The Equestrian Connection

Latest Episodes:

#70 A Holistic Approach to Soundness with Steffi Spielhaupter Feb 02, 2025

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Helping you and your horse transition from surviving to thrivin

Steffi Spielhaupter is an Equine Scientist and Holistic Horsewoman.

With a Bachelor's and Master's in Equine Science, Steffi has dedicated her life to helping horses and their humans build deeper, more meaningful connections. Her goal is to support you on your individual journey of conscious horse-human connection and personal growth, training your eye for the subtle shifts in not only your horse’s, but also your own, state.

Steffi’s passion is working with the fine nuances of your horse's soundness (physical, emotional, mental and spiritual states) and helping you distinguish between them, always considering the health of your horse's nervous system in the process.

Since founding Science for Soundness in 2014, Steffi has worked with horse enthusiasts across the globe, using science and heart to guide them out of survival mode and into a space of trust, safety, and genuine partnership with their horses.

Connect with Steffi:

#69 How horse trainers can work less and make more profit with Baylee Summer Jan 19, 2025

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Create a profitable equestrian business with strategic social media marketing

Baylee Summer is a marketing and business strategist expert, dedicated to helping the equestrian industry. She works with ethical horse trainers and helps them create, launch, and sell out online programs, so they can work less while making more profit and impact. Her goal is to help them create profitable businesses by leveraging social media.

In this episode, we discuss what horse trainers are missing with their marketing, why leaving social media or outsourcing it to someone else isn’t always a good idea, why large followings aren’t important, what to do when you don’t know what to post, and so much more.

PS: Baylee created a FREE download for you to kickstart your 2025 social media marketing! Download it here: https://baylee-summer.mykajabi.com/ultimate-guide-to-social-media-marketing

Connect with Baylee:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bayleejoysummer/ Baylee’s coaching program, Ethical Trainer Alchemy: https://baylee-summer.mykajabi.com/eta-609553a3-5234-4d1e-a2bb-8c746f04010b

#68 The Importance of Saddle Fit for Horse AND Rider with Jochen Schleese Jan 05, 2025

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And, how different genders need different saddle shapes

Jochen Schleese, the founder of the internationally recognized saddle company, Schleese.

Jochen is a former member of the German young rider’s 3-Day Event team, and qualified for the European Championships in 1984. Unfortunately, he had to retire his horse due to lameness, which abruptly ended his riding career. Years later, through research Jochen discovered his horse’s lameness was caused by damage to the scapular cartilage from an ill-fitting saddle. This was the catalyst for Jochen’s life-long mission to prevent saddle related damage for all horses.

In 1985, Jochen became a certified Master Saddler, and throughout his work, he later discovered that many female riders struggle with pain and health issues from riding in saddles designed for male riders (due to pelvic and anatomical differences). Now, Schleese Saddlery Service is the world leader in anatomically appropriate saddles, which can be fit and adjusted according to the biomechanics of movement and the development of the horse, through personal on-site or online saddle fit evaluations.

Connect with Schleese:

#67 Classic with Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour: From Athlete to Icon Dec 22, 2024

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Dressage’s rising superstar and the special horse who got her there

This is a replay of our classic episode, originally recorded and aired in late 2022. Christian Kroeber, wehorse CEO, traveled to Denmark to interview the dressage superstar in person.

Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour is a Danish dressage rider who is currently ranked 2nd and 3rd in the world, as of July 2022. Cathrine is an olympic athlete, having competed in 2016 at Rio and 2021 at Tokyo, and she won double individual silver as well as helped her team win gold at the 2022 World Dressage Championships in Herning, Denmark.

But apart from her career success, Cathrine embodies much of what the dressage world wants in a champion - her riding skills, love and understanding of her equestrian partners that led her to become one of the world’s best.

Connect with Cathrine on Instagram

#66 Start with The Love of The Horse with Noor Slaoui Dec 08, 2024

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What it was like to be the first eventing rider to raise her country’s flag at the Olympics

Noor Slaoui is the first rider to represent Morocco in Olympic eventing as well as the first person from the Middle East and North Africa to compete in Olympic eventing.

She started riding when she was very young, riding mules through the mountains of Morocco with her family. As a teenager, Noor attended the École Nationale d'Equitation de Saumur in France. It was here that she developed her riding skills as well as trained to be a groom.

Noor’s success in the saddle could be accredited to her focus outside of the saddle, while caring for the horses on a daily basis. She has said that a partnership with a horse just doesn't happen when you ride it; it happens when you're on the floor.

We’re going to be discussing everything from the lessons she learned from grooming, the connection she has with her horse, her journey to the Olympics, and so much more. Let’s dive in!

Connect with Noor on Instagram

#65 Un-Natural Horsemanship with Chiara Poscente and Zak Maytum Nov 24, 2024

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Supplementing the growth of horse people through books

Chiara Poscente is a Mindful Horsemanship Coach, Horse and Rider Biomechanics Trainer, and BTMM Rider Pillars Apprentice Instructor. Zak Maytum is a Mindful Horsemanship Coach, Equine Behavior Specialist, and Innovative Traditional Western Saddle Maker. Together they have founded Un-Natural Horsemanship.

Un-Natural Horsemanship is not a method, doctrine, or school. It is an Idea: Both horse and human can be equally valued and worthy parts of a balanced partnership. The highest goal is to find a good feeling for ourselves and for our horses. Beyond that, it can be fun to see how far we can carry it together. Un-Natural Horsemanship strives to honor the minds, hearts and bodies of both ourselves and our equine companions to the best of our ability and we wish to help ourselves and others find a way of existing with and without horses that negates the need for a set of orchestrated steps to achieve a pre-determined out-come. When the “how” we do everything leads us to a good feeling, the “what” we do just seems to show up.

On this episode, we discuss how Un-Natural Horsemanship came to be, as well as biomechanics, behaviour, and mindful horsemanship.

Connect with Chiara & Zak:

Website: https://www.un-naturalhorsemanship.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unnaturalhorsemanship/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insightequine

#64 Publishing in the Equestrian Industry with Martha Cook Nov 10, 2024

Show notes

Supplementing the growth of horse people through books

Martha Cook is the managing director of Trafalgar Square Books, a publishing company serving the horse industry with beautifully illustrated, well-written books to supplement the growth and development of horse people. Martha runs the daily operations of Trafalgar Square Books, as well as handling contracts, print buying, rights, and promotion and marketing.

Trafalgar Square Books believes that, with the help of their authors, we can all learn to ride better; teach our horses to perform better; feed them and house them more in accordance to their needs; care for them when they fall ill and help them recover from injury; and above all, treat them in a fair and just manner, as they deserve.

On this episode, we’re chatting all about books and the publishing of education materials to support the growth of the horse industry.

Connect with Martha and Trafalgar Square Books: Website: https://trafalgarbooks.com/

#63 Horse Listening with Cheryl Eriksen Oct 27, 2024

Show notes

The importance of curiosity as a horseperson

Cheryl Eriksen is an author, blogger, horse midwife, and eternal student of the horse-human connection.

While earning her MSW from Western Michigan University, Cheryl took a special interest in the effects of trauma on the developing brain, and she applied that learning, along with her personal experiences as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, into her memoir, Follow Me, Friend.

Additionally, Cheryl has spent decades as an equine professional and extensively studied equine behavior and how it is influenced by what the human brings to the relationship. Through her work in the field of equine assisted psychotherapy and learning, Cheryl has seen and experienced firsthand the healing power of the horse-human relationship. Her books (current and upcoming) and her blog explore this powerful relationship.

Cheryl has also developed and taught continuing education courses on Equine Assisted Psychotherapy as a viable adjunct therapy, and on Trauma, Resiliency, and Horse Sense for social workers.

Connect with Cheryl:

Website: http://www.followmefriendbook.com/
Blog: http://www.peacehorsejourney.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CherylLEriksenAuthor
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pathofthepeacehorse6037

#62 Talking Horse Sport with Steven Wilde Oct 13, 2024

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Commentating at the Olympics and Beyond

Steven Wilde travels the world to talk about horse sport. He grew up in the sport of show jumping with his mother, an international rider, and began equestrian sports commentating in 2001. Steven has had great success organizing shows as well. With a long list of events on his resume, Steven has commentated at many shows including multiple Olympic Games, European Championships, World Championships, over 100 World Cup Qualifiers, and over ten years on the Longines Global Champions Tour. His voice is a staple at WEF and other shows in the US and abroad.

Connect with Steven:

X: https://x.com/stevenwilde1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steven.wilde.127/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenwilde1/

#61 The Art of Equine Alchemy with Amber Lydic Sep 29, 2024

Show notes

Creating spaces where humans & horses can unlock their magic and healing

Over two decades ago, Amber started a successful business focused on helping performance horses with behavioral issues. However, she soon realized that a major part of the horses' problems stemmed from the humans, and at that time, no one was addressing how to support the human side of things. While Amber knew there was a disconnect, she wasn't sure what to do about it, so she continued to train horses to be safe for humans instead of also working towards making humans safe for horses.

Years later, Amber experienced a life-changing moment that helped her understand the power of energy. It inspired her to bridge the gaps that she observed throughout her career working with horses. To broaden her perspective and enhance her ability to assist others, she pursued several certifications, including coaching, ThetaHealing at multiple levels, and Somatic Breathwork. Amber has since combined these modalities to create a unique approach to healing. Whether it’s through meditation, somatic experiences, or tailored interventions, Amber works with individuals both in groups and one-on-one.

Connect with Amber & find out more about The Art of Equine Alchemy event:

Website: https://www.amberlydic.com/ The Art of Equine Alchemy event registration page: https://www.amberlydic.com/The-Art-of-Equine-Alchemy The Art of Equine Alchemy Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/532608742570210/?ti=ls Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_amber_lydic_/

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