The Whole Horse Podcast with Alexa Linton

Alexa Linton

In this horse-centred podcast now in it's eighth season, author, facilitator, horse and human manual therapist, animal communicator, and horse lover Alexa Linton explores uncharted territory and newly discovered edges of the horse-human partnership with equine professionals. Together, we'll be shedding light on all the different ways of relating to and being with horses, learning how to cultivate optimal health for horses and their riders, uncovering the many facets of horse training, and sharing about the rather bumpy ride of becoming an advocate for horses in our current horse industry. Find all the resources mentioned in the episodes at www.wholehorse.ca! Find out more about Alexa at www.alexalinton.com or www.outsidetheboxequine.com

  1. WH149 | Demystifying insulin + shifting our lens on recovery with Elisha Edwards

    1D AGO

    WH149 | Demystifying insulin + shifting our lens on recovery with Elisha Edwards

    In this illuminating episode we're back with Elisha Edwards to shine more light on the often confusing topic of metabolic disorder, laminitis and hyperinsulinemia. As I share, I'm usually a pretty quick study but this stuff gets my brain all twisted in knots - and am I ever grateful to have someone like Elisha to break it down for me. As many of you know, the topic of insulin as it relates to disease has been top of mind for me since my gelding Reykur's recent laminitic episode where his levels of insulin were off the charts despite trying to do all the right things. I've been doing my best to sift through all the information out there and it felt like the perfect time to have a deep dive conversation about this with someone who really gets it and is looking at this topic from many angles.  In this chat we discuss why insulin goes up, why it stays up, and how we can help it to come down and stay down, the very real impact of hormones, stress and cortisol, the pros and cons of medicating, the real struggles of watching our horses deal with pain and how the emotional states of our horses can influence this disease. I know this conversation helped me greatly on my horse-keeping journey, and I hope it helps you too!  Elisha Edwards is a long-time horse lover who holds both a Bachelor of Science in organic chemistry and an MBA from the University of Alberta. Elisha is the Director of Education at Riva's Remedies and she is also the developer and instructor of the online course Healing Horses Their Way. She teaches horse owners all over the world how to use holistic health care to promote good health for their horses and how to restore good health in unwell horses. She believes that through education and awareness of natural horse health we can drastically improve their quality of life and longevity. Elisha also regularly facilitates workshops and seminars on natural horse health care across the country. Learn more about Elisha at https://elishaedwards.com/ Online course: Resolving Equine Metabolic Syndrome Naturally New free Masterclass mentioned at end of episode Hair tissue mineral analysis (Riva's Remedies)

    1h 5m
  2. WH148 | Walking the rocky road of recovery with Shannon Beahen

    JAN 20

    WH148 | Walking the rocky road of recovery with Shannon Beahen

    Season 9 just wouldn't be complete without an epic conversation with Shannon Beahen of Humminghorse, this time about the rollercoaster ride that is recovery from a significant health event in our horses. Both Shannon and I come to this conversation with very real and personal experience of this rocky road in our own bodies, and with members of our herds. As you'll hear, I've been in the stressful beginnings of this walk with my new gelding Reykur, and Shannon at the (hopefully) end stages with her gelding Ivan, and this chat felt like an important one to share our experiences and support others that might be going through something similar. We get right into the big stuff as we unpack the very real issue of caregiver fatigue, the guilt/shame/isolation that so often accompanies caring for an unwell horse, how to be with wanting it to be different, and what to do when you don't know what to do. Shannon also outlines her process of observing nuances in condition, vitality and movement as a way to track progress and change, how she knew that Ivan wanted to stick around even when he was struggling and how she went from questioning her life decisions to feeling a sense of deep privilege to care for and learn from her herd. I share some of my main take-aways from my journey with Reykur and how his health event is actually changing our connection for the better, as challenging as it's been. This is one of those conversations packed with goodness and wisdom and hard truths and I truly hope you take the opportunity to listen.  If you haven't listened to my previous conversations with Shannon, check out episodes 121, 92 and 81 of the Whole Horse Podcast, or dive right in to today's episode.  Shannon Beahen is an alternative horse trainer, online educator, academic and writer. She specializes in teaching her own "high vibration" approach to natural dressage and liberty as well as the creation of species-appropriate habitats that promote dynamic movement and sovereign equine lifestyles. She is passionate about exploring and articulating the ethics of embodied horse-human relationships. Her hope is that through teaching a deeper awareness of human-animal and human-environment relations, equestrian education ceases to be a privileged pastime; and instead may just provide some of the seeds to birth a new earth. Learn more about Shannon and her work at www.humminghorse.com

    1h 18m
  3. WH147 | Bringing creativity to the paddock with Nica Quinn

    11/28/2025

    WH147 | Bringing creativity to the paddock with Nica Quinn

    This episode with artist Nica Quinn was a long while in the making, as you'll hear in this chat when we both share our stories of synchronisities and, quite frankly, miraculous happenings and path crossings. We've never met in person, but it always fascinates me when one path impacts another profoundly, and creates a new reality altogether. Isn't that so often the way with horses, especially, as we talk about in this episode, our more challenging horses? In this inspiring conversation, Nica shares about her creative journey, how horses brought her art to life, how trust in the process has changed everything and why she thinks being creative and making time for art might just be the key to moving through our current world in a good way.  I share a harrowing tale that drove home the power of community, support and reaching across divides, and we both unpack why we love collaboration and why the "collective" experience feels so critical right now in the horse world and beyond. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!  Nica Quinn is an intuitive artist and designer based in Scotland, whose mission is to inspire creativity and deeper connections with ourselves, nature and horses.  FInd out more about Nica and her creations at www.nicadrawsnature.com

    1h 5m
  4. WH146 | The beauty of the mundane, boring, still and settled with with Elsa Sinclair

    11/09/2025

    WH146 | The beauty of the mundane, boring, still and settled with with Elsa Sinclair

    Is there a better way to start a brand new season then a chat with the amazing Elsa Sinclair? I think not! We start season 9 with this rich conversation, broaching the big hot topic of pressure - what is it, how do we apply it (consiously or not) with our horses, how can we do "pressure" well, and where does not wanting to use it actually ironically mean more of it - how getting older and wiser is a very good thing (and doesn't mean we've lost our skill or courage), and exploring the concept of the beautiful in the mundane, every day moments with our horses. As always with Elsa, this chat had me pausing mid-sentence to chew on powerful new ideas and process aha's. Her way of thinking about horses and training has this way of helping us see something in a totally different way. Would love to hear about any aha's you had while listening!  What is Freedom Based Training? Perhaps the best way to explain it is to break it down: Training is the art of developing toward an end goal. Freedom is the ability to make the right choices for you in any given situation. Freedom Based Training embraces the paradox of these two ideas – freedom and training. To do this we develop depth of relationship and width of skill in a balance, using passive leadership instead of dominant leadership. Elsa Sinclair is a professional horse trainer and instructor who brings to the horse world a unique and powerful perspective. Gathering together awareness from a variety of equine disciplines, Elsa has an enthusiasm for developing human ~ equine partnerships to fully enjoy the process of learning and growing in the direction of their goals. Elsa draws on a long and diverse history with horses as she travels now through her latest adventure of Taming Wild. What if horses were given a choice? Would they let us ride them? Without force or tools to control and without bribes to lure them? Elsa asked the questions, embarked on a project to find out and ultimately filmed a movie about the process. What started as simple questions, birthed the movie Taming Wild, an online course for those interested in learning Freedom Based Training, and a following of people who seek their own answers in what it takes to work more collaboratively with horses. Find out more about Elsa and her work at www.tamingwild.com. Elsa's Book: Taming Wild

    1h 5m
  5. WH145 | Using clicker training to support your equine manual therapy with Dr. Barbara Parks

    09/26/2025

    WH145 | Using clicker training to support your equine manual therapy with Dr. Barbara Parks

    What a perfect way to finish off season 8! This episode with Dr. Barbara Parks was fun, fascinating and fully geeky - my fave. We turned over a lot of stones, discussing clicker training - why many people think it doesn't work, what can go wrong and how to move into a place of understanding and success with this very helpful tool, especially in the realm of body work and other care practices, getting into many of my burning questions about equine body work, from how to set a boundary with a client, to when to have a hard conversation with an owner, to what to do when your treatments aren't feeling like they are working. We traveled far in this conversation and it was a treat! This is definitely a must-listen episode if you are an equine manual therapist or if you have a body worker for your horse(s).  After this episode we're taking a breather as I launch the Whole Horse Collective, my new communuty membership, based on nine years of the Whole Horse Apprenticeship. Keep your eyes peeled for more details! I'll be back for the start of season 9 in late November 2025 - more awesome horsey guests and mind and heart-opening conversations to come. See you then!  Dr. Barbara Parks is a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy and Certified Equine Rehabilitation Practitioner who has built her practice around the intersection of evidence-based rehabilitation and whole-horse wellness. Barbara holds multiple certifications, including NBCAAM-certified Equine Massage Therapist and PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, and has completed extensive continuing education in equine biomechanics, orthopedic assessment, hoof care, nutrition, and behavior. Her approach to equine rehabilitation is integrative and guided by a deep respect for the horse's physical and emotional experience. She specializes in using positive reinforcement training as both a therapeutic tool and a way to improve equine body awareness, movement, and emotional regulation during rehab. Based in the greater Nashville, Tennessee area, Barbara offers in-person therapy for horse and rider, virtual consultations, online educational courses, and rehab boarding on a track system designed to support natural movement and healing. Whether she's working with a high-level performance horse or helping a backyard companion recover from injury, Barbara's mission is the same: to support long-term soundness and whole-horse wellness through compassionate, informed care. https://www.drbarbaraparks.com/

    57 min
  6. WH144 | On the shoulders of giants + with the wisdom of elders with Dave Collins

    09/02/2025

    WH144 | On the shoulders of giants + with the wisdom of elders with Dave Collins

    We're finishing out this seasons mentorship series with one of my most essential mentors, the one, the only, Dave Collins. Founder of the BC College of Equine Therapy and so much more.  22 years ago, almost to the day, I arrived at the BC College of Equine Therapy as a student thinking I knew it all. Well, that illusion was about to be lovingly shattered by Dave and the work that he was pioneering in the horse world. And I'm grateful for those two years every single day, even though, as you'll hear in this episode, they were rough! Two months into school I met Diva, my mare of almost 22 years, and two years later I had a business in Equine Sport Therapy I am still proud of, that has gone on to become so much more. Heck, this podcast probably wouldn't even be a thing without Dave helping me get into my "meat suit", and opening me up to a world of possibilities beyond the tangible. So sit down, grab a cup of tea, and listen in. Dave is something special and this is his first ever podcast - in fact it's rare these days to track this fellow down. To me, he is embodying what it means to be an elder, something you'll hear in our conversation. I'm grateful to know him and grateful he's continuing to learn, grow, teach and help horses (and humans) along the way. May everyone have a Dave in their world.  Enjoy!

    1h 1m
  7. WH143 | Hoof care fundamentals with Nicole Jory

    08/12/2025

    WH143 | Hoof care fundamentals with Nicole Jory

    There's a good reason why I asked hoofcare professional Nicole Jory to contribute her online course Hoof Care Fundamentals to Outside the Box Equine - she knows her stuff! Nicole is my main hoofcare support for my herd and has been an invaluable resource for myself and my equine community for over a decade and I'm so pleased to be able to introduce you all to her in this episode!  We cover a lot of territory in one hour: from trimming, to the three main issues she sees with hooves and how to help, to feeding for hoof health, to how to read a hay analysis. Nicole is a wealth of up-to-date information and is one of my favourite humans to geek out with. This chat is a goodie with lots of gems!  Born and raised on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, Nicole Jory been a lifetime horse owner and equine nerd. She's spent years learning the intricacies of their health, with a special focus on their hooves. She became a Hoof Care Professional in 2002, and for over 2 decades has worked with countless equines and their owners, specializing in a holistic approach to hoof care. She is passionate about empowering equine owners to take an active role in the well-being of their equine partners.  Find her online course Hoof Care Fundamentals at https://outsidetheboxequine.com/hoof-course/ Follow Nicole on IG @the.hoof.fairy or on FB at Nicole Jory - Hoof Care Practitioner

    1h 3m
  8. WH142 | It's in the safety that things fall apart - a Raven Moon farm update with Alexa

    08/06/2025

    WH142 | It's in the safety that things fall apart - a Raven Moon farm update with Alexa

    Second lone wolf episode this season! Easy to get inspired sitting out amongst the trees and horses especially when big thigns are shifting here at the farm. This short 20 minute pod is an update on the herd and myself now that we have officially "landed" here and settled in our forever home, as things start to arise to be worked with. Would love to hear your thoughts on how these topics land for you! Enjoy.

    24 min
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4.7
out of 5
60 Ratings

About

In this horse-centred podcast now in it's eighth season, author, facilitator, horse and human manual therapist, animal communicator, and horse lover Alexa Linton explores uncharted territory and newly discovered edges of the horse-human partnership with equine professionals. Together, we'll be shedding light on all the different ways of relating to and being with horses, learning how to cultivate optimal health for horses and their riders, uncovering the many facets of horse training, and sharing about the rather bumpy ride of becoming an advocate for horses in our current horse industry. Find all the resources mentioned in the episodes at www.wholehorse.ca! Find out more about Alexa at www.alexalinton.com or www.outsidetheboxequine.com

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