In this episode of the Liberated Equestrian Podcast, host Lisa Pulliam is joined by Jenna Knudsen, founder of The Smart Equestrian and a passionate Equestrian Life Coach with over 40 years of experience in the saddle and 14 years coaching others to live empowered, intentional lives—on and off the horse.

Jenna shares her powerful journey of transformation, emphasizing that liberation begins with releasing shame, honoring our limits, and embracing intentional living. Together, Lisa and Jenna explore what it means to evolve beyond our beginnings, especially as equestrians and women navigating the complexities of life, identity, and mental health.

From the challenges of depression and ADHD to the hormonal transitions that come with a woman's journey, this candid conversation highlights the importance of morning rituals, setting priorities, and living a life aligned with purpose. Lisa and Jenna invite listeners to see their relationship with horses as a reflection of their inner growth, encouraging them to slow down and savor the connection without pressure.

• “Liberation means being open to this brave new world.”
• “You have to find purpose in the smallest things to find your way out of depression.”
• “Intentional living gets what is inside of you into the world.”
• “The ways females present with ADHD are socially acceptable, so the diagnosis is missed.”
• ”For middle-aged women with ADHD, the coping strategies that once worked are no longer sufficient in light of hormonal issues common in the perimenopausal and menopausal stages along with the stressors of life.” 

Whether you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply craving a deeper connection with your horse and yourself, this episode will remind you that growth is always possible—and your journey is worth every step.

Helpful Links

Jenna Knudsen

The SMART Equestrian Planner

Thrive Toolbox - ADHD & Women

Stableminded Counseling

Stableminded Coaching for Equestrians

Liberated Equestrian Membership

Finding Calm

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It is an honor to be joined by Cathy Woods on this episode of the Liberated Equestrian Podcast. She is not only a lifelong equestrian who enjoys backcountry trail riding but also a longtime yoga instructor, author of Yoga for Riders, and creator of her trademarked program, Body, Mind, Equine, Cathy is passionate about focusing on overall equestrian wellness. She has partnered with amazing venues such as Equitana, Liberty Festival, Equine Affaire, Warwick Schillers Journey on Summit, Tryon International Equestrian Center, and C Lazy U Ranch to educate and equip fellow equestrians in the practice of authentic yoga and mindful horsemanship.

As Cathy describes, "Restrictions in our bodies and restrictions in our minds restrict our horse." She explains how yoga and the meditation cushion can be the groundwork for the human, providing a way to show up better for our horse. Cathy describes how the practice of yoga on the mat (not the horse) can help you become aware of your breath and body in a way that unlocks how you show up in and out of the saddle. She also shares that we can respond to those interrupting thoughts by "Thanking the mind for its opinion and coming back to the breath."

Cathy's emphasis on living in the present moment came at an influential time in my life when I had the privilege to experience one of her retreats. I learned from her how to be more present in the moment by focusing on the "recent future." Her encouragement to "Get into a position that would not distract you from the moment" was equally impactful. Since trauma can result in fantasy-prone thinking, living for the next thing instead of living in the present moment and enduring pain by trying to ignore it, these simple expressions from Cathy were helpful tools in my recovery from my riding accidents and influenced the direction of Finding Calm.

As Cathy shares in her closing thoughts, "We get to partner with horses. It is a blessing. It is an honor." This episode will inspire you to be a healthy partner and a blessing to your horse as a way to honor them.

Helpful Links

Cathy Woods

Yoga for Riders

Thrive Toolbox for 5-4-3-2-1

Cavaletti Collection Saddles

Liberated Equestrian Membership

Finding Calm

Counseling

Coaching for Equestrians

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On this episode of the Liberated Equestrian, I'm joined by Callie King, founder of HorseClass.com, an international online education platform dedicated to bringing top instructors together to share their expertise in riding, training, and equine care.

Our discussion kicked off with a reflection on what it means to be a liberated equestrian, which tied perfectly into her experience living in Oaxaca, Mexico, where she continues to develop educational programs for riders worldwide. Callie shared that the word for liberated, or free, in Spanish is "libre" and it has come to be the cue word she uses with her horses when she "turns them free" from their work together.

Callie describes that "journey with horses on the Pennsylvania farm where she grew up has taken her across disciplines and landscapes—from endurance riding in the Colorado mountains to gentling mustangs in California and trekking in Mexico." In 2012, Callie started CRK Training as a way to support her riding students beyond their weekly lessons. Over the years, it evolved into HorseClass, a global resource for equestrians seeking thoughtful, effective training methods.

Throughout this episode, Callie and I explored how her approach to horsemanship has transformed through her experiences both in working with training horses as well as students. She has come to discover the science behind the "flow" necessary for peak performance for both the recreational rider and athlete, as well as the horse. Together, we explored what this looks like in learning, especially redefining calm as not relaxation but rather as an aspect of stress leading to confidence and skill.

This is what Callie described as the tension between conscious competence and unconscious competence -- that time in which you feel like a confident and capable rider and then you hop on a horse you've never ridden before and it feels like you forgot everything you knew. Can you relate?

Well, it is in moments like this that we grow as we find the flow that enhances peak performance.

To hear more examples and dig into a new way of thinking about the breakthrough awaiting you, tune into this episode of the Liberated Equestrian!

Helpful Links

Finding Calm

Liberated Equestrian Community

Counseling

Coaching for Equestrians

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Continuing the backstory that led to launching the Liberated Equestrian Podcast, in this episode I’m digging a little bit more into my return to the horse world in the last decade.

It’s been quite a journey in a relatively short period of time of becoming a second-season equestrian and experiencing everything from the joy of riding again to fulfilling the dream of horse ownership to experiencing the challenges of issues that present when you own a creature you can’t keep in your home never-mind your property.

This episode is truly about providing you with the tools to find your voice and confidence using the C.A.L.M. Framework designed for growth . . . and liberation!

The C.A.L.M. Framework was inspired by my experience as a second-season rider and mental health professional, and laid the foundation for the came the creation of Finding Calm with HorseClass.com. Yes, I needed calm to address my fears and anxiety after two riding accidents. As I used the resources of therapy, including EMDR, and a supportive community – including my trainers – I was able to heal and grow. Truly this was the inspiration behind the liberated equestrian -- I found my voice and I want you to find yours too!

While the course and book is designed to help riders navigate through fear and anxiety, the C.A.L.M. Framework is relevant for all equestrians!

In this episode, I unpack that framework and how to use it in developing your own theory of horsemanship and humanship essential in the pursuit of becoming a liberated equestrian.

Helpful Links

Finding Calm

5-4-3-2-1 in the Thrive Toolbox

Liberated Equestrian Community

Counseling

Coaching for Equestrians

Remarkable Kodiak Jack Series

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Trauma is a buzzword! We label all sorts of things "trauma" or "traumatic" without consideration of what was actually happening in the brain and body at the time of the incident. Understanding the neuropsychology and neurobiology of trauma, in fact, helps us understand how we process events and experiences. And it is that understanding that reveals the reason behind so many of the behaviors in both humans and horses that get labeled but not properly addressed.

Trauma is meant to be a state, not a trait.

When trauma becomes a trait, meaning the individual -- whether horse or human -- is living in a constant state of alarm, everything suffers. The ability to think clearly, respond appropriately, and relate to others in a healthy manner is not possible. This chronic state of survival actually becomes a survival risk!

That is why it is so important to take a step back and explore why we do what we do from a trauma-informed lens. From that vantage point, we can find the pathway forward by identifying where we need to stabilize so that we can thrive in our humanship and horsemanship.

Helpful Links

Finding Calm

Junk in Your Trunk

Join the Liberated Equestrian Community

Counseling

Coaching for Equestrians

The Body Keeps the Score

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We're kicking off the Liberated Equestrian Podcast with a bit of the backstory of breakthrough that birthed the inspiration for this podcast! It's a story of childhood inspiration and fairy-tale dreams. It's a story of dashed dreams and embracing the reality of hard work, detours, and other realized dreams. It's a story of open doors and closed ones.

While I may not be "riding my horse to the mailbox," I'm grateful for the destinations on this journey that led to becoming a second-season equestrian and mental health professional specializing in equine-assisted services. So here I find myself recounting the journey with horses and humans that tell a story of learning and growth, loss and disappointment, hope and redemption, with the hope of helping you find your way forward. As I say in this episode . . .

The Liberated Equestrian is really about turning those moments that could break you into the kind of breakthrough that leads to freedom and growth. Whether that breakthrough occurs with the support of counseling, which was critical for my own healing, or simply the education you'll find on this podcast, at stableminded.us, and through joining the Liberated Equestrian Community, the goal is for you to be able to identify what you need to move forward and enjoy your life with horses . . . and humans! In this place of belonging, with other liberated equestrians, may you find the courage to find your voice, pursue healing, and be transformed in your horsesmanship and humanship.

Helpful Links

• Natural Lifemanship Institute
• Finding Calm
• Junk in Your Trunk
• Counseling
• Coaching for Equestrians

Gain more encouragement by joining the Liberated Equestrian Community!

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Welcome to The Liberated Equestrian podcast and community . . . a place for horsewomen to experience belonging, breakthrough, and becoming.

Hosted by Lisa Pulliam, founder of StableMinded.us, mental health professional, second-season equestrian, and author of Finding Calm: Helping Riders Navigate through Fear and Anxiety, the Liberated Equestrian is devoted to the mission of providing a supportive space where horsewomen can heal, learn, and transform both their horsemanship and humanship.

Whether you've been wounded by the horse world or are seeking a deeper understanding of the human-horse connection, The Liberated Equestrian is here for you. We’ll explore topics like trauma-informed approaches to riding, building healthy human interactions, and fostering a liberated mindset that benefits both you and your horse. We'll delve into what it means to be a liberated equestrian as we consider the importance of breaking free from harmful traditions, embracing evidence-based practices, and becoming the best version of ourselves through understanding the neuropsychological aspects of our relationships with horses and humans. This is all about mind, body, heart, and soul care for ourselves and our horses, so that we can grow together as a community of emotionally and relationally healthy horsewomen.

So, find a comfortable spot, take a deep breath, and let’s embark on this journey together. Because becoming a liberated equestrian is about more than just riding—it’s about healing, connecting, and thriving in every aspect of life.

Gain more encouragement by joining the Liberated Equestrian Community!

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