The Elevated Equestrian

If your horse's back pain, lameness, or behavior issues keep coming back no matter what you try, this conversation is for you.Equine and human osteopath Elisse Miki of Equilibria Therapeutics joins Sam to unpack what osteopathy actually is — and why it's so much more than massage or fascial work. Elise breaks down why structure governs function, the science of spinal facilitation and how gut inflammation drives chronic back pain, why "tight" doesn't always mean "short," and why fluid flow is the foundation of healing. We also get into when to call an osteopath and the environmental shifts — track systems, free-flow hay, herd turnout — that can resolve issues no bodywork ever will.Follow The Elevated Equestrian so you never miss a conversation that helps you ride and train with more clarity, curiosity, and care.

Is your horse's feed doing more harm than good? In this episode, functional nutrition therapy practitioner and veteran vet tech Stephanie Carter of Indigo Ancestral Health joins Sam to break down why so many performance horses — not just ponies and draft crosses — are being diagnosed with metabolic issues like elevated insulin, EMS, and Cushing's. Stephanie explains her Won't Thrive 25 list of common feed ingredients that contribute to inflammation, why a "perfect" guaranteed analysis can still promote sickness, and how 150 years of modern feeding has imposed more change on horses than 22 million years of evolution.We get into the HPA axis and how chronic stress — from stall confinement, restricted forage, and training pressure — can drive elevated cortisol, spike insulin, and fatigue the adrenal glands, mimicking a Cushing's diagnosis in horses as young as four. Stephanie shares why restricting hay for easy keepers often backfires by triggering a survival response that slows metabolism and promotes weight gain, and how a forage-first, species-appropriate approach with real-food ingredients and quality minerals can reverse insulin resistance and restore long-term health.We also talk about the microbiome's role in bioavailability, why collaboration between vets, nutritionists, farriers, and bodyworkers matters more than ever, and how horse owners can take ownership of their horse's health in the middle of a growing vet shortage.Follow The Elevated Equestrian Podcast so you never miss an episode, and find all the ways to connect, listen, and follow along at https://www.samanthabaer.com/links

What's really happening in your horse's brain when the pressure is on — and why does it matter for how we train? In this episode, neuroscientist and lifelong horse trainer Dr. Janet Jones (author of Horse Brain, Human Brain and the upcoming A Horse's World) joins the podcast to unpack the science behind the prey animal brain at every level of performance.We get into what's actually happening neurologically when a horse is stressed at a show, why confinement and tight tack make fear worse, how trust is built (and how quickly it can be broken), the difference between learning and performing in the horse's brain, why drilling destroys motivation while practice builds it, how surprise-based rewards create stronger neural connections than predictable food treats, and why the best thing most riders can do is simply slow down. Dr. Jones also shares why a horse's skin is more sensitive than a human fingertip, why it takes at least a year of daily interaction to build real trust, and how mixing disciplines keeps horses mentally and physically healthier.Whether you're starting a young horse, competing at the upper levels, or just trying to better your relationship with your horse — this one's packed with science you can actually use.🎧 Follow The Elevated Equestrian Podcast so you never miss an episode → available on Spotify & Apple Podcasts🔗 Find all things Elevated Equestrian: https://www.samanthabaer.com/links

Are you white knuckling your way through barn chores, rushing between rides, and wondering why your body keeps revolting? In this episode, nutritional therapist and endometriosis educator Katie Edmonds of Heal Endo breaks down the difference between CAN chemistry (cortisol, adrenaline, norepinephrine) and DOSE chemistry (dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, endorphins) — and why the one you're living in is shaping everything from your hormones to your horse's behavior.We talk about chronic inflammation as the root of conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, and Hashimoto's, why high-performing equestrians are especially prone to nervous system dysregulation, and how being a highly sensitive person in a sport that demands toughness creates a cycle that can wreck your health. Katie shares practical ways to shift out of survival physiology — including the concept of "pottering" — so you can show up for your horse from a place of regulation instead of white-knuckled control.Whether you're managing a diagnosed condition or just feel like something's off, this episode will change how you think about performance, partnership, and what it really means to take care of yourself so you can take care of your horses.Follow The Elevated Equestrian on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Grete Jørgensen is a researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy Research who's spent years studying how horses communicate preferences — including the viral blanket study that taught horses to use symbols for yes and no. In this episode, we talk about what it actually took to teach horses to make choices, and what it revealed about how we train them.We get into why some horses were too shut down to even touch the board, the cold-blooded horse who kept asking for a blanket when everyone assumed he'd be fine, how positive reinforcement was the only way to make the study work, whether horses should have a say in how they're kept and trained, and why the culture of "kick and pull" often starts at Pony Club.Whether you're competing at the top level or just want a better relationship with your horse, this one's worth a listen.Connect with Grete:Horse Voice Project: nibio.no/en/projects/giving-the-horse-a-voice-horse-welfare-and-owner-awarenessNews article: nibio.no/en/news/2026/new-research-project-gives-horses-a-voice🐴 Ready to help your horse move better? Check out my course From Stiff to Supple in 28 Days – currently 40% off at $58 (regular $97). Presale ends March 15th. 👉 samanthabaer.com/courses

What if the resistance, crookedness, and tension you feel in your horse is actually coming from you? In this episode, I sit down with Matthias Agneessens — manual therapist, biomechanics specialist, and the man treating some of the world's top show jumpers — to break down exactly why rider posture and muscle activation is the missing piece most trainers never address. We talk about why your gym work might be making things worse, how a blocked psoas affects both you AND your horse, and why "fix the rider and all the horses get better" is the most underrated truth in equestrian sport.Work with Matthias - Www.move2ride.com 🎧 Speaking of unlocking your horse's body — my course From Stiff to Supple in 28 Days is in presale right now at 40% off. Six ride-along audio lessons you can listen to straight from the saddle. Presale ends March 14th — grab it here: https://www.samanthabaer.com/courses/stiff-to-supple-28-days

What if your horse's biggest problem isn't behavior — it's that they can't feel you? In this episode, Josh Nichol joins the podcast to break down why so many horses shut down, spook, buck, or refuse to go forward — and why the answer almost never starts with the horse. We talk about the difference between lightness and softness, why tension stored in your horse's body is actually dormant behavior waiting to surface, and how your own unresolved triggers are showing up in every ride whether you realize it or not. Josh shares his framework around mind, space, and pressure — three core needs every horse has — and explains why desensitizing and sacking out aren't building the resilience you think they are. We dig into the danger of the current polarization in horsemanship, why good-hearted riders are the most paralyzed by fear of doing something wrong, and what it actually looks like to empower a horse to handle pressure instead of just removing it. If you're into equine psychology, nervous system training, groundwork, natural horsemanship, rider mindset, body mapping, emotional regulation in the saddle, or building a genuine partnership with your horse — this episode is packed. Follow The Elevated Equestrian Podcast so you never miss an episode and share this one with a rider who needs to hear it.

In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian, Samantha Baer sits down with horse trainer, author, and filmmaker Elsa Sinclair to ask the uncomfortable question that changed her entire approach to horses: do horses actually want to be ridden—if they truly had a choice? What starts as a simple question quickly opens the door to a radically different way of thinking about training, consent, and partnership.We talk about what it really means to train from the horse’s point of view, including Elsa’s decision to start a mustang without a halter, without food rewards, and without trapping or forcing participation. She shares how prioritizing the horse’s sensory and emotional systems—not just physical training—completely reshaped her understanding of motivation, cooperation, and trust.This conversation dives deep into sensory-based and emotional training, the peak-end rule and how horses form memories, and why many “problem behaviors” are actually patterns we unintentionally train into our horses. We also explore how these ideas apply to sport horses, especially sensitive, expressive horses who struggle with anxiety, explosiveness, or shutdown in high-pressure environments.If you’ve ever questioned where the line is between consent and compliance, or felt stuck between wanting partnership and needing results, this episode will challenge you—in the best way.👉 Subscribe to The Elevated Equestrian wherever you listen to podcasts for more honest conversations about horsemanship, performance, and putting the horse first without losing the joy of the sport.

Starting a young horse will expose your nervous system faster than any training issue ever could. In this episode, I sit down with Gabi Neurohr of Understanding Horses to talk about emotional regulation—why it matters, how horses mirror it, and what happens when we lose it under pressure. We dive into what it actually means to be a steady leader for a young horse, how to tell the difference between a horse that feels safe versus one that is simply compliant, and why spooking isn’t the problem—poor recovery is. Gabi shares her relationship-based approach to starting young horses, including how she uses clarity, timing, and emotional fitness instead of force, how to avoid getting stuck chasing perfection, and why slowing down often leads to faster progress. If you’re bringing along a young horse, rebuilding trust, or trying to stay calm when things get unpredictable, this conversation will shift how you think about training and leadership. 👉🏼 Follow The Elevated Equestrian on Spotify so you don’t miss future conversations on ethical horsemanship, rider mindset, and building better partnerships with our horses.

In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian, Swiss Olympian and 5★ rider Felix Vogg joins me for a genuinely honest conversation about what it takes to stay competitive in one of the toughest sports in the world. We dig into the mental side of elite eventing—how he processes setbacks, why he doesn’t let failure freeze him, and what actually went through his mind after a heartbreaking fall at Badminton. Felix opens up about how he rebuilt, how he kept believing in his horses, and how that approach ultimately led to major wins at Maryland and Petroni later in the season.We talk about the years-long foundation behind a top event horse, why he rarely buys anything older than seven, and how individualized fitness and slow, patient development shape the longevity of a career. Felix shares why downsizing his string was one of the smartest decisions he’s made, how still grooming and handling his horses himself deepens their trust, and why understanding a horse on the ground matters just as much as riding them well. He also speaks candidly about the realities of running a high-performance program without endless owners or resources, and how that has shaped both his horsemanship and his mindset.If you’re interested in 5★ eventing, long-term horse development, the psychology of elite athletes, or what it truly takes behind the scenes to produce and maintain top horses, this conversation gives a rare, grounded look at all of it. It’s thoughtful, detailed, and full of insight for anyone who wants to build a stronger partnership or push their own riding forward.If you enjoy this episode, make sure to subscribe, share it with a friend, and help us keep growing The Elevated Equestrian—it means more than you know.

This week, I sit down with trainer and former upper-level event rider Madison Solosi for a refreshingly honest look at what it really takes to reinvent yourself in this sport. Madison grew up homeschooled on a Michigan farm her parents built from scratch, went to Scotland to train with the legendary Ian Stark instead of college, competed through Intermediate, and eventually made the move to Virginia to build a business in a place with a deeper horse community.We talk about the mental and physical shift from eventing to show jumping, the culture shock of entering a new discipline, learning to be “the new kid” again, finding community in the jumper world, managing a 15-stall training program, and figuring out how to stay competitive while raising a family and rehabbing from a major injury.It’s a conversation about identity, ambition, resilience, and what it looks like to start over when the sport you love demands something different from you.If you’re listening along, tap follow and keep sharing the show—this whole thing grows because of you.

Equine physiotherapist and trauma-informed trainer Yasmine Stewart joins Samantha Baer on The Elevated Equestrian to explore how posture, pain, and performance are deeply connected to a horse’s lived experience. Together they dive into what “neutral spine” really means in motion, how enrichment and curiosity can create physical change faster than drills, and why honoring a horse’s agency can actually accelerate progress—not slow it down.Yasmine explains how nervous-system regulation shapes soundness, shares the link between trauma and posture, and offers a practical lens for navigating complex rehab cases like kissing spines and arena aversion. She and Samantha also dig into the gray areas of performance—how competition pressure affects both horses and humans, and whether true consent and high performance can ever fully coexist.If you’ve ever questioned traditional “make it happen” training or wondered how to protect welfare without losing direction, this episode will challenge and inspire you to see your horse—and yourself—differently.🎧 Follow, rate, and review The Elevated Equestrian on Spotify to help more riders find thoughtful, horse-first conversations like this one.