Interview with Mehrdad Baghai of JRD Saddlery

It’s November, the month to be thankful.  Aviva and Stephany open the podcast with the things that they are thankful for in their worlds.  In the Ask the L segment, Aviva talks about the 2x coefficient on the tests, where it shows up, why it shows up and what it should tell you!  In this month’s episode, Aviva and Stephany speak with Jenny and Sara from The Dressage Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization, whose mission is to cultivate and provide financial support for the advancement of dressage in the United States. Jenny and Sara tell us how they each started with TDF, and the background of TDF as an organization.  We learn about all sorts of fascinating programs available to riders of all ages and levels, and how passionate TDF is about helping the sport of Dressage continue to bloom and flourish.  Jenny and Sara tell us how to go about looking at the various grants, applying for them and how the grants have made many people’s horse dreams come true!  We also get information on how to give back to TDF, with the various ways to donate.  It was a terrific interview with Jenny  and Sara, and their enthusiasm for helping Dressage riders of all levels was contagious! Take a listen, you might find yourself applying for a grant!As a side note – we did not get to share the big news about TDF’s upcoming online Auction, which starts November 23rd and runs through December 7th.  There are over 170 items for auction, from custom riding boots, clothing, lessons with various people, clinics, horse goods, books and more!  To give you an extra little boost to check it out, both Aviva and Stephany donated services to support TDF – go check it out and put a bid on something today!  To check out the TDF Auction:  http://www.32auctions.com/TDFAuction2025Dressage Today S6 E12 Show Notes:Connect with the Hosts: Email Aviva Nebesky ([email protected]) | Email Stephany Fish Crossman ([email protected])Connect with the Show: Website (DressageToday.com) | Socials (@DressageToday) Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | PinterestLink: TDF AuctionLink: Video Subscription SiteToday's Episode Brought to You By: Equestrian+

In this month’s episode, Aviva and Stephany catch up with each other, talking about their latest wins, losses and learns.  Stephany shares her experience at Regional Championships and Aviva shares some very exciting news about going to Israel!  In addition to these big moments, Stephany talks about her 2 latest articles that came out, one on DressageToday.com and one in print In Practical Horseman.  As the year is speeding by, they both thought it would be a good thing to simply stop and appreciate the time together, sharing with our listeners!  We didn’t forget your Ask the L Question, though! Stephany asked Aviva her thoughts on how to best use the time around the outside of the arena, both before and after the bell has rung. Aviva gave us great tips on what is ok, what should be avoided, and what to do if the horse has a “moment” as you are about to enter the arena!  All in all, it is a great smaller episode, and we hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording it!Dressage Today S6 E11 Show Notes:Connect with the Hosts: Email Aviva Nebesky ([email protected]) | Email Stephany Fish Crossman ([email protected])Connect with the Show: Website (DressageToday.com) | Socials (@DressageToday) Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | PinterestLink: Video Subscription SiteToday's Episode Brought to You By: Equestrian+

In this episode, Aviva and Stephany catch up about what they have been doing, including some interesting conversation about Stephany’s Fourth Level Freestyle with Dante. Aviva tackles a difficult Ask the L question from Cass about horses being behind the bridle in the show arena, and gives us some different things to think about in relation to that! In our interview, both of the ladies got to chat with Kathy, and it was more of the magic that makes her Kathy Connelly! We get a little more insight into some of the many hats Kathy wears around the Dressage world. Kathy also gives her take on what makes great students and horsemen, and helps us to remember why we started doing this in the first place! It is another magical time with Kathy, and we can’t wait for you to take a listen!As always, we are grateful to our sponsors. Remember, if you like what you hear, hit the Like button AND the Subscribe button, so you don’t miss an episode!Dressage Today S6 E10 Show Notes:Connect with the Hosts: Email Aviva Nebesky ([email protected]) | Email Stephany Fish Crossman ([email protected])Connect with the Show: Website (DressageToday.com) | Socials (@DressageToday) Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | PinterestGuest: Kathy Connelly | Email Kathy ([email protected])Link: Video Subscription SiteToday's Episode Brought to You By: Equestrian+

Intro and Ask the L – Aviva and Stephany catch up and talk about the heat and how they are each dealing with it. In the Ask the L segment, Aviva answers a question from Sarah about what to do if your horse does a flying change in a 2nd level test instead of the proscribed movement.Interview with Dr. Wendy Rice – Aviva and Stephany get to know Dr. Wendy, how she got to be a psychologist and how she decided to blend her career with her love of horses and riding. They cover a wide variety of reasons why and how imposter syndrome can come into someone’s life, where it originated from and who it can affect. Dr. Wendy gives some great tips for how to help yourself with this sometimes crippling thought process, and how to be your own best friend when it comes to success, both in and out the barn and the arena!Dressage Today S6 E9 Show Notes:Connect with the Hosts: Email Aviva Nebesky ([email protected]) | Email Stephany Fish Crossman ([email protected]) of SerendipityDressageConnect with the Show: Website (DressageToday.com) | Video Subscription Site | Socials (@DressageToday) Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | PinterestGuest: Dr. Wendy RiceToday's Episode Brought to You By: Equestrian+

In this month’s episode, Aviva reflects on the weight of social media on our riding, how easy it is to criticize in the name of “critiquing” and how we can never know the full story just from a picture of a video. She and Stephany share their thoughts on how we can all be kinder, and as riders we can always work to be better, but that most people are out their doing their best every ride. Stephany shares her latest win with Dante and getting qualified for Regionals.In the Ask the L segment, Aviva talks about posting versus sitting in Training and First Levels. She discusses the various reasons behind what judges are looking for and how you can best help your horse with either choice.We have a word from our sponsor, EquestrianPlus, and then Stephany meets back up with Beth for round two of the bit discussion.This month, we dive deeper into some of the things Beth talked about last month, including metals, bit sizes and weight. They go on with the discussion to talk about double bridles - what the purpose is, when to try it, and how different curb bits work in the mouth. It was another fascinating dive into the world of bit fitting, and we are so happy that Beth could join us for a second chat!Again, If you have questions for Beth, please forward them to her directly, or send them to us so we can share them with everyone on a future episode! As always, if you like what we are doing, please like and share our podcast!Dressage Today S6 E8 Show Notes:Connect with the Hosts: Email Aviva Nebesky ([email protected]) | Email Stephany Fish Crossman ([email protected]) of SerendipityDressageConnect with the Show: Website (DressageToday.com) | Video Subscription Site | Socials (@DressageToday) Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | PinterestGuest: Beth Haist of TheHorseofCourse.com, Email Beth ([email protected])Today's Episode Brought to You By: Equestrian+

Aviva and Stephany catch up about Stephany’s recent horse show experience and how Dante is now an official 4th level horse! They also talk about one of Stephany’s cows coming home, and the new babies…In the Ask the L segment, Aviva talks about switching the whip during a class, the do’s and don’ts of that. We also talk about when you are allowed to carry a whip in a class and when you cannot!We speak with Beth and learn about how she got involved with horses, how she ended up in the tack selling business and how she got so smart about bits! Beth gives us valuable information on the different “levels” of bits – what to use when starting horses, why and when you could switch bits, and what the different rings affect in the horse. We talk about the different metals and why you would use one over another. Beth gives us great information about why the Baucher is not the bit it used to be and why the French Link is no longer a legal bit to show in. She talks about fitting bits, the ins and outs of horses’ mouths and why different bits “help”. It was a fascinating conversation, and one that we will be continuing later this summer!If you have questions for Beth, please forward them to her directly, or send them to us so we can share them with everyone on a future episode! As always, if you like what we are doing, please like and share our podcast!Dressage Today S6 E7 Show Notes:Connect with the Hosts: Email Aviva Nebesky ([email protected]) | Email Stephany Fish Crossman ([email protected]) of SerendipityDressageConnect with the Show: Website (DressageToday.com) | Video Subscription Site | Socials (@DressageToday) Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | PinterestGuest: Beth Haist of TheHorseofCourse.com, Email Beth ([email protected])Today's Episode Brought to You By: Equestrian+

Aviva and Stephany catch up on what’s going on – Stephany’s travels, her new baby cows, Aviva has a potential buyer for Ralphie!  Aviva has an amazing question from Alex about conformation, effort and how that is recognized in a test.  She gives us a lot to think about with her answer – are you riding a 6 mover?  Are you a 6 rider?  What is a good expectation for an average horse, and where are there places that you can shine no matter what?Mark talks about his background and how he came into the natural horsemanship world. He discusses different ways to think about helping your horse into a better mental state, what he really means when he says pressure, and how even our dressage horses could feel better if we changed our approach a little. It is a fascinating interview with lots of places where we tie his work into dressage examples, so take a listen! Feel free to let us know your thoughts, and if you have further questions for Mark.Connect with the Hosts: Email Aviva Nebesky ([email protected]) | Email Stephany Fish Crossman ([email protected])Connect with the Show: Website (DressageToday.com) | Socials (@DressageToday) Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | PinterestGuest: Mark Langley | YouTube (@MarkLangley) | Facebook (@MarkLangleyhorsemanship)Today's Episode Brought to You By: Equestrian+

We Interview Mehrdad Baghai of JRD Saddlery about saddle making and saddle fitting.Connect with the Hosts: Email Aviva Nebesky ([email protected]) | Email Stephany Fish Crossman ([email protected])Connect with the Show: Website (DressageToday.com) | Socials (@DressageToday) Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | PinterestGuest: Mehrdad Baghai of JRD Saddlery | Connect with JRD Saddlery on FacebookLink: Video Subscription SiteToday's Episode Brought to You By: Purina

Aviva and Stephany catch up on what’s been going on lately – Stephany talks about her 6 days with Mary Wanless, the selling of her Brooksville farm and the purchase of her new young horse, So Special!  In the Ask the L segment, Aviva answers a great question from Jamie:  If I am in a test and things start going badly and I feel unsafe – is it ok to dismount?  Thanks Jamie for a great question, and Aviva for having such a complete answer!We have a word from our Sponsor, Purina, and their Systemiq Supplement.In the interview with Kathy, Stephany delves into Kathy’s riding career, her time in the Pony  Club and all the cool people she grew up riding with.  We talk about how she evolved from Eventing to Dressage, as well as the amazing coaches she got to work with throughout her riding career.  We talk about Kathy’s beliefs and our moral responsibilities while working with horses, and you get to see why she has been a shining light in the Dressage world for a long, long time!Connect with the Hosts: Email Aviva Nebesky ([email protected]) | Email Stephany Fish Crossman ([email protected])Connect with the Show: Website (DressageToday.com) | Socials (@DressageToday) Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | PinterestGuest: Kathy Connelly | Email Kathy ([email protected])Link: Video Subscription SiteToday's Episode Brought to You By: Purina

Stephany and Aviva catch up on their own pony journeys, with Aviva dealing with yet more snow and Stephany recounting how her latest lessons went with Kathy Connelly.  We get a really great question for “Ask the L” about corners, and as usual, Aviva makes it so much more digestible!  We have a word from Purina, who is the sponsor of this month’s podcast.  In this episode, Stephany and Aviva chat with Suzanne DeStefano, a Pennsylvania based Feldenkrais practitioner and dressage rider/trainer.  We delve into the mysterious question of “what IS Feldenkrais?” and get some examples of how it can help people, both in and out of the saddle.  We discuss the founder, Moishe Feldenkrais, and how he came to develop this interesting way of helping people get more in touch with their bodies.  We got to hear how Suzanne’s personal journey in riding led her to discovering this modality, and how it has shaped both her riding and her practice with other riders.  It is an interesting practice, and one that some of our listeners might find valuable if they are struggling with their own riding journey.  Take a listen!Connect with the Hosts: Email Aviva Nebesky ([email protected]) | Email Stephany Fish Crossman ([email protected])Connect with the Show: Website (DressageToday.com) | Socials (@DressageToday) Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | PinterestGuest: Suzanne DeStefano, Feldenkrais Practitioner and Dressage Trainer/RiderLink: Video Subscription SiteToday's Episode Brought to You By: Equestrian+