Mane Brain: The Science of Smarter Riding

Audrey Paslow PT DPT NCS

Welcome to Mane Brain, the podcast where neuroscience meets the saddle! Hosted by Audrey Paslow, a board-certified neurologic physical therapist and expert in rider biomechanics, this show dives deep into the brain-body connection that makes great riders. Each episode explores the science behind balance, coordination, flexibility, strength, breathing, and timing—essential elements for equestrians looking to improve their performance. Through expert interviews, rider fitness strategies, and neuroscience-backed insights, you’ll learn how to train smarter, ride better, and unlock your full potential in the saddle.

  1. 2H AGO

    Friday’s With Frankie: Fitness for Riders — Training the Brain & Body with the Equicizer

    Send us a text SEASON 2 of the Mane Brain Podcast opens with an episode of Friday’s with Frankie and reframes what fitness for riders really means — and how off-horse tools like the Equicizer can support cardiovascular conditioning, balance, and motor learning. As riders, we often think of fitness as something separate from skill. In this episode, Frankie Lovato Jr and I explore why that separation doesn’t hold up — especially when viewed through a neuroscience lens. Fitness influences not only endurance, but also how well the brain can organize movement, maintain balance, and stay regulated under load. In this episode, we cover: Why rider fitness is more than just strength or staminaWays riders can challenge cardiovascular fitness that match their riding goalsHow the Equicizer allows riders to work on balance and conditioning simultaneouslyI introduce the concept of heart rate zones and explains why different riding disciplines place different demands on the rider’s nervous system and cardiovascular capacity. These ideas are teased here and explored more fully in the next full Mane Brain episode, where riders will learn how to match off-horse cardio training to the demands of their discipline. This episode sets the tone for Season 2: evidence-based, rider-focused, and grounded in how the brain and body work together — both in and out of the saddle. 🎧 Next up on Mane Brain: A deep dive into zone-based cardiovascular training for riders, including METs, heart rate ranges, and how you as the rider can train effectively off the horse for dressage, show jumping, and eventing. Mane Brain Podcast is part of Anchored Seat's mission to bring neuroscience to the saddle! Learn more about training programs and clinic opportunities at www.anchoredseat.com.

    50 min

  2. 12/31/2025

    Riding Blindfolded (Sort Of): How Vision Affects Balance and Why Riders Rely on It Too Much

    Send us a text Vision is powerful — but sometimes, it’s doing too much of the work. In this episode of Mane Brain, Audrey Paslow, PT, DPT, NCS, dives into the neuroscience behind visual input and rider balance, exploring why temporarily reducing vision can actually improve motor learning, postural control, and coordination. Building on prior episodes about the learning sweet spot, lunge line lessons, and why mistakes matter, this conversation focuses on how the brain integrates sensory information — particularly vision, proprioception, and vestibular input — to control movement. When vision dominates, riders may feel “secure,” but the nervous system can become less accurate at detecting true balance errors. Audrey explains: Why vision often overrides proprioceptive feedback in ridersHow limiting visual input helps the brain identify errors more clearlyWhy this strategy works so well in lunge line lessons and balance trainingThe difference between removing vision versus removing information overloadYou’ll also hear practical, safety-conscious ways to experiment with reduced visual input: Unmounted balance and coordination drillsIn-the-saddle applications (no actual blindfolds required!)How to recognize when vision is helping — and when it’s hindering — your learningThis episode reinforces a core Mane Brain message: better riding isn’t about doing more — it’s about giving the brain the right information at the right time. Whether you’re working on an independent seat, struggling with consistency, or looking to understand why certain exercises feel transformative, this episode will change how you think about what your eyes are doing while you ride. Mane Brain Podcast is part of Anchored Seat's mission to bring neuroscience to the saddle! Learn more about training programs and clinic opportunities at www.anchoredseat.com.

    31 min

  3. 12/13/2025

    Mistakes Are the Mechanism: How Errors Build Better Riders

    Send us a text In this episode of Mane Brain, Audrey dives into one of the most misunderstood — and most powerful — truths about rider development: Mistakes are not the problem. Missing the learning opportunity is. Building on her episodes published in November about finding the learning sweet spot, this conversation explores the neuroscience behind why mistakes are essential for skill development and how riders can use them intentionally to improve balance, timing, and confidence. 🧠 Why the Brain Needs Mistakes From a motor learning perspective, the brain doesn’t change when things go perfectly. It changes when there’s a mismatch between what it expected to happen and what actually happened — a process known as prediction error. These small, safe errors are the fuel for neuroplasticity. Audrey breaks down: Adams’ Closed-Loop Theory, where sensory feedback and error detection refine movement accuracySchmidt’s Schema Theory, which explains how variability and mistakes build adaptable motor programsModern neuroscience concepts of prediction error, showing how the brain updates movement strategies based on errorsTogether, these models explain why perfection slows learning — and why controlled, intentional mistakes accelerate it. 🏋️ Applying Error-Based Learning in Unmounted Training You’ll learn key ways to use mistakes productively during off-horse work, including: Why slowing down helps you notice errorsHow controlled instability improves balance and body awarenessWhy repeating a movement after a mistake matters more than chasing perfect repsHow changing one variable at a time sharpens motor learning🎯 The Takeaway Riders who improve fastest aren’t the ones who make fewer mistakes. They’re the ones who recognize them sooner, stay curious, and use them as data. If you want to train your brain — not just your body — this episode will give you a completely new lens on what progress really looks like. Mane Brain Podcast is part of Anchored Seat's mission to bring neuroscience to the saddle! Learn more about training programs and clinic opportunities at www.anchoredseat.com.

    34 min

  4. 12/05/2025

    Friday’s With Frankie: Brain-Boosting Gifts to Elevate Every Ride

    Send us a text In this festive installment of Friday’s With Frankie, Frankie and I unwrap our favorite brain-boosting, balance-enhancing, ride-changing gift ideas for the equestrians in your life (including you!). We cover: ✔️ Gear that improves rider feel and balance✔️ Tools that sharpen rein awareness and contact✔️ Smart accessories to support rider fitness✔️ Upgrades that make home practice sessions more effective✔️ A few of Frankie’s own top picks from the Equicizer shop✔️ Audrey’s favorite neuro-centric training aids that blend beautifully with Franklin Method workAnd of course — we’ll link to all items mentioned in the episode so you can shop smarter, not harder this holiday season. For Frankie's top picks: https://equicizer.com/collections/equicizer-stable For Audrey's top picks, it's best to send an email! She has many of the items she mentioned in stock and ready to ship!  Mane Brain Podcast is part of Anchored Seat's mission to bring neuroscience to the saddle! Learn more about training programs and clinic opportunities at www.anchoredseat.com.

    30 min

  5. 11/25/2025

    Hands-Free, Brain-On: Unlocking Rider Balance Through the Lunge Line with My Trainer & Mentor, Cailin Sanford

    Send us a text This week on The Mane Brain Podcast, Audrey welcomes one of the most important guests in her riding journey: her trainer and mentor, Cailin Sanford, a USDF Level 1 Certified Instructor known for her thoughtful, biomechanics-backed approach to horse and rider development. Following last episode's conversation about “The Learning Sweet Spot” and how simplifying a task creates the ideal environment for motor learning, this episode brings that concept directly into the arena — through lunge line lessons. Whether you’re a developing rider or an experienced adult amateur trying to refine your seat, the lunge line is one of the most underused but most powerful tools you have. Audrey and Cailin break down: 🔹 Why lunge line lessons work from a neuroscience perspective How reducing the task's demands frees the brain to focus on balance, timing, symmetry, and postural reflexes — without the steering responsibilities. 🔹 Two types of lunge line lessons (and why riders can benefit from both) Cailin outlines how each type targets different pieces of rider development, and why they might help shed light on a missing puzzle piece in the learning process.  🔹 Exercises that may be best accomplished on the lunge line From no-stirrups work, to stability drills, to upper-body coordination — these are the game-changing practices that build a truly independent seat. 🔹 How Audrey and Cailin blend Franklin Method into their clinics They share why these sessions are popular each year and how this type of training can strengthen a rider's balance, proprioception, and confidence. 🔹 Safety considerations for riders and horses How to determine if you have the right combination for a lunge line lesson - from thinking about the horse, environmental setup, and handler experience (as well as when NOT to schedule a lunge line session). 🔹 Why lunge line lessons aren’t “just for beginners” Cailin explains how even seasoned, competitive riders can unlock breakthroughs with this style of training. This episode combines evidence-based motor learning theory with the practical wisdom of a seasoned and experienced instructor — and echoes the deep trust of a trainer/client relationship. If you want better balance, better posture, better timing, and stronger connections between your brain and body… this episode is for you. Interested in working with Cailin & Audrey? Look for details here Click to learn more about Cailin Sanford, Level 1 USDF Certified Instructor & Winterwood Farm Mane Brain Podcast is part of Anchored Seat's mission to bring neuroscience to the saddle! Learn more about training programs and clinic opportunities at www.anchoredseat.com.

    45 min

  6. 11/21/2025

    Friday's with Frankie: Healing in Motion - How Esther Nofziger Blends Occupational Therapy, Horses, and the Equicizer

    Send us a text In this episode of the special series on Mane Brain — Fridays with Frankie, Audrey Paslow PT, DPT, NCS and Frankie Lovato Jr. sit down with Esther Nofziger, Occupational Therapist, Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist (AHA), Therapeutic Riding Senior Instructor (CanTRA), Instructor of Beginners in English Riding (Equine Canada), and longtime Equicizer user. In this interview, we dive into:  The differences between therapeutic riding and hippotherapyWhy choosing the right credentialed provider matters, and how to find themHow Esther uses the Equicizer both as an essential assessment tool and as part of her treatment sessionsThe therapeutic impact of equine movement for Esther's patients and clientsOpportunities and resources for education for instructors, volunteers, and caregiversIf you’ve ever wondered how equine-assisted therapies work—or how the Equicizer fits into clinical practice—this episode offers clear, practical insight. 🔗 Helpful Links Mentioned in This Episode Professional Organizations American Hippotherapy Association (AHA) https://americanhippotherapyassociation.org Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) https://pathintl.org Find a Certified Professional Find a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor https://pathintl.org/education/certifications/find-a-certified-professional Resources To Learn More About Esther Nofziger:  Equicizer Therapy Page + Webinar “In Case You’re Not a Doctor” https://equicizer.com/pages/equicizer-therapy (This page includes Esther’s downloadable webinar and additional educational content.)Mane Brain Podcast is part of Anchored Seat's mission to bring neuroscience to the saddle! Learn more about training programs and clinic opportunities at www.anchoredseat.com.

    50 min

  7. 11/11/2025

    The Learning Sweet Spot: How Simplifying Your Ride Maximizes Motor Learning

    Send us a text As riders, we’re often asking for more from our bodies on each ride - be it more refined communication, better timing, or better balance. Trying to train for MORE of these elements may seem helpful, but neuroscience says otherwise. In this episode, Audrey unpacks how the brain truly learns new movement patterns and why simplifying your ride — by reducing variables and focusing your attention — can lead to more progress, not less. You’ll discover how the Challenge Point Framework, a concept from motor learning research, reveals the elements to find the optimal “sweet spot” for skill acquisition. When challenge and skill level align just right, your brain gets the highest return on its investment: faster encoding, more efficient balance reactions, and smoother coordination. Audrey also explains: Why removing complexity can actually help your nervous system learn fasterHow feedback and - yes, even mistakes! - can strengthen your brain-body connectionWhy the brain's attention matters in skill acquisitionIf you’ve ever felt frustrated by slow progress or inconsistent breakthroughs, this episode will help you understand how to set your brain — and your riding — up for true learning success. Mane Brain Podcast is part of Anchored Seat's mission to bring neuroscience to the saddle! Learn more about training programs and clinic opportunities at www.anchoredseat.com.

    33 min

  8. 11/07/2025

    Fridays with Frankie: From Box to Balance — The First 5 Things to Know About Your Equicizer

    Send us a text Welcome to the very first Fridays with Frankie, a special Mane Brain mini-series featuring Frankie Lovato Jr., creator of the Equicizer and former professional jockey. In this inaugural episode, From Box to Balance, we’re walking you through the first five things every rider should know when unboxing and riding their Equicizer for the first time. Frankie shares his insider, logistical tips — from proper wheel installation to ensuring the Equicizer’s head cables are suspended just right — along with resources every new owner should bookmark. Then, Audrey dives into the rider’s side of the setup: options to ensure proper rider alignment, initiating a gait, establishing proper rein aids, and how to stay aware of your breathing and balance throughout. Together, we even guide you through your first two-point on the Equicizer — safely, effectively, and with intention. Whether you’re brand new to the Equicizer or using it to refine your biomechanics and balance, this episode will help you start strong, set up safely, and ride smarter from day one. 🎧 Tune in to learn: Frankie's top setup tips for Equicizer safety and performanceHow to create a smart rider setup with mirrors or video feedbackThe brain-body link between breath, rein aids, and rhythmA step-by-step approach to your first two-point sessionAs mentioned on the episode, here is the links to:  Your Free Breathing Guide Episode 7 of Mane Brain: From Breath to Balance - The Missing Piece in Rider FeelMane Brain Podcast is part of Anchored Seat's mission to bring neuroscience to the saddle! Learn more about training programs and clinic opportunities at www.anchoredseat.com.

    51 min
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About

Welcome to Mane Brain, the podcast where neuroscience meets the saddle! Hosted by Audrey Paslow, a board-certified neurologic physical therapist and expert in rider biomechanics, this show dives deep into the brain-body connection that makes great riders. Each episode explores the science behind balance, coordination, flexibility, strength, breathing, and timing—essential elements for equestrians looking to improve their performance. Through expert interviews, rider fitness strategies, and neuroscience-backed insights, you’ll learn how to train smarter, ride better, and unlock your full potential in the saddle.

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