over 650 practitioners in 20 countries and taught more than 10,000 students since 2006. Start your equine bodywork for horse owners journey at MastersonMethod.com. Instagram and Facebook Watch the free bladder meridian video on YouTube, and share this equestrian podcast with every horse owner in your life who has a horse they don't fully understand yet. Interested in more from Noëlle? Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments. https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com Chapters: 00:00:00 When Behavior Is Pain: The Lens That Changes Everything 00:01:33 Jim Masterson on 10,000 Students and a Method Born From Horses 00:04:32 From Groom to Bodywork Pioneer: How It All Started 00:07:09 Discovering the Bladder Meridian and What Horses Were Showing Him 00:14:23 Congo, Baboons, and Learning to Read Animal Cues 00:20:09 The Three Key Tension Junctions Every Horse Owner Should Know 00:29:09 How Tension Travels Through the Body: Compensation and Connection 00:39:36 Why Releasing Tension Changes Your Horse's Performance and Well-Being 00:44:25 Body Work as the Fastest Path to Real Horse-Human Connection 00:51:45 Subtle Signs of Discomfort and How to Spot Them Before They Become Problems 00:56:03 Levels of Touch and What Makes the Masterson Method Different 01:07:15 How to Start Doing Body Work on Your Own Horse Without an Agenda

In this episode of Dear Horse World, equine veterinarian Dr. Kent Tooman breaks down the truth about equine metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and why more horses than ever are at risk of laminitis. Dr. Kent Tooman is an experienced equine veterinarian with over 30 years in practice, specializing in performance horses and metabolic health. In this episode you will learn: What's really happening inside your horse's body Why "easy keepers" may be misunderstood The subtle signs most owners miss (including fat deposits and barn blindness) Breed predispositions (ponies, Arabs, draft crosses, and more) Practical steps to reduce risk and manage weight safely How insulin affects your horse's health The connection between weight, metabolism, and laminitis Why modern horse management is increasing risk How to spot early warning signs before it's too late If you care about better horse health, training, and management, subscribe for more expert conversations. This episode is sponsored by Pegasus Training & Rehabilitation Center Here at Pegasus, our mission is to run a first class horse training, rehabilitation, and conditioning facility; provide horses of all disciplines with full and complete care of the highest quality; partner with our clients to ensure that we not only meet, but exceed, their individual goals and needs; and maintain our facility and equipment with the highest level of care. To find out more about Pegasus - website | instagram | facebook Chapters: 0:00 – The "Easy Keeper" Myth (Why This Matters) 1:12 – Meet Dr. Kent Tooman 3:45 – Why More Horses Are Developing Metabolic Issues 6:20 – What Is Equine Metabolic Syndrome? 9:10 – Insulin Explained (Simple Breakdown) 12:30 – Where Fat Shows Up (Signs Most Owners Miss) 16:15 – Barn Blindness: Why You Don't See the Problem 20:40 – Breed Risk: Ponies, Arabs & "Thrifty" Horses 25:10 – Why Modern Horses Are Getting Overweight 30:25 – The Link Between Weight & Laminitis 35:50 – How to Reduce Risk (Practical Steps) 41:30 – Feeding, Exercise & Management Mistakes 47:10 – Can This Be Reversed? 52:00 – The Future: Ozempic for Horses? 56:30 – Final Advice for Horse Owners ⚠️ Disclaimer - This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

NF+ is proud to present our exclusive new Masterclass, The Millar Method Complete Training System, where Ian & Amy Millar introduce their system for building winning horses. Olympian Ian Millar returns on NF+ with Amy Millar to introduce the first of 16 episodes of the Millar Method, a consistent, repeatable system designed to develop horses that stay sound, confident, and ready to win. They share their backgrounds—Ian's record 10 Olympic Games, role with the Canadian show jumping team, and scholarship work in Ontario; Amy's two Olympic appearances, Canadian championship, team ambitions, and efforts to improve accessibility through Can Jump. The episode explains how their method applies from trail riding to top sport, grounded in understanding the horse's nature and using tools like lunging, round penning, gymnastics, grids, and courses. They emphasize principles that stay consistent while adapting teaching to how each horse and rider learns. A Program Responsible for nine Olympic Horses across two Generations. The Millar Method | Complete Training System - Save 25% on annual memberships with code DHW25 Learn the system that has developed top-level horses for Olympians lan and Amy Millar. Chapters: 00:00 Meet the Millar Method 01:12 Ian and Amy Introductions 02:26 Why Teaching Matters 04:44 Sharing the Method 05:28 What the Method Covers 06:47 Tools and Foundations 07:45 Principles and Adaptation 08:19 How Horses and Riders Learn 08:55 Teaching Wins The Millar Method | Complete Training System - Save 25% on annual memberships with code DHW25 Exclusively available on NF+, the equestrian masterclass platform for riders of all levels and disciplines. This episode is brought to you by: Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services, Inc. The friendly and knowledgeable team at Connaway & Associates brings together more than 30 years of experience to offer a wide range of insurance services, including horse insurance, farm insurance, and liability insurance. Visit www.connaway.net | @connawayassociates | facebook.com/connawayassociatesequine

Horse Separation anxiety is something most horse owners will face at some point. Sometimes it shows up as calling when a buddy leaves. Sometimes it's a refusal to leave the barn. Sometimes it escalates into behavior that feels dangerous, overwhelming, or emotionally exhausting. And despite how common it is, it can feel isolating — especially when even experienced professionals don't always have a clear roadmap. In this episode, we sit down with clinician and author Kathy Baar to unpack herd-bound behavior through the lens of psychology and biology. Kathy has spent decades studying how horses bond, how they regulate, and how easily their instincts can be misunderstood. This conversation explores: What separation anxiety is (and what it isn't) Why horses bond so deeply — especially when traveling or stabled together The difference between connection and codependency How to expand your horse's comfort zone safely What to do in show situations when you don't have weeks to rebuild patterns How your own personality type impacts how your horse learns Why safety and comfort must come before food or reward This episode is for you if: Your horse struggles leaving the barn or their buddy Show warm-ups feel unpredictable You feel embarrassed or alone in this challenge You want to understand herd-bound behavior at its root You're ready to build confidence in your horse without escalating intensity Kathy's book that she would read to the horse world - Natural Horse-Man-Ship: Six Keys to a Natural Horse-Human Relationship (A Western Horseman Book) by Pat Perelli Kathy offers understanding — when you understand what your horse is truly seeking, your approach begins to change. Kathy Baar is a clinician, trainer, and author known for her thoughtful, psychology-based approach to horsemanship. Drawing influence from the lineage of Tom and Bill Dorrance and Ray Hunt, Kathy focuses on developing both connection with the human and internal confidence within the horse. Recently, Kathy was a judge at Road to the Horse and enjoyed the opportunity to experience the event from a judges perspective. Her book, Solving Separation Anxiety: Over 77 Savvy Solutions for Herd Bound Behavior, is a practical guide for riders navigating barn sour and buddy sour behavior. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 3:00 How Motherhood Sparked a Book About Horse Separation Anxiety 7:00 What Is Herd Bound Behavior and Why Does It Happen 11:00 Building the Kind of Relationship That Replaces the Herd 17:00 How Common Is Separation Anxiety — and Is It Ever Solved? 22:00 Why Horses Bond So Deeply When They Travel Together 23:00 Horses in Pastures and Herds: Strategies That Work 28:00 Noelle's Feral Mare and Learning to Slow Down 36:00 Horses in Stalls: Training From the Comfort Zone 40:00 Nature vs Nurture — Is Your Horse Born Anxious? 45:00 Horses Kept in Pairs: The Hardest Scenario 51:00 Groundwork That Actually Transfers to the Saddle 58:00 Pressure, Yielding, and the Man's Horse Myth 1:00:00 Riding With a Buddy Horse — and Staying Present 1:06:00 Emergency Strategies at Horse Shows 1:08:00 Extroverted vs Introverted Horse Learners 1:14:00 Key Takeaways Before You Go 1:15:00 Barn Sour vs Buddy Sour: What the Terms Really Mean 1:17:00 Rapid Fire Questions with Kathy Barr Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Dear Horse World wherever you listen, leave us a review — it genuinely helps more people find these conversations — and share this episode with someone who needs to hear how to support their horses. Amazon Disclosure: Third-party books and products denoted on this page and website may be hyperlinked to the Amazon affiliate program. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Not every rider has access to the perfectly bred, professionally produced sport horse. Many are figuring things out with the horse they could afford, learning as they go, and trying to build a partnership along the way. In this episode, 5★ event rider and trainer Elisa Wallace shares what she has learned from producing horses many others overlook, including Mustangs and off-the-track Thoroughbreds. Alongside competing at the highest levels of eventing, Elisa has built a career developing unconventional horses into dream ones. In this episode of "No Stupid Questions," we discuss: How to evaluate a horse when shopping on a budget The red flags riders should pay attention to early on The first steps to building trust with a new horse How to rebuild confidence after setbacks Signs your horse is progressing, even when improvement feels slow What unconventional horses can teach riders that highly produced horses cannot The book Elisa would read to the horse world - Four Square by Lucinda Green For riders navigating the journey with one horse, modest resources, and a lot of determination, this episode is a reminder that your dreams are possible with the horse you have. Resources: https://wallaceeventing.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/WallaceEventing https://roadtothehorse.com/elisa-wallace-usa/ This epidsode is generously sponsored by: StableFeed - What You Feed Your Horse Matters StableFeed is redefining equine nutrition with all natural horse feed and supplements made from real, whole foods. Using a unique forage, Sainfoin, as the base of their forage prodcuts and clean plant ingredients, never chemicals, fillers , or by products. StableFeed helps horses thrive with nutrition designed the way nature intended. Real food with real results. Explore more at stablefeed.com | @StableFeed Chapters: 00:00 Ocala Week Announcement 00:39 Meet Elisa Wallace 01:57 Road to the Horse Nerves 04:46 Mustangs to Eventing Path 06:30 Fledge and Mustang Magic 14:03 Mustang Sensitivity Explained 19:59 Pressure and Communication 23:53 No Stupid Questions Begins 26:29 Underdog Success Story 28:49 Permission to Be Unorthodox 35:41 Producing Horses and Fear 40:57 Mentors and Asking for Help 44:40 Choosing Horses by Intuition 45:32 Overthinking Choices 46:32 Colts Versus Fillies 48:32 Mare Mindset Lessons 52:16 Format Change Gameplan 56:55 Learning From Past Rides 59:23 Green Horse Basics 01:05:43 Pressure Off Progress 01:10:50 Play Builds Partnership 01:13:29 Fun Groundwork Ideas 01:15:42 Gratitude And Perspective 01:16:47 Rapid Fire Wrap Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Dear Horse World wherever you listen, leave us a review — it genuinely helps more people find these conversations — and share this episode with someone who needs to hear this. And you can follow us on instagram too! Click here 👉 www.instagram.com/dearhorseworld

There is a whole generation of insanely talented young riders who feel like the system is not built for them. You want the top sport, you want the big moments in show jumping, you want to know what it actually takes to get there, yet the pathway feels gated and the access feels invisible. That is exactly why this conversation with Laura Kraut hits so hard. Laura is a legit icon in show jumping and she shows up here with zero ego, full transparency, and a real blueprint for what it takes to rise in a sport that can feel impossible to break into. Laura brings us inside Road to the Top, the program she created with Katie Prudent to give hungry riders the mentorship, horsepower, and behind the scenes education they never get access to. She talks openly about the emotional and financial pressure of show jumping, how real horsemanship gets built, and what separates riders who make it from riders who burn out. This episode is equal parts wisdom, reality check, and hype. If you're dreaming big, this one will light a fire under you. In this episode, you will learn: How Road to the Top actually works and why it gives overlooked riders a real shot in show jumping The mindset mistakes that hold promising riders back and how to avoid them How to think about horse management, horse picking, and building real feel What mentorship looks like at the absolute top and how it shaped Laura's Olympic career How to stay grounded when social media makes everyone else look perfect How owners and supporters can get involved and genuinely move the sport forward The book that Laura would read to the Horse World - The Perfect Horse by Elizabeth Letts This episode is brought to you by: Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services, Inc. The friendly and knowledgeable team at Connaway & Associates brings together more than 30 years of experience to offer a wide range of insurance services, including horse insurance, farm insurance, and liability insurance. Visit www.connaway.net | @connawayassociates | facebook.com/connawayassociatesequine and YETI Made for early mornings in the barn and long days in the saddle. Whether you're hauling feed, chasing daylight on the trail, or loading up for a weekend on the road, YETI coolers and drinkware are built to handle it. No shortcuts. No compromise. Just gear that works as hard as you do. Explore more at YETI.com | @YETI | facebook.com/YETI Chapters: 00:00 Why Riders Feel Stuck 00:24 Meet Laura Kraut 01:47 Road to the Top Explained 04:12 Horsemanship and Horse Sense 05:53 Funding Model and First Riders 11:38 Owners and Horse Rotation 16:47 Beyond the Highlight Reel 19:07 Building Community Support 25:41 Keeping US Talent Competitive 35:26 Mentorship Versus Teaching 42:30 Passing the Torch 44:04 Scarcity vs Sharing 45:55 Road to the Top Vision 47:53 Mentorship and Independence 49:00 Applying Like Harvard 52:52 Grit and Handling Failure 57:41 Mentors Who Shaped Laura 01:05:13 Love of the Horse 01:06:29 Pay It Forward Chain 01:10:33 Rapid Fire and Wrap And for even more expert-led workshops, in-depth courses, and exclusive lectures designed to elevate your riding and horsemanship, visit NoelleFloydPlus.com NF+ brings you direct access to top equestrian professionals, training insights, and a passionate community of riders dedicated to learning and improving. And you can follow us on instagram too! Click here 👉 www.instagram.com/dearhorseworld

You might know this feeling all too well. You want to trust your feel, keep growing, and do right by your horse, yet something in the culture makes you hesitate. Questioning a method or following your instincts can feel dangerous, like one honest moment could cost you belonging, spark backlash, or even put a target on your back. In this episode, Sharon Madere, an equine behavior consultant and cult survivor, brings a special combination of lived experience and scientific expertise to help riders reclaim their clarity, confidence, and curiosity. As a lifelong horsewoman, she understands the mechanics of influence, pressure, and obedience in ways most people never articulate. And she applies that perspective directly to the horse world in a way that is both affirming and liberating. In this conversation, you will learn: The clear signs of cult-like leadership in horse communities Why emotionally charged language like disrespect or naughty derails presence and erodes confidence How to stay grounded, think critically, and avoid manipulation as a student or owner Practical tips on training, positive reinforcement, and making better choices for you AND your horse Why empowerment and curiosity matter more than any "guru" Sharon also shares practical strategies for safer, clearer horsemanship, from building boundaries in a herd to teaching effective trailer loading. It is a conversation that blends science, psychology, and lived wisdom into something every rider can immediately apply. Resources and Mentions: Sharon's podcast: Feet of Clay: Confessions of the Cult Sisters Sharon's Website : EquiLightenment.com International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) Chapters: 00:00 Is the Horse World Acting Like a Cult? 02:10 Sharon's Story: Growing Up in a Religious Cult 08:45 How Cult Psychology Works 15:20 Authority Culture in Horse Training 21:30 The Danger of "Disrespect" in Horsemanship 28:40 When Riders Stop Trusting Their Intuition 35:15 Science vs Dogma in Equine Behavior 43:00 Reclaiming Critical Thinking in the Horse World 50:00 What Needs to Change This episode is sponsored by YETI Made for early mornings in the barn and long days in the saddle. Whether you're hauling feed, chasing daylight on the trail, or loading up for a weekend on the road, YETI coolers and drinkware are built to handle it. No shortcuts. No compromise. Just gear that works as hard as you do. Explore more at YETI.com | @YETI | facebook.com/YETI

When you meet Dr. Dennis Brooks, you understand why horse people around the world talk about him with a kind of reverence. He is one of the most influential equine ophthalmologists of our time, the OG of horse eye care, yet what makes him unforgettable is not just the medicine. It is the heart behind it. In this episode, Dennis takes us inside the world of horse eyes with the clarity of a teacher, the soul of a storyteller, and the honesty of someone who has spent a lifetime caring deeply for horses and the people who love them. In this episode, you'll hear: Why Dennis became the original pioneer of modern equine ophthalmology How breakthrough surgeries changed what is possible for horses with severe eye disease Why Appaloosas are genetically more vulnerable to uveitis The simple eyelash position test that instantly tells you if a horse is in eye pain How the immune system and the eye communicate and why that matters What immune mediated keratitis is and the 5 emerging types Dennis is seeing worldwide Why one of those new diseases is more frightening than moon blindness What every horse owner should know to protect their horse's vision This episode blends science with story, medicine with emotion, and legacy with practical takeaways. It is a rare chance to learn from the man who shaped an entire field while reminding us that the best medicine always begins with human connection. This episode is brought to you by Total Feeds Our mission to provide quality nutrition to people and animals puts us in contact with all manner of interesting folks. Whether you're interested in our animal feed, or the people involved in the animal industry: you'll find it at Total Feeds! Check out our line of Quality Animal Feeds here: https://totalfeeds.com And for even more expert-led workshops, in-depth courses, and exclusive lectures designed to elevate your riding and horsemanship, visit NoelleFloydPlus.com and use code 'DHW' for 15% off annual memberships! NF+ brings you direct access to top equestrian professionals, training insights, and a passionate community of riders dedicated to learning and improving. And you can follow us on instagram too! Click here 👉 www.instagram.com/dearhorseworld

Have you ever questioned whether the way you've been taught to train truly fits the horse in front of you? Most people don't. And when they do, they're often reprimanded for it, which is usually enough to make them stop asking. We repeat the same exercises and routines because that's how we were taught, rarely questioning the system even when our horses do. This conversation challenges that pattern and asks a harder question: what happens when the system stops working for the horse? Karen Rohlf is an FEI Grand Prix dressage rider, USDF Gold Medalist, internationally respected clinician, and the founder of Dressage Naturally. Her career spans the highest levels of the sport, but the foundation of her work traces back to her first horse. As a child, Karen watched that horse be sold and change in ways that frightened her. Same horse. Same environment. Completely different outcome under different hands. That moment led her to make a promise to herself and to every horse she would ride, a promise that still guides her work today. In Part 1, Karen shares stories she rarely tells publicly. She explains why she stepped away from a conventional training model most professionals never question. She tells the story of a horse who flinched simply for touching something in the barn aisle, and what changed when she responded differently than she had been taught. These moments show how curiosity and confidence can return to horses who have shut down, and why what we call tension is often something we haven't learned to read. During the conversation, lightning strikes just as Karen names three essential needs of horses, reinforcing a central theme of the episode: the system is often the problem, not the horse. In this episode, you will hear: The childhood experience that shaped Karen's approach to horses Why curiosity is often suppressed and what happens when it returns How to distinguish between physical, mental, and emotional training challenges Why giving horses real choice builds confidence rather than resistance Why no two horses should ever be trained the same way How tension often disguises itself as dullness or resistance In this episode, you will learn how to recognize horses as individuals and partners, and how to ground your training in responsibility and trust. Resources & Mentions: Karen Rohlf's Book: Dressage Naturally https://dressagenaturally.net/book/ Dressage Naturally https://dressagenaturally.net/ Episode Sponsored by: YETI Made for early mornings in the barn and long days in the saddle. Whether you're hauling feed, chasing daylight on the trail, or loading up for a weekend on the road, YETI coolers and drinkware are built to handle it. No shortcuts. No compromise. Just gear that works as hard as you do. Explore more at yeti.com. 📱 @yeti 📱 facebook.com/YETI

So many riders want their horses sharper, quicker, and more responsive, yet end up drilling, micromanaging, and unintentionally shutting their horses down. Hall of Fame cutting horse trainer Lindy Burch offers a wildly refreshing reframing: what if the sharpest horses are not the ones you control the most, but the ones you allow to think? In cutting, the horse has to make decisions in real time. They must read the cow, feel the moment, and respond faster than the rider ever could. In this episode, Lindy breaks down how she develops horses who stay mentally present, balanced, and tuned in, not by force, but through short, thoughtful training bursts, strong foundations, and the power of letting the horse learn from the cow itself. You will hear Lindy unpack the origins of cutting, what makes a great cutting horse, how to ride with more feel, why short sessions produce better learning, and why riding outside the arena creates more balanced, emotionally sound partners in any discipline. No matter your discipline, this conversation will shift the way you think about responsiveness, contact, pressure, partnership, and how to build a horse that truly tries for you. You will learn: Why micromanagement dulls horses and how to create a horse that thinks with you How to use short, focused sessions and the environment as your greatest training tools Why riding outside the arena and honoring your horse's mind leads to deeper connection Lindy's book that she would read to the Horse World - The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein Resources: Evidence Based Horsemanship by Martin Black and Stephen Peters The history of the National Cutting Horse Association The National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Learn more about Lindy Burch: Website: https://lindyburch.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindyburchcuttinghorses Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindyburchcutters This episode is brought to you by: Total Feeds Our mission to provide quality nutrition to people and animals puts us in contact with all manner of interesting folks. Whether you're interested in our animal feed, or the people involved in the animal industry: you'll find it at Total Feeds! Check out our line of Quality Animal Feeds here: https://totalfeeds.com and YETI Made for early mornings in the barn and long days in the saddle. Whether you're hauling feed, chasing daylight on the trail, or loading up for a weekend on the road, YETI coolers and drinkware are built to handle it. No shortcuts. No compromise. Just gear that works as hard as you do. Explore more at yeti.com | @yeti | facebook.com/YETI Amazon Disclosure: Third-party books and products denoted on this page and website may be hyperlinked to the Amazon affiliate program. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Welcome back to No Stupid Questions, the nutrition edition with Dr. Harry Anderson. In part Part 2 we take deeper look at the physiology that drives your horse's behavior, metabolism, and overall health. We explore the way sugar, minerals, and fiber interact inside the horse. We talk about why some horses puff up, why certain forage creates sharpness, and how small choices in the feed room can shift the entire internal environment. This is the kind of steady, clear education most of us never received but always needed. In this episode we cover: • The horse's unique digestive design and how it works in real life • The truth about fiber and why long stem forage is not the full picture • How sugar and NSC influence behavior, energy, and metabolic health • The role of key minerals like magnesium and manganese • What causes swelling, puffiness, or digestive instability • How to approach hay, supplements, and slow feeding with clarity Referenced Products and Resources: Total Equine Feed Total Equine LNSC Ascophyllum Nodosum Kelp Research Equine Hay Analysis Labs Dr. Harry Anderson on YouTube This is Part 2 of a two part series, be sure to listen to Part 1 for the full foundation. Learn more about Dr. Harry Anderson Website https://totalfeeds.com YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@totalfeeds