The Elevated Equestrian

Samantha Baer
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

The Elevated Equestrian is where horse people come to think deeper about riding, training, and connection. Hosted by professional event rider Samantha Baer, the podcast dives into biomechanics, horse welfare, mindset, and the realities of modern equestrian sport. Each week brings honest conversations with riders, trainers, and innovators who are changing how we work with horses. If you want to ride better, think differently, and put your horse first, this podcast is for you.

  1. 4d ago

    RERELEASE: Why Your Horse Isn’t Building Topline (And What Actually Works!) — Jec Ballou

    In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian Podcast, host Samantha Baer sits down with equine conditioning expert and best-selling author Jec Ballou for a deep dive into training horses for longevity and soundness. Drawing on her background in equine exercise physiology and classical dressage, Jec breaks down why fitness is protective — and why pulling your horse out of work the moment something goes wrong often does more harm than good. You'll learn the difference between the small postural muscles that stabilize your horse and the big gymnastic muscles that tend to take over, how to make your lunging genuinely productive instead of just drilling circles, why cantering is one of the best ways to build a true top line, and how stress and shut-down behavior physically block your horse from absorbing the work you put in. Whether you ride dressage, event, trail, or just want a sounder, happier horse, this conversation will change how you think about conditioning, groundwork, and what it really means to train for the long haul. Find more at samanthabaer.com — and hit follow so you never miss an episode.

    45 min

  2. Jun 15

    The Science of Why You Ride the Way You Do — Suzanne Galdun

    Follow The Elevated Equestrian so you never miss an episode—and if this one shifts something for you, share it with a riding friend who needs to hear it. What if the way you ride—your busy hands, your collapsing core, the leg that just won't stay quiet—isn't a habit you need to drill away, but a pattern your body has been building for decades? In this episode, I sit down with rider biomechanics coach Suzanne Galdun, one of only a handful of people in the world certified at her level in Mary Wanless's Ride With Your Mind method. We get deep into the physics, anatomy, and neuroscience of how you actually sit on a horse—and why your nervous system, your fascia, and even an ankle you sprained 25 years ago are showing up in every ride. We talk about mirror neurons and how horses feel your anxiety before you do, why "sit up straight" almost never works (and what sensory-specific language to use instead), why a horse can't be in self-carriage until the rider is, and how the patterns in your body off the horse—how you hold a steering wheel, how you walk, how you sit at your desk—follow you straight into the saddle. We also get into the stuff most riding instruction skips entirely: pain, the pelvic floor, mind-body connection, and the fact that you can rewire all of it, no matter your age. If you've ever had a magical ride you couldn't explain or repeat, this one's for you.

    55 min

  3. Jun 8

    91% of Horses Have This Hidden Back Problem - Simon Cocozza

    Most horses aren't born with the core strength to carry us — and the ones that are tend to sell for a fortune. Everyone else? We have to build it, deliberately and patiently. In this episode, Samantha sits down with classically trained European rider Simon Cocozza, author of Core Conditioning for Horses. After years of buying and producing high-level horses across Germany and Holland, Simon kept hitting the same hidden wall: backs that weren't functioning, and horses quietly coping with pain they're hardwired to disguise. He shares the research that reframed his entire approach — including a study finding that 91% of sales x-rays showed some form of bone-to-bone contact in the back — and the method he developed to rebuild the spine from the ground up. We get into the signs your horse's back isn't optimal (asymmetry, girthiness, "flat tires" in the downward transitions), why the spine — not the legs — is almost always the missing piece, how to actually stretch your horse so it does something, and why Simon does up to 50% of his work in hand even with finished competition horses. There's also an honest conversation about drilling, "karmic debt," and what it really means to make a horse 1% better every day. Find Simon's book and his Core Conditioning audio warm-ups at coreconditioningforhorses.com. Enjoyed this one? Follow the show so you never miss an episode, and head to samanthabaer.com for the blog, ride-alongs, and more.

    58 min

  4. Jun 1

    The Signs Your Saddle Doesn't Fit (That Look Like Something Else) - Julia Alebrand

    That "training problem" might not be a training problem at all. In this episode, Samantha Baer sits down with Julia Alebrand, a certified equine and saddle ergonomist with Saddle Fit 4 Life, to unpack how saddle fit issues hide in plain sight — masquerading as behavioral quirks, performance plateaus, ulcers, or "just how my horse goes." Julia explains why saddle fit is never a one-time event (your horse's back changes with season, training, nutrition, and age), how to read the behavioral cues your horse is already giving you, and the self-checks every owner can do before they ride: wither clearance on top and the sides, the two-to-three finger rule, finding the 18th rib, saddle balance, billet alignment, and matching the tree to your horse's shoulder angle. We also get into the stuff riders argue about online — wool vs. foam flocking, treed vs. treeless, adjustable gullet plates and what they actually adjust — plus why the half pad is not the fix you think it is, and how to tell a qualified, brand-independent fitter from a rep who's there to sell a saddle. And because it's never just about the horse: Julia breaks down why a saddle has to fit you too, and how the wrong one can sabotage your position no matter how hard you work off the horse. If you've ever wondered whether it's the saddle, the training, the feet, or the ulcers — this one gives you the tools to find out. Enjoying The Elevated Equestrian? Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode — and if this one helped, share it with a barnmate who needs to hear it.

    1h 5m

  5. May 25

    The Neuroscience of a Calm Horse - Shawna Karrasch & Jessie Hillegas

    In this episode, Sam sits down with Shawna Karrasch — who spent a decade as a marine mammal trainer at SeaWorld before bringing positive reinforcement to Grand Prix show jumping at Beezie and John Madden's barn — along with trainer Jessie, who made the leap from traditional methods after one dangerous horse changed everything. Together they break down the science most riders were never taught: why pressure-and-release lights up the fight-or-flight system while positive reinforcement activates the "seeking system," how to build relaxation and self-regulation into every behavior, and why autonomy and choice transform a fearful horse into a confident partner. You'll hear the story of Addie's trauma rehabilitation, how to introduce clicker training without going "all in," and practical ways to prepare a horse for the show ring so they actually enjoy competing. Whether you ride for fun or have serious competition goals, this conversation will change how you see what's happening inside your horse's brain — and you won't be able to unsee it.

    1h 8m

  6. May 18

    Giving Horses Agency in Their Own Lives - Emmie Speckens

    In this conversation, Samantha Baer and Emmie Speckens, co-founder of Equithink dig into learning theory and positive reinforcement training, puzzle design and environmental enrichment, and why agency and choice are quietly some of the most important pieces of equine welfare. They talk through the difference between compliance and a true yes, how curiosity transforms not just enrichment time but ridden work and confidence under saddle, why mares absolutely do play (despite what you've been told), and what it looks like to build a "smart stable" where horses can turn on their own lights or even their own nebulizer when they need it. They also get into the bigger question underneath it all: what happens to a thinking, problem-solving animal when we make every decision for them — and what becomes possible when we stop. Whether you're a competitive rider, a positive reinforcement curious horse owner, or someone rethinking traditional stable management and horse keeping, this episode will give you a new lens on the horses in your life. If this conversation resonates, follow The Elevated Equestrian Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen — new episodes drop weekly, and your follow helps more horse people find the show.

    45 min

  7. May 11

    Why Do the Same Issue Keep Coming Back? - Elisse Miki

    If your horse's back pain, lameness, or behavior issues keep coming back no matter what you try, this conversation is for you. Equine and human osteopath Elisse Miki of Equilibria Therapeutics joins Sam to unpack what osteopathy actually is — and why it's so much more than massage or fascial work. Elise breaks down why structure governs function, the science of spinal facilitation and how gut inflammation drives chronic back pain, why "tight" doesn't always mean "short," and why fluid flow is the foundation of healing. We also get into when to call an osteopath and the environmental shifts — track systems, free-flow hay, herd turnout — that can resolve issues no bodywork ever will. Follow The Elevated Equestrian so you never miss a conversation that helps you ride and train with more clarity, curiosity, and care.

    1h 5m

  8. May 4

    Rethinking Balance, Function, and the Thoracic Sling - Tara Osborne

    What if the way your horse stands in the cross-ties is telling you everything? What if the "good" horse in the show ring is actually the most dysfunctional one? Sam sits down with Tara Osborne of Long Drove Holistic Horse Training for a conversation that will change how you watch horses move. They cover Tara's assessment process for spotting compensation, the seesaw of front-to-back balance and why every horse she assesses has a balance problem, and why the thoracic sling is the linchpin connecting the back end to the front end. The conversation goes deep on hypermobility — the explosion of hyper-loose horses in modern sport, why they need Pilates-style stability work instead of more mobility, and how that instability is reshaping how riders are forced to ride. Tara also shares her go-to groundwork exercises (thoracic sling lifts, pole work, podiums, balance pads, incline work), how to recover a horse after a competition weekend, and what she'd push for if she could change one thing about how sport horses are produced today. If this episode hits, follow The Elevated Equestrian Podcast wherever you listen so you never miss a conversation — and share it with the rider in your life who's ready to start looking closer.

    52 min
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About

The Elevated Equestrian is where horse people come to think deeper about riding, training, and connection. Hosted by professional event rider Samantha Baer, the podcast dives into biomechanics, horse welfare, mindset, and the realities of modern equestrian sport. Each week brings honest conversations with riders, trainers, and innovators who are changing how we work with horses. If you want to ride better, think differently, and put your horse first, this podcast is for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Samantha Baer
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    75
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Samantha Baer
  • Show Website
    The Elevated Equestrian

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