Equine physiotherapist and trauma-informed trainer Yasmine Stewart joins Samantha Baer on The Elevated Equestrian to explore how posture, pain, and performance are deeply connected to a horse’s lived experience. Together they dive into what “neutral spine” really means in motion, how enrichment and curiosity can create physical change faster than drills, and why honoring a horse’s agency can actually accelerate progress—not slow it down.

Yasmine explains how nervous-system regulation shapes soundness, shares the link between trauma and posture, and offers a practical lens for navigating complex rehab cases like kissing spines and arena aversion. She and Samantha also dig into the gray areas of performance—how competition pressure affects both horses and humans, and whether true consent and high performance can ever fully coexist.

If you’ve ever questioned traditional “make it happen” training or wondered how to protect welfare without losing direction, this episode will challenge and inspire you to see your horse—and yourself—differently.
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Why Producing Horses in America No Longer Makes Financial Sense

French entrepreneur and horsewoman Marjory Berkache, founder of Equisale Sport Horses, joins Samantha for a brutally honest look at the real economics of horse sales and production in 2025. From importing horses from Europe to navigating pre-purchase exams and buyer expectations, Marjory breaks down why the U.S. market has become nearly impossible for breeders, trainers, and professionals to sustain.

They dive deep into what’s driving global price inflation in horses—the rising cost of hay and farriers, America’s obsession with perfect x-rays, the surge of Chinese buyers in Europe, and how lease-to-buy agreements are reshaping the entire sales landscape. Marjory also shares insider insight on why only 18% of trainers actually pay themselves a salary and how the “show every weekend” mindset is breaking both horses and professionals.

This episode is a masterclass in understanding the real business of horses—what it costs, why it’s changing, and what it will take to fix it.

If you care about the future of horse sales, imports, and equine welfare, follow, subscribe, and leave a rating or review so more riders can find these conversations!

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Patricia Bona – human and animal chiropractor and creator of the Posture Prep cross-fiber grooming system – to talk about what your horse’s body is really trying to tell you. We get into posture as a true language, why dents, dings, girthiness, and “just hates grooming” are massive red flags, and how tight skin, scar tissue, and poor foot balance quietly shape your horse’s entire way of going.

We also dig into the rider side: symmetry, old injuries, nervous systems, and how our habits in the car, in the barn, and in the saddle all feed into what the horse has to carry. If you’ve ever wondered whether your horse is actually “just a mare” or if you’re missing something important under your hand while you curry, this conversation will change how you look at your horse’s body forever.

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What really happens when a horse gets to say no? In this episode, equine behavior consultant Brie Simpson of Grow Horsemanship joins Samantha for a deep dive into the science and feel behind positive and negative reinforcement, consent-based training, and what it actually means to give horses real choice and control. They unpack why “positive” doesn’t always mean kind, how timing—not tools—creates understanding, and how to recognize the moment a horse shifts from confusion to confidence. They explore thresholds, pressure that teaches versus pressure that shuts down, and the difference between compliance and true connection. From trailer loading and impulse control to fading food rewards and redefining what ethical training looks like in sport, this is one of those conversations that will quietly change the way you see everything you do with horses.

If you believe training should feel better for both horse and human, follow The Elevated Equestrian, rate the show five stars, and share this episode with someone who loves a good rethink.

What if “feel” wasn’t intuition—but science you can learn? In this episode, Samantha sits down with Dr. Andrew McLean, zoologist, equitation scientist, and founder of Equitation Science International, to decode how horses actually learn. They dive into negative and positive reinforcement, classical conditioning, and the myth of “leg-into-hand.” You’ll learn why seat-only stops fade after five reps, how to retrain OTTBs who pull on the bit, the two-beat rule for perfect halts, and what true half halts look like.

They also unpack arousal and downregulation, scratching at the wither as a physiological reward, and why giving horses touch, forage time, and agency can change their mental state. This is horsemanship stripped down to what the horse’s brain can understand—science that makes “feel” teachable.

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Learn how to read your horse’s mood, mindset, and nervous system in just three seconds. In this Hack Chat, Samantha breaks down the subtle body language cues hidden in something as simple as how your horse takes a cookie. Discover how lip tension, breathing, and small reactions reveal whether your horse is calm, anxious, or shut down—and how to use that information to build trust, improve relaxation, and create a better ride from the ground up.

What if your horse’s problems weren’t training issues at all—but sensory ones? In this episode, Samantha sits down with herd-dynamics expert Kerry M. Thomas to unpack the hidden operating system running every horse: sensory soundness. Together they explore how horses interpret their world, how herd wiring shapes stress, and why understanding the emotional system beneath behavior is the key to true connection.

They talk about mares who multitask and geldings who “glitch,” what herd-bound behavior is really telling you, how early weaning and human pressure create lifelong stress patterns, and why the difference between a reaction and a response is everything in the saddle. Kerry explains why horses need mental warm-ups before physical work, how to stretch their emotional umbilical cord with time not distance, and what shared leadership really looks like in training.

This is a deep, practical, and emotional look at the bridge between nature and sport. If you’ve ever wondered why your horse feels fine one day and fried the next, this episode will change how you see training, competition, and partnership forever.

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International Grand Prix rider and educator JJ Tate joins Samantha Baer for a deep conversation about what the “basics” of good riding really are — and why most of us have been chasing them the wrong way. We talk about creating a horse that’s powerful but liquid, how to develop true straightness and balance, and why classical dressage principles still matter in modern sport.

JJ breaks down biomechanics and mindset in ways every rider can apply, from eventers to jumpers to devoted dressage nerds. We dive into the epidemic of too-long stirrups, the art of the real half-halt, how to find softness without losing power, and why good riding has nothing to do with strength and everything to do with feel.

This episode is a masterclass in connection, confidence, and classical foundations that keep horses happy, sound, and proud of their work. Whether you’re polishing your position or rediscovering why you ride at all, this one will stay with you long after you hit play.

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What if your horse isn’t the problem—it’s your body? In this episode, Samantha Baer sits down with international equestrian performance coach India Parker-Smith to talk about what it really means to be a strong, supple, and stable rider. Together they dive into why rider fitness, mobility, and body awareness are the missing links to better performance and happier horses.

India breaks down what “engage your core” actually means, how to fix common imbalances, and why mobility beats stretching every time. You’ll learn simple pre-ride routines, the truth about breathing and tension, and how your posture might be the reason your horse keeps needing chiropractic work. Whether you ride dressage, jumpers, or eventing, this episode will help you ride better, feel stronger, and help your horse perform at their best.

If you love the show, please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to The Elevated Equestrian. It helps more riders discover the podcast and join the movement to put the horse first while raising the standard of rider performance.

Most riders think tension is a training problem—but what if it’s not? In this conversation Samantha sits down with Karen Rohlf of Dressage Naturally to explore the real reason your horse won’t relax and why it often has more to do with trust, intention, and emotional balance than any specific technique.

Karen explains how relaxation, energy, and balance form the foundation of healthy biomechanics and true power. We talk about recognizing the difference between a horse that’s quiet and one that’s shut down, how to use energy as a conversation rather than a command, and why your intention can completely change the outcome of a ride. We also dive into the small mindset shifts—like practicing with a timer or creating space for play—that rebuild confidence and connection from the inside out.

This episode is for riders who want their horses to feel better after the ride, not just look better during it. If you’ve ever felt torn between getting results and keeping the relationship, this one will change the way you train.

If you enjoy conversations that put the horse first, make sure to follow, rate, and share The Elevated Equestrian—it helps more riders find these horse-centered stories and keeps the community growing.