In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian, Samantha Baer interviews William Micklem — international equestrian coach, author of The Complete Horse Riding Manual, and inventor of the world-famous Micklem bridle. Known for his welfare-first approach to horse training, William shares how his philosophy of calm, forward, and straight helps riders build confidence, achieve personal bests, and create happier horses.

The conversation covers the inspiration behind the Go Rules TED Talk, why positive and generous coaching outperforms negativity, and how correct tack fit — from bridles to girths — transforms both comfort and performance. William explains why simplifying training leads to better results, how curiosity and courage shape great riders, and what it means to “create yourself through horses.”

If you love thoughtful conversations about horsemanship, tack, and rider mindset, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and share this episode with a fellow rider who would enjoy it.

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