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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. It’s a story about a quest for worthiness, exploitation by a trusted figure in her life, and the crushing isolation of secrecy. Still, and more importantly, Annette’s experience is about resilience, hope, and healing.
Caroline and Annette leave no stone unturned and also discuss:
Her trainer’s unreasonable pursuit for Annette to represent Greece at the Athens Olympics.
How the grooming process started and what the red flags were.
How Annette found the courage to leave the relationship six years later.
How friends, acquaintances, or sexual abuse prevention programs for athletes might support victims in similar situations.
It’s extremely challenging for victims to come forward and share their stories, but in doing so, they raise awareness and reduce stigma. If you or anyone you know is being impacted by sexual abuse in the US, this is a list of resources for getting help via We Ride Together: https://www.weridetogether.today/get-help/crisis-resources -
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 and upper-level eventing coach who sees ‘play’ not as a series of exercises, but as a beneficial mindset. In the final episode of Equestrian Voices, Tik and Caroline discuss why play is crucial to horse training and how to incorporate it into daily interactions. They also cover:
The difference between anxiety and playfulness in horses, and why it’s easy to confuse them.
Using the social rules of play to ensure both you and your horse are winning the game.
Bringing play and thoughtfulness into daily activities like leading your horse.
What play is not–drilling, a chore, or hard work!
Why it’s important to slow down and take a puzzle-solving approach.
Rewarding softness and effort during play.
Adding play into our training can teach us to be better observers, facilitate better communication, and reignite our passion for horses. If you loved this episode, watch for Tik Maynard’s latest Equestrian Masterclass, which launches in May.This is our final episode of Equestrian Voices. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being here.
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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 horses. Thanks, evolution.
The good news is that our nervous system doesn’t have to hinder us, in fact, it can help us. But it takes some work, and some information.
Natalie Hummel is a high performance coach specializing in nervous system regulation. In this episode, she and Caroline discuss how we can improve our results by creating our own sense of safety and expanding our capacities for stress and pressure. They also cover:
The three different nervous system states and why some of them make learning new things biologically impossible.
How to process uncomfortable emotions like fear, shame, or anger, so you can get back to a performance state.
Why shame and feelings of “not enoughness” may be holding you back, even if you’re not aware of them.
Why overworking, perfectionism, and knowledge-seeking, are actually avoidance strategies.
How to recognize ineffective coaching.
Thank you to our sponsors, Equestrian Masterclass and Nikovian.
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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 Bevan, who shares her knowledge of equine biomechanics and identifying pain to sustain a healthy topline. They cover a wide range of topics and solutions, including:
Assessing your horse’s topline by observing them in motion and palpating their muscles.
Signs of pain you may have missed.
Why poor saddle fit can cause atrophy and compensatory movement.
Whether nutrition has a role in topline management.
What is species-specific care, and why it’s critical for supporting the horse's natural movement and digestive system.
How to rehabilitate the topline with saddle fit, groundwork, and movement.
If you love this podcast and want more visual demonstration, Ansley’s course on assessing and rehabilitating the topline will be available on EquestrianMasterclass.com on March 4, 2024.
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“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 these terms can improve your communication as a rider or trainer, and influence your decisions moving forward. For instance, knowing ‘tempo’ can help you select which show rings your horse can thrive in and offer important considerations for buying horses. We’ll also cover:
Why pace is more helpful than speed in the jumper ring
The difference between natural vs. created impulsion
What “hacking” actually means and how it relates to recovery and fitness
How to make a good first and last impression on a judge (yes, judges do notice if you forget to pet your horse!)
Caroline and Rob also dive into some hot topics like whether or not judges need to have equivalent riding experience to the classes they are judging and where we may need to draw the line on draw-reins.
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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 Games.
Amelia’s ambition, sense of humor, and dedication are nothing short of extraordinary, and you won’t want to miss her insights on:
How focusing on what you can control can help you through traumatic or difficult times.
Why mental health detriments may come years after an accident.
Her initial resistance to becoming a para-rider.
Why Olympic success does not guarantee an easier path.
How to balance a career with your equestrian ambitions.
What personal sacrifices it takes to make it to the top.
Support our show by supporting our sponsors:
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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 conversation about how meeting your horse's needs can forge deeper connections, encourage softness, and reduce spooking. They also cover practical and key techniques like:
Meeting your horses’ self-preservation needs with mind, space and pressure.
Encouraging a horse to think with pressure and softness.
Using mindfulness to manage your reactions to your horse.
Recognizing where a horse stores tension in their body.
Understanding the difference between masculine and feminine energy in horse training.
Why doing own own internal work can strengthen our partnerships
Support our shoy by supporting our sponsors:
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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, Annette and host Caroline speak about the student-trainer relationship and how introspection and vulnerability can move us closer to our goals. They also dive into:
The mental difference between top riders and everyday equestrians (spoiler alert: it’s not as much as you might think!)
What is the student’s responsibility, and what is the trainer’s
Practical tips for getting the most out of the student/trainer relationship (whether you’re the student or the trainer).
How the relationship should shift from ‘parent/child’ model, to ‘adult/adult’ and become more reciprocal
Our most important responsibility as riders
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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, and is the co-publisher of Eventing Nation.
Sally and Caroline are breaking down our most memorable moments in 2023, including:
How more equestrians can embody athletic identities to match the fitness expectations we have for our horses
How we can merge honoring our horses’ best selves with our own ambitions
What it means to be confident in the saddle, and how self-awareness and self-dialogue can get you there
How we can begin to repair our relationships with our horses and with ourselves
Listening to this recap will ensure you don’t miss some of the most powerful, transformative moments of the year. Not only can these clips uplevel your riding, but they can enhance the way you relate to your horse, yourself and the sport.
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Michael Pollard had what most of us could only dream of - a meteoric rise in the discipline of Eventing (including winning a Pan Am Games team Gold Medal in 2011), a string of talented horses, a strong non-horse business that supported his riding career, and a supportive group of sponsors, friends and family.
But then, to the surprise of many, Michael retired from the sport in 2016, selling all of his horses. He went from spending most of his time training and riding, to not sitting on a horse for several years.
In a strikingly candid conversation, host Caroline Culbertson sits down with Michael to get the story behind this difficult decision; the events that led up to it, the immediate aftermath, and how he’s come back to the sport now as not only a different rider, but also a different person.
This special, not-to-be-missed discussion also touches on many taboo, yet common, aspects of horse sport, including:
A frank dialogue about addiction, and how it nearly derailed his entire early riding career
Financial strain of competing, especially at the top level
Addressing the holes in your training
Dealing with the loss of a horse (and in Michael’s case, multiple horses at once in a devastating trailer accident)
Balancing riding with family, and the tough calls that are made along the way
How to allow yourself to be OK with changing paths while deciding what truly matters in your life
Why taking a break from horses doesn’t have to be a thing you avoid doing at all costs
3 little things to do if you’re getting back into riding after a break
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As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, the time comes once more for the biggest decision of the winter: Do you blanket your horse, or not? And, which one? (Heavy, medium, medium-light, neck or no neck?!)
Some riders put a sheet on at the slightest sign of a chill, while others keep their horses bare regardless of outside conditions. And of course, there are the temperature charts that pop up each year, which are meant to apply hard and fast rules to blanketing, but never actually seem to.
In this episode of Equestrian Voices, host Caroline Culbertson sits down with Dr. Michelle DeBoer of the University of Wisconsin, who has a PhD in Animal Science and whose research delves into this singular question of horse ownership.
In their extremely informative discussion, they discuss all things blanketing, and some of the ancillary topics blanketing invariably brings up, including:
Thermoregulation, and how horses use it to keep themselves warm (and how clipping alters that process)
Why thinking that if you’re cold, then your horse is also cold, is incorrect
How breeds, body size, and age should affect your blanketing choices
Why a hot bran mash doesn’t actually help keep our horses warm (though it does warm our hearts!)
Whether or not blanketing early in the season means you have to continue to blanket all season
What outside factors to take into consideration when thinking about blanketing besides just the weather
To learn more about Dr. DeBoer's work, check out her Equine PhD page. You can read a summary of the Norway study referenced in this episode here.
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Horses are well known for their power to heal. The positive feelings we have after spending time with our horses are, after all, one of the main reasons why we ride, and equine therapy is used to treat a wide range of physical and mental health challenges.
How often, though, do we think about the flip side of the coin - how do our actions help, or hinder, our horses’ mental and emotional well being? How can we as horse lovers be more in tune with the spiritual needs of our partners, and show up for them in a state that disrupts their natural way of being as little as possible? How can modalities like bodywrok help our horses heal when they need it?
This week, host Caroline Culberston sits down with Gabriel Gandzjuk, better known as Good Shepherd Gabriel, to discuss his work healing horses with both mental and physical injuries in their lives mainly through shiatsu massage and acupressure. Their deep conversation also delves into:
What “healing for horses” means, both physically and mentally
How horses process touch, and how it figures into his work
The ways in which horses process grief, and how we can support our horses when they experience it
Pain and stress behaviors in horses from the perspective of a practitioner who grew up outside of the horse world and didn’t come to them until adulthood
How you can support your horse spiritually, physically, and emotionally
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You’ve just left the barn after another frustrating lesson, and you don’t know what to do. You know that your horse is more than capable of achieving the goals you’ve set for your riding, but in your heart, you also don’t feel like your horse is having fun in the process. How do you go about deciding when it’s time for a new direction for both you and your horse? What are the feelings that come up during the process, and once the decision is made, how do you move forward with a new partnership?
In our latest Equestrian Voices episode, host Caroline Culbertson sits down with Equestrian Masterclass instructor Chelsea Canedy to talk about all of this and more, as Chelsea shares her first hand experience of selling her long time partner, Albert, and transitioning to a new (and very different) mare, Lila. They also discuss:
Evaluating your goals as a rider
Deciding whether or not those goals line up what your horse enjoys doing
Getting a handle on your ego as it relates to your partnership with a horse (new or otherwise)
Finding your own, unique joy as a rider
Integrating a new horse into your life
The emotions wrapped up in purchasing a new horse, and selling an old one
If this episode resonates with you, Chelsea Canedy has a new Equestrian Masterclass training program available now that walks you through the first 30 days with a new horse, or gives you tools for a "relationship reset". Go to www.equestrianmasterclass.com/newhorse to purchase the bundle for $27.
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Americans are known for their smooth, forward positions on the horse, so much so that it became known as the ‘American Forward Seat’. But how has it evolved over the years as our light, sensitive Thoroughbreds have blended with the heavier horses of Europe? Does it still provide the same effective foundation today as it did before, or is it less relevant today?
In this episode, Caroline sits down with Olympic Gold Medalist and former top show jumping rider, Peter Wylde. Peter, whose depth and breadth of experience also includes coaching top eventing like Boyd Martin and Liz Halliday Sharp, digs into all of the above questions, and so much more. The amount of knowledge covered in this special episode is truly astounding, and includes topics such as:
How the American “Forward Seat” originated, and how it’s blended with the European style of riding to create a more modern, effective version
The effects of globalization of the sport on rider position
Why modern course design has had a direct impact on how riders position themselves in the saddle
A list of riders who Peter believe are excellent riders to study and emulate
Defining what “riding style” actually means and encompasses
The role that confidence plays in developing (and keeping) a positive riding style
The differences in both environment and rider culture between top 3 Day Eventing and Show Jumping competitions.
The nuances of coaching elite level riders
It’s worth noting that if you like what you hear, Peter Wylde has an Equestrian Masterclass available now that’s all about how to become an effective, smooth rider. You can get $50 off an annual membership by going to www.equestrianmasterclass.com/voicesSupport our show by supporting our sponsors!
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We’ve all seen the pictures: the emaciated horse who looks ancient, but in actuality is in their prime, their coat dirty and their eyes dull. We’ve all also had the desire to just hook up our trailer (or commandeer one) and take them home to a better life.
Unfortunately, few of us have the resources or the means to follow through on that impulse - so how do we go about helping all of the horses who are in dire need? And what are the lives like of the people who do follow through and take the one (or in one of our guest’s case…more than one) horses back home - what do they want everyone to know about their lives and organizations? What do they really need from us to succeed and keep their doors open?
In this episode of Equestrian Voices, host Caroline Culbertson sits down with Tahlia Fischer from All Seated in a Barn and Olivia Alcorta from Storeybrook Farm.
In their candid, heartfelt, conversation, Caroline and her guests discuss many of the seen (and unseen) aspects of the horse rescue world, including:
How they came to each run horse rescues.
The common misconceptions about rescues that people carry with them.
The day to day reality of what it takes
What horse rescues can (and cannot) provide for the horses they receive.
An open kimono discussion about vet bills, and the overall costs of running an organization that regularly brings horses back from the brink.
Most importantly, how you can best help these critically important organizations in their work.
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When you go to a horse show, you can see riders diligently warming up their horses prior to competition, making sure their partner is both mentally and physically ready for the task ahead. But you rarely (if ever) see those same riders warming themselves up before they mount up, making sure they are just as prepared. Why is there such a vast disconnect between horse preparation and wellness and rider self-care, and how is it affecting our sport?
On today’s podcast, Caroline is joined by Ifa Simmonds of Ifa Fit. Ifa’s Equestrian Fitness Academy (EFA) is a holistic online program with categorized fitness training, nutrition, and mindset programs geared to improve riders from the inside out. The program's signature system helps riders in the 4 pillars equestrians often look to improve upon (Stability, Suppleness, Strength & Stamina). He also believes in a holistic approach to fitness - not just lunges and crunches.
In their wide-reaching, thoughtful discussion, Caroline and Ifa touch on many topics around fitness and wellness in the equestrian world, including:
What it truly means to be an “Athlete” - and how to determine if you are one (or not)
If there is an Athlete’s Culture in equestrian sport (or not)
The concept of “wellness” and what it fully means
Consistency, and how to use it effectively
The difference between intention and action, and how it affects our riding
Habits, and how early adoption can help ingrain helpful ones (and not-so-helpful ones!)
Trigger warning - body weight, and how Ifa feels it does or doesn’t correlate to performance
Rest, recovery, and how to think about both as part of your overall performance and fitness
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There are many ideas about what good training looks like with horses. We imagine a well-trained horse as one who is able to perform its job at a high level, and view subsequent competition results as a validation of correctness. But what if that same horse can’t be mounted without being held, or has trouble loading onto/unloading off the trailer? Can we still say the horse is well trained if it’s not able to navigate the world around it with confidence?
These questions, and so many more, are explored in our latest podcast episode, where Caroline sits down with Amy Skinner of Amy Skinner Horsemanship to dig into what “good training”, pressure, and horsemanship means in the equestrian industry.
Amy Skinner is a highly sought after trainer and rider who gives clinics around the country, as well as being the author of two books around her training methods and unique background in the sport. She specializes in “problem” horses and helping horses and riders find better connections. Centering her philosophy around Classical Dressage and postural rehabilitation, Amy is a unique voice with deep insights into horses, training, and life in general.
In their intimate (and funny) conversation, Caroline and Amy discuss a wide variety of topics, including:The concept of “pressure” and how it plays into the lives of both horses and humans
Why competition results aren’t always the best litmus test for good training
Where we fall short in training our horses, and how we can become more self aware of our own gaps
Appropriate training levels for young horses, and why our hyper competitive space can break horses down early
The concept of a training “bank account”, and how our actions either pull from it, or deposit into it
Why horses who are trained solely through pressure and pain responses will never be truly safe.
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For most of us, competition is a large part of why we choose to ride, and also for most of us, we allow this drive to steer our behavior without really giving it too much thought.
But science shows that our competitive drive is not a mystery. In fact, learning about this powerful force behind our motivation can help us shape it towards positive, growth-minded outcomes, and avoid the potential negative consequences it can also bring.
In our latest episode of Equestrian Voices, host Caroline Culbertson sits down with Dr. Stephen Garcia, a professor in the Graduate School of Management at UC Davis and an expert on the psychology of competition, judgment, and decision-making. They discuss:
Why you feel competitive with some people, and not with others.
What to know about your own competitiveness when you’re involving another party (in our case, the horse) to reach your own goals.
Why some high performing athletes are also some of the most arrogant ones
Growth Mindset, and how it can be a positive force when paired with a competitive drive
Looking at those who outperform you with admiration sometimes, and other times with envy (and the potential outcomes of each viewpoint)
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While many riders need no excuse to tune into a livestream to watch the top show jumping athletes of our day duke it out at the FEI level, there are a lot of people who consider themselves sports enthusiasts who are nonetheless pretty lost when they try to watch the upper levels of the sport. Let’s not even start on how many of our friends and family would politely decline an invitation to a 5* Grand Prix viewing party. They would rather spend the weekend watching a football or basketball game - two sports of many that draw far more eyeballs and dollars despite (in our opinion) not being half as exciting to watch.
So what’s the disconnect between the top levels of FEI show jumping and the meager sponsorship and viewership that it rakes in? In this podcast, sport scientist Dr. Tim Worden and grand prix rider Sean Jobin – both of whom have an interest in the sport’s long term health and future – bring forth their 4 ideas for bringing in more funding for the top showjumping competitions, as well as more people viewing them.In this podcast, Caroline, Sean, and Dr. Worden discuss:
Proposed updates to the FEI ranking system, and why they would benefit horses, riders, and spectators
Making horse purchase prices available to the public, and why it would increase interest in watching them go
How better analytics could engage new fans of the sport
Updating the current FEI class structure (and why the current structure might not be the best for the sport in the long run)
Why it matters that show jumping become more interesting for the fans that watch it
The challenges that come with prize money not increasing in proportion to the expense of the sport
What do you think? Email us - [email protected], DM us on social, or call us and leave us a voicemail: +1 (236) 428-7868
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There are stereotypes for just about everything when it comes to the horse world, and aging horses are no exception. We picture a hard keeper becoming increasingly thin over time, or maybe we imagine a recently retired athlete going out to a big pasture with a herd of other horses and immediately feeling content. But just like with every stereotype, these perceptions do not tell the full story, and can actually be harmful in the long run to our equine partners.
In this episode, we dive into all things Golden Oldies. We aim to clarify the physiology behind the equine aging process, and debunk some common myths in the process (spoiler alert - not all old horses struggle with weight loss!).
Our guest this week is Dr. Katie Sheats, an assistant professor of Equine Primary Care and a specialist in Equine Internal Medicine at NC State College of Veterinary Medicine. In addition to specializing in the care of older horses, Dr. Sheets also owns two senior horses in their 30s who live in her backyard. In short, she has an immense amount of both clinical and real-world experience when it comes to this topic, and she has an accordingly vast amount of knowledge to share.
Here are just a few of the topics Caroline and Dr. Sheats discuss in this week’s episode:
What causes aging in horses? It’s more than just the passing of time...
How weight plays into horse health as they age
How teeth condition and gut health factors in older horses
Tips and tricks for good preventative care
Common chronic illnesses in older horses (and how you can get the jump on them far before your horses turn Sr.)
Arthritic and orthopedic issues in older horses
Deciding when to retire your horse, and what that retirement might look like for them (it’s not always just a big field and no work!)
How to navigate the difficult decisions and conversations that one must face as horses near the end of their life
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