The Equestrian Connection

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The Equestrian Connection episodes

October 25 #112 Navigating retirement and end-of-life decisions for our horses with Jenny Gott
Feeling resourced through all of life’s phases
Jenny Gott, CMTA, is an animal wellness practitioner and the founder of Animal Intuition in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, where she has worked with cats, dogs and horses since 2005.
A Reiki Master and Certified Massage Therapist for Animals, she offers animal communication, bodywork and holistic support alongside an animal’s veterinary care. She founded Emily’s Path, a pet hospice program named for her own dog, to support people through an animal’s last chapter.
In this episode, we’ll be chatting about retiring horses, the emotional and physical adjustments when you no longer ride, and providing comfort and presence during your horse’s last chapters. It’s a tough, yet important conversation, so let’s get started.
Connect with Jenny:
Website: www.animal-intuition.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animalintuitionmn/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Animal.Intuition
56 min
October 11 #111 Preparing for Your Horse’s Nutritional Needs during Winter with Connie Flores
What changes need to be made and why
What should you check before winter, and what needs to change when cold weather arrives? Connie Flores shares a horse-first approach to seasonal feeding.
- Assess body condition: Understand why hard keepers and easy keepers may need different winter strategies, and monitor changes beneath blankets.
- Match feeding to workload: Prioritize forage and reassess concentrates when exercise decreases, while keeping vitamin and mineral needs in view.
- Check access—not just supply: Consider herd dynamics, hay station placement, shelter and whether your horse can comfortably use your hay-feeding system.
- Support hydration: Discuss water temperature, monitoring drinking habits and the role of daily salt, with adjustments based on the individual horse.
- Plan for seniors: Explore alternative forage forms when chewing or maintaining condition becomes difficult, with gradual dietary transitions.
- Rethink warm mashes: Connie discusses adding water to familiar feed rather than making sudden dietary changes during a cold snap.
- Know your horse’s normal behavior: Changes in appetite or drinking warrant attention; contact your veterinarian when concerned.
Connie previously joined the show in episode 56 to discuss nutrition basics. In this conversation, she also mentions a free body condition scoring guide on her website and individual nutrition consultations.
45 min
September 27 #110 What It Takes to Get to the Top with German National Dressage Coach, Monica Theodorescu
Insights into her role as national dressage coach
During her competitive career, Monica Theodorescu won three Olympic gold medals and claimed World and European Championship titles with the German team. She has served as the national dressage coach since 2012. For her, it is a dream job: although she sometimes misses competing herself, she finds it incredibly rewarding to work with the country's top riders and to guide young horses as they make their way into elite-level sport.
In this episode, Monica speaks with wehorse CEO, Christian Kroeber about her role as the German national coach, animal welfare in competitive sport, and how she successfully develops young talent to the level required for major championships.
*Please note: This episode is a translated episode from The wehorse Podcast, originally aired in July 2026.
47 min
September 13 #109 The Secrets to Success with Olympian Jessica von Bredow-Werndl
How she managed to fast-track her career and make it to the top of the sport
Shortly before wehorse trainer Jessica von Bredow-Werndl won the World Cup Freestyle in Germany with a sensational score of 89.64% back in 2020, she appeared as a guest on the wehorse podcast with wehorse CEO Christian Kroeber. In this classic and translated episode, the personable dressage rider from Germany discusses the secret to her success, her journey to the top level of the sport, and the training philosophy that enables her to have her horses peak in fitness and motivation exactly when it counts.
You’ll hear the crucial piece of advice a biathlete gave her and how she managed to fast-track her career, and journey of KWPN stallion "Unee” and how she managed to win this special horse over.
*Please note: This episode is a translated episode from The wehorse Podcast, originally aired 2020.
31 min
August 30 #108 Indigenous Horsemanship with Ellie Pukehika
Bringing Indigenous wisdom into horsemanship & the power of belonging
Ellie Pukehika is an accomplished horse trainer based in Rotorua, New Zealand. She brings together her knowledge from the English disciplines of Show Jumping and Dressage, as well as Horsemanship, to merge the art of working with the horse and understanding the psychology of how they think and learn. Ellie has been a clinician at the 2018 Equidays, 2020 Equifest, and 2022 Equifest.
These days, Ellie focuses on teaching women how to start their own horses with partnership instead of force, she’s the creator of the Atlas Massager, a Poll, TMJ, and Hyoid massager for horses using vibrational massage therapy, and she’s the host of Rongoā, a podcast on indigenous horsemanship.
Connect with Ellie:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliepukehika/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ellieaobrien
Atlas Massager website: https://atlasequinemassager.com/
1 hr 1 min
August 16 What "contact" means and how to solve common problems with Dr. Britta Schöffmann
Practical explanations and tips for an even softer and steadier connection between the rider's hand and the horse's mouth
The concept of "contact" is something that stays with many riders throughout almost their entire riding lives. Unfortunately, beginners are often taught it inadequately—after all, just because the horse’s head is down doesn’t mean there is correct contact. And even once you’ve mastered it, a different horse might present new challenges by leaning on the bit, curling behind the vertical, or hollowing its back and lifting its head.
In this podcast episode, Dr. Britta Schöffmann dispels common myths and clears up any confusion: she explains what the term actually means and what correct contact feels like. If you feel that the contact between you and your horse could be softer or more steady, you’ll also get plenty of tips that you can try out right away in your next riding session. Enjoy!
*Please note: This episode is a translated episode from The wehorse Podcast, originally aired July 2026.
1 hr 11 min
August 02 #106 The Courage to Start Again with Maddie Houser
Rebuilding confidence and redefining your version of success
Maddie Houser is a USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist with her now retired Dutch Warmblood mare, Leah, and since 2021 has been focused on helping shed light on the versatility of the Quarter Horse and their place in the dressage ring. Maddie’s instagram account, The Blonde & The Bay, showcases her training progressions, the ups and downs of horse and farm ownership, equestrian fashion, and more.
This is our third podcast interview with Maddie because we enjoy our conversations so much, and this one is no different!
Connect with Maddie:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblondeandthebay_/
48 min
July 19 #105 Updating your version of success with Anna Buffini
Unapologetically letting go of expectations and old versions of dreams
Anna Buffini is a professional dressage rider with accomplishments such as being a 2x World Cup finalist, 4x Senior Nations Cup Team member, 2016 U25 National Champion, and the 2014 US Young Rider Champion.
Anna is such an inspiration to many riders and a role model for equestrians of all ages.
This is our second podcast interview together and in this episode, we’re catching up to see what she’s up to these days and what’s changed since we last spoke four years ago.
Connect with Anna:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anna_buffini/
44 min
July 05 #104 Biotensegrative Training with Veronika von Rohrscheidt
Becoming your horse’s personal trainer
Veronika von Rohrscheid is the creator of biotensegrative training. Her goal is to teach the horse health-promoting movement patterns and thus help it develop a competent body.
In conversation with Sonja Kriegel, Veronika clarifies that she does not want to create a new riding or training method. She wants to convey an understanding of the horse's body and its movement patterns, so that every horse person can train their horse in a way that maintains its health – regardless of riding level, discipline, or competitive ambitions.
Veronika describes exactly what biotensegral training is and why all horses – not just those suffering from fatigue or other ailments – can benefit from it: Issues such as a dull gait, problems with contact, lack of relaxation and suppleness, or difficulties with positioning and bending can all be explained and resolved with Veronika's approach. Look forward to many "aha!" moments in this podcast episode.
*Please note: This episode is a translated episode from The wehorse Podcast, originally aired February 2026.
54 min
June 21 Understanding the Secrets of the Horse with Shelby Dennis
Challenging dominance-basing thinking and patriarchal structures (in and out of the horse industry)
From the Arabian horse circuit to hunter/jumper to dressage and exercising race horses, Shelby’s practical experience with different kinds of horses has made her a well rounded horse person. On top of her practical experience, Shelby has also taken several Equine Science based courses through Guelph to work towards her Certificate of Equine Science, choosing to emphasize her studies and education on Equine Behaviour. In early 2021, Shelby received her Equine Behaviour Consultant certification from the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants.
The understanding and correct application of equine learning theory has allowed Shelby to hone her skills as a horse person and continue modernizing her approach as a trainer, with emphasis on equine ethology and ethical practice. Shelby attributes her history with horses to shaping the hardworking, patient and driven individual she is today.
Connect with Shelby:
Website: https://milestoneequestrian.ca/
1 hr 10 min

About The Equestrian Connection

From the publisher's feed

Every two weeks, wehorse team member Danielle Crowell sits down with trainers, industry experts, and horse people from all over the world to talk about everything related to horses and the equine…