Several weeks back, a video from a Mark Todd clinic circulated around the internet - it was a clip taken during a clinic, and it caused a lot of conversation and controversy on social media. This podcast is not about that video in particular, but the video did spark some reflection and larger conversations around what we deem acceptable in horse training, what we don’t, and how those standards are set and upheld. 

In this episode of Equestrian Voices, host Caroline Culbertson sits down with eventer Matt Brown, show jumper Anne Kursinski, and dressage rider Jeremy Steinberg to discuss. They discuss: 

• How they felt when they watched the video or read the community’s response
• Whether or not the rules that govern our sport reflect what we culturally deem acceptable in horse training
• Defining abuse and delineating between what challenges a horse and what constitutes abuse
• How things have changed in the past few decades
• How this very question changed the course of Jeremy and Matt’s lives and careers
• Turning insight into action and what each one of us can do and consider moving forward

It has become pretty much the norm to keep our horses on supplements, especially if we ride them. But so many of us are clicking the checkout button on a supplement with little more than a hope and a prayer that it does something for our horse, and proves to be worth the money. 

There’s so much marketing to wade through with equine supplements that it’s hard to determine what’s legit and what isn’t. So often we feel like more is better, so more supplements and nutrients must be better for our horses, right? (Unfortunately, nope!) 

The good news is that this episode will help you wade through the mass of information and possibly - even probably - save yourself a good amount of money in the process. 

Dr Jyme Nichols is a certified Professional Animal Scientist in the Equine discipline through American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists. She joins host, Caroline Culbertson, to tackle four big thinking points when it comes to navigating supplements for your horse: 

1. How to make an informed decision on whether or not your horse needs supplements, even if you’re not an equine nutrition expert. 
2. Ulcer/digestive supplements - do they work? 
3. What’s the evidence behind calming supplements?
4. Why hay analysis may be the most important part of this puzzle. 

If you missed part 1 of this 2-part episode on grief, start there! 

 

What can we learn from someone who watches grief unfold on a daily basis? 

 

Host Caroline Culbertson sits down with pediatric chaplain and equestrian Jessica Shannon to pass on the lessons that she has learned by sitting with countless children and parents in the darkest moments of their lives. What she shares is truly beautiful, poignant, and hopeful.

They discuss: 

• Why we’re so uncomfortable talking about grief (either our own or others’) 
• The many different forms that grief can take
• What the heck is “anticipatory grief”? 
• What to say, and what NOT to say, to someone who is grieving 
• Resources after loss 

If you’re in the horse world long enough, you’ll see or experience many, many different types of grief and loss. It’s an innate part of existing in a community, as equestrians do, and it’s an inevitable part of loving these animals who are very good at finding traumatic and expensive ways to injure themselves or die. 

And yet, we haven’t gotten that good at talking about our grief. Most of us also lack the tools to support our friends and loved ones through their grief journeys, too – not for lack of intent, but for lack of understanding and fear of the uncomfortable moments. 

In Part 1 of this 2-part episode, host Caroline Culbertson sits down with Dr. Jenny Susser to break down what is happening inside our brains and our bodies when we experience grief. 

 

They discuss: 

• What grief, as a human process, actually is. What’s happening that makes us feel the way we feel after a loss? 
• Why grief can take place after events besides death and loss. 
• How do we find closure in grief? How long will it take? 
• Why it’s important to laugh during your grief
• Why the first year of grief is often the most challenging

We know, we know… flatwork is so crucial for training and athletic development, but boy can it be frustrating when you’re dealing with an ongoing training or behavioral issue. Good flatwork feels amazing; bad flatwork feels like the longest 45 minutes of your life. 

In this episode, host Caroline Culbertson sits down with Team USA’s Silva Martin to dissect 3 common flatwork woes. Ride horses long enough, and you’ll probably encounter all three. Hooray! 

1. The horse that jigs at the walk. 
2. The horse that is stiff in one direction (or easier to bend in one direction). 
3. The horse that leans on the forehand. 

They discuss how to think about these problems, what is happening biomechanically, what doesn’t work (tempted though we may be), and what exercises to focus on instead. Silva has seen it all, and each of these problems can be improved greatly. There’s hope for us yet! 

There are more opportunities to show and compete than ever before. If you wanted to, you could theoretically spend nearly 52 weeks of the year in the show ring, chasing qualifications and year-end awards and prize money. On top of that, we have more cutting edge veterinary knowledge and technology than we’ve ever had available to us, and much of it is geared towards performance horse soundness. 

Both of these things are great! But, as the old saying goes, ‘Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should’. We have to gut-check ourselves: Are our horses paying the price for our drive to compete? Is the idea of giving our horses a real break from work becoming ancient history? What’s causing this shift, and how do we get ourselves back to a time where horses, like pro human athletes, have an on- and off-season?

Equestrian Masterclass instructor and President of the U.S. Eventing Association, Max Corcoran, joins host Caroline Culbertson to discuss: 

• What has contributed to the rise of competing too much, too hard, too often (finances, geography, pressure and more)
• How burnout shows up in the horses mentally and emotionally
• Common overuse injuries
• What we can learn from human athlete performance and what it has to do with horses
• Why we do need to “reinvent the wheel”
• Grooms’ roles in identifying an overworked horse
• Max’s rule of thumb for giving our horses time off 

Riders with baggage, gather 'round!  This week's episode is less of an interview, and more of a (personal) conversation. Host Caroline Culbertson sits down with her own trainer, Chelsea Canedy, to discuss how the past several months of working with Caroline's hot, sensitive horse have unearthed some old, unproductive ways of thinking about riding, training, and progress.  In this chat, they discuss:  - How Chelsea's background informs how she works with horses and how she approached Caroline's roadblock - What training horses has to do with meditation, social work, and Buddhism (?!) - How sometimes, being successful (or unsuccessful) with certain horses has little to do with your skill - The challenge of "doing nothing" with a sensitive horse - Why getting off the horse is not a failure, it's a strategy (and other old ways of thinking we need to let go of) This episode is a great listen for anyone who has ever wanted to ask for help but felt worried, or struggled with a horse they felt they had no business on, or anyone who has ever felt hopelessly "stuck" in training with their horse. So, probably 95% of us. Enjoy.

Need a dose of inspiration and positivity to start the new year? Meet US Paralympian Sydney Collier. You’re going to love her. 

Sydney’s story truly has to be heard to be believed. Sydney was living an active, horse-filled childhood when her very rare syndrome was discovered at a routine eye appointment. The next several years included experimental treatments and surgeries, devastating strokes, and resulted in her physical disability. All the while, she remained focused on finding ways to ride with her limited left side and left arm, which she semi-affectionately named Linda.

And ride, she did. Sydney earned a spot on the US Para Dressage team and was the youngest competitor at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in France. At age 18, she won the 2016 US Para-dressage National Championships and became the youngest member in the equestrian portion of the 2016 Paralympics in Rio as a part of Team USA.

Sydney walks us through the constant hurdles, the seemingly perpetual changes to her body and her disability, and how she found ways to adapt and thrive at every turn (and even logistically, how to work with horses who are not familiar with para riding). She has become an outspoken advocate for riders with disabilities and para dressage, and finds ways to spread support and positivity to riders of all abilities, everywhere she goes. 

To close out the year, we're rounding up 7 of our favorite (and your favorite!) moments from the inaugural year of the Equestrian Voices podcast. We are so grateful for each and every one of you who listens, and can't wait for the conversations and episodes in store for 2022. See you in the new year!

In no particular order, the clips are from these episodes: 

1. Student/Trainer Relationship: It’s Complicated with Dr. Jenny Susser
2. Horse Market is Bananas, Let’s Discuss with Hope Glynn
3. A Real Life Horse Nerd with Karl Cook
4. Mental Health Roundtable 
5. What Riding in a Frame Really Means with Jacqueline Brooks 
6. Natural Horseman, Meet Practical Rider with Tik Maynard
7. The Seen & Unseen Realities of Going Pro with Lauren Sprieser

[Content Warning: Discussions of sexual misconduct and abuse of minors]. If we can’t talk about it, we can’t change it. Today on the podcast, we’re taking on a tough topic to think about, speak about, and navigate emotionally, but it’s critical to shine a light on in order to make the sport (and all sports) safer for our kids and athletes. 

Host Caroline Culbertson is joined by two women who have witnessed and experienced the devastating fallout that sexual abuse of minors can have on young men and women, their families, and their communities. Carrie Kehring, creator of the #weridetogether campaign to end sexual abuse in sport, and Kendall Bourgeois, a professional equestrian who experienced grooming and abuse as a junior, discuss:

• The environments in which grooming and eventually abuse can take place 
• Navigating what to do when you hear “gossip” 
• Why abuse is often underreported by victims or ignored by bystanders
• The role of SafeSport and law enforcement 
• Why we may feel defensive when learning that someone we know did something wrong
• The power of sharing survivors’ stories via the #weridetogether campaign

If you are in need of help, resources, or want to read stories of abuse survivors from horse sport and beyond, go to www.weridetogether.today