EP 141: The Biomechanics of Riding, with Wendy Murdoch

Wendy Murdoch joins Helena in this episode to talk about the biomechanics of the horse and rider partnership, her scientific background, the Feldenkrais Method that she employs to help riders find their best balance, and much more. Listen in! This episode is brought to you by: AMERICAN STALLS, makers of premium stall components and barn accessories. 

If you're running a boarding or training business and struggling to stay afloat, you need to listen to this episode.  If you're a professional competitor, you need to listen to this episode. If you're an equine chiropractor, hoofcare provider, veterinarian, or hauler, you need to listen to this episode.  If you are NOT a business person but you are in the equine industry, this episode will inspire you to make a change and get the kind of help that can turn a tough job into a much, much easier one. Horse people have a unique skillset that does not typically include business planning or crunching numbers, that's why a bookkeeper who understands your profession can lead to the way to your salvation. For real! Listen in... This episode is brought to you by AMERICAN STALLS, makers of fine quality stable components and accessories.

We have a powerhouse episode this week, featuring our monthly Triple Crown Nutrition Spotlight, where we answer questions submitted by listeners about how to best feed their horses. Plus, an exclusive audio excerpt from the life-changing book, HORSE BRAIN, HUMAN BRAIN-The Neuroscience of Horsemanship, by Janet Jones, PhD.  Yes, listeners, feeding your horse can be fun! And, if you have ever asked yourself, "Why does my horse do that?", you will be so relieved to know that science has some very helpful answers for you... so listen in!  This episode is possible with the support of AMERICAN STALLS, makers of premium quality stall accessories and components. 

Brought to you by American Stalls. This episode is very different than our usual fare. The audio features a conversation between three equestrian industry professionals, each offering a perspective from very different places within the industry. Emily Hamel is a 5* eventer, Samantha Baer is a trainer who specializes in developing and matchmaking horses for many different riders, and of course, yours truly who comes at things from the business, planning, and management side of barn life.  Sam’s questions are thought-provoking, sometimes uncomfortable, and often refreshing. Listen in!  

In this episode, Helena shares some big news from Hoo Too in South Carolina, and we welcome back equine nutrition specialist from Triple Crown, Stacy Andersen, to answer listener questions about flax allergies, anti-inflammatory ingredients, healthy versus unhealthy manure, and much more. Do your horse a big favor today and listen in! This episode is made possible with the support of our sponsor, American Stalls.

A few key elements are necessary to call oneself a professional. Those are: education, experience, and wisdom. And possibly one more: enthusiasm. Today's guest is a horse professional, entrepreneur, and host of The Equestrian Entrepreneur podcast. Samantha Baer is based in the Aiken horse community, develops lovely performance horses, and makes horse and rider matches that are appropriate and long-lasting. Her “next-generation” view of horsemanship, business, and sustainability in our industry is refreshing. Her enthusiasm for supporting her profession is what prompted her to launch the podcast and bring thoughtful discussion to those who need it most. We may not have all the answers in this episode, but we do bring up key questions all equine professionals need to consider these days… so listen in!  This episode is brought to you by AMERICAN STALLS.

In this second episode of our new Triple Crown Nutrition Series, Helena is joined by Dr. Clair Thunes, a Ph.D. and equine nutrition expert, to answer questions submitted by our listeners. Deciding what to feed our horses can be daunting. Some horse owners rely on their trainers for guidance, others rely on the barn manager, or even random tidbits from the Internet. Thankfully, there are people and companies for whom equine nutrition is a speciality. In this episode we discuss feed bag labels and how to interpret them, which supplements are necessary in winter, why salt is important, and more. LISTEN IN! This episode is made possible with the support of American Stalls and Triple Crown Nutrition.

This episode features an in-depth, personal conversation with Tik Maynard, an elite-level eventer, trainer, clinician, and author. Tik's balanced and artful approach to horsemanship is changing the way trainers prepare sport horses for their work, in many different disciplines. His first book, "IN THE MIDDLE ARE THE HORSEMEN", is a favorite among horse owners across the globe. In this episode, Tik talks with Helena about competing in this year’s Road to the Horse colt-starting contest (a somewhat unusual goal for an eventer), what he expects to get out of the experience, his competitive career, his horses, the growth of Liberty training, and how all of it will fit into the pages of his next book. Listen in!  This episode is brought to you by: AMERICAN STALLS Feature photo credit: Shannon Brinkman

Deciding what to feed our horses can be daunting. Some horse owners rely on their trainers for guidance, others rely on the barn manager, or even random tidbits from the Internet. Thankfully, there are people and companies for whom equine nutrition is a speciality. In this first episode of our new Triple Crown Nutrition Series, Helena is joined by Stacy Andersen, Nutrition Consultant with Triple Crown, to answer some key questions about feeding forage. It’s a Q&A session that can help make those feed decisions a lot easier for everyone, so listen in!

If it seems to you that Attention Deficit / Hyper Activity Disorder (ADHD) is everywhere these days, you're not wrong. There are a variety of reasons as to why this particular neurodivergency is diagnosed with greater frequency than ever before. Most of those reasons have to do with advances in research and technology. ADHD seems to function an awful lot like "Lizard Brain", a term used by today’s guest– author, eventer, and former psychotherapist, Andrea Monsarrat Waldo. Andrea and Helena talk about the similarities between the brain of a horse and the brain of a human with ADHD. Why? Because the comparisons offer an opportunity for greater understanding (and hopefully appreciation) of your horse’s behavior, as well as your own. And the more we understand our horses, the more effective and compassionate trainers we can be. This is super cool stuff, so listen in! This episode is brought to you by AMERICAN STALLS