The NOËLLE FLOYD Podcast

We have all walked into the barn carrying the weight of a chaotic day, a mile-long to-do list, and a rider ego that thinks jumping twenty fences is the only way to improve. We get clumsy because we try hard to chase points, ribbons, and instant gratification. We end up losing the horse.

Three-time Olympian Daniel Bluman helps us trade that frantic energy for a higher standard. Daniel represents Israel on the world stage, but his true strength lies in his ability to do less. He reminds us that our horse is an animal rather than a tool, and our success belongs in the quality of our bond instead of the ribbons we collect.

If you feel tired of the frantic cycle, this conversation provides permission to stop performing and start listening. We dive into the shift from rider goals—those check-box milestones we want for ourselves—to horseman needs, which are the mental and physical foundations our horses require to thrive.

• The Glamorous Farmer Mindset: Daniel explains why elite success requires appreciating the daily, weather-independent lifestyle of a simple farmer.

• The Trap of Accolades: Chasing endless victories and high rankings leads to an unfulfilled career, whereas finding joy in the daily routine changes the game.

• Educating the Next Generation: Daniel shares his focus on raising his children to be great horsemen and happy, well-balanced people.

• Postponing Your Own Gratification: A true horseman stays honest to the path, protecting the horse above immediate ring results

Meet Daniel

Daniel Bluman is an Olympic athlete and co-founder of Bluman Equestrian. He is an entrepreneur and a producer of horses who believes patience is a massive competitive advantage. His philosophy rests on the conviction that horses are our teachers, and our primary mission is to provide them with respect and dignity.

Explore the mission at:

BlumanEquestrian.com

This episode is brought to you by:

Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services, Inc. The friendly and knowledgeable team at Connaway & Associates brings together more than 30 years of experience to offer a wide range of insurance services, including horse insurance, farm insurance, and liability insurance. Visit www.connaway.net | @connawayassociates | facebook.com/connawayassociatesequine

Interested in more from Noëlle?

Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com

Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.

https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus

And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com

CHAPTERS & TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 Daniel Bluman Joins Dear Horse World: Why He Reached Out

00:02:09 What Watching Other Riders Teaches You About This Sport

00:03:56 Glamorous Farmers: The Connection to Nature Every Horseman Needs

00:06:27 What Show Jumping Must Not Forget as Prize Money Pours In

00:10:06 Why Chasing Fame in the Horse World Leads to a Miserable Career

00:13:28 The Barns Around the World That Showed Daniel What Really Matters

00:15:19 How to Fall in Love With the Life of the Horseman

00:16:35 The Mentors Who Showed Him You Can Be Both Horseman and Champion

00:20:46 Rider vs. Horseman: Daniel's Full Breakdown

00:25:02 What's Happening Inside a Rider's Mind When the Horse Gets Left Behind

00:29:11 The Riders Daniel Fears in Competition — and Admires Most as Horsemen

00:31:27 Horse Karma: Treating Every Horse Right Is How Champions Are Made

What if everything you've been calling a behavior problem is actually your horse asking for help? On this episode of Dear Horse World, Noëlle sits down with Jim Masterson — founder of the Masterson Method and a leading voice in equine bodywork for horse owners — to explore exactly that question. Jim has worked hands-on with an estimated 700 horses a year at peak, trained over 10,000 students worldwide, and built a method shaped entirely by what horses told him. This conversation will change how you see your horse.

Jim and Noëlle unpack how the horse nervous system moves between sympathetic arousal (guarding, bracing) and parasympathetic release (dropping the head, yawning, shifting weight). You'll understand why an agenda — even a caring one — can block that release, and how approaching your horse with quiet, clear intention changes what becomes possible. Natural horsemanship principles run through everything: you're not working on the horse. You're working with it.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN

• Why the poll-atlas junction is the single most important tension point in your horse's body, and how releasing it can shift movement, behavior, and comfort throughout the entire horse — not just the neck.
• How to identify when your horse's "behavior problems" — head-shyness, resistance to bridling, difficulty with one canter lead, sudden bucking — are expressions of physical tension, not disobedience.
• Jim's five levels of touch (air gap, egg yolk, grape, lemon, and hard lime) and how to stay beneath your horse's bracing response so tension can actually release instead of getting blocked.
• How to start the bladder meridian technique today — free, with no equipment — by following the blinks, yawns, and lick-and-chew responses your horse is already giving you.
• How your horse's nervous system moves between sympathetic guarding and parasympathetic release, and what visible signs tell you a real tension release has happened.
• Why approaching body work without a "fix it" agenda is essential — and how your own intention and presence either opens your horse up or causes them to shut down and block out the work entirely.
• Why regular body work is one of the only things you can do with your horse that is all give and no take — and how even one bladder meridian session can begin to transform your horse's trust in you.

Jim Masterson is the creator of the Masterson Method Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork, author of Beyond Horse Massage, and former body worker for the US Endurance Team. He has certified over 650 practitioners in 20 countries and taught more than 10,000 students since 2006.

Start your equine bodywork for horse owners journey at MastersonMethod.com.

Instagram and Facebook

Watch the free bladder meridian video on YouTube, and share this equestrian podcast with every horse owner in your life who has a horse they don't fully understand yet.

Interested in more from Noëlle?

Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com

Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.

https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus

And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com

Chapters:

00:00:00 When Behavior Is Pain: The Lens That Changes Everything

00:01:33 Jim Masterson on 10,000 Students and a Method Born From Horses

00:04:32 From Groom to Bodywork Pioneer: How It All Started

00:07:09 Discovering the Bladder Meridian and What Horses Were Showing Him

00:14:23 Congo, Baboons, and Learning to Read Animal Cues

00:20:09 The Three Key Tension Junctions Every Horse Owner Should Know

00:29:09 How Tension Travels Through the Body: Compensation and Connection

00:39:36 Why Releasing Tension Changes Your Horse's Performance and Well-Being

00:44:25 Body Work as the Fastest Path to Real Horse-Human Connection

00:51:45 Subtle Signs of Discomfort and How to Spot Them Before They Become Problems

00:56:03 Levels of Touch and What Makes the Masterson Method Different

01:07:15 How to Start Doing Body Work on Your Own Horse Without an Agenda

Liberty trainer and Braveheart Beasts founder Kaleigh Marie shares how training oxen, mammoth donkeys, and mules before ever seriously working with horses shaped everything she knows about connection, trust, and the nervous system.

Kaleigh Marie is a liberty trainer and performer based in the Northeast who has spent the last decade developing a nervous system-informed approach to horsemanship rooted in connection, positive reinforcement, and the foundational lessons she learned working with cattle, donkeys, and mules long before horses became her focus.

In this episode you will learn:

• Why Kaleigh's foundation in training oxen and mammoth donkeys gave her a unique edge with horses
• What "conversational quality" means and how it shows up in your relationship with your horse
• Why donkeys ask "why should I?" — and why that's actually a gift to any trainer
• How the nervous system underlies everything from leg aids to liberty work
• The honest story of how clicker training almost derailed her liberty performances — and what she rebuilt from the ground up
• The difference between expectation and intention when you're struggling in a session
• What to do when you're not showing up as the trainer you want to be
• Why dull horses are often the most sensitive ones — and how they got that way
• The "backpack" concept and how co-regulation with your horse actually works
• Why self-regulation — for both horse and human — matters more than connection

To find out more about Kaleigh Marie: website | instagram | facebook

This episode is sponsored by Triple Crown Feeds The secret to raising a healthy horse begins with nutrition that goes beyond. The team at Triple Crown is dedicated to helping our customers succeed by understanding your horse's unique needs and working to develop the right feeding program for the horse you love. www.triplecrownfeed.com | instagram.com/triplecrownfeed | facebook.com/TripleCrownFeed | youtube.com/@triplecrownfeeds

If you love honest conversations about horsemanship, trust, and the ongoing practice of becoming a better horse person, subscribe for more.

Chapters:

00:00 Meet Kaylee Marie

01:10 Road to the Horse Memories

03:38 First Meeting with Tik

08:12 Braveheart Beasts Origins

08:31 Farm Kid to Oxen Trainer

13:07 Riding Cows and Controversy

18:39 Back to Horses and Draft Life

20:16 Mammoth Donkeys in the City

24:01 Connection and Motivation Lessons

8:05 Conversational Quality Explained

32:22 Nervous System Awakening

38:31 Rescue Rehab and Roman Story

45:18 First Q&A Reset as a Trainer

47:30 Gut Brain Connection

48:27 One Percent Better

48:55 Expectation Versus Intention

51:44 Stop And Regulate

53:28 Co Regulation Release

56:41 Leg Aid Without Fight

58:40 Sensitivity Versus Expression

01:00:46 Rehab Dull Horses

01:04:17 Clicker Training Ethics

01:09:42 Rock Bottom Without Food

01:15:47 Pressure And Resilience

01:18:53 Clicker For Quality

01:22:10 Keep Learning Through Pain

01:24:03 Rapid Fire Favorites

01:28:23 Final Thanks And Wrap

Interested in more from Noëlle?

Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com

Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.

https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus

And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com

You can also download the app - NF+ App

Thank you for your listening!

In this episode of Dear Horse World, equine veterinarian Dr. Kent Tooman breaks down the truth about equine metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and why more horses than ever are at risk of laminitis.

Dr. Kent Tooman is an experienced equine veterinarian with over 30 years in practice, specializing in performance horses and metabolic health.

In this episode you will learn:

• What's really happening inside your horse's body
• Why "easy keepers" may be misunderstood
• The subtle signs most owners miss (including fat deposits and barn blindness)
• Breed predispositions (ponies, Arabs, draft crosses, and more)
• Practical steps to reduce risk and manage weight safely

• How insulin affects your horse's health

• The connection between weight, metabolism, and laminitis

• Why modern horse management is increasing risk

• How to spot early warning signs before it's too late

If you care about better horse health, training, and management, subscribe for more expert conversations.

This episode is sponsored by Pegasus Training & Rehabilitation Center

Here at Pegasus, our mission is to run a first class horse training, rehabilitation, and conditioning facility; provide horses of all disciplines with full and complete care of the highest quality; partner with our clients to ensure that we not only meet, but exceed, their individual goals and needs; and maintain our facility and equipment with the highest level of care.

To find out more about Pegasus - website | instagram | facebook

Interested in more from Noëlle?

Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com

Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.

https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus

And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com

You can also download the app - NF+ App

Thank you for your listening!

Chapters:

0:00 – The "Easy Keeper" Myth (Why This Matters) 1:12 – Meet Dr. Kent Tooman 3:45 – Why More Horses Are Developing Metabolic Issues 6:20 – What Is Equine Metabolic Syndrome? 9:10 – Insulin Explained (Simple Breakdown) 12:30 – Where Fat Shows Up (Signs Most Owners Miss) 16:15 – Barn Blindness: Why You Don't See the Problem 20:40 – Breed Risk: Ponies, Arabs & "Thrifty" Horses 25:10 – Why Modern Horses Are Getting Overweight 30:25 – The Link Between Weight & Laminitis 35:50 – How to Reduce Risk (Practical Steps) 41:30 – Feeding, Exercise & Management Mistakes 47:10 – Can This Be Reversed? 52:00 – The Future: Ozempic for Horses? 56:30 – Final Advice for Horse Owners

⚠️ Disclaimer - This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Champion cutting horse trainer Barbra Schulte joins the Dear Horse World Podcast after teaching host Noelle her first cut in Weatherford, Texas, explaining her teaching approach through mechanics and nervous system regulation.

They discuss staying in an optimal state between under-arousal and fight-or-flight, slowing down when things speed up, and building skills through fundamentals, clear sequences, repetition, and positive reinforcement (dopamine) to install neurological pathways rather than "muscle memory."

Barbra Schulte outlines beginner learning, the discouraging "messy middle," refinement, and mastery, emphasizing between-lesson work, visualization, scripts/mantras, and self-coaching tools like "what's my job?" and "what do I control?" They address negative self-talk, fear of judgment, blame vs responsibility, and self-worth, and Schulte shares how human performance training influenced her competitive success, plus retreats and book recommendations.

To find out more about Barbra - Website | Instagram | Facebook

Barbra Schulte is hosting a Cutting Clinic September 17-20th 2026 in Pony, Montana. Click here for more info.

What You'll Learn:

• Why your nervous system — not your technique — is the real ceiling on your riding performance
• How to find and stay in the sweet spot between flat and frantic, and what to do when you lose it
• Why positive reinforcement creates a dopamine cycle that accelerates skill acquisition
• The truth about muscle memory — and where new riding skills actually live in your body
• How to navigate the messy middle of learning without losing confidence or motivation
• Why nervousness is closer to peak performance than you think — and how blame moves you furthest away
• How Barbra used visualization and nervous system work to win two legs of cutting's triple crown

This episode is brought to you by Total Feeds:

Our mission to provide quality nutrition to people and animals puts us in contact with all manner of interesting folks. Whether you're interested in our animal feed, or the people involved in the animal industry: you'll find it at Total Feeds!

Check out our line of Quality Animal Feeds here: https://totalfeeds.com

Chapters:

00:00 Meet Barbra Schulte

01:00 Teaching With Awareness

03:40 Cutting Fundamentals Explained

07:06 When Things Speed Up 1

2:41 Dopamine And Learning Waves

19:38 Installing Skills And Practice Plans

31:41 Surviving The Messy Middle

35:48 Taming Negative Self Talk

38:46 Scripts Mantras And Regulation

42:38 Why You Ride In The First Place

43:54 No Failure In Learning

44:07 Total Equine Feed Story

47:19 Coming Home To Yourself

49:50 Visualization For Show Nerves

52:05 Do You Be You

01:00:28 Why Judgment Hurts

01:09:02 Nervous Anger Blame Rings

01:17:09 Hard Things Build Confidence

01:19:34 Why Nervous System Work

01:24:18 Retreats And Courses

01:26:37 Rapid Fire Wrap Up

Interested in more from Noëlle?

Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com

Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.

https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus

And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com

You can also download the app - NF+ App

Thank you for your listening!

NF+ is proud to present our exclusive new Masterclass, The Millar Method Complete Training System, where Ian & Amy Millar introduce their system for building winning horses.

Olympian Ian Millar returns on NF+ with Amy Millar to introduce the first of 16 episodes of the Millar Method, a consistent, repeatable system designed to develop horses that stay sound, confident, and ready to win.

They share their backgrounds—Ian's record 10 Olympic Games, role with the Canadian show jumping team, and scholarship work in Ontario; Amy's two Olympic appearances, Canadian championship, team ambitions, and efforts to improve accessibility through Can Jump. The episode explains how their method applies from trail riding to top sport, grounded in understanding the horse's nature and using tools like lunging, round penning, gymnastics, grids, and courses.

They emphasize principles that stay consistent while adapting teaching to how each horse and rider learns.

A Program Responsible for nine Olympic Horses across two Generations.

The Millar Method | Complete Training System - Save 25% on annual memberships with code DHW25

Learn the system that has developed top-level horses for Olympians lan and Amy Millar.

Chapters:

00:00 Meet the Millar Method

01:12 Ian and Amy Introductions

02:26 Why Teaching Matters

04:44 Sharing the Method

05:28 What the Method Covers

06:47 Tools and Foundations

07:45 Principles and Adaptation

08:19 How Horses and Riders Learn

08:55 Teaching Wins

The Millar Method | Complete Training System - Save 25% on annual memberships with code DHW25

Exclusively available on NF+, the equestrian masterclass platform for riders of all levels and disciplines.

This episode is brought to you by:

Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services, Inc. The friendly and knowledgeable team at Connaway & Associates brings together more than 30 years of experience to offer a wide range of insurance services, including horse insurance, farm insurance, and liability insurance. Visit www.connaway.net | @connawayassociates | facebook.com/connawayassociatesequine

Peter Charles on Starting from Nothing, Building Champions, and Giving Horses Time Peter Charles joins the Dear Horse World Podcast for his first podcast and recounts leaving Liverpool at 15 after his parents died, starting as a groom in Ireland, getting limited early riding opportunities, and working up through top European yards before winning the Brussels World Cup at 24 on the 7-year-old April Son. He contrasts his non-equestrian start with raising and training his children—Harry, Scarlett, and Sienna—emphasizing basics, hard work, confidence, and separating father from trainer; Harry learned on modest horses, was encouraged to choose riding himself, and later achieved multiple major medals and wins. Charles critiques the American hunter pathway versus Europe's pony system for developing competitive reactions, argues modern sport's nonstop schedule reduces time for partnerships, and stresses patience in producing horses, later starting ages, breeding selection via strong mare lines, and managing soundness by learning, asking questions, and knowing each horse's movement.

This conversation explores:

• What starting from nothing actually teaches you (and what money can't replace)
• Why the European pony-riding system produces more instinctive, competitive riders
• The difference between giving your kids opportunity and making it too easy
• How to build a genuine partnership with a horse — and why rushing it will cost you later
• What to do when your string of top horses disappears overnight
• How confidence is built, not born — and why Peter never once doubted himself
• Why the mare matters more than the stallion in any breeding program
• How to become your own horse's best advocate when the vet doesn't have all the answers

You can learn more about Peter Charles here: Intagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathcroft_farm/ Website: https://heathcroftfarm.com This episode is brought to you by:

Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services, Inc. The friendly and knowledgeable team at Connaway & Associates brings together more than 30 years of experience to offer a wide range of insurance services, including horse insurance, farm insurance, and liability insurance. Visit www.connaway.net | @connawayassociates | facebook.com/connawayassociatesequine

Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 01:25 From Liverpool to Horses 02:43 First Rides and First Win 03:47 Training the Charles Kids 07:52 Keeping Them Hungry 08:59 Europe vs America Systems 10:37 Letting Kids Choose 13:39 Learning From Mistakes 14:56 Giving Horses Time 20:08 Talent Versus Work Ethic 23:42 Modern Showjumping Chess 27:35 Building Confidence Today 29:27 Rotating Horses On Tour 29:49 Confidence Through Preparation 30:20 Show Circuit Eats Time 31:57 Basics Beat Money 33:29 Nations Cup Glory Days 37:18 Mentors And Giving Back 45:19 Breeding Starts With Mares 47:15 Soundness And Vet Wisdom 52:55 Rapid Fire And Farewell

Interested in more from Noëlle?

Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com

Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.

https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus

And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com

You can also download the app - NF+ App

Thank you for your listening!

Horse Separation anxiety is something most horse owners will face at some point.

Sometimes it shows up as calling when a buddy leaves. Sometimes it's a refusal to leave the barn. Sometimes it escalates into behavior that feels dangerous, overwhelming, or emotionally exhausting.

And despite how common it is, it can feel isolating — especially when even experienced professionals don't always have a clear roadmap.

In this episode, we sit down with clinician and author Kathy Baar to unpack herd-bound behavior through the lens of psychology and biology. Kathy has spent decades studying how horses bond, how they regulate, and how easily their instincts can be misunderstood.

This conversation explores:

• What separation anxiety is (and what it isn't)
• Why horses bond so deeply — especially when traveling or stabled together
• The difference between connection and codependency
• How to expand your horse's comfort zone safely
• What to do in show situations when you don't have weeks to rebuild patterns
• How your own personality type impacts how your horse learns
• Why safety and comfort must come before food or reward

This episode is for you if:

• Your horse struggles leaving the barn or their buddy
• Show warm-ups feel unpredictable
• You feel embarrassed or alone in this challenge
• You want to understand herd-bound behavior at its root
• You're ready to build confidence in your horse without escalating intensity
• Kathy's book that she would read to the horse world - Natural Horse-Man-Ship: Six Keys to a Natural Horse-Human Relationship (A Western Horseman Book) by Pat Perelli

Kathy offers understanding — when you understand what your horse is truly seeking, your approach begins to change.

Kathy Baar is a clinician, trainer, and author known for her thoughtful, psychology-based approach to horsemanship. Drawing influence from the lineage of Tom and Bill Dorrance and Ray Hunt, Kathy focuses on developing both connection with the human and internal confidence within the horse. Recently, Kathy was a judge at Road to the Horse and enjoyed the opportunity to experience the event from a judges perspective.

Her book, Solving Separation Anxiety: Over 77 Savvy Solutions for Herd Bound Behavior, is a practical guide for riders navigating barn sour and buddy sour behavior.

Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 3:00 How Motherhood Sparked a Book About Horse Separation Anxiety
• 7:00 What Is Herd Bound Behavior and Why Does It Happen
• 11:00 Building the Kind of Relationship That Replaces the Herd
• 17:00 How Common Is Separation Anxiety — and Is It Ever Solved?
• 22:00 Why Horses Bond So Deeply When They Travel Together
• 23:00 Horses in Pastures and Herds: Strategies That Work
• 28:00 Noelle's Feral Mare and Learning to Slow Down
• 36:00 Horses in Stalls: Training From the Comfort Zone
• 40:00 Nature vs Nurture — Is Your Horse Born Anxious?
• 45:00 Horses Kept in Pairs: The Hardest Scenario
• 51:00 Groundwork That Actually Transfers to the Saddle
• 58:00 Pressure, Yielding, and the Man's Horse Myth
• 1:00:00 Riding With a Buddy Horse — and Staying Present
• 1:06:00 Emergency Strategies at Horse Shows
• 1:08:00 Extroverted vs Introverted Horse Learners
• 1:14:00 Key Takeaways Before You Go
• 1:15:00 Barn Sour vs Buddy Sour: What the Terms Really Mean
• 1:17:00 Rapid Fire Questions with Kathy Barr

Interested in more from Noëlle?

Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com

Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.

https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus

And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com

You can also download the app - NF+ App

Thank you for your listening!

Amazon Disclosure: Third-party books and products denoted on this page and website may be hyperlinked to the Amazon affiliate program. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

What does it really mean to commit to something that scares you?

In this episode, we sit down with Filipe Masetti Leite, a journalist, filmmaker, and long rider who traveled more than 27,000 kilometers on horseback from the Canadian Rockies to the southern tip of Argentina. Over eight years, he crossed 12 countries, navigated remote terrain, built partnerships with 11 horses, and lived at the speed of a walk.

But this conversation goes far beyond the mileage.

We talk about what happens when you slow life down to three kilometers an hour. What leadership looks like when your team has four legs. The bond of a heart horse. The tension between loving horses and using them. The identity crisis that can follow achievement. And why having an "X" on your map might matter more than the destination itself.

This is a conversation about fear, resilience, ego, spirituality, and the responsibility that comes with living a dream out loud.

You can find The Long Rider - Filipe's award-winning film documenting his ride across the Americas here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7hudXw67yw

Resources mentioned in this episode:

1. Filipe's memoir detailing the journey, the borders, the horses, and what it changed in him - Long Ride Home: Guts, Guns and Grizzlies
2. Tschiffely's Ride by Aimé Tschiffely - The 1925 account of a Swiss schoolteacher who rode from Buenos Aires to New York on two Criollo horses — the book that inspired Filipe's dream as a child.
3. The Long Riders' Guild - An organization preserving the history and stories of modern long-distance equestrian explorers.
4. Children's Cancer Hospital in Brazil - The ride to Ushuaia helped raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer support.

Follow Filipe on instagram - https://www.instagram.com/filipemasetti/

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Dear Horse World wherever you listen, leave us a review — it genuinely helps more people find these conversations — and share this episode with someone who needs to hear more adventure horse stories.

This episode is brought to you by:

Total Feeds

Our mission to provide quality nutrition to people and animals puts us in contact with all manner of interesting folks. Whether you're interested in our animal feed, or the people involved in the animal industry: you'll find it at Total Feeds!

Check out our line of Quality Animal Feeds here: https://totalfeeds.com

Interested in more from Noëlle?

Noëlle's writing again — head to her Substack for essays, observations, and the kind of thinking that doesn't fit in an episode. https://noellefloyd.substack.com

Every episode is also on YouTube, where the conversation continues in the comments.

https://www.youtube.com/@noellefloyd_plus

And if you're ready to go deeper, NF+ is where the real work happens — masterclasses, curated content, and a community that takes horses seriously. https://noellefloydplus.com

You can also download the app - NF+ App

Thank you for your listening!

Chapters:

00:00 Inro

02:06 NFR Host Origins

02:57 Writing the Dream

05:19 War Room Planning

05:37 Finding the First Horses

08:13 Bruiser Heart Horse

09:57 Living Like a Herd

14:19 Presence at Three KPH

17:59 Lessons on Fear

20:47 Defining Resilience

22:06 Finding Your Purpose

25:21 Grounded by Walking

29:18 Loving vs Objectifying

34:46 Intent Over Outcome

35:39 Natural vs Forced Riding

39:01 Trail Riders Matter

40:14 Judgment and Humility

44:55 Bruiser the Heart Horse

48:32 Cowboy Life and Meaning

50:54 Leadership Lessons from Horses

53:20 Wild Horses and Border Chaos

55:13 PTSD Depression and Recovery

01:00:01 Staying Whole with Horses

01:03:14 No Excuses Mindset

01:04:45 Rapid Fire

Not every rider has access to the perfectly bred, professionally produced sport horse. Many are figuring things out with the horse they could afford, learning as they go, and trying to build a partnership along the way.

In this episode, 5★ event rider and trainer Elisa Wallace shares what she has learned from producing horses many others overlook, including Mustangs and off-the-track Thoroughbreds. Alongside competing at the highest levels of eventing, Elisa has built a career developing unconventional horses into dream ones.

In this episode of "No Stupid Questions," we discuss:

• How to evaluate a horse when shopping on a budget
• The red flags riders should pay attention to early on
• The first steps to building trust with a new horse
• How to rebuild confidence after setbacks
• Signs your horse is progressing, even when improvement feels slow
• What unconventional horses can teach riders that highly produced horses cannot
• The book Elisa would read to the horse world - Four Square by Lucinda Green

For riders navigating the journey with one horse, modest resources, and a lot of determination, this episode is a reminder that your dreams are possible with the horse you have.

Resources:

https://wallaceeventing.com/

https://www.youtube.com/c/WallaceEventing

https://roadtothehorse.com/elisa-wallace-usa/

This epidsode is generously sponsored by:

StableFeed - What You Feed Your Horse Matters

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Chapters: 00:00 Ocala Week Announcement 00:39 Meet Elisa Wallace 01:57 Road to the Horse Nerves 04:46 Mustangs to Eventing Path 06:30 Fledge and Mustang Magic 14:03 Mustang Sensitivity Explained 19:59 Pressure and Communication 23:53 No Stupid Questions Begins 26:29 Underdog Success Story 28:49 Permission to Be Unorthodox 35:41 Producing Horses and Fear 40:57 Mentors and Asking for Help 44:40 Choosing Horses by Intuition 45:32 Overthinking Choices 46:32 Colts Versus Fillies 48:32 Mare Mindset Lessons 52:16 Format Change Gameplan 56:55 Learning From Past Rides 59:23 Green Horse Basics 01:05:43 Pressure Off Progress 01:10:50 Play Builds Partnership 01:13:29 Fun Groundwork Ideas 01:15:42 Gratitude And Perspective 01:16:47 Rapid Fire Wrap

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