Ep. 73 Deep dive into hollow backs

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Send us your feedback!How do you show up to sessions with your horse? And how do you manage your stance and state when you get there?Explore how to manage yourself and your horse to establish more effective communication between your body-mind and his. Even in conversation with another human, your words only account for 7% of what you are communicating; your intonation is 38%. The remainder is your stance and state, with the latter influencing your facial expression.Dive into this episode and discover how to use your own body-mind to make more sense to your horse!

Send us your feedback!This picture illustrates one of the many images that this podcast refers to. Energy, a vital but abstract concept, is best illustrated through images and metaphors. Dive into this session to explore the world of energy and discover how to direct yours effectively.

Send us your feedback! Does the regulated rider or handler regulate the disregulated horse, or does the disregulated horse disregulate the regulated rider or handler?Working with horses influences their regulation as well as their body organisation. In addition, horses can help us become more regulated. Through working together, we can lead each other into comfortable regulation.  Dive into this episode and listen to the theory as well as some very relevant stories. 

Send us your feedback!In this episode, I return to the nervous system — and to Stephen Porges’ polyvagal theory, which reshapes our old picture of fight, flight and freeze.Your autonomic nervous system is constantly scanning for safety or threat, and it quietly drives your thoughts, emotions and actions. I explore how trauma fills your “threat bucket,” why hypervigilance is so common in riders as well as horses, and how simple cranial-nerve exercises can start to empty your "threat bucket". You’ll discover six states — from regulation to freeze — and how your state shapes your story, your riding, and your partnership with your horse.

Send us your feedback!Back to Rider Biomechanics! I’ll uncover the effective alternatives to growing tall.The majority of women are hollow-backed, with their front longer than their back, and the majority of men are round-backed. There are different ways and places that people hollow, so let's dive in and explore both the challenges and the solutions! We’ll meet low‑beam headlights, seat‑bone flashlights, and two hinges that click you into neutral spine. 

Send us your feedback!This episode is about how our perspective shapes our experience.So often, we measure ourselves against where we wish we were, living in the “gap” and feeling the distance between where we are and where we think we should be. This episode invites you to turn around and notice your “gains”—the small, real steps you’ve made, even if they feel tiny or hard-won. Through some stories, we’ll explore how shifting focus from what’s missing to what’s growing can change your experience of learning, riding, and even daily life. It’s about celebrating progress, not perfection, and finding satisfaction in the journey itself.

Send us your feedback!Do you want to bring out the best in you and your horse? I certainly do. In this episode, we’re diving into what it takes to bring out the best in both of you—and how to navigate the journey ahead.Every journey needs a map, and I’ll be sharing one that’s robust, reliable, and designed to guide you whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills. This episode is packed with insights to help you unlock hidden potential.