Equidemia Insights international

By Celina Skogan

Equidemia Insights international - Science for the equestrian soul is the English podcast by and with Celina Skogan.

Horses are Celina's passion, and of course that's what this podcast is about. Toge... more

· Health & Fitness

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FAQs about Equidemia Insights international:

How many episodes does Equidemia Insights international have?

The podcast currently has 37 episodes available.

Equidemia Insights international episodes:

March 06, 2026We Don’t Just Breed Behavior – How Domestication and Selection Shape the Equine Body
Horse Domestication, Genetic Selection and Structural Change in Modern Breeding
Domestication is not a closed chapter in history.
It continues to shape modern horses — influencing temperament, stress physiology, locomotion and skeletal structure.
In this episode, we explore the scientific foundations behind modern breeding trends:
the two domestication waves of the horse
the DOM2 expansion and large-scale genetic turnover around 2200 BCE
selection for rideability, locomotion and reduced aggression
the Silver Fox Domestication Experiment as a model for behavioral genetic selection
genetic bottlenecks and inbreeding using the Isle Royale wolves as a biological case study
ncreasing reports of cervical spine, rib and lumbar variations in modern horses
and why sport horse breeding must be viewed through a population genetics lens.
This episode connects ancient horse genomics, behavioral genetics and contemporary breeding practices.
Evidenz:
Isle Royale Wolves – Genetic Bottleneck & Skeletal Effects
Robinson, J. A., et al. (2019).
Genomic signatures of extensive inbreeding in Isle Royale wolves.
Science Advances.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6541468/
Silver Fox Domestication Experiment
Dugatkin, L. A., & Trut, L. (2018).
The silver fox domestication experiment.
Evolution: Education and Outreach.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12052-018-0090-x
Librado, P., et al. (2021).
The origins and spread of domestic horses from the Western Eurasian steppes.
Nature, 598, 634–640.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04018-9
Librado, P., et al. (2024).
Widespread horse-based mobility arose around 2200 BCE in Eurasia.
Nature, 631, 819–825.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07597-5
More about Equidemia:
My book about academic groundwork: https://amzn.to/3OqwfqS
Waitinglist for our Masterclass 2025: https://equidemia.com/en/masterclass-english/
Equidemia Webinars, Online and more: shop.equidemia.com
Welfare Bundle: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/Welfare-Bundle/payment
Pain Ethogram: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/pain-signals/payment
Horse Grimace Scale: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/HSG/payment
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equidemia.celina.skogan/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/equidemia
...more
31min
February 20, 2026 Why We Need to Talk About Domestication
Domestication is not a closed chapter in history.
It is still active today – in the bodies, nervous systems, and resilience of our horses.
In this episode, Celina Skogan explores:
why domestication is biologically different from taming
how it reshapes populations across generations
why modern horses are deeply shaped by selective breeding and genetic bottlenecks
and why training, management, and welfare cannot be understood without genetic context
Because before we talk about training,
we need to understand what kind of bodies we are actually training.
At the core of this episode lies a personal turning point:
the realization that doing “everything right” is not enough
when genetic prerequisites are overlooked.
📚 Evidence & scientific references
Domestication as a biological process:
Trut, L. (2009). Animal evolution during domestication. BioEssays
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2763232/
Wilkins, Wrangell & Fitch (2014). The “Domestication Syndrome” in mammals. Genetics
https://academic.oup.com/genetics/article/197/3/795/5935921
Horse domestication and early use:
Outram et al. (2009). The earliest horse harnessing and milking. Science
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1172750
Genetic restructuring of modern horses:
Librado et al. (2021). The origins and spread of domestic horses. Nature
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04018-9
🔗 Context & continuation
This episode lays the conceptual groundwork for the
Equidemia Summit 2026 – Inside the Horse’s Mind.
The summit focuses on neurobiology, genetics, and physiology as the foundation of behaviour, learning, and welfare –
beyond methods, myths, and moral pressure.
Get your ticket here: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/equidemia-premiumsummit-2026
More about Equidemia:
My book about academic groundwork: https://amzn.to/3OqwfqS
Waitinglist for our Masterclass 2025: https://equidemia.com/en/masterclass-english/
Equidemia Webinars, Online and more: shop.equidemia.com
Welfare Bundle: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/Welfare-Bundle/payment
Pain Ethogram: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/pain-signals/payment
Horse Grimace Scale: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/HSG/payment
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equidemia.celina.skogan/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/equidemia
...more
31min
February 06, 2026 Inside the Horse’s Mind – Why Biology Comes Before Training
Why Inside the Horse’s Mind?
In this solo episode, I explain why horse training needs to be thought from its origin — not from methods, but from biology and neurophysiology.
We talk about why learning, emotion, and behavior are not training issues, but biological processes, why behavior is always the end point of what happens inside the nervous system, and why understanding neurobiology fundamentally changes the decisions we make with horses.
Inside the Horse’s Mind is a curated knowledge summit that connects neurobiology, learning, emotion, and training practice — not as isolated topics, but as parts of one system.
🎓 Equidemia Summit 2026 – Inside the Horse’s Mind
👉 Summit page: https://equidemia.com/summit-2026/
You can already sign up for the waiting list and on the 9th of February we will start with the presale.
Waiting list subscribers will receive 20% off the presale tickets.
...more
16min
January 30, 2026Why Horses Show “Problem Behaviour” - A Science-Based Perspective
What if horses are not showing problem behaviour at all?
What if what we label as conflict, resistance, or dysfunction
is actually normal behaviour expressed under abnormal conditions?
In this episode, Celina Skogan, trainer, osteopath and founder of Equidemia, explores how our perception of “normal” horse behaviour may be shaped by environments that are anything but normal.
Drawing from equine welfare science, human trauma research, and personal observations after relocating to Norway, this episode challenges the idea that calm, compliant behaviour automatically equals wellbeing.
Scientific context & evidence
Research over the past decades shows consistently that unproblematic behaviour is not a reliable indicator of good welfare.
Studies from the research group of Martine Hausberger demonstrate that horses kept in restrictive housing and management systems often show:
reduced behavioural diversity
increased passivity
depression-like states
Importantly, these horses are frequently described as “easy”, “quiet”, or “well-behaved”.
This aligns closely with findings from trauma research in humans, where behaviour is understood as an adaptive survival strategy, not a malfunction.
Key studies referenced
Hausberger, M., Lesimple, C., & Henry, S. (2021)
Detecting welfare in a non-verbal species: Social and cultural biases and difficulties in horse welfare assessment.
Animals, 11(8), 2249
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/8/2249
Hausberger, M., Roche, H., Henry, S., & Visser, E. K. (2008)
A review of the human–horse relationship.
Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 109(1), 1–24
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2007.04.015
Hall, C., Goodwin, D., Heleski, C., Randle, H., & Waran, N. (2008)
Is there evidence of learned helplessness in horses?
Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 11(3), 249–266
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18569222/
More about Equidemia:
My book about academic groundwork: https://amzn.to/3OqwfqS
Waitinglist for our Masterclass 2025: https://equidemia.com/en/masterclass-english/
Equidemia Webinars, Online and more: shop.equidemia.com
Welfare Bundle: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/Welfare-Bundle/payment
Pain Ethogram: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/pain-signals/payment
Horse Grimace Scale: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/HSG/payment
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equidemia.celina.skogan/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/equidemia
...more
22min
January 23, 2026Gait Analysis – Seeing Beyond the Surface
In this episode, we explore what gait analysis actually means and why it matters.
We cover:
Veterinary gait analysis – classic “lame or not lame” approach
Objective gait analysis – tech tools & AI measurement
Subjective analysis – what the eye perceives
Riding instructor perspective – influenced by training philosophy
Functional gait analysis – understanding load limits & movement units
Plus a practical exercise using markers and video review — perfect for a Christmas learning project. And finally, a note about our free Compass Call for personal support.
Key Take-aways
⭐ Gait analysis is more than “lame vs. sound.”
⭐ Objective & subjective tools complement each other.
⭐ Functional gait analysis helps identify load thresholds — not just symptoms.
⭐ Learning to see movement is a skill that can be trained.
Here you get the freebie gait analysis: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/gait-analysis
My book about academic groundwork: https://amzn.to/3OqwfqS
Waitinglist for our Masterclass 2026: https://equidemia.com/en/masterclass-english/
Equidemia Webinars, Online and more: shop.equidemia.com
Welfare Bundle: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/Welfare-Bundle/payment
Pain Ethogram: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/pain-signals/payment
Horse Grimace Scale: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/HSG/payment
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equidemia.celina.skogan/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/equidemia
...more
29min
January 16, 2026 Equine Hanna Somatics — Training the Nervous System with Alissa Mayer
In this episode, Celina Skogan from Equidemia speaks with Alissa Mayer BSc (Equine), EHSE-C, director of the Equine Hanna Somatics® Professional Training & Certification Program, about how Hanna Somatics principles can be applied to horses — why chronic tension isn’t just a mechanical issue, how the nervous system learns and unlearns movement, and what this means for prehab, rehab and training.
This conversation bridges neuroscience, motor learning, pain science and equine performance, offering a fresh perspective on posture, comfort and movement quality — and reframing persistent muscle tension as a neurophysiological learning pattern that can be retrained, not just worked on.
You will gain a clear understanding of what Equine Hanna Somatics actually addresses, how sensory-motor amnesia can develop in horses through stress and learned patterns and why voluntary pandiculation plays a central role in restoring movement awareness. The episode highlights where this approach can be genuinely effective, where its limits lie and how it can be integrated thoughtfully alongside veterinary care and training. It also offers insight into how nervous-system-based learning may shape the future of sustainable performance and equine welfare.
More about Alissa Mayer and Equine Hanna Somatics:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alissamayersomatics/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alissa.g.mayer
About her: https://vetcompendium.org/alissa-mayer
Website: https://equinehannasomatics.org/
Try her ebook on 35 free pages: https://equinehannasomatics.org/quick-start
More about Equidemia:
My book about academic groundwork: https://amzn.to/3OqwfqS
Waitinglist for our Masterclass 2026: https://equidemia.com/en/masterclass-english/
Equidemia Webinars, Online and more: shop.equidemia.com
Welfare Bundle: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/Welfare-Bundle/payment
Pain Ethogram: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/pain-signals/payment
Horse Grimace Scale: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/HSG/payment
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equidemia.celina.skogan/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/equidemia
...more
1h 24min
November 14, 2025 Happy athletes don’t bleed
In this episode, I talk about cognitive dissonance in the horse world: why we do what we know we shouldn’t – and how to move from maybe to integrity. We revisit Festinger’s theory, real barn-life examples, and research showing how humans often adjust perception when they don’t want to change behaviour. Pop-culture bridge: Fettes Brot – “Jein”. The perfect anthem for ambivalence.
Key references:
Hausberger, M., Lesimple, C., & Henry, S. (2021). Detecting Welfare in a Non-Verbal Species… Animals, 11(8), 2249. 👉 https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/8/2249
Harmon-Jones, E., & Mills, J. (2019). An Introduction to Cognitive Dissonance Theory and an Overview of Current Perspectives (chapter sample, APA). 👉 https://www.apa.org/pubs/books/Cognitive-Dissonance-Intro-Sample.pdf
🎧 Listen: [Spotify] / [Apple Podcasts] / [equidemia.com]
Bonus: “Jein” – Fettes Brot (Official Video) 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcV7VN3l3bY
My book about academic groundwork: https://amzn.to/3OqwfqS
Waitinglist for our Masterclass 2026: https://equidemia.com/en/masterclass-english/
Equidemia Webinars, Online and more: shop.equidemia.com
Welfare Bundle: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/Welfare-Bundle/payment
Pain Ethogram: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/pain-signals/payment
Horse Grimace Scale: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/HSG/payment
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equidemia.celina.skogan/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/equidemia
...more
30min
November 07, 2025 Embodiment – How Emotions Take Shape in the Body Part 3
In this episode, we explore how emotions take shape in the body – in humans and in horses alike.
What we call a “gut feeling” is actually measurable through breathing, posture, and muscle tone.
📎 Key research mentioned:
Hausberger et al. (2021): Detecting Welfare in a Non-Verbal Species: Social/Cultural Biases and Difficulties in Horse Welfare Assessment
Additional recent research: ScienceDirect article
💡 Takeaways:
Emotions aren’t just in the mind – they show up in the body.
The horse’s body speaks first – we often listen too late.
What we perceive as “normal” may already signal compromised welfare.
Awareness + training = learning to read the body.
More about Equidemia:
My book about academic groundwork: https://amzn.to/3OqwfqS
Waitinglist for our Masterclass 2025: https://equidemia.com/en/masterclass-english/
Equidemia Webinars, Online and more: shop.equidemia.com
Welfare Bundle: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/Welfare-Bundle/payment
Pain Ethogram: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/pain-signals/payment
Horse Grimace Scale: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/HSG/payment
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equidemia.celina.skogan/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/equidemia
...more
30min
October 31, 2025 Emotions Are Biology – How the Body Feels, Learns and Reacts
Emotions aren’t moods or attitudes – they are biology in action. In this episode of Science & Soulfulness for Equestrians, we dive deep into the neurobiology of feeling: What happens inside your horse when it reacts? How do hormones like cortisol, dopamine, and oxytocin shape its behavior? And why is emotional safety the foundation for all real learning?
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• How emotions arise in the body – from sensory input to hormonal output
• Why horses embody emotion rather than think it
• How cortisol, dopamine, and oxytocin shape training and behavior
• What research by Dr. Cath Henshall reveals about emotion and learning
• How laterality shows what your horse truly feels
• Why co-regulation between horse and human is measurable physiology, not magic
Referenced studies:
Henshall et al. (2023) – Recognition of human facial expressions by horsesMcBride & Parker (2015) – The disrupted stress system in horses Sankey et al. (2021) – Oxytocin release in human–horse interaction Christensen et al. (2006); König von Borstel et al. (2017) – Emotion & LearningKeeling et al. (2019) – Heart-rate variability synchronization
Learn to work with emotion, not against it — join the Horsefriends Campus. → https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/knowledge-nerd/payment
My book about academic groundwork: https://amzn.to/3OqwfqS
Waitinglist for our Masterclass 2025: https://equidemia.com/en/masterclass-english/
Equidemia Webinars, Online and more: shop.equidemia.com
Welfare Bundle: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/Welfare-Bundle/payment
Pain Ethogram: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/pain-signals/payment
Horse Grimace Scale: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/HSG/payment
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equidemia.celina.skogan/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/equidemia
...more
37min
October 24, 2025 Emotions in horses Part 1 - Who’s really feeling what and why we often misread horses
My book about academic groundwork: https://amzn.to/3OqwfqS
Waitinglist for our Masterclass 2025: https://equidemia.com/en/masterclass-english/
Equidemia Webinars, Online and more:shop.equidemia.com
Welfare Bundle: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/Welfare-Bundle/payment
Pain Ethogram: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/pain-signals/payment
Horse Grimace Scale: https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia/HSG/payment
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equidemia.celina.skogan/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/equidemia
...more
34min

FAQs about Equidemia Insights international:

How many episodes does Equidemia Insights international have?

The podcast currently has 37 episodes available.