Horse Geeks

Kirsten Nelsen
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Bringing out the best in horse and rider kirstennelsen.substack.com

  1. 214: Horses Are Both, Simple and Complicated

    5D AGO

    214: Horses Are Both, Simple and Complicated

    Understanding what makes horses tick is complicated and requires an education to some degree. But once we have more depth for understanding horses, then we work in very simple, practical ways. When we try to make things too simple, so simple that we lack understanding, then we typically have problems with horses. When we make things too complex we suffer from analysis paralysis or can't see the issue right in front of us. Both complex explanations and simple observations compliment each other and help us understand horses in ways that make training safer, more predictable and more effective for long term changes that stick. Guest: Deb Romero, Certified Alexander Technique Instructorwww.optimalposture.orgHost: Kirsten Nelsen, professional horse trainerdeveloper of Training for Optimal Balance www.kirstennelsen.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kirstennelsen.substack.com

    49 min
  2. 213: Heart to Heart with Horses

    FEB 7

    213: Heart to Heart with Horses

    This discussion starts with an email I received from the Heart Math Institute that shows the effects on heart rate, heart coherence, between a boy and his dog when conscious thoughts and feelings of love are held in our heart. Horses are incredibly sensitive to our energy and what can feel like a woo-woo connection with horses is now being explained and shown through the research done at the Heart Math Institute. Whether just for our own well being or for bonding with our horses, the information, techniques and tools offered by the Heart Math Institute are worth looking into! The Heart Math Institute www.heartmath.org831-338-850014700 West Park Ave Boulder Creek, CA 95006Guest: Deb Romero, Certified Alexander Technique Instructorwww.optimalposture.orgHost: Kirsten Nelsen, professional horse trainerdeveloper of Training for Optimal Balancewww.kirstennelsen.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kirstennelsen.substack.com

    51 min
  3. 212: Functional Nutrition for Horses

    JAN 31

    212: Functional Nutrition for Horses

    Stephanie Carter, NTP, owner of Indigo Ancestral Health, joins me in this episode to discuss functional nutrition for horses, what that means and why it might be important for your horse's health. Our conversation takes many turns but as promised, I will include the basic ingredients for a forage based diet and the ingredients to avoid that tend to cause inflammatory responses. Also included is Stephanie's contact info in case you would like to set up a personalized remote consultation for your horse or barn. Basic Forage Based Diet IngredientsHay pellets or cubes as base of "AM and PM meals" Meals include a fat supplement and vitamin/mineral mix. Check ingredients closely to make sure hay, fat and vit/min mix are free from inflammatory inducing ingredients listed below. Inflammatory Inducing Ingredients - What to Eliminate or Avoid Entirely Soy and soy products, with exception of heat extruded soy beansWheat and wheat products Corn and corn products Canola Oil Molasses Zinc Sulfate Guest: Stephanie Carter, NTP, Indigo Ancestral Health www.StephanieCarterNTP.com stephaniecarterntp@gmail.com 540-422-0994Host: Kirsten Nelsen, professional horse trainerdeveloper of Training for Optimal Balancewww.kirstennelsen.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kirstennelsen.substack.com

    52 min
  4. 211: Boring = Feeling Safe

    JAN 24

    211: Boring = Feeling Safe

    We can only feel bored if we feel safe. Feeling unsafe is never boring, but we think we need to push through feeling unsafe in order to grow and progress. Yes... but.... how much stress in the nervous system constitutes a healthy level that is beneficial and how much constitutes an unhealthy level that is detrimental? The answer to that question is different for every person and every horse, and the answer changes over time for the very same person or horse. When we start to "brace for impact" or feel our horse brace, then we have wandered into a negative amount of stress for the situation. Seeking ways to reduce stimulation, slow down, take little breaks or do something so easy that it is boring are the fastest ways to restore cohesion of the nervous system. Slowing down is often what we need to do in order to advance rapidly. Boring is a welcome relief from intense or chronic stress. Guest: Deb Romero, Certified Alexander Technique Instructorwww.optimalposture.orgHost: Kirsten Nelsen, professional horse trainerdeveloper of Training for Optimal Balancewww.kirstennelsen.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kirstennelsen.substack.com

    1h 3m
  5. 210: Patience Is Active Listening

    JAN 17

    210: Patience Is Active Listening

    Horses test our patience a lot. Most horse owners are very aware of how often it is difficult to be patient with all the challenges offered by their horses and how frustration quickly surfaces. If we consider patience is just listening, actively observing whatever a horse is communicating, then patience transitions from anxious passivity into a quiet activity. Feeling passive, waiting for a horse to figure something out or change can increase our anxiety or tension. Feeling active helps us remain calm, we are actually doing something even though listening is sort of a non-doing. Once we realize that we need the listening time, awareness or observations of horses in order to know what to do next, then we no longer struggle to be patient, we just are. Guest: Deb Romero, Certified Alexander Technique Instructor www.optimalposture.orgHost: Kirsten Nelsen, professional horse trainerdeveloper of Training for Optimal Balancewww.kirstennelsen.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kirstennelsen.substack.com

    48 min
  6. 209: Visual Changes Happen Last

    JAN 10

    209: Visual Changes Happen Last

    What we see on the outside - good posture, elegant movement, radiant health - are all the final result of changes that start on the inside. Making a horse look right or being able to do various tasks or maneuvers does not mean that the horse has a healthy coordination on the inside. Just like plastic surgery can make people appear to be healthy, restricting horses into frames or headsets only gives an outward appearance of good coordination. When we focus more on what our horse looks like rather than how our horse feels during a ride, then we allow dysfunctional coordination to take its toll over time, resulting in lameness or behavior issues. The feel of smooth gaits, easy transitions and ease of steering are the result of helping horses balance their coordination. A horse that struggles in performance, struggles to do tasks or is not easy to ride is a horse telling us that the coordination inside is not what it could be or should be for healthy movement. Guest: Deb Romero, Certified Alexander Technique Instructorwww.optimalposture.orgHost: Kirsten Nelsen, professional horse trainerdeveloper of Training for Optimal Balancewww.kirstennelsen.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kirstennelsen.substack.com

    1h 4m
  7. 208: Internal Rhythm in Horses

    12/27/2025

    208: Internal Rhythm in Horses

    Internal rhythm, just like internal straightness, is a term I came up with to help simplify the vertical and horizontal aspects of balance in both horses and people. Internal rhythm, as a specific use of the spine and pelvis as well as specific weight distribution, is a learned coordination for all horses and all people. This aspect of balancing a three dimensional body is related to rhythmic motion and all speed adjustments. The result of habituating internal rhythm as a coordination is ease of motion in all gaits and during speed adjustments up or down. It must be coordinated with internal straightness in order to bring the body into three dimensional balance. I use these terms because they are different and people have no preconceived ideas of what I mean. But internal rhythm is the same ideal as impulsion, lifting the back, engaging the hindquarters, rounding, collecting, framing or just a good rider on a good mover. I don't use the typical words because the meaning of them is so different to different people. Hope you find this podcast helpful. Host: Kirsten Nelsen, professional horse trainerdeveloper of Training for Optimal Balance www.kirstennelsen.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kirstennelsen.substack.com

    44 min
  8. 207: Internal Straightness in Horses

    12/20/2025

    207: Internal Straightness in Horses

    What it means for horses to find balance left to right involves two different spinal functions that affect each other. The function of spinal alignment, reducing all lateral bending, is how horses begin to stabilize the midline and make lifting the back or engaging the hindquarters much easier for them. The function of spinal rotation is the least understood function of horse's spines in the horse world. Rotation of the spine is what makes a horse's barrel roll side to side, why the saddle slips to one side and why the hindquarters tilt on a turn or during lateral work. Unstable rotation in a horse's spine also causes weight to shift left to right, making a horse heavy on the forehand and often heaviest on one front leg, which can lead to a lot of lameness issues. Conversely, when we understand what internal straightness means in horses and help them develop that coordination, then suppleness through the muscles and ease of steering on any path of travel is the result we feel. Internal straightness is an important part of horse balance that relates to the left and right sides of the body. Guest: Deb Romero, Certified Alexander Technique Instructor www.optimalposture.orgHost: Kirsten Nelsen, professional horse trainerdeveloper of Training for Optimal Balance www.kirstennelsen.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kirstennelsen.substack.com

    45 min
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About

Bringing out the best in horse and rider kirstennelsen.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Kirsten Nelsen
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    214
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Kirsten Nelsen
  • Show Website
    Horse Geeks