The Whole Horse Podcast with Alexa Linton

Our very first 3 person episode was a success! Heather Nelson and Kenneth Vansweevelt came to Firefly Farm in the Cowichan Valley to geek out with me about the Academic Art of Riding, the seat, the movement of the ribs, proper muscle development in a horse, why pushing is not a great thing in the hind limbs, what on earth Stellning is, and much much more. We sat by the lake, visited with horses, got licked by my wolfhound and belly laughed quite a lot. We hope you enjoy it just as much as we did!

Kenneth grew up with horses kept in a natural way and learned how to ride horses by experimenting ‘trail and error’, never having any traditional riding lessons to stop up his natural way of handling, working horses At my 18 years he needed to get more education to be able to handle his newest horse Trueno. On this path he discovered the Academic Art of Riding by Bent Branderup and is now proud to be a part of the selected Licensed Bent Branderup Trainers. His goal is to make the horse world a little better, and support his students to develop the harmony between horse and rider and create Art. To connect with Kenneth head to https://www.facebook.com/KennethVansweeveltTheEssence

Heather Nelson is a liberty training specialist, known for starting from the beginning without the lines and inspiring horses through connection. She combines her background in ground work, classical dressage, intuitive training and liberty to help horse lovers like you tap into your own innate ability to earn a big YES from your horse so you can coach your horse to develop to their highest potential in self expression and balance. Heather is sought after for her engaging workshops and demonstrations where she teaches people to access leadership and respect through creative play, which is just as out of the box as it sounds. To connect with Heather head to www.heathernelsonlibertytraining.com/

What a fantastic podcast with Emily Kieson, Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning and PhD Candidate at Oklahoma State University! Her extensive research focuses on equine-human interactions and equine behavioural psychology. In this fascinating episode we discussed the results of her current research looking at the affiliate and community behaviours of large herds of horses (100+). What is coming forward in her research is very different from our current understanding of herd dynamics, and challenge some of commonly used training practices and foundational aspects of our equine-human relationships. I was on the edge of my seat, and I have a feeling you will be too! 

Emily works closely with MiMer Centre, a Swedish non-profit focused on research and education in horses and humans and collaborates with international scientists, universities, and equine therapy programs to improve research and education in equine-human interactions.  She has over 20 years working full time with horses, ten of which has been in equine-assisted therapies, works as an equine specialist in mental health and learning (ESMHL) with the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) and has certifications and training as an equine specialist in many other models of equine-assisted therapies. 

My Whole Horse episode with Biomechanical Medicine Veterinarian Dr. Raquel Butler from New South Wales was amazing and full of helpful information! We focused in on her work in rehabilitation - she shared many excellent tools and strategies for supporting our horses in their rehabilitation process. 

Raquel has been in love with horses since the age of 1 year old, astonished at their purity, forgiveness of human nature, their attempts to please, their sensitivity, their intelligence, their beauty and their sacrifice. This passion led her to Equine, Canine & Cat Muscle Release Therapy (EMRT & CCMRT), saddle fitting, Vetkin taping and laser therapy, and a Graduate Diploma of Animal Biomechanical Medicine which incorporates osteopathic and chiropractic techniques. She has also been mentoring with Equine Anatomist Sharon May-Davis, and has the opportunity to partake in over 20 horse dissections gaining an invaluable mirror into the horses body. She is currently the president of the Animal Biomechanical Medicine professionals and lectures at Charles Sturt Universtity, Wagga Wagga, NSW in Veterinary and Equine Science.Her aim is to bridge the gap between science and holistic medicine, revealing the improved outcomes by having an integrated approach to the animal.

The most rewarding part for her is the transformation of the animals eyes, from hard, dull, protecting, sad, painful or completely shut down to soft, responsive, bright, interested and smiling. Addressing an animals problems holistically enable a much more sustainable outcome in the future.  

Learn more about Raquel at www.integratedveterinarytherapeutics.com.au

Enjoy!

This conversation with Whole Horse favourite Josh Nichol of a Horseman's Pursuit really pulled all the pieces together for me, and I have a feeling it will for you as well! After watching an afternoon of a recent clinic, I was filled with questions, some clarifying how to meet our horses needs, many around the essential concept of adding value to our horses lives every time we work with them, and understanding the embedded energetic connection between horse and human and how to work with it in a healthy way. Josh also runs us through his way of introducing new horses into his herd, using all of the concepts laid out in relational horsemanship. It's a beautiful and thoughtful process, and designed with safety of all in mind. 

In Josh’s words: “I like to think of myself as a professional student of the horse; learning is what I do first and teaching is second. Mentoring people, building relationships and watching growth is truly my passion. I currently teach clinics throughout Canada in the summer and work out of our home ranch in the winter, helping people develop their relationships through horsemanship.

This style of horsemanship is very relational, it allows you to see yourself through your horse and continues as you advance through the process. Mastery in horsemanship begins with a commitment to bettering ourselves! This starts with taking ownership and responsibility for our part of the story, thus interpreting the horse’s actions and performance differently.  When we are aware of – and work on developing – our side of the relationship, we truly facilitate not only growth in our horses, but growth in ourselves.  Good horsemanship challenges everything about our inner person. What an amazing gift: progressing in our horsemanship goes hand in hand with developing our best self!”

Learn more about Josh at https://www.joshnichol.com

Enjoy!

For the episode, liberty coach (and much more) Heather Nelson and I literally sat down on my couch and had a chat. And what a chat it was! I finally was able to hear, in it's entirety, the story of Heather and Sailor, her feral pony. She shares, step by step, the process of heading to Pender Island to pick him up (he'd never ever been handled by a human), how he got his name, getting him ready to be gelded, and now, riding him down the trails. All using gentle and fun training and letting him make up his own mind. Very cool stuff! If every horse was started this way, horses would be a much much happier, healthier bunch.

Heather Nelson is a liberty training specialist, known for starting from the beginning without the lines and inspiring horses through connection. She combines her background in ground work, classical dressage, intuitive training and liberty to help horse lovers like you tap into your own innate ability to earn a big YES from your horse so you can coach your horse to develop to their highest potential in self expression and balance. Heather is sought after for her engaging workshops and demonstrations where she teaches people to access leadership and respect through creative play, which is just as out of the box as it sounds.

Find her at www.facebook.com/HeatherNelsonLibertyTraining/ or  http://www.heathernelsonlibertytraining.com/

Enjoy!

In this Whole Horse podcast my bestie and horsewoman extraordinaire Stefanie Travers and I share about our creation The Cowgirl Re-union, which turns 5 this July! This event combines all of our loves and passions and happens once a year with horse women from all over BC and beyond just outside of Merritt, BC. It felt important to share about the birth and growth of this project and what it looks like today, and how you can bring Cowgirl Re-union playfulness, inclusiveness and self-value into your daily life with your horses. I'm also excited for you all to meet Stefanie, learn what she's up to and soak up some of her wisdom. She's been a longtime inspiration in my life, teaching me to paint, how to recognize and create a healthy hoof, how to be and work with Diva. We're hoping to take the Cowgirl Re-union on the road someday soon - Australia keep your ears peeled!

To find out more about this year's Cowgirl Re-union, happening July 24-28th at 7 Half Diamond Ranch, head to www.cowgirlreunion.com or find the FB page at www.facebook.com/cowgirlreunion. And to find out more about the awesome Stefanie Travers and check out her incredible art and upcoming clinics head to www.stefanietravers.ca.

Enjoy!

In this much anticipated episode of the Whole Horse Podcast, Academic Art of Riding instructor Kenneth Vansweevelt shares about his journey with horses - his passion for biomechanics and the psychology of the horse, his desire to work with the spirit and pride of the horse, and his hope to make the world a better place for horses. As you can imagine, we had lots to talk about! In fact, we're already planning several more episodes to continue the conversation. I met Kenneth right here in the Cowichan Valley, during one of his 3 trips per year to Canada to share this incredible work with passionate and curious horse people interested in a different, more compassionate and sustainable way of working with their horses. 

Kenneth grew up with horses kept in a natural way and learned how to ride horses by experimenting ‘trail and error’, never having any traditional riding lessons to stop up his natural way of handling, working horses At my 18 years he needed to get more education to be able to handle his newest horse Trueno. On this path he discovered the Academic Art of Riding by Bent Branderup and is now proud to be a part of the selected Licensed Bent Branderup Trainers. His goal is to make the horse world a little better, and support his students to develop the harmony between horse and rider and create Art. 

Head to www.wholehorse.ca for videos of Kenneth and the resources shared on the podcast!

Connect with Kenneth at https://www.facebook.com/KennethVansweeveltTheEssence 

Find out more about his upcoming clinics in Canada at https://www.facebook.com/HeatherNelsonLibertyTraining/

First episode after my Australia trip and of course, I had to chat with one of the incredible horse people I met on my adventures! Tori Jeffress caught my attention immediately because she was riding a beautiful and collected horse bareback with a neck rope while at a Belinda Bolsenbroek clinic outside of Canberra. I sat there with my mouth hanging open, and once I got my jaw closed, I felt completely inspired to get home and work with my mare Diva!

Tori spends her days teaching and training according to classical riding principles, bitless and bridleless, with a focus on creating a sound, balanced and willing horse. For the last three years, Tori has only ridden her horse Rocco bridleless. Her aim with him in the long term is to be able to ride all Grand prix dressage movements and perform a Grandprix test bridleless. Every lateral movement Rocco has learned so far he has learned with a neck rope and my body aids, no bit. She hopes to inspire other young aspiring riders to achieve their goals no matter how far out of reach they may seem. 

Connect with Tori and her company Bitless with Every Bit of Control at www.facebook.com/pg/torijeffressequestrian

Another awesome hour spent with Jackson Holm, a Natural Balance Equine Dentist born and raised in southern Alberta with a deep love for horses and riding, for his second episode in the Whole Horse Podcast, and a great follow-up to our first chat.

Jackson has been a life-long student of the horse and finds himself always looking for ways to improve his horsemanship and the performance/well being of his horses. He shares in this podcast about the importance of regular and fastidious dental care for our horses, what a healthy maintenance schedule looks like, the questions to ask your dental specialist to ensure the best care and he answers my questions about abcesses in the teeth and mouth, and the impact of the cranial nerves and cranial bones on the teeth, and vice versa.

We also have a chance to geek out on more anatomy and physiology, and look more into the inextricable connection with bodywork, my happy places. He is a wealth of information and humble too, which makes me a big fan! Find Jackson at his FB group JH Equine.

Contact him by email at [email protected] or by phone at (403) 888 1250

Find out more about his training in Natural Balance Dentistry here.

So awesome to have Sarah Schlote, founder of EQUUSOMA™ back on the podcast! In this incredible follow-up episode (check out Episode 21 for an intro to her work), Sarah opens up about how Attachment theory applies to horse-human partnerships,the impact of stress and trauma, the process of "thawing out" that many horses experience when they're moved into a new home and why it happens, the pitfalls of "anthropomorphism", the importance of mammaliomorphism as a lens, and much much more. This podcast is full of cutting-edge resources (scroll down to find the list) - Sarah is as thorough as they come! 

Sarah Schlote, MA, RP, CCC, SEP is a Registered Psychotherapist, trauma therapist and Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner who has been involved in the field of animal-assisted interventions since 2003. A former St. John Ambulance Therapy Dogs volunteer, her main focus aside from her in-office private practice is partnering with horses to support health and healing. She is the founder of EQUUSOMA™, a training model integrating Somatic Experiencing®, attachment theory and equine-assisted trauma recovery, and has started promoting Therapist-Assisted Horsemanship™, bringing a trauma and attachment lens as well as trauma-informed horsemanship principles to improve the relationship between owners and their horses (and their coaches and instructors)

Learn more about Sarah and her work at www.equusoma.com and www.sarahschlote.com.