The Parbery Podcast

The Parbery Podcast

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The Parbery Podcast episodes

  • Ep 38: Laura Graves: What Keeps a Horse Sound in Late Teens

    Mount St John Freestyle was 17 at Aachen. Verdades was 17 in his last season. So when Linda writes in about her rising 15 year old FEI mare, who has a joint supplement and not much else, the real question is what the next five years could look like.

    Laura Graves joins Nat Foxon to answer it, and it turns into a full map of how she keeps horses in work: the crisis she is always trying to head off, why she wants her vet to see the horse on a bad day rather than a good one, where steroids still earn their place alongside IRAP, A2M and stem cells, the farrier as the foundation the whole thing sits on, and the one line item she would cut first if money got tight.

    Plus the training side, because Laura's view is that dressage done properly should be adding years to a horse's career rather than taking them off.

    Chapters
    • 00:00 Linda's question: what do you actually do for the older equine athlete?
    • 01:24 Freestyle at 17 in Aachen, and whether that is an outlier or available to the rest of us
    • 02:11 "What we do with our sport, when it's done well, should prolong a horse's fitness and soundness"
    • 02:52 Verdades: born 2002, retired 2020, and the lunge line incident that really ended it
    • 04:05 Healthy stock, conformation, and the miles you put on a young horse
    • 05:13 Laura's number one management goal: avoid a crisis
    • 06:29 Why joint injections feel aggressive, and the car tyre analogy that reframes them
    • 06:51 Soft tissue is what you are really trying to avoid
    • 08:07 Building the team: your vet early, and a second set of eyes
    • 09:07 The hardest hire on the whole team is the farrier
    • 09:49 The vet check Laura wants, on the horse's worst day
    • 10:47 Least aggressive first, and why changing too much too soon backfires on a 12 year old
    • 11:52 Steroids: glorious, fast, and genuinely risky
    • 12:19 IRAP, Arthrimed, A2M, stem cells and what the science can do now
    • 13:45 Supplements: what Laura feeds, and how much weight she puts on it
    • 15:05 Balance and symmetry as longevity tools, not just marks
    • 16:46 What Laura most wants Linda to hear
      Takeaways
      • The goal is not treating lameness, it is never getting there. Laura's whole system is built around avoiding the crisis.
      • A horse that always favours one leg wears unevenly, the same way a car out of alignment chews its tyres. Uneven loading is what turns into a strained tendon.
      • Work the horse hard before the vet comes. Laura does not want the vet meeting the horse on its best day.
      • The farrier is the hardest hire and the most load-bearing one. Most soundness starts in the feet.
      • Regenerative options cost more and work slower than steroids, and carry far less risk.
      • Balance and symmetry matter for longevity whether you are chasing 70 percent or hacking for fun.

        Mentioned: Mount St John Freestyle, Verdades, Aachen, Platinum Performance, Adequan, Legend, IRAP, Arthrimed, A2M, stem cell therapy

        18 min
      • Ep 37: Don't Be A Hero

        This episode focuses on how being a good horseperson means looking beyond performance and recognising what your horse needs, rather than simply chasing results or being seen as a “hero” in the saddle. 

        27 min
      • Ep 35: Boyd Martin Eventing Workshop

        Ready to map out your best eventing season yet? In this special workshop episode, join legendary five-star eventer Boyd Martin, Olympic gold medalist Peter Wylde, top Australian dressage coach Brett Parbery, and eventing pro Lillian Heard Wood for a deep-dive into building your 2026 eventing plan. You’ll hear Boyd’s honest take on goal setting (for both rider and horse), the importance of rideability, balancing ambition with reality, and why detailed planning and flexibility are the backbone of every successful season. Peter shares show jumping secrets for eventers, Brett unpacks the dressage fundamentals that underpin all phases, and Lillian gives practical advice on structuring your training—even when facilities or confidence are limited. This episode is packed with actionable strategies, candid stories, and the kind of coaching wisdom you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re moving up a level, starting out with an off-track Thoroughbred, or chasing your next big breakthrough, you’ll come away inspired—and equipped—to make every ride count. Join the Boyd Martin Eventing Program at www.performanceriders.com/boyd

        1 hr 18 min
      • Ep 34: Laura Graves Dressage Workshop

        Join Nat Foxon and a panel of world-class experts—Olympian Laura Graves, coach Brett Parbery, and performance psychologist Jonah Oliver—for a dynamic workshop on mapping out your best year in dressage. In this episode, you’ll learn how to: - Reflect on your past year to fuel real progress - Craft a bold, meaningful vision for your riding and life - Build structure and set measurable, motivating goals - Focus on what matters most, even under pressure - Harness the power of community and support Whether your “Olympics” is a national event or a local club day, this episode will help you reverse-engineer your goals and create a blueprint for success, enjoyment, and growth in 2026. You can work with Laura and the team in the 2026 Gold Program, find out more at www.performanceriders.com/2026gold

        1 hr 22 min
      • Ep 33: There's No Collection Without Connection

        Grand Prix Judge Kristen Closson inspired this topic, from her month working with the riders in the Performance Riders Gold Program. Brett Parbery and Nat Foxon discuss what connection really is, how riders are often confused and chasing the wrong feeling, and homework we can all do to improve our feel. Download the free Performance Riders App to use our fun (and super helpful!) AI training tool with Brett.

        28 min
      • Ep 31: Every Champion Started as a Beginner Who Refused To Quit

        Fresh off the plane from the US working with world number one eventing rider Boyd Martin, Brett Parbery discusses with Nat Foxon the Boyd-ism 'Every champion started as a beginner who refused to quit'. Download the Performance Riders app for free training inspiration and our app-exclusive Weekly Hack training segment.

        28 min
      • Ep 30: I'd prefer to watch a well-ridden palomino pony...

        Brett Parbery and Nat Foxon launch into Brett's 'no filter era' with a conversation about how he would prefer to watch a well-ridden palomino pony than a poorly trained fancy imported warmblood, any day! Find out about working with Brett and Nat to upgrade your dressage training, at www.performanceriders.com

        23 min
      • Ep 29: An Accent Isn't a Reason To Book a Clinic

        World Equestrian Games Dressage rider and coach Brett Parbery and host Nat Foxon discuss how riders should do their due diligence when booking with visiting clinicians, to prevent being held back in their training. Find out about training in Brett's programs at www.performanceriders.com

        31 min

      About The Parbery Podcast

      From the publisher's feed

      Brett Parbery and Nat Foxon dissect a different 'Parberyism' each week, a concept gleaned from Brett's decades at the top of the sport of dressage.