The Elevated Equestrian

Samantha Baer
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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. 5 DAYS AGO

    Why 95% of Riders Have Back Pain (And How to Finally Fix It) - Matthias Agneessens

    What if the resistance, crookedness, and tension you feel in your horse is actually coming from you? In this episode, I sit down with Matthias Agneessens — manual therapist, biomechanics specialist, and the man treating some of the world's top show jumpers — to break down exactly why rider posture and muscle activation is the missing piece most trainers never address. We talk about why your gym work might be making things worse, how a blocked psoas affects both you AND your horse, and why "fix the rider and all the horses get better" is the most underrated truth in equestrian sport. Work with Matthias - Www.move2ride.com 🎧 Speaking of unlocking your horse's body — my course From Stiff to Supple in 28 Days is in presale right now at 40% off. Six ride-along audio lessons you can listen to straight from the saddle. Presale ends March 14th — grab it here: https://www.samanthabaer.com/courses/stiff-to-supple-28-days

    1h 43m

  2. 23 FEB

    How to Actually Stay Present With Your Horse (And Why It Changes Everything) - Natalie Hummel

    Presence is one of those things everyone in the horse world talks about but almost nobody explains how to actually get there. This week I sat down with high performance and nervous system coach Natalie Hummel and honestly this might be one of my favorite conversations we've had on the pod. We get into why presence is the single most powerful thing you can bring to your horse, what's actually blocking you from accessing it (and why it has nothing to do with focus or discipline), the real root underneath fear and performance anxiety, why awareness alone isn't enough to change your patterns, and how the work I do with horses and the work Natalie does with humans turned out to be almost identical. I also share my own burnout and people pleasing era that I'd honestly rather forget — but it's too relevant not to. If you've ever felt like you're doing everything right and still hitting a wall, this episode is going to reframe a lot for you. Your horse already knows how to be here. This is about catching up to them. 🎓 My course From Stiff to Supple in 28 Days is in presale right now. Six ride-along audio lessons designed to systematically unlock your horse's body and yours. 40% off, code applied automatically at checkout. Presale ends March 14th. Grab it here: https://www.samanthabaer.com/courses/stiff-to-supple-28-days

    58 min

  3. 16 FEB

    Your Horse Knows You're Not Okay — Josh Nichol

    What if your horse's biggest problem isn't behavior — it's that they can't feel you? In this episode, Josh Nichol joins the podcast to break down why so many horses shut down, spook, buck, or refuse to go forward — and why the answer almost never starts with the horse. We talk about the difference between lightness and softness, why tension stored in your horse's body is actually dormant behavior waiting to surface, and how your own unresolved triggers are showing up in every ride whether you realize it or not. Josh shares his framework around mind, space, and pressure — three core needs every horse has — and explains why desensitizing and sacking out aren't building the resilience you think they are. We dig into the danger of the current polarization in horsemanship, why good-hearted riders are the most paralyzed by fear of doing something wrong, and what it actually looks like to empower a horse to handle pressure instead of just removing it. If you're into equine psychology, nervous system training, groundwork, natural horsemanship, rider mindset, body mapping, emotional regulation in the saddle, or building a genuine partnership with your horse — this episode is packed. Follow The Elevated Equestrian Podcast so you never miss an episode and share this one with a rider who needs to hear it.

    1h 10m

  4. 2 FEB

    RERELEASE: Will AI Make Dressage Judging Fair? - Inga Wolframm

    In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian podcast, Samantha Baer sits down with Inga Wolframm, Professor of Sustainable Equestrianism, to uncover the hidden biases in dressage judging. From eye-tracking research to AI-assisted scoring, they dive into the future of equestrian sports, sustainable horse training, and why flashy movement gets rewarded over correct biomechanics. Don't miss this deep dive into the biggest judging controversy in horse sport!

    1 hr

  5. 26 JAN

    Do Horses Actually Want To Be Ridden? - Elsa Sinclair

    In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian, Samantha Baer sits down with horse trainer, author, and filmmaker Elsa Sinclair to ask the uncomfortable question that changed her entire approach to horses: do horses actually want to be ridden—if they truly had a choice? What starts as a simple question quickly opens the door to a radically different way of thinking about training, consent, and partnership. We talk about what it really means to train from the horse’s point of view, including Elsa’s decision to start a mustang without a halter, without food rewards, and without trapping or forcing participation. She shares how prioritizing the horse’s sensory and emotional systems—not just physical training—completely reshaped her understanding of motivation, cooperation, and trust. This conversation dives deep into sensory-based and emotional training, the peak-end rule and how horses form memories, and why many “problem behaviors” are actually patterns we unintentionally train into our horses. We also explore how these ideas apply to sport horses, especially sensitive, expressive horses who struggle with anxiety, explosiveness, or shutdown in high-pressure environments. If you’ve ever questioned where the line is between consent and compliance, or felt stuck between wanting partnership and needing results, this episode will challenge you—in the best way. 👉 Subscribe to The Elevated Equestrian wherever you listen to podcasts for more honest conversations about horsemanship, performance, and putting the horse first without losing the joy of the sport.

    1h 1m

  6. 19 JAN

    When “Metabolic” Is the Symptom, Not the Cause - Allison Lepanto

    When a horse is labeled “metabolic,” it often feels like the end of the conversation. In this episode, I’m joined by Alison Lepanto, founder of Cataract Nutrition, to challenge that assumption and explore what may actually be driving inflammation, behavioral changes, and metabolic red flags in horses. We unpack the difference between sugar management and toxic load, what GMO and herbicide exposure really means for equine health, and how nutrient density is lost from many modern feeds and pastures. We also discuss why some horses seem constantly hungry despite being fed “enough,” and how chronic inflammation can show up as both physical and behavioral symptoms. The conversation expands into pasture biology, rotational grazing, and hay diversity, including practical strategies for horses on dry lots, stall rest, or limited turnout. Alison shares accessible management approaches that support soil health, gut health, and long-term resilience without turning horse ownership into an all-or-nothing system. If you’ve ever felt like something is off with your horse but couldn’t quite explain it, this episode offers a new lens on longevity, welfare, and thriving—not just surviving. Follow The Elevated Equestrian and subscribe so you don’t miss future horse-first conversations.

    51 min

  7. 12 JAN

    Building a Brave Young Horse - Gabi Neurohr

    Starting a young horse will expose your nervous system faster than any training issue ever could. In this episode, I sit down with Gabi Neurohr of Understanding Horses to talk about emotional regulation—why it matters, how horses mirror it, and what happens when we lose it under pressure. We dive into what it actually means to be a steady leader for a young horse, how to tell the difference between a horse that feels safe versus one that is simply compliant, and why spooking isn’t the problem—poor recovery is. Gabi shares her relationship-based approach to starting young horses, including how she uses clarity, timing, and emotional fitness instead of force, how to avoid getting stuck chasing perfection, and why slowing down often leads to faster progress. If you’re bringing along a young horse, rebuilding trust, or trying to stay calm when things get unpredictable, this conversation will shift how you think about training and leadership. 👉🏼 Follow The Elevated Equestrian on Spotify so you don’t miss future conversations on ethical horsemanship, rider mindset, and building better partnerships with our horses.

    52 min

  8. 5 JAN

    The Racehorse Trainer Who’s Rewriting the Rules - Jessica Howell

    In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian, Samantha sits down with Jessica Howell — a licensed Thoroughbred trainer who is quietly rewriting the rules of racehorse development from the inside out. Jessica didn’t come up through the traditional racing pipeline. She came from eventing, classical dressage, and a background in producing sound, educated horses. And when she stepped into the racetrack world, she brought all of that with her — heart-rate-based conditioning, periodized programming, biomechanics, turnout, mental health days, and a level of horsemanship most people don’t associate with racing. Together, we dive into how racehorses are actually trained, why so many break down, and what a more thoughtful, horse-centric approach could look like. Jessica explains the structure of racehorse conditioning, the hidden costs of claiming races, the difference between American and European systems, and how classical principles can transform a horse coming off (or preparing for) the track. This conversation challenges assumptions, opens doors into a closed world, and paints a picture of what’s possible when responsibility, science, and real horsemanship drive the training process — even in a high-speed, high-pressure sport. If you care about soundness, welfare, and the future of the Thoroughbred, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. 👉 If you enjoy this episode, please follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves horses. It helps the podcast reach more riders who care about doing things better.

    45 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
    59
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Samantha Baer
  • Show Website
    The Elevated Equestrian

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