Episodes

Jan. 3, 2021

EP022: Re-Creating Art

In this new year’s episode, I ponder life, meaning, creation, recreation & art - and of course, horses. This episode is part answering a student’s question, part rambling, part life philosophy, and part not-totally well thou…
Dec. 27, 2020

EP021: Speaking with Karen Partisch about Craniosacral Therapy

In this episode I interview Karen Partisch about Craniosacral Therapy for horses and humans. Karen is a big part of my team that keeps me and my horses at our best. We’ll talk about the power of relaxation and energy work, w…
Dec. 20, 2020

EP020: Healthy Boundaries

In this episode I am going to talk about safe spaces and healthy boundaries. It’s about horses and also about life. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clin…
Dec. 13, 2020

EP019: Diamonds In The Dark

In this episode I’m going to talk about making progress… I’ll share some wisdom from the DN book and will discuss how to practice making training plans. Making progress is not just about gathering information - it’s about wa…
Dec. 6, 2020

EP018: Pay Attention!

In this episode I’ll talk a bit about curiosity, distraction and evasiveness and how to know which it is and what to do about it. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally r…
Nov. 29, 2020

EP017: Partnership vs Leadership

In this episode I will talk about leadership vs partnership… and will explore how I don’t think you have to make a choice between being a partner or being a leader for your horse… in fact one of those can’t happen without th…
Nov. 22, 2020

EP016: The Power Of Clarity

In this episode, I want to talk about the power of clarity… how it is one of the MOST important things to focus on with your horse. Lack of clarity of communication is a leading cause of contortion and disharmony. When you a…
Nov. 15, 2020

EP015: Lessons From Atomic’s Colic Surgery

In this episode I’ll tell the story of my horse’s recent colic surgery… how we knew he needed it, how I navigated the emotional rollercoaster and how something helpful can come of experiences like this… About the Host: Karen…
Nov. 8, 2020

EP014: Happy Athlete From Psychology Perspective with Antonia Henderson, Ph.D

I interview Antonia Henderson, Ph.D, to discuss how stress effects horses from a scientific point of view. She talks about Learned Helplessness, the importance of the Seeking Reflex, and how traditional ways of keeping horse…
Nov. 1, 2020

EP013: The 5 Truths For Learning Dressage

In this episode I’ll talk about the most common solutions to dressage problems… and give you 5 NEW solutions that will help you even more… These 5 solutions are based on 5 truths for learning dressage that are not often disc…
Oct. 25, 2020

EP012: Ask Karen Anything!

In this episode of Ask Karen Anything, I answer 2 questions from students in my Video Classroom. One is about helping a horse maintain the canter, and the other is about a horse who balks. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author…
Oct. 18, 2020

EP011: 9 Habits For Excellent Horsemanship

In this episode, I’ll talk about 9 habits for excellent horsemanship. These habits are what will help you problem-solve and better understand what is going on with your horse, and will give you more possibilities for things …
Oct. 11, 2020

EP010: How To Physically Develop Your Horse

In this episode, I will take a look at the physical side of training for you and your horse. I’ll give you a blueprint for building strength, stamina, and coordination while avoiding falling into the trap of drilling, fatigu…
Oct. 4, 2020

EP009: How & What

In this episode, I talk about paying attention to not just WHAT you do, but HOW you do it. I’ll share how I structured my courses in a way that helps students develop essential skills sooner, and be able to problem-solve bet…
Sept. 27, 2020

EP008: Stories Of Training Dressage With & Without Bits

In episode 7 I went deep into the arguments for and against doing dressage with or without a bit. In this episode I’ll share some stories of particular horses that I started and trained using a mixture of bits and bitless. I…
Sept. 20, 2020

EP007: To Bit Or Not To Bit

The topic of bitless dressage is one of THE biggest hot-button subjects. When I wrote a blog on this it broke my server because so many people were sharing and reading it. Many people believe you can’t do ‘real’ dressage wit…
Sept. 13, 2020

EP006: Ask Karen Anything

I answer students’ questions! This episode is about biomechanics and motivation! I’ll be discussing a question about whether short strides are from a blocked back and how to help remedy that, as well as a question about how …
Sept. 6, 2020

EP005: How To Choose Your Teacher

Finding the right teacher for you and your horse is a really important decision. Riding, competing, training, and teaching are all separate skill sets and not every professional is talented in all of them. In order to really…
Aug. 30, 2020

EP004: Stop Trying To Get Your Horse On The (Bleeping) Bit

Karen explains why the phrase: ‘Get your horse on the bit’ is a less than ideal way to teach riders to create the desired posture we are looking for in dressage. She’ll explain an alternative way of helping students create a…
Aug. 12, 2020

EP003: 3 Guidelines For Improving How Your Horse Moves

In this episode Karen will give you 3 Guidelines to follow when doing exercises to improve the way your horse moves. You’ll hear the difference between healthy and unhealthy biomechanics, and the two different kinds of unhea…
Aug. 5, 2020

EP002: An Assumption Of Obligingness

This episode is based on one of Karen’s most popular blogs by the same name. Karen takes a look at one of the root sources of frustration and disappointment that riders often experience. She’ll take a 10,000 foot view of our…
July 29, 2020

EP001: What Makes A Good Rider?

We’re kicking off our podcast by exploring the most important factor in our riding success: US! Karen Rohlf answers the question: What Makes A Good Rider? The answer may be different than what you think! Karen answers this q…