Dear Horse World
Dear Horse World is a podcast for every horse lover, hosted by Noëlle Floyd. Each week, Noëlle explores the diverse world of horses, delving into the many sub-communities and cultures that shape our shared passion. The podcast celebrates the deep connection between humans and horses, offering inspiration, knowledge, and a sense of belonging for riders of all levels. Episodes drop weekly.
Episodes
I Sold My House to Make a Horse Docu-Series UNBRIDLED | Noëlle Floyd with Yellowstone's Jen Landon
What does it cost to go and find out who you are? For me, it cost a house. I sold mine to travel 25,000 miles across North America with my horses, Lady and G, and I filmed all of it. That road became Unbridled, a six-part horse documentary series. Episodes 1 and 2 are on YouTube now. This time the microphone turned around. Jen Landon, actor, Yellowstone cast member, horsewoman, and the person who
The Real Reason I Walked Away From Horses | UNBRIDLED Official Trailer
Is the horse-human bond the ultimate secret to better training? Watch the trailer as professional horsewoman Noëlle Floyd launches her new six-part documentary series NOËLLE FLOYD: UNBRIDLED. 🐴 Subscribe for more horse training & equestrian insights: https://noellefloyd.com 💻 Catch the SEASON PREMIERE on Youtube MONDAY, OCTOBER 19 AT 4PM ET and binge the whole season! at NF+ https://noellefloyd.co
When the Bridle Comes Off, the Truth Comes Out | A Letter to Lady (Unbridled)
I wrote my mare a letter the day she came to me. Out in the field with her, with G grazing nearby, I read it to her out loud for the first time. It is the most honest thing I have said about horsemanship in fourteen years. Fourteen years I spent interviewing the horse world's best — the trainers and riders everyone turns to for answers. Then Lady arrived, more wild than tame, and I stepped in fron
![The Horse Husband: How Evan Went From Terrified to the Barn Every Day ] No Stupid Questions with Evan the Groom](https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/8/e/b/5/8eb56b993bb5425dd959afa2a1bf1c87/Evan_Donadt_Libsyn.png)
The Horse Husband: How Evan Went From Terrified to the Barn Every Day ] No Stupid Questions with Evan the Groom
The same patience it takes to earn a horse's trust is the patience Evan the Groom brings to teaching the rest of us. He came to horses the way most people never do — from the outside, with no background, terrified of the biggest one in the barn — and turned that beginner's-eye view into an education. Today he does the horse grooming and horse care in his wife's dressage business, and the horse wor
How Steffen Peters Trains a Horse: Self-Carriage, Groundwork & a New Stallion (Part 2)
A horse has two choices. Learn to accept the bit, or fight it for the rest of its life. That's Steffen Peters, and this is the half where his hands are on the reins. If you heard Part 1, you met the man — six Olympics, the dark place, the way back. This one is the horse training — the groundwork up through Grand Prix. Forty years of it, distilled into the way he starts a five-year-old and the way
Steffen Peters: The Six-Time Olympian on the Dark Place Behind the Medals (Part 1)
When did you make it? Ask most riders that question and they'll point to a medal. Steffen Peters points somewhere else — to the darkest place he has ever been, and the way back out of it. This is Part 1 of my conversation with a six-time Olympian, and we barely touch a rein. Forty years of horse training sit behind this man, and the first thing he wants to talk about isn't a horse. It's the thing
She Remade Black Beauty. Now She's Fighting to Save America's Wild Horses | Ashley Avis
There's one horse you would cross the country for. You know the one. The horse who found you when you had the least to give and somehow handed you back to yourself. Now hold that horse in your mind, and sit with this: roughly 20,000 of them a year get loaded onto trailers bound for Canada and Mexico, and it reaches every kind of horse — the show jumper, the Thoroughbred who ran too slow, the lesso
What this Dressage Rider Learned From a Cowboy - Kasey Perry-Glass
You get the thing you chased for five years. And the ride is the worst one you've ever put down. Kasey Perry-Glass reached the Olympic Games on the horse she bought to take her there — Doublé — and came home into a depression that blindsided her. This is the conversation under the medal photo. What it costs to want something that badly, and what she found on the far side of it. She married a cowbo
The Move Most People Get Backwards With a Cow — and What It Teaches About Horse Training | Martin Black (Pt. 2)
You think the cow is the hard part. She isn't. You are. You get ahead of her to turn her, and she beats you to the herd every time. You spur, you pull, the horse's head comes up, and now nobody is watching the cow at all. Martin Black has read millions of head of cattle, and the horse training lesson underneath all of it is the one almost everybody gets backwards. To cut one cow out, you leave her
Why You Should Stop Patting Your Horse | Martin Black on Western Horse Training
We pat our horses to tell them they did well. Martin Black says the horse would rather we kept our hands to ourselves. He has spent a life inside western horse training — starting close to five hundred colts a year on the same Great Basin country his family has ranched since the 1860s, seventy miles from his nearest neighbor, the road over the mountain closed all winter. And what he showed me this
Monty Roberts, Alexandra Kurland, and the Future of Horse Training
When I was eleven, my mom handed me The Man Who Listens to Horses. Last week, the man who wrote it died. Within days, the horse world also lost Alexandra Kurland — the woman who spent decades convincing us that a clicker and a handful of food belonged in serious horse training. This is a solo episode. An essay, read aloud, on two pioneers who stood in opposite corners of horse training and still m
Your Saddle Fits a Horse That No Longer Exists — Letitia Glenn on Horse Care
You measure with your hand while he stands there. Then he takes a step, and the horse you measured is gone. Saddle fit is horse care. I rode my whole life before anyone said that to me plainly. I met Letitia Glenn, founder of Contour Saddlery™, at Road to the Horse. She had seen footage of me riding, and the first thing she thought—which she then said to my face, out loud—was that I did not know
Horse Training and the Nervous System: What's Really Happening in Your Horse's Brain | Dr. Stephen Peters (Pt. 2)
We say we want a willing horse. Then we climb on, and we start cramming. And when the horse gets tight, or slow, or stuck, we do the one thing that guarantees it gets worse — we add pressure. This is Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Stephen Peters, and this time he brought a horse's brain. Cut in half, in his hands, on the table between us. He points to the cingulate. He points to the little kid
Your Horse Isn't Being Bad — Dr. Stephen Peters on Horse Behavior, the Nervous System & Learned Helplessness Part 1 sponsored by Total Feeds
Every rider has said it. He's being stubborn. She's testing me. He knows better. Here's the harder, truer thing underneath: the horse isn't being anything. The horse is a nervous system, doing the one job every nervous system has — trying to stay safe. Dr. Stephen Peters spends this conversation taking me under the behavior, into the brain that produced it. He's a neuropsychologist, co-author of E
Joe Stockdale on Riding Confidence, Grief & the Show Jumping Career He Inherited
Everybody wants the clear round. The win. The photo at the top of the podium. Here's the part the sport keeps offstage — the doubt, the grief, the voice at the in-gate asking if you even belong here. Joe Stockdale knows that voice well. He calls it imposter syndrome, and he feels it at the very top of show jumping, which is its own kind of honesty for a 26-year-old already riding at five-star. In
How to Read Horse Behavior — Elsa Sinclair on the 5 Types of Leadership
There is a question almost every one of us carries to the barn and never says out loud. Not how do I get him to do this. But: does he actually trust me — or is he just complying? This is Part 2 of my conversation with Elsa Sinclair, and it's the half where I kept having to stop and close my eyes. Because Elsa reads horse behavior in a way most of us were never taught to. She breaks leadership into
What If Your Horse Could Say No? Elsa Sinclair on Freedom Based Training Part 1
Most of us learned to ride before we ever learned to ask. We learned the halter, the rope, the pressure, the release. We learned how to make a horse do the thing. And somewhere in there, quietly, a lot of us started to feel that something about it wasn't quite right — and didn't have the words, or the permission, to say so. Elsa Sinclair had that feeling at twelve. She's the creator of Freedom Bas
Horse Health: The Virus Almost Every Horse Already Carries — What to Know Before the Next Outbreak with Dr. Bruno Karam
Right now, somewhere in the horse world, a horse is shedding a virus it's carried since it was a foal. Its owner doesn't know. The horse looks fine. That's EHV-1. Equine herpesvirus. And Dr. Bruno Karam, equine internal medicine specialist, wants you to understand it before the next outbreak — not during it. We recorded this conversation in the wake of last year's EHV-1 cluster at the National
Welcome to the NOËLLE FLOYD Podcast!
Have you ever moved through a community — any community — feeling like you were watching from just outside the circle? Like everyone else had found their tribe and you were still looking? That feeling of not belonging might not be something to fix. It might be exactly what makes you exceptional. In this first solo episode of the Noelle Floyd Podcast, Noëlle Floyd makes the case that not belonging
The Rider Ego vs. The Horseman Standard: Turnout, Horse Karma, and Clear Boundaries Daniel Bluman Part 2
It is easy to get wrapped up in the competitive environment when prize money and recognition wait at the gate. Our natural human instinct causes us to objectify horses as high-speed pieces of equipment or treat them like sentimental human pets, yet both approaches cause immense confusion for the animal. When challenges arise, a rider focuses strictly on overriding the obstacle in front of them, wh
The Rider Ego vs. The Horseman Standard: Choosing the Animal Over the Accolades with Daniel Bluman
We have all walked into the barn carrying the weight of a chaotic day, a mile-long to-do list, and a rider ego that thinks jumping twenty fences is the only way to improve. We get clumsy because we try hard to chase points, ribbons, and instant gratification. We end up losing the horse. Three-time Olympian Daniel Bluman helps us trade that frantic energy for a higher standard. Daniel represents I
How Equine Bodywork for Horse Owners Transforms Your Horse Partnership with Jim Masterson
What if everything you've been calling a behavior problem is actually your horse asking for help? On this episode of Dear Horse World, Noëlle sits down with Jim Masterson — founder of the Masterson Method and a leading voice in equine bodywork for horse owners — to explore exactly that question. Jim has worked hands-on with an estimated 700 horses a year at peak, trained over 10,000 students world
What Your Horse's Nervous System Reveals About Trust and Liberty with Kaleigh Marie - Sponsored by Triple Crown Feeds
Liberty trainer and Braveheart Beasts founder Kaleigh Marie shares how training oxen, mammoth donkeys, and mules before ever seriously working with horses shaped everything she knows about connection, trust, and the nervous system. Kaleigh Marie is a liberty trainer and performer based in the Northeast who has spent the last decade developing a nervous system-informed approach to horsemanship root
"Easy Keeper" Horses Are a Warning Sign… Here's Why with Dr Kent Tooman sponsored by Pegasus Training & Rehabilitation Center
In this episode of Dear Horse World, equine veterinarian Dr. Kent Tooman breaks down the truth about equine metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and why more horses than ever are at risk of laminitis. Dr. Kent Tooman is an experienced equine veterinarian with over 30 years in practice, specializing in performance horses and metabolic health. In this episode you will learn: What's really happen
The Most Powerful Thing you can Train isn't Your Horse—it's Your Mind with Barbra Schulte - sponsored by Total Feeds
Champion cutting horse trainer Barbra Schulte joins the Dear Horse World Podcast after teaching host Noelle her first cut in Weatherford, Texas, explaining her teaching approach through mechanics and nervous system regulation. They discuss staying in an optimal state between under-arousal and fight-or-flight, slowing down when things speed up, and building skills through fundamentals, clear sequen
Bring a Proven System Into Your Riding - an NF+ Masterclass Exclusive with Ian Millar and Amy Millar sponsored by Connaway & Associates
NF+ is proud to present our exclusive new Masterclass, The Millar Method Complete Training System, where Ian & Amy Millar introduce their system for building winning horses. Olympian Ian Millar returns on NF+ with Amy Millar to introduce the first of 16 episodes of the Millar Method, a consistent, repeatable system designed to develop horses that stay sound, confident, and ready to win. They share
Give the Horses Time - Peter Charles on Developing Riders and Horses that Last Sponsored by Connaway
Peter Charles on Starting from Nothing, Building Champions, and Giving Horses Time Peter Charles joins the Dear Horse World Podcast for his first podcast and recounts leaving Liverpool at 15 after his parents died, starting as a groom in Ireland, getting limited early riding opportunities, and working up through top European yards before winning the Brussels World Cup at 24 on the 7-year-old April
Solving Horse Separation Anxiety: Why Herd-Bound Behavior Isn't Disobedience — It's Instinct with Kathy Baar
Horse Separation anxiety is something most horse owners will face at some point. Sometimes it shows up as calling when a buddy leaves. Sometimes it's a refusal to leave the barn. Sometimes it escalates into behavior that feels dangerous, overwhelming, or emotionally exhausting. And despite how common it is, it can feel isolating — especially when even experienced professionals don't always have
From Alaska to Argentina on Horseback: The Untold Aftermath with Filipe Masetti Leite Sponsored by Total Feeds
What does it really mean to commit to something that scares you? In this episode, we sit down with Filipe Masetti Leite, a journalist, filmmaker, and long rider who traveled more than 27,000 kilometers on horseback from the Canadian Rockies to the southern tip of Argentina. Over eight years, he crossed 12 countries, navigated remote terrain, built partnerships with 11 horses, and lived at the spee
Road to the Horse Prep: Elisa Wallace Reveals her Secret to Staying relaxed under Pressure - Sponsored by StableFeed
Not every rider has access to the perfectly bred, professionally produced sport horse. Many are figuring things out with the horse they could afford, learning as they go, and trying to build a partnership along the way. In this episode, 5★ event rider and trainer Elisa Wallace shares what she has learned from producing horses many others overlook, including Mustangs and off-the-track Thoroughbreds
The Truth About Black Cowboy Culture that Nobody Taught You with Drake LeBlanc sponsored by YETI
What if the story of the American cowboy is bigger than the version most of us were handed? In this episode, Noëlle sits down with Drake LeBlanc, a Creole cowboy from Louisiana, filmmaker, and cultural preservationist. The conversation that unfolds is about history, identity, and what it really means to live a culture rather than wear it. Drake was raised in a community where horses are not a hobb
Laura Kraut's Road to the Top and the Future of American Show Jumping
There is a whole generation of insanely talented young riders who feel like the system is not built for them. You want the top sport, you want the big moments in show jumping, you want to know what it actually takes to get there, yet the pathway feels gated and the access feels invisible. That is exactly why this conversation with Laura Kraut hits so hard. Laura is a legit icon in show jumping and
The Five Types of Confidence Every Horse Needs with Tik Maynard
Some horses appear confident while others seem reactive or unsure, but what if confidence is more nuanced than that? In this special episode from our NF+ Masterclass, The Confidence Advantage, Tik breaks down the five distinct areas where a horse can gain or lose confidence and how each one functions like a cup that can be filled from one to ten. In this episode, you will learn: Around Other Hors
Is the Horse World Acting like a Cult? with Sharon Madere | Sponsored by YETI
You might know this feeling all too well. You want to trust your feel, keep growing, and do right by your horse, yet something in the culture makes you hesitate. Questioning a method or following your instincts can feel dangerous, like one honest moment could cost you belonging, spark backlash, or even put a target on your back. In this episode, Sharon Madere, an equine behavior consultant and cul
How Horses Really See: Motion, Color, Depth and the Diseases Owners Miss Part 2 — Dear Horse World, it's Dr. Dennis Brooks
In Part 2 with Dr. Dennis Brooks, we step fully into the world as horses see it. This episode unpacks the five emerging immune mediated eye diseases he is treating around the world, why one of them is more alarming than moon blindness, and how tiny changes in the cornea can trigger sudden behavior shifts. We explore how horses process color, motion, and depth, why their optic nerves move informati
Seeing Horses Differently: Lessons from Dr. Dennis Brooks an Equine Ophthalmologist Part 1 | Sponsored by Total Feeds
When you meet Dr. Dennis Brooks, you understand why horse people around the world talk about him with a kind of reverence. He is one of the most influential equine ophthalmologists of our time, the OG of horse eye care, yet what makes him unforgettable is not just the medicine. It is the heart behind it. In this episode, Dennis takes us inside the world of horse eyes with the clarity of a teacher,
Dressage Naturally with Karen Rohlf: Choosing the Relationship Over the Result Part 2 | Sponsored By YETI
Part 2 continues the conversation by moving into the moments that test riders and trainers alike. This episode focuses on what happens when something doesn't feel right, and the courage it can take to pause, question, or choose a different path in the middle of a lesson. Karen Rohlf is an FEI Grand Prix dressage rider, USDF Gold Medalist, internationally respected clinician, and the founder of Dre
Dressage Naturally with Karen Rohlf: Training Horses as Individuals, Not systems Part 1 | Sponsored By YETI
Have you ever questioned whether the way you've been taught to train truly fits the horse in front of you? Most people don't. And when they do, they're often reprimanded for it, which is usually enough to make them stop asking. We repeat the same exercises and routines because that's how we were taught, rarely questioning the system even when our horses do. This conversation challenges that patter
The Hidden Forces That Shape a Rider's Career with Rodrigo Pessoa | Sponsored by Connaway & Associates and Yeti
Have you ever felt your heart thumping and your palms sweating before a competition, only to realize it wasn't just nerves but something deeper? Riders know what it means to carry pressure long before a round begins. It often starts early. Parents want so deeply for their children to thrive, yet the fear of falling behind can blur the line between supporting and pushing. Most riders have compared
Cutting Horse Lessons Every Rider Can Use with Lindy Burch | Sponsored by Yeti and Total Feeds
So many riders want their horses sharper, quicker, and more responsive, yet end up drilling, micromanaging, and unintentionally shutting their horses down. Hall of Fame cutting horse trainer Lindy Burch offers a wildly refreshing reframing: what if the sharpest horses are not the ones you control the most, but the ones you allow to think? In cutting, the horse has to make decisions in real time. T
Laura Graves on Staying Curious When Dressage Gets Hard (NF+ Exclusive)
Frustration is a human emotion, and it almost inevitably shows up in every rider's journey. The question is what you do when it does. In this episode, Olympic dressage medalist Laura Graves steps in as your coach and mentor, sharing the mindset that guides her when riding feels more hard than harmonious. This clip comes from her NF+ masterclass Laura Graves Troubleshoots Common Flatwork Woes and o
Equine Digestion Explained: Sugar, Fiber, and Mineral Balance. — No Stupid Questions with Dr. Harry Anderson
Welcome back to No Stupid Questions, the nutrition edition with Dr. Harry Anderson. In part Part 2 we take deeper look at the physiology that drives your horse's behavior, metabolism, and overall health. We explore the way sugar, minerals, and fiber interact inside the horse. We talk about why some horses puff up, why certain forage creates sharpness, and how small choices in the feed room can shi
Horse Nutrition Explained: How Digestion Shapes Behaviour with Dr. Harry Anderson Part 1
Most horse owners are trying their best in the feed room while quietly wondering if they are getting it right. You want your horse to feel calm, healthy, and steady in their body, but the information out there is overwhelming and often contradictory. One person says alfalfa is dangerous. Another says your horse needs hay 24/7. Someone else blames ulcers, sugar, or stress. And in the middle of all
An Olympian's Approach to Building Horses, Not Breaking Them: Dear Horse World, It's Will Coleman - Sponsored by Yeti
Eventing is equal parts strategy, skill, and mental game, but for many riders it can feel like a constant battle to balance all three phases, keep their horse sound, and make real progress. How do you build a horse's confidence and physical strength without rushing them or burning them out? In this episode, Olympian and 5 star eventer Will Coleman joins us to break down what truly drives elite per
We are Back! Embrace Season 2 Premiere: Creole Cowboys, Cowgirl Spirit & Riding Adventures and more!
We're back with Season 2 of Dear Horse World, premiering on December 2nd! This season, we bring you some of the most iconic voices in the industry, featuring legends like Will Coleman, Lindy Birch, Rodrigo Pessoa, Laura Kraut, and the unforgettable Boots O'Neill. Their wisdom and experiences reveal life-changing insights into the sport, horses, and horsemanship. Additionally, don't miss our Black
Groundwork Guys Mini-Series Ep#5: How to Help a Horse That Pulls Back, Panics, or Won't Load | Sponsored by Jug Waterers
Some horses come with a few challenges. This one came with a list. In this episode of Ground Work Guys, Nick and Tik meet a mare who pulls back when tied, rushes off the trailer, fidgets for the farrier, and gets jumpy around the saddle. Instead of diving straight into solutions, they do what they do best: take a step back and look at the bigger picture. What unfolds is an honest, funny, and surpr
Groundwork Guys Mini-Series Ep#4: Groundwork for Spooky Jumpers: Building Confidence Over Liverpools | Sponsored by Jug Waterers
Meg writes in about her daughter's experienced 1.25m jumper who's suddenly backing off liverpools (water jumps), and the Groundwork Guys, Tik Maynard and Nick Rivera, dig in to help rebuild his confidence from the ground up. They start where all good training starts: ruling out pain. From there, they look at what the horse is telling them through his reactions, his body, and the way he thinks abou
Groundwork Guys: Mini-Series Ep#3 - How to Help a Horse That's Afraid of Spray Bottles | Sponsored by Jug Waterers
Some horses just do not do spray bottles. One sound, one mist, and it is all over. In this episode of Ground Work Guys, Nick and Tik meet an 18-hand draft mare who panics at the very idea of being sprayed. Even hearing a bottle on the other side of the trailer is enough to send her sky-high. Instead of fighting through fear, they talk about how to rebuild trust one sense at a time. You will
Groundwork Guys: Mini-Series Ep#2 The Pushy Horse Problem: What Boundaries Really Mean to Horses | Sponsored by Jug Waterers
If your horse likes to stand a little too close for comfort, you know how fast "friendly" can turn into "please step back." In this episode of Groundwork Guys, Tik Maynard and Nick Rivera unpack what's really going on when a horse ignores your space and why calling it bad manners might be missing the point. They dig into the difference between respect and fear, and how to build a boundary that fee
GroundWork Guys: The Calm Before the Trailer: How Groundwork Builds Confidence and Connection | Sponsored by Jug Waterers
If you've ever been late to a lesson because your horse suddenly decided the trailer is lava, welcome. Tik Maynard and Nick Rivera are here to help. In this first episode of Groundwork Guys, the duo tackles listener Megan's question about her semi-feral mare who has made her feelings about trailer loading very clear. What follows is part training plan, part therapy session, and part two horsemen t
Season 1 Highlights, Part 2: The Mindset Shifts Every Rider Needs to Hear
Season One of Dear Horse World changed the way so many of us think about riding and about ourselves. But there was no way to fit all the mic-drop moments into one episode, so here is Part Two. This is an honest look at what it truly takes to grow with your horse, not just to train harder. We're talking about the uncomfortable but transformative shifts that distinguish simply "riding" from genuine
Season 1 Highlights: Riding Effectively, Training with Kindness & Building Connection (Sponsored by Connaway & Associates)
Season One of Dear Horse World has been nothing short of transformative. In this special finale, Noëlle Floyd revisits the conversations that cracked open our understanding of what it means to be in true partnership with horses—and with ourselves. From Jochen Schleese revealing how saddle fit can numb a horse's body, to Nikki Simpson dismantling the "pose" in favor of authentic effectiveness in th
Dear Horse World - Matt Brown: Why Asking "Why?" Is the Hardest—and Most Important—Question in Equestrian Sport Today
Matt Brown has ridden at the top of the sport. But when he watched a replay of one of his proudest rounds, he didn't see a confident partnership—he saw a horse responding to pressure, not trust. That moment changed everything. In this episode, Matt joins us to talk about why he stopped carrying a whip in eventing competitions—and how that decision opened the door to something deeper: leadership, v
Dear Horse World, It's Tik Maynard: Master Trailering with Trust and Respect
Trailer loading isn't just about getting your horse from A to B—it's a skill. And like any skill, it depends on trust, preparation, and practice. In this episode of Dear Horse World, you'll hear the first video from Tik Maynard's Trailering 101 & Common Trailering Problems Masterclass on NF+. Tik explains why most "loading problems" are really relationship problems, how to set your horse up for su
Dear Horse World, It's Dr. Stephen Peters: Evidence-Based Horsemanship & the Equine Mind - Part 2
Equine Neuroscience in Action: Turning Science into a Stronger Bond In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Stephen Peters, we move from theory to application — how to take the neuroscience of learning and connection and put it to work with your horse. We explore: Why drilling a task can reduce dopamine and motivation How reward-based training works at the chemical level — and its limits The diffe
Dear Horse World, It's Dr. Stephen Peters: Evidence-Based Horsemanship & the Equine Mind - Part 1
From the Navy to Neuroscience: What Horses Can Teach Us About the Brain Before he became one of the most sought-after voices in equine neuroscience, Dr. Stephen Peters lived an entirely different life — growing up between Japan and England in a military family, serving as a Navy officer, and even working at Goldman Sachs. But a personal tragedy pulled him into the world of brain science, setting h
No Stupid Questions with Mary Hurston: Tackling Budgets and Banishing Money Myths
You love your horse—but your bank account? Not so much. If you've ever found yourself thinking "Can I really afford this?" while clicking "checkout" on supplements or showing fees, you're in good company. Most riders are doing their best to make the numbers work in a sport that doesn't exactly favour modest budgets. In this episode of No Stupid Questions, Noëlle sits down with equestrian finance
Dear Horse World, It's Nick Dowers: Reined Cow Horse Training Methods That Work for Any Discipline (Sponsored by YETI)
What If the Calmest Person in the Arena Was the Most Powerful? Nick Dowers is a cowboy, a colt starter, a reined cow horse champion—and one of the most quietly revolutionary horsemen in the game. In this episode, 2016 Road to the Horse Champion and NRCHA finalist Nick Dowers joins Noëlle to break down how foundation, feel, and trust can take a horse from its first ride to world-class performance.
BONUS: Free Guided Ride Series with Laine Ashker — Horse Training Exercises to Build a Balanced Canter
Why is balance the word every rider hears again and again—but still struggles to master? In this special episode, 5* eventer and Grand Prix dressage rider Laine Ashker breaks down exactly what balance means, why it matters across every discipline, and how to actually develop it—in both your horse and yourself. This conversation is the foundation of her 3-day "Building a Better Canter" guided ride
Dear Horse World, It's Dr. Alberto Rullan: The Future of Healing Is Here—But is the Industry Ready?
When your horse gets injured, the usual path is clear: call the vet, follow the textbook treatment, hope for the best. Now consider this—what if the future of healing wasn't in prescriptions and routine protocols, but in something far more powerful? For decades, groundbreaking therapies like stem cells, ozone therapy, and PRP have been transforming human medicine. But in the horse world? They've
No Stupid Questions with Max Corcoran: Horse Care Tips and Truths from Olympic Groom and Eventing Insider (Sponsored by - YETI and Connaway & Associates)
High-performance horse care with no filter, no judgment, and zero dumb questions. Let's be honest: you've Googled "do calming supplements actually work?" an hour before your class while your horse dances in the cross ties. You've wondered if your "lazy" gelding is actually just cooked, and you've definitely had a moment mid-warm-up where your horse's energy turned full-on feral. This week, Noëlle
Dear Horse World, It's Karl Cook: From Olympic Athlete to Mad Scientist in the Saddle (Sponsored by Connaway & Associates)
Every rider knows the feeling: you're in the middle of a training session and something just doesn't click. There's a disconnect, not just with your horse, but with your approach and mindset. It's more than just a riding issue—it goes deeper, reflecting the challenges and complexities of the equestrian sport. Today, we've got a guest who isn't afraid to challenge the status quo. Karl Cook is an Ol
Dear Horse World, It's Cassandra Ogier: The Era of Horsewomanship & the Power of the Lead Mare
Every horse owner knows the feeling: walking through the field, chasing after a horse that won't come, sensing that disconnect not just with the horse, but with life. It's more than just a training issue—it's a reflection of something deeper, a desire for connection and harmony that feels out of reach. Being around horses is about more than riding—it's about finding peace, balance, and a deeper bo
Dear Horse World, It's Dr. John Langlois: Your TCVM Questions, Answered (Part Two)
More real horses, more real problems—and more fresh perspectives on what might be going on beneath the surface. In Part 2 of this special Dear Horse World special double episode series, we're continuing our conversation with Dr. John Langlois, an equine veterinarian with over 40 years of experience who now works exclusively in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM). After exploring three
Dear Horse World, It's Dr. John Langlois: Your TCVM Questions, Answered (Part One)
Real horses, real problems—and a fresh perspective on what might be going on beneath the surface. In this special two-part Dear Horse World episode, we're back with Dr. John Langlois, an equine veterinarian with over 40 years of experience who now works exclusively in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM). After introducing us to the world of acupuncture, herbs, and energy balancing in ou
Dear Horse World, It's Anne Kursinski: How to Build Feel and Ride with Olympic-Level Clarity (Sponsored by YETI)
Every rider knows the feeling. That moment when you and your horse are so in sync, it's like you're breathing together. No pulling, no gripping, no second-guessing—just presence, softness, and trust. But then there are the other days. You overthink. Your horse resists. Your leg tenses, your hands take instead of give. The connection frays. The confidence dips. And you wonder… Why does it feel so h
What Dressage Is, and What Dressage Isn't - An NF+ Masterclass with Mette Larsen
Think dressage is just for imported warmbloods and rhinestone-studded riders? Think again. In this must-listen episode, NF+ Masterclass instructor Mette Larsen strips dressage down to what it really is: thoughtful, horse-first training that any rider can use to build better balance, deeper connection, and more confidence—arena or not. You'll learn how dressage can help trail horses stop tripping
Dear Horse World, It's Mirjam Dunkel: Why Less Pressure Leads to More Progress in Horse Training
What if going slow wasn't falling behind—but finally getting it right? Horse trainer and quietly powerful human Mirjam Dunkel is here to remind us that taking your time isn't weakness—it's wisdom. With a background in liberty work, classical dressage, and cowboy realness, Mirjam's trained over 100 young horses and built a reputation on softness, clarity, and doing right by the horse (even when it'
No Stupid Questions - Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine Vet, Dr Langlois (Sponsored by YETI)
This episode is brought to you by YETI. Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) might sound ancient—but it's helping modern horses in ways you might not expect. In this episode, we're joined by Dr. John Langlois, a Florida-based equine veterinarian with over four decades of experience, who now works exclusively with TCVM. After a long career in conventional veterinary medicine, a powerful
Dear Horse World, It's Dr. Jill Hechtman: Riding while Pregnant - Myths, Risks & Science-Based Advice
Content note: This episode discusses pregnancy, postpartum mental health, and the emotional challenges of stepping back from riding. Please take care while listening. If you're an equestrian navigating pregnancy, trying to conceive, postpartum, or simply curious about how reproductive health intersects with riding, you're likely facing a storm of mixed messages. Some riders are told to keep going
Building Bravery Through Competence - An NF+ Masterclass Exclusive with Boyd Martin
Olympic eventer Boyd Martin breaks down what bravery in the saddle really means—and it's not just charging ahead without fear. In this personal masterclass, he unpacks the emotional side of riding, from self-doubt and performance pressure to the inner fire that drives us. Boyd shares how years of preparation, partnership with the horse, and mental clarity helped him navigate high-stakes moments li
Dear Horse World, It's David O'Connor: Feel, Fairness, & the Future (sponsored by Connaway and YETI)
This episode is brought to you by Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services, Inc. and YETI. What do an Olympic champion and a barely-started colt have in common? According to David O'Connor—more than you think. In this rare and wide-ranging conversation, recorded live at Road to the Horse, we sit down with one of the most respected voices in equestrian sport to talk about where horsemanship
No Stupid Questions with Baylee McKeever: Lessons Learned from the McLain and McKeever Legacy
Let's talk about the gap - the space between where you are and where you want to be in the horse world. It's frustrating. It's overwhelming. And sometimes, it feels impossible to cross. You work hard. You love the sport. But the path to high-performance riding, a real career in horses, or even just feeling like you belong in this industry? It's blurry. The people at the top make it look effortl
Dear Horse World, It's Cristóbal Scarpati: The Barefoot Path of Indigenous Horsemanship of Argentina
The connection you're longing for with your horse might not come from doing more—but from doing less. In this episode, Argentinian horseman Cristóbal Scarpati introduces doma india, an ancestral form of liberty training where trust, presence, and emotional clarity matter more than tools or technique. Raised in a family of master horsemen and now teaching globally alongside his son, Perito, Cristó
Our Behavior and How We Influence Horses - An NF+ Masterclass Exclusive with Tik Maynard
What do horses really see when they look at us? According to Tik Maynard, it's not just our cues or commands—it's who we are in that moment. In this powerful episode, taken from Tik's NF+ Masterclass Understanding Horse Behavior, he shares how our emotional state, body language, and inner awareness deeply influence how our horses respond. And the timing couldn't be more fitting: Tik has just made
Dear Horse World, it's William Fox-Pitt: Recovery, Resilience, and Riding for Legacy
What does it mean to ride with honesty - not just with your hands and legs, but with your whole being? In this raw and refreshingly real conversation, legendary eventer William Fox-Pitt joins host Noelle Floyd to talk about far more than medals and milestones. With 14 five-star wins, multiple Olympic medals, and the distinction of being the first rider in history to win five different five-stars,
No Stupid Questions with Laine Ashker: The Right Way to Build a Stronger, Fitter Horse and Rider
You train hard. You show up. You put in the miles. But when your horse runs out of steam mid-course, struggles to recover, or worse - ends up sore or injured - you start asking yourself: Am I doing this right? The reality is that most riders don't have a real fitness plan. They either under-condition, leaving their horse weak and unprepared, or push too hard too soon, risking injury and burnout. A
Dear Horse World, it's Emilie Conter: How I Won My First 5-Star Grand Prix at WEF (Sponsored by Connaway & Associates)
Winning against the odds. Every rider dreams of that breakthrough moment - the one that proves all the early mornings, setbacks, and sacrifices were worth it. For Emilie Conter, that moment came in spectacular fashion at the five-star Bainbridge Grand Prix during week nine of WEF. On International Women's Day, Emilie didn't just compete - she beat the best in the world, out-riding top names like H
Dear Horse World, It's Martin Black - Part 2: Unveiling Secrets from Horsemanship History
What if the greatest horsemen weren't defined by their techniques, but by their ability to truly understand the horse? In this episode of Dear Horse World, we pick up where we left off with Martin Black in part 2, continuing our deep dive into the philosophies of two of the most influential figures in horsemanship - Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt. Tom, the quiet observer with an almost instinctive conn
Dear Horse World, It's Martin Black - Part 1: Bridging Tradition and Modern Horsemanship
Make sure you've hit subscribe to Dear Horse World, wherever you get your podcasts, so you don't miss part 2 of our conversation with Martin Black. What if the true magic of horsemanship isn't in perfecting techniques or equipment, but in forming a deeper, intuitive bond with your horse? In this episode, we explore how shifting from rigid methods to a relationship-driven approach can transform no
