Medieval Times & The Art of Horsemanship: Joy, Trust & the Old Masters | Mario Contreras | LFRF 55

About this episode

Rupert Isaacson interviews Mario Contreras about the art of horsemanship and the importance of joy in training horses.

✨ "The best teachers and coaches are the horses. It's important for us to learn to listen to them and see them." – Mario Contreras ✨ "There is a big word I always feel is missing from the training scale — and that's joy. Where's the joy? These are movements that horses do when they feel passion." – Rupert Isaacson Mario Contreras is the head trainer at Medieval Times Chicago, the man responsible for the standard of horsemanship that stops knowledgeable riders cold in the middle of a crowd of beer-drinking tourists who have no idea what they're witnessing. Third-generation horse trainer, born in Texcoco and raised in a family rooted in the Alta Escuela and charrería traditions of Jalisco, Mexico, Mario came to the US in 1990 with no English and a lifetime of classical riding in his bones — and built a 35-year career inside one of the most demanding equestrian entertainment operations in North America. In this wide-ranging conversation, Rupert and Mario cover the deep roots of Mexican horse culture that most American dressage riders have never heard of, how Mario trains complete beginners to become knights performing before 1,500 people in under three years, and why cross-training…

People in this episode

Host: Rupert Isaacson

Guest: Mario Contreras

Topics covered

• horsemanship
• Mexican horse culture
• classical riding
• training techniques
• joy in training
• equestrian entertainment

Keywords

• horsemanship
• training
• joy
• equestrian
• Mexican culture
• classical riding
• Medieval Times

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Medieval Times Chicago

Places: Texcoco, Jalisco, Mexico, North America

More episodes of Live Free Ride Free with Rupert Isaacson

• The Cowboy Who Bridges All Worlds: Classical Dressage, Ranch Medicine & the Art of Connection | Dr. Glenn Cochran | LFRF 54 · May 21, 2026 · 2h 14m
• Liberty, Lightness & the Long Game: From Parelli to the Beach | David Lichman | LFRF 53 · May 7, 2026 · 2h 6m
• Astrology, Ancestors & the Horse Soul: Reading the Stars for Riders | Denise Elizabeth Byron | LFRF 53 · April 23, 2026 · 2h 0m
• When Men Go Silent: Understanding the Male Mental Health Crisis | Eric Robertson | LFRF 51 · April 9, 2026 · 1h 37m
• Dressage Naturally: Happiness, Harmony & the Truth About Training | Karen Rohlf | LFRF 50 · March 26, 2026 · 1h 51m
• The Lost Gardens of Heligan: Storytelling, Nature, Horses & the Power of Place | Laura Chesterfield | LFRF 49 · March 12, 2026 · 1h 59m