In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian, Samantha sits down with Paul T. Haefner, Ph.D & Justin Haefner from Riding Far to unpack the concept of nervous system regulation in both horses and riders. With decades of experience spanning sports psychology, horsemanship, and young horse development, they explore how dysregulation shows up in the arena, why obedience isn’t the same as partnership, and what it really takes to build a calm, responsive, and connected horse. Listeners will walk away with a fresh understanding of polyvagal theory, co-regulation, and the neuroscience of trust — plus practical insights on trailer loading, fear management, and the hidden cost of traditional training.