Success in the saddle requires more than riding skills. Mental toughness and physical strength are just as important. In this episode of Ask an Expert, Daniel Stewart explains how he builds riders and coaches who are balanced, confident, and ready to perform their best.

Episode Highlights:

19:30: Teaching coaches to support students through stress and nerves

25:30: Finding joy in the process when progress isn’t clear-cut

31:00: His approach to goal setting

35:30: Balancing risk and reward as a rider

42:30: Common mistakes riders make in building mental and physical strength

Meet the Expert, Daniel Stewart

Daniel Stewart has been an equestrian for over 35 years and has spent the last 25 of them coaching riders all over the world. Combining his knowledge as an equestrian with a degree in physical education, he created a series of clinics that help riders develop strong minds and bodies. As the internationally acclaimed author of the books “Pressure Proof Your Riding”, “Ride Right”, “Fit and Focused in 52”, and “Bolder Braver Brighter”, he’s widely considered one of the world's leading experts on equestrian sport psychology, athletics, and performance.

Brought to You By Ride iQ               

This episode is part of the Ask An Expert podcast series, usually available exclusively within the Ride iQ app, where members have access to over 100 other expert interviews on a variety of topics.              

Podcasts are just part of what Ride iQ has to offer. As a member, you also have access to on-demand, listen-while-you-ride audio lessons with world-class coaches and an incredible community of horse people (members and coaches alike!).               

Interested in trying Ride iQ? An all-access subscription is $29.99/month or $299.99/year, and new members get a free 14-day trial. Sign up at ⁠⁠Ride-iQ.com today and start improving your riding and horse care with support from top professionals! 

Book Links: 

Pressure Proof Your Riding 

Ride Right 

Fit and Focused in 52 

Bolder Braver Brighter

Equine ulcers are one of the most talked-about yet often misunderstood issues in the horse world. In this episode of Ask an Expert, veterinarian Dr. Angie Yates breaks down how ulcers develop, the signs to watch for, and the most effective ways to prevent and treat them.

Episode Highlights:

3:00: Understanding the horse’s digestive system: foregut vs. hindgut

11:00: Recognizing the most common symptoms of ulcers

19:30: Environmental and training factors that can help prevent ulcers

31:30: The risks of leaving ulcers untreated

41:30: The three main treatment options for ulcers

Meet the Expert, Dr. Angie Yates

Dr. Yates is the owner of Yates Equine Sports Medicine based in Ocala, Florida, which specializes in performance horses. She received her Bachelor of Science from Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois. In addition to being an equine veterinarian, Dr. Yates is also certified in acupuncture, chiropractics, equine rehabilitation, and she serves as an FEI vet.

Brought to You By Ride iQ               

This episode is part of the Ask An Expert podcast series, usually available exclusively within the Ride iQ app, where members have access to over 100 other expert interviews on a variety of topics.              

Podcasts are just part of what Ride iQ has to offer. As a member, you also have access to on-demand, listen-while-you-ride audio lessons with world-class coaches and an incredible community of horse people (members and coaches alike!).               

Interested in trying Ride iQ? An all-access subscription is $29.99/month or $299.99/year, and new members get a free 14-day trial. Sign up at ⁠⁠Ride-iQ.com today and start improving your riding and horse care with support from top professionals! 

Do you ever wish you had the formula for getting your horse fit, confident, and ready to compete at your level? In this episode of Ask an Expert, Jon Holling shares 6-week conditioning schedule templates for Training, Modified, and Preliminary levels and explains how to adapt them to your horse and circumstances. Even if you’re not an event rider, these conditioning strategies offer valuable insights that can be applied to any discipline.   

Episode Highlights:

6:40: Covering the 6-week program for Training level.

18:25: Covering the 6-week program for Modified level.

31:00: Covering the 6-week program for Preliminary level.

59:00: Altering the schedule in preparation for an event.

1:02:00: Flexibility with the number of days a week the horse should work.

Printable conditioning schedule templates

⁠⁠Training⁠

⁠Modified⁠ ⁠

Preliminary 

Video of the episode 

Meet the Expert, Jon Holling   

Jon Holling is a U.S. 5* event rider with an impressive career both in and out of the saddle. He’s coached the Area IV Young Rider team to multiple gold medals, serves as Chairman of the USEF Eventing Sport Committee, and is the National Safety Officer for the US to the FEI. As an ICP Level IV coach, Jon brings top-level expertise and a passion for developing riders at every stage.   

Brought to You By Ride iQ                    

This episode is part of the Ask An Expert podcast series, usually available exclusively within the Ride iQ app, where members have access to over 100 other expert interviews on a variety of topics.                  

Podcasts are just part of what Ride iQ has to offer. As a member, you also have access to on-demand, listen-while-you-ride audio lessons with world-class coaches and an incredible community of horse people (members and coaches alike!).                   

Interested in trying Ride iQ? An all-access subscription is $29.99/month or $299.99/year, and new members get a free 14-day trial. Sign up at ⁠⁠Ride-iQ.com today and start improving your riding and horse care with support from top professionals! 

Do you ever wish you had the formula for getting your horse fit, confident, and ready to compete at your level? In this episode of Ask an Expert, Jon Holling shares 6-week conditioning schedule templates for Starter, Beginner Novice, and Novice levels and explains how to adapt them to your horse and circumstances. Even if you’re not an event rider, these conditioning strategies offer valuable insights that can be applied to any discipline.   

Episode Highlights:             

9:20: Covering the 6-week program for Starter level. 

24:50: Covering the 6-week program for Beginner Novice level.

29:30: Covering the 6-week program for Novice level. 

42:00: Altering the schedule in preparation for an event. 

52:50: Altering the schedule after missing a day.  

Printable conditioning schedule templates ⁠

⁠Starter level⁠

⁠Beginner Novice⁠ ⁠

Novice⁠   

Video of the episode 

Meet the Expert, Jon Holling   

Jon Holling is a U.S. 5* event rider with an impressive career both in and out of the saddle. He’s coached the Area IV Young Rider team to multiple gold medals, serves as Chairman of the USEF Eventing Sport Committee, and is the National Safety Officer for the US to the FEI. As an ICP Level IV coach, Jon brings top-level expertise and a passion for developing riders at every stage.   

Brought to You By Ride iQ                    

This episode is part of the Ask An Expert podcast series, usually available exclusively within the Ride iQ app, where members have access to over 100 other expert interviews on a variety of topics.                  

Podcasts are just part of what Ride iQ has to offer. As a member, you also have access to on-demand, listen-while-you-ride audio lessons with world-class coaches and an incredible community of horse people (members and coaches alike!).             

Interested in trying Ride iQ? An all-access subscription is $29.99/month or $299.99/year, and new members get a free 14-day trial. Sign up at ⁠⁠Ride-iQ.com today and start improving your riding and horse care with support from top professionals! 

For most horse owners, feeding is more than a chore, it’s a way to nurture their horse. In this episode of Ask an Expert, Dr. Rachel Mottet breaks down how to create a diet that truly supports your horse’s wellbeing.    

Episode Highlights:           

9:30: Common nutrition mistakes horse owners make 

16:15: Building a feeding program from the ground up 

26:40: Visual and handling cues for evaluating hay quality 

41:00: The best approach to feeding supplements 

44:15: Nutritional red flags that show up as behavioral issues 

Meet the Expert, Dr. Rachel Mottet    

Dr. Rachel Mottet holds a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Animal Science and Nutrition. Through her company, Legacy Equine Nutrition, she has served the equine community as a trusted equine nutrition professional for more than a decade. Over the years, Dr. Mottet has partnered with hundreds of horse farms, developed individualized feeding programs for more than 5,000 horses, and delivered educational seminars to thousands of horse owners nationwide.   

Brought to You By Ride iQ               

This episode is part of the Ask An Expert podcast series, usually available exclusively within the Ride iQ app, where members have access to over 100 other expert interviews on a variety of topics.              

Podcasts are just part of what Ride iQ has to offer. As a member, you also have access to on-demand, listen-while-you-ride audio lessons with world-class coaches and an incredible community of horse people (members and coaches alike!).             

Interested in trying Ride iQ? An all-access subscription is $29.99/month or $299.99/year, and new members get a free 14-day trial. Sign up at ⁠⁠Ride-iQ.com today and start improving your riding and horse care with support from top professionals! 

Great riding starts with mastering the basics, but that’s often easier said than done. In this episode of Ask an Expert, Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer Lauren Sprieser shares her insights on the fundamentals of dressage and her approach to developing horses through the levels.   

Episode Highlights:         

8:30: The foundation every dressage horse needs 

16:30: The core basics riders must master 

23:40: Common misconceptions about foundational dressage work 

34:25: Key traits of successful riders at every level 

40:50: How to structure your ride and determine the right duration   

Meet the Expert, Lauren Sprieser    

Lauren Sprieser is a USDF Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medalist With Distinction and an international Grand Prix dressage competitor. She has a successful training and coaching business, Sprieser Sporthorse, which she runs out of Clearwater Farm in Marshall, Virginia. In addition to producing numerous FEI horses and riders, Lauren is an acclaimed blogger for the Chronicle of the Horse and a regular contributor to Dressage Today, Noelle Floyd, and Practical Horseman. She is a graduate of the young rider and U25 programs and earned a degree in public policy and urban planning from Sarah Lawrence College.   

Brought to You By Ride iQ           

This episode is part of the Ask An Expert podcast series, usually available exclusively within the Ride iQ app, where members have access to over 100 other expert interviews on a variety of topics.          

Podcasts are just part of what Ride iQ has to offer. As a member, you also have access to on-demand, listen-while-you-ride audio lessons with world-class coaches and an incredible community of horse people (members and coaches alike!).           

Interested in trying Ride iQ? An all-access subscription is $29.99/month or $299.99/year, and new members get a free 14-day trial. Sign up at ⁠⁠Ride-iQ.com today and start improving your riding and horse care with support from top professionals! 

We expect our horses to be fit, flexible, and athletic—but what about us? In this episode of Ask an Expert, strength and conditioning coach Tony Sandoval dives into rider fitness and shares his approach to building strength, balance, and body awareness in the saddle. 

Episode Highlights:       

15:00 – The current culture around rider fitness in equestrian sports

23:00 – Key components of a well-rounded performance plan

27:00 – How to approach fitness and wellness when starting from scratch

41:30 – Tips for adult amateurs beginning their fitness journey

48:30 – The most effective approach to flexibility and cardio for equestrians 

Coach Sando has over 15 years of experience in the fitness industry, beginning his career as a Division 1 collegiate strength and conditioning coach. After the opportunity to help an injured rider through rehab, he shifted his focus entirely to equestrian athletes and founded Coach Sando Training. Since then, he has worked with top riders including eventers Allie Knowles and Cosby Green. Coach Sando is passionate about helping riders improve their strength in the saddle, reduce common aches and pains, and build a deeper connection with their horses through intentional fitness and movement.  

Want More From Coach Sando?         

Coach Sando has been a guest on the Ask an Expert podcast twice and has created a comprehensive 10-module rider fitness program exclusively on the Ride iQ app. Each module is designed to target a specific aspect of rider fitness, helping riders become well-rounded athletes. You can access all of Coach Sando's resources and everything else Ride iQ has to offer by starting your free trial at Ride-iQ.com.      

Book recommendation: Atomic Habits by James Clear 

Whether you're a seasoned pro or an adult amateur, helmet safety is a topic that affects all of us. In this episode of Ask an Expert, helmet safety expert Jeanie Clarke helps us navigate the different helmet approval standards, emerging technologies, and what truly matters most based on your individual needs.   

Episode Highlights:       

3:00: The key differences between the main helmet safety standards 

10:30: The different types of impact that helmets are tested for 

28:00: Finding a helmet that truly fits 

36:40: The exciting new helmet technology that is on the rise      

Meet the Expert, Jeanie Clark 

Jeanie Clarke is a lifelong horsewoman, a USEA ICP Level 2 Instructor, and a Graduate A Pony Clubber. She has competed at the FEI level in both showjumping and eventing and runs her own Jeanie Clarke Equestrian based in Ocala, FL. Combining her passions for educating others and providing top quality equipment, she founded Equestrian Outfitters with the goal of carrying the best equipment currently available on the market. Jeanie has undergone extensive training to become one of the leading industry experts in helmet safety, fitting, and technology and is now the main US representative for ARRO helmets.         

Brought to You By Ride iQ       

This episode is part of the Ask An Expert podcast series, usually available exclusively within the Ride iQ app, where members have access to over 100 other expert interviews on a variety of topics.       

Podcasts are just part of what Ride iQ has to offer. As a member, you also have access to on-demand, listen-while-you-ride audio lessons with world-class coaches and an incredible community of horse people (members and coaches alike!).       

Interested in trying Ride iQ? An all-access subscription is $29.99/month or $299.99/year, and new members get a free 14-day trial. Sign up at ⁠⁠Ride-iQ.com today and start improving your riding and horse care with support from top professionals! 

We’ve all heard advice like “never let a colicky horse lie down” or “don’t let a hot horse drink cold water”—but how much of that is actually true? In this episode of Ask an Expert, equine veterinarian Dr. Erica Lacher separates fact from fiction as she busts some of the most common horse care myths once and for all.   

Episode Highlights:       

6:10: Debunking dental myths for young and senior horses

10:00: Colic dos, don’ts, and common misconceptions

17:30: Myths about when young horses are ready to be started

23:30: Misconceptions around scheduled care like joint injections and deworming

28:30: Miscellaneous horse care myths      

Meet the Expert, Dr. Erica Lacher     

A graduate of the University of Florida, Dr. Erica Lacher is the owner and lead veterinarian of Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic in Newberry, Florida. She has a particular interest in helping sport horses have long, successful careers and helping owners learn how to make that happen! When she's not at the clinic, Erica competes her own horses in the jumper ring and also has a podcast called Straight From The Horse Doctor's Mouth.   

Brought to You By Ride iQ     

This episode is part of the Ask An Expert podcast series, usually available exclusively within the Ride iQ app, where members have access to over 100 other expert interviews on a variety of topics.       

Podcasts are just part of what Ride iQ has to offer. As a member, you also have access to on-demand, listen-while-you-ride audio lessons with world-class coaches and an incredible community of horse people (members and coaches alike!).       

Interested in trying Ride iQ? An all-access subscription is $29.99/month or $299.99/year, and new members get a free 14-day trial. Sign up at ⁠⁠Ride-iQ.com today and start improving your riding and horse care with support from top professionals! 

As an equestrian, keeping a healthy mindset can be one of the toughest yet most important aspects of our sport. In this episode of Ask an Expert, transformational life coach Natalie Hummel shares advice for becoming the best version of yourself, both in and out of the saddle.      

Episode Highlights:     

13:00 – How to recognize and overcome limiting beliefs rooted in childhood 

23:00 – Setting meaningful, healthy goals that align with your values 

34:30 – Why competing isn’t essential for fulfillment or progress 

42:30 – Empowering advice for riders who tend to undersell themselves 

58:00 – Recommendations for riders that are recovering from a fall          

Natalie Hummel is a fellow equestrian that uses her experiences to coach people towards their competitive goals. Natalie received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Louisville with a major in Psychology and a minor in Wellness. She was also the head research assistant in the learning and performance lab and went on to obtain her Wellcoaches certification and Mastery Coach certification.       

Want More From Natalie?       

Natalie is a returning guest on both the In Stride and Ask An Expert podcasts. In addition to those appearances, she hosted two seasons of the Mastermind podcast series, where she led mindset workshops with top riders. She also hosts Riders Unscripted, a series featuring anonymous, one-on-one sports psychology sessions that offer a candid look into the mental side of riding. You can access all of Natalie's resources and everything else Ride iQ has to offer by starting your free trial at Ride-iQ.com.