Horse Training in Harmony
Do you want to advance up the levels without sacrificing your horse's welfare and your relationship with him? Do you find it confusing trying to reconcile competitive training techniques with methods that prioritize partnership? Get ready for some fresh insights and a deeper understanding of how to progress with your horse. This podcast invites an evolution in your training and learning experience. Karen Rohlf will give you specific techniques and exercises, ‘outside the box’ concepts, and perspectives from top professionals. This show will explore how you can create stronger partnerships and healthy biomechanics, and will help you be your best self...
EP259: Accepting Praise
In this episode I share a story about the power of accepting praise and contemplate whether to hold on to, or not, the old measures of success.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on partnership, a student-empowering approach to teaching, and a positive and balanced point o...
EP258: How to Learn Online
In this episode DN Instructor, Shawna Lewis and I talk about learning in online courses - why so many are disappointing, and what makes it possible to totally transform your riding in an online course. This discussion will help you spend your education money and time more wisely.
About the Guest:
Shawna Lewis is a Dressage Naturally Licensed Instructor, living in North Carolina. Shawna has been Karen’s assistant at Dressage Naturally since its early years. She has been the Dressage Naturally ‘Course Concierge’ and is very in touch with the student experiences. Shawna is master...
EP257: Rehabilitating The Equine Athlete
In this episode I talk about the pillars of rehabilitation I use when helping an equine athlete return to a mentally, emotionally, and physically healthy state.
And the good news, is you can use these same pillars to train in a way that avoids the problems in the first place.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual...
EP256: Teaching Priorities
In this episode I reflect on my recent conference with all the DN Instructors, and share one piece about priorities for teaching.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on partnership, a student-empowering approach to teaching, and a positive and balanced point of view. She believes...
EP255: Using The Happy Athlete Training Scale
In this episode I explain a way to use the HATS to make better progress while prioritizing your horse’s well-being. It’s a short but hopefully very helpful episode that you can put into practice right away.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known for training horses with a priority...
EP254: When Your Horse Knows Best
In this episode I talk about when my horse makes the best decisions, and how we need to be paying attention and ready to set aside our egos when that happens.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on partnership, a student-empowering approach to teaching, and a pos...
EP 253: Exuberance Or Trouble?
In this episode I talk about how we should feel about our horse getting ‘big’ when online or at liberty. Will it make it more likely they’ll leap and buck under saddle? Is it OK or not OK to allow it?
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known for training ho...
EP252: What to Do When You See Mistreatment
In this episode I continue my exploration of what we can do to help horses when they are being mistreated. Helping to improve horse welfare isn’t just about taking action in the worst cases, it is about bringing awareness to the smaller moments in a way that creates change.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Kare...
EP251: USPC Equine Welfare Task Force
In this episode I am joined by the USPC Equine Welfare Task Force, made up of: Dr Stacy Anderson, Heather Bell, Dr Laura Thompson, Christina Keim. In creating this, they are leading the way for education on equine wellness and will have a huge influence on a new generation of horsemen. This is so important and I’m excited to have these wonderful women on the pod. I think you’ll love hearing about what they’ve created and will be left feeling optimistic.
About the Guests:
Christina Keim, M.Ed., M.F.A. is an...
EP250: Low Performance with Dr Jenny Susser
In this episode I speak with high performance expert Dr Jenny Susser, a self described athlete, scientist, horse lover and people expert. She helps people with high performance, but today I’m going to ask her about embracing contentedness with “low performance”… and what that even means. This talk will get personal as I share some challenges I’ve been having at this point in my life & career.
About the Guest:
Dr. Jenny has a doctoral degree in Clinical Health Psychology, specializing in Sport & Performance Psychology, Dr. Jenny is a New York State licensed psy...
EP249: Postural Rehabilitation with Dr Judith Shoemaker & Dr Karen Gellman
In this episode I am joined by Dr Judith Shoemaker and Dr Karen Gellman. They talk about Postural Rehabilitation and why horses may not respond to treatment. It is often due to underlying imbalances and they discuss different areas you’ll want to look at. Free webinar about Postural Rehabilitation.
About the Guests:
Judith M. Shoemaker, DVM, is well known practitioner and educator in integrative veterinary medicine and therapy. A 1980 graduate of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Shoemaker's 32 year experience in clinical practice focuses on holistic medicine and therapy, utilizing chiropractic, acup...
EP248: Your Horse's M.O.
In this episode I talk about your horse’s M.O. Is there a quirk or behavior that continues through as you train? That even if you improve it, it comes back… how do we feel about that and what do we do about it?
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known for traini...
EP247: Wanting To
In this episode I muse about how my horses and I navigate our feelings of ‘wanting to’ do things together (or not). I’ll share some stories of my horses and hopefully leave you feeling a little more free.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known for training horses with a priority...
EP246: My Horse is Perfect
In this episode I talk about how perfect my horses are - not just my horses, but your horses, and all horses! This is not some superficial positive thinking, it’s a context and an attitude that has a tremendous influence on how you train and live with horses.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is...
EP245: Wild Horses with Scott Beckstead
In this episode I’ll be talking with Scott Beckstead of the Wild Horse Refuge in Colorado. We’ll talk about how he is helping wild horses who have been rounded up by the Bureau of Land Management return to a life of freedom.
About the Guest:
A lifelong student and admirer of horses and all equines, Scott Beckstead grew up with horses on his family’s farm and spent much of his childhood and youth on horseback in the mountains of Idaho. After receiving his bachelor's degree from Utah State University and his JD from t...
EP244: Pressure & Freedom with Elsa Sinclair
In this episode I talk with Elsa Sinclair of Taming Wild. I invite her to discuss her opinion on pressure, escalating pressure, and freedom. She offered a unique and nuanced opinion about pressure and how it fits into her Freedom-Based training techniques.
About the Guest:
For ELSA SINCLAIR, horse training has been a lifelong pursuit, but her career took a turn when one day a student asked her if horses really enjoyed being ridden, and more importantly, if they knew they had a choice in the matter. Without an answer for her student, Sin...
EP243: Narration
In this episode I talk about the power of narration. It’s a technique I use to build confidence, gain clarity, minimize fear, and to stay in the moment.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on partnership, a student-empowering approach to teaching, and a posit...
EP242: Fun With Numbers
In this episode I have some fun with numbers, starting with a loose calculation of how much time I’ve spent practicing with horses, then somehow I move on to balance, connection, and resistance.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on partnership, a student-empowering approach to...
EP241: You Don't Have to Feel Bad
In this episode I talk about a disturbing situation where some professionals are actively making students feel bad about themselves in the name of caring about horses. I’ll share my thoughts and how you can avoid falling into this trap.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known for training horses with a prio...
EP240: A Conversation with Tik Maynard
In this episode I talk with Tik Maynard, professional event rider, author, and two-time winner of The Road To The Horse colt starting championships.
About the Guest:
Tik Maynard is a renowned equestrian from Canada. He is a trainer, and author of 2 books: In The Middle Are The Horsemen, and Starting in The Middle…. He is known for his expertise in horsemanship, eventing, and colt starting, notably winning The Road To The Horse colt-starting competition twice.
He represented Canada in Modern Pentathlon at the 2007 Pan American Games and has competed at the advanced leve...
EP239: Me & My Energy
In this episode I talk about energy; not the kind that has to do with bigger gaits, or stronger aids, but the kind that effects how we are doing what we are doing.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on partnership, a student-empowering approach to teac...
EP238: A Quick Note From Karen
We’re taking a little summer break from the pod. See you in September!
EP237: More is More
Often we who want harmony and lightness can tend to focus on doing less, asking for less, and being as invisible as possible. In this episode I talk about how sometimes we want to do more, ask for more, and be more obvious in our requests.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known...
EP236: Chat with Christina Keim, Author of: Unwanted
In this episode I speak with Christina Keim, author of Unwanted, The Causes and Effects of America’s Horse Population Crisis. This is a book every horse lover needs to read, and I’m so happy to share this with you. It’s a subject that is uncomfortable to look at, but necessary.
About the Guest:
Christina Keim, M.Ed., M.F.A. is an award-winning equestrian journalist and professional horsewoman with over 25 years experience in the industry. Her written work has appeared extensively in top equestrian publications, and she is the author of the new book...
EP235: Chat with DN Instructor, Niki Wilde Broadhead
In this episode we’ll meet my newest DN licensed Instructor, Niki Wilde Broadhead from Utah. She has a background in foundational horsemanship and a passion for cowboy dressage and teaching.
About the Guest:
Niki has a strong background in foundational horsemanship, foal handling, and problem horses. She is a cowboy dressage endorsed clinician and a cowboy dressage level 3 judge with distinction, and has spent many years advancing adults and children. She is a really dedicated and enthusiastic horsewoman, student, and instructor and I’m happy to introduce her to you. You can find her on Face...
EP234: Reintroduction: Happy Athlete Training Scale
This episode is a reintroduction of one of the most important concepts I teach, the Happy Athlete Training Scale.
This is the framework for ethical training with a prioritization on your horse’s well-being. This training scale is ALWAYS in the back of my mind as I assess my horses and make my day-to-day and moment-to-moment training decisions. It’s simply my best, most simple description (so far) for explaining how to make those decisions.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is...
EP233: Clear It, or Clarify It
In this episode I give you a simple technique you can use in many different situations to improve what’s going on between you and your horse.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on partnership, a student-empowering approach to teaching, and a positive and balanced point...
EP232: Professionals of a Certain Age
In this episode I talk about some of the challenges of being a horse professional for many decades, how things change, and perhaps a more positive way to navigate it.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on partnership, a student-empowering approach to teaching, and a posi...
EP231: You or The Horse?
In this episode I talk about how to keep track of all the things we need to keep track of when we’re doing stuff with our horses, and how do we know if it’s us that need to change or our horse?
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known for training...
EP230: Why Should They?
In this episode I’ll talk about some ways I help myself make decisions with my horses (and life).
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on partnership, a student-empowering approach to teaching, and a positive and balanced point of view. She believes in getting to the he...
EP229: Intention & Surrender
In this episode I talk about intention and surrender, that delicate dance between having a plan and allowing things to happen naturally, between leading our horses to do things, and allowing them to offer.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on partnership, a student-empowering approach to teac...
EP228: Responding To Welfare Issues
In this episode I take a look at horse welfare and how we can respond to situations where we think a horse is in a less-than-ideal situation. I’ll share three models, two to help you assess a situation and one to decide how to respond.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known...
EP227: Stopping Riding
In this episode I answer a listener’s question about the challenge of deciding when to stop riding when it is the horse’s decision to stop.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on partnership, a student-empowering approach to teaching, and a positive and balanced point of...
EP226: Animal Consciousness, A Fable
In this episode I talk about animal consciousness. It’s a big subject that can get confusing quickly, and that’s why I wrote a fable about it.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on partnership, a student-empowering approach to teaching, and a positive and balanced...
EP225: The Extraordinary Ordinary
In this episode I talk about the magical stuff, those synchronous, rare moments when the stars align, and how maybe they are much more ordinary in the best way possible.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on partnership, a student-empowering approach to teaching, an...
EP224: Revisiting Going Through
In this episode we revisit episode 87 on Going Through because it is such an important subject! This episode is about throughness in the dressagey sense of the word, and it’s also about going all the way through a process… so instead of getting stuck in the messy middle, you find your way to the beautiful stuff on the other side. Even if you’ve heard this one before, listen again with new ears… I’ll bet there is something you need help getting through right now that this will help you with.
About the Host:
Karen Rohl...
EP223: 2 Exercises, 1 Birthday Wish
In this episode I share a couple favorite must-have flexibility exercises from my book. I also share my birthday wish!
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on partnership, a student-empowering approach to teaching, and a positive and balanced point of view. She believes in getting to...
EP222: All About the Sweet Spot Program
This episode is all about the Sweet Spot program and how it helps you find more harmony with your horse in an empowering and transformative way. At the time this is episode is released registration for the program is open (it only opens twice a year) so we want to make it easy for you to know if it’s right for you either now or in the future. You’ll hear from me and some SS students.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is ch...
EP221: Questions and Answers
In this episode I am joined by DN Instructor Shawna Lewis. We answer questions from listeners. There are questions about connection with the reins, low energy horses, reactive horses, crooked horses and taking lessons.
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on partnership, a student-empowering approach to...
EP220: A Story and Advice
In this episode I’ll tell a funny little scary story that is remotely horse-related and then I’ll share 5 pieces of advice that will help you with horses (and maybe with more than horses).
About the Host:
Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs.
Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on partnership, a student-empowering approa...
