The Equestrian's Inner Life

This episode is a flashback to a previous conversation that seemed to really resonate with many of you. We hope you enjoy listening again, and we’ll be back in two weeks with a brand-new episode!


There are riders who train horses, and then there are riders who dance with them. Rafael Soto is one of the great classical masters of our time—a man whose riding doesn’t just follow the principles, but brings them to life with lightness, presence, and soul. From the traditions of the Spanish Riding School in Jerez to the international stage, Rafael’s work has touched the hearts of riders and audiences around the world—not only for its technical brilliance, but for the joy and harmony it awakens.

To watch him ride is to witness art in motion. To speak with him is to be reminded that the horse is not just an athlete, but a partner, a mirror, and a friend. In this conversation, we begin to explore the deeper language of classical riding—where timing becomes feel, movements become music, and every gesture carries meaning. 

Resources:
Connect with Rafael Soto: https://www.instagram.com/rafaelsotodressage 
Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossport
Follow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcast
Music produced by Melissa Parris

Thank you for tuning in as always!

Resources:
Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossport
Follow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcast

Music produced by Melissa Parris

What if the horse is not simply part of our journey, but the gateway into an entirely different way of understanding ourselves, one another and life itself?

In this episode of The Equestrian’s Inner Life, Pernille welcomes New York Times bestselling author, journalist, filmmaker, human-rights activist, horseman and internationally recognised autism advocate Rupert Isaacson.

Rupert is perhaps best known for The Horse Boy, the remarkable story of the journey he undertook with his wife and their autistic son, Rowan, travelling on horseback across Mongolia in search of connection, understanding and a way to help Rowan engage more comfortably with the world around him.

Yet the journey began much earlier, with a mare named Betsy.

In her presence, something within Rowan began to settle. On her back, movement, communication and connection became more accessible. Rupert recognised that the horse was reaching a place within his son that words and conventional approaches had been unable to reach, and that discovery became the beginning of a much larger contribution.

Through his experiences with Rowan, Rupert went on to develop the Horse Boy Method, Movement Method and Takhin Equine Integration, bringing together horses, movement, nature and relationship to support communication, emotional regulation and learning.

What makes Rupert’s perspective so extraordinary is the breadth of his lived experience, blended with an immense depth of knowledge. His understanding has not been formed through theory alone, but through fatherhood, travel, different cultures, human-rights advocacy, horses and a lifelong search for the principles that allow a living being to feel safe enough to connect, learn and express who they truly are.

We explore why the horse became the gateway, what Rowan understood about horses that the adults around him had yet to recognise, and what this extraordinary journey has taught Rupert about fatherhood, healing and the lengths we will travel to help someone we love find their own way of being in the world.

The conversation also ventures into Rupert’s deep fascination with classical dressage and the teachings of the Old Masters. Could their timeless principles reveal far more than a system for training horses? Might they also hold fundamental truths about balance, movement, self-regulation, relationship and life itself?

Rich with knowledge, wisdom and extraordinary lived experience, this is a conversation that travels far beyond horses while continually returning to them as our gateway, our teacher and perhaps, ultimately, our source.

Resources:
Connect with Rupert on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/popular/rupert-isaacson/ 
The Horse Boy Foundation: https://horseboyfoundation.org/ 
Rupert's website: https://rupertisaacson.com/
Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossport
Follow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcast

Music produced by Melissa Parris

What does it truly mean to ride in harmony, not only in how it looks, but in how it feels for both horse and rider?

In this second conversation with Mary Seefried, Pernille explores harmony as something far deeper than a quality we suddenly create in the saddle. It begins within the rider, in the way we bring together our thoughts, emotions, body, energy and intention before we even place a foot in the stirrup.

Together, they consider the relationship between harmony and balance. While balance is often spoken of as the aim of dressage, it is never a fixed or static point. It is alive, continually shifting and asking to be felt and rediscovered from one moment to the next.

Could harmony, then, be the path that leads us towards balance, the ongoing process of bringing all the individual elements into relationship with one another? And when those elements begin to harmonise, is this where balance, beauty and grace can emerge?

Drawing upon Mary's decades of experience as an FEI 5-star judge, educator, mentor and highly respected international official, the conversation explores what takes a horse-and-rider partnership beyond technical correctness and into that elusive place of true harmony.

Mary also shares her reflections after returning from the FEI World Championships in Aachen, where she served on the Dressage Judges' Supervisory Panel. From this unique position, she observed dressage at its very highest level and offers her perspective on how the horses, riders and the sport itself continue to evolve.

This conversation invites us to consider whether becoming a better rider for the horse begins not only with improving our technique, but with looking more deeply within ourselves, and whether the harmony we cultivate in the saddle may ultimately flow into every other part of our lives.

Resources:
Connect with Mary: https://www.gg.gov.au/australian-honours-and-awardsorder-australiarecipient-profiles/mary-seefried-am
Connect with Mary on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-seefried-3a011a70/
Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossport
Follow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcast
Music produced by Melissa Parris

What becomes possible when both horse and rider are aligned enough for energy to flow freely through their bodies?

In this episode of The Equestrian’s Inner Life, Pernille welcomes back internationally recognised horseman, clinician and author Chris Irwin for an in-depth exploration of alignment, throughness and the lifelong pursuit of true connection.

Together, they examine how throughness cannot be created through technique alone. For energy to travel without interruption, both horse and rider must find alignment within their own bodies, and with one another. When tension, imbalance or resistance is present in either, the flow is disrupted. Yet when alignment is achieved, movement becomes freer, the body feels better, and horse and rider can begin to experience a profound sense of harmony.

The conversation then moves into a fascinating and often sensitive question: can true throughness be fully achieved without a bit? If the horse’s mouth completes the circle through which energy travels, could the sensitive use of the bit be one of the great refinements that distinguishes high-level dressage?

Rather than being simply a piece of equipment, the bit can reveal the rider’s level of awareness, the quality of their hands, the alignment of their body, their capacity to listen, and their ability to remain present without blocking the horse. Developing this living connection asks for extraordinary sensitivity and becomes a lifelong pursuit of refining both ourselves and our horses.

Resources:
Visit Chris’s Website: https://chrisirwin.com/ 
Connect with Chris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindyourhorse/?hl=en 
Visit Mind Your Horse: https://www.mindyourhorse.com/
Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossport
Follow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcast
Music produced by Melissa Parris

What if young riders were taught how to use their minds with the same care and attention given to developing their skills in the saddle?

In this episode of The Equestrian's Inner Life, Pernille welcomes back equestrian mindset coach, author, and educator Tanja Mitton for a deeper conversation about supporting the next generation of equestrians. 

Together, they explore how young riders can learn to understand their thoughts, emotions, and beliefs before fear, self-doubt, perfectionism, and unhelpful patterns become deeply established. 

How can we help young equestrians respond to mistakes without losing confidence? Navigate pressure and competition without tying their worth to results? And develop the self-awareness and emotional resilience needed to remain present, curious, and connected with their horse? 

This conversation invites us to consider what might become possible if mindset education began early - giving young riders the inner tools to grow alongside their practical skills, rather than having to unlearn and relearn later in life.

Because the way we teach a young rider to relate to their mind may shape far more than their riding. It may influence the person - and the equestrian - they are becoming.

Resources:
Connect with Tanja through coaching: http://www.tanjamittoncoaching.com/
Connect with Tanja through email: [email protected]
Connect with Tanja: http://www.tanjamitton.com/
Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossport
Follow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcast
Music produced by Melissa Parris

Mary Hanna has represented the very best of Australian dressage, competing at the highest levels of the sport while continuing to inspire riders around the world.

As Mary prepares to represent Australia at the FEI World Championships in Aachen, we revisit one of our most loved conversations with this legendary dressage rider.

What does it take to build a lifetime in the saddle?

In this special two-part conversation, Mary reflects on her extraordinary career, the lessons learned through decades of competition, and the passion that continues to drive her forward. Together, we explore her journey through elite dressage, the evolution of the sport, the importance of mindset and preparation, and the experiences that have shaped her as both a rider and horsewoman.

Whether you’re listening for the first time or returning for another lesson, these inspiring conversations with Mary offer a rare insight into the dedication, resilience and love of horses behind one of Australia’s most accomplished equestrian athletes.

Resources:
Contact Mary Hanna: [email protected]
Learn more about Mary: www.statenepark.com
Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossport
Follow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcast
Music produced by Melissa Parris

After a Lifetime with Horses, What Remains True?

For more than six decades, Christoph Hess has devoted his life to horses, riders, and the art of learning. As an international dressage and eventing judge, educator, trainer, and ambassador for German riding theory, he has stood at the heart of equestrian sport, witnessing its evolution across generations.

Yet beyond the achievements, titles, and decades of experience lies a deeper question: What endures?

In this thoughtful conversation, Christoph reflects on the lessons learned through a lifetime of teaching, judging, observing, and listening. Together, we explore what horses have taught him, the role of self-awareness in learning, why some riders continue to grow while others remain stuck, and how knowledge is transformed into feel, timing, and understanding in the saddle.

One message emerges again and again throughout our conversation: true progress does not come from searching for the next method or shortcut, but from continually returning to the fundamental principles of good horsemanship. The basics are not something we leave behind as we become more advanced—they are the foundation we revisit throughout our entire riding lives. It is through this continual refinement of the fundamentals that greater harmony, feel, and partnership with the horse are found.

We also discuss how the changes unfolding within the dressage world can become opportunities for reflection, growth, and positive change.

At its heart, this is a conversation about far more than riding. It is about learning, wisdom, human development, and the timeless qualities that continue to matter—both in horsemanship and in life.

Because when everything else changes, the question remains: What endures?

Resources:
Email Christoph: [email protected]
Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossport
Follow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcast
Music produced by Melissa Parris

What do horses spend a lifetime trying to teach us?

For Glen Gilmore, horses have been a constant companion throughout life. From growing up in a multi-generational horse family on Queensland's Darling Downs to captaining the Australian Polo Team and competing on the international stage, horses have shaped not only his career, but also the person he has become.

Yet beyond the speed, strategy and pressure of elite polo lies a deeper story.

In this episode of The Equestrian's Inner Life, Pernille sits down with Glen to explore the lessons hidden within a lifetime of horsemanship. Together, they discuss decision-making under pressure, preparation, leadership, self-awareness and the wisdom that can only come from decades spent listening to horses.

Drawing inspiration from his podcast, The Horse That Asked Why, Glen reflects on what horses have revealed about human nature, how our inner state influences performance, and whether the horse has been quietly teaching the same lessons all along.

This is a conversation about far more than sport. It's about curiosity over certainty, awareness over reaction, and the lifelong journey of becoming the person our horses need us to be.

Whether you're a polo player, dressage rider, horse lover, or simply someone interested in personal growth, this conversation offers a thoughtful reminder that some of life's greatest teachers don't speak with words.

Resources:
Connect with Glen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glenagilmore/ 
Follow The NRG Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/nrg_podcast/
Learn more about Mary: www.statenepark.com
Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossport
Follow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcast
Music produced by Melissa Parris

What does it truly mean to create a lifestyle you love?

For more than 29 years, Catriona Rowntree has been a familiar and respected personality on Australia’s iconic travel program Getaway, taking viewers across the globe and into the heart of diverse cultures, extraordinary destinations, and inspiring ways of living.

But beyond the travel and television is a woman who has consciously shaped a life aligned with her values — balancing a high-profile career with family life on her farm with her husband and two sons.

In this heartfelt conversation, we step into Catriona’s inner world. We speak about how she has sustained a long and successful career in the public eye while remaining grounded, her philosophy on creating a life you truly love and what it takes to maintain it, the realities of balancing motherhood with media, and the lessons decades of travel have taught her about perspective, resilience, and gratitude.

We also explore where she goes when she needs to restore her own energy — and what sanctuary looks like for someone who has spent a lifetime exploring the world.  

This episode is about more than travel. It is about intention, balance, vitality, and the courage to shape a life that feels deeply your own.  

Resources:
Connect with Catriona on Instagram: @catrionarowntree
Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossport
Follow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcast
Music produced by Melissa Parris