SportsWilderness

Horse Person

Caroline Culbertson

Being a horse person is like this: the more you learn, the more you realize you know nothing... at all. So, with all the different "bubbles" of the horse world, how can we all get into the same room to share a little bit of curiosity, perspective, and humanity with each other? Welcome to Horse Person, the equestrian podcast hosted and produced by 3x award-winning podcaster Caroline Culbertson. Part education, part human-(horse?) interest, all with the ultimate goal of supporting and encouraging you on your journey to become the best horse person you can be.

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Yesterday · 54 min
She Thought She'd Lost Her Nerve in the Saddle: The Midlife Shift Riders Need to Understand with Steph Bradley
This episode is presented by Kalio Equestrian Skincare, the title sponsor of our Middle-Aged Rider Series. High-performance skincare created specifically for riders and trusted by 5,000+ equestrians and counting. Use discount code HORSEPERSON15 for 15% off your order at www.kalioequestrian.com At 52, Steph Bradley was an advanced dressage rider who suddenly found herself too frightened to canter her safe, familiar horse. She was also experiencing debilitating hip pain and had been told she would eventually need a hip replacement. Five years later, after recognizing the role hormonal changes may have been playing and finding the right support, she is riding at Grand Prix and her research suggests her experience is far from uncommon. Steph is a British Equestrian Level 4 coach, master saddle fitter, dressage rider, coach developer, and researcher whose groundbreaking study examined how perimenopause and menopause affect female equestrians. More than 1,600 riders participated, revealing striking patterns in confidence, motivation, pain, anxiety, coaching, and women's ability to remain engaged in the sport they love. In this episode, Steph helps us understand why a rider may suddenly feel as though she has "lost her nerve," why so many women quietly withdraw from lessons or stop riding altogether, and how coaches and communities can better support riders through midlife hormonal changes. Most importantly, this is a hopeful conversation about recognizing what may actually be happening before deciding that the rider you used to be is gone. LEARN MORE ABOUT STEPH: Steph Bradley at Freedom Saddlery Follow Steph on Instagram Read Steph Bradley and Claire Mills' published research: "Breaking the Silence: The Unexplored Impact of Perimenopause and Menopause Symptoms of Female Equestrians" Read the Horse & Hound feature about Steph's research RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Dr. Louise Newson's books, including The Power of Hormones and The Definitive Guide to the Perimenopause and Menopause Download Dr. Louise Newson's Balance app
September 9 · 1 hr 21 min
Your Brain Has Changed: How Middle Age Can Make You a Better Rider, with Dr. Jenny
This episode is sponsored by Kalio Equestrian Skincare. High performance skincare for riders, trusted by 5000+ riders and counting. www.kalioequestrian.com Welcome to the first installment of our Middle-Aged Rider Series, where we're exploring how to ride better, feel better, and stay in the sport we love as our bodies, brains, and lives change. We're kicking things off with sport psychologist Dr. Jenny Susser to unpack why riding can feel different in middle age. But before you click away, it's not all bad! There's actually a lot of good news, and we dive into it in this series. From changing perceptions of risk and confidence, to cognitive load, resilience, and working together with your brain and body, instead of against it. With the right understanding, the experience, perspective, and self-knowledge we gain with age may actually help us become better riders. Let's learn how. REFERENCE 1 - Pregnancy and the brain (email us for the pdf!) REFERENCE 2 - After Menopause, the Rules Changed (email us for the pdf!) caroline@horsepersonpodcast.com to request the pdf versions of these 2 articles ^
August 26 · 1 hr 4 min
REBROADCAST: America's Wild Horses with Clare Staples of Skydog Sanctuary
This episode is sponsored by Hooves and Paws. Get 15% off by using this URL: www.hoovesandpaws.com/horseperson With America's wild horses back in the national conversation, we're revisiting our conversation with Clare Staples, founder of Skydog Sanctuary and one of the country's most recognizable wild horse advocates. She discusses the deep spiritual connection she feels with horses, the challenges of running a sanctuary, and the importance of preserving wild horse families. Clare also touches on the legislative landscape affecting wild horses and her efforts to inspire change through storytelling and advocacy. The conversation feels especially timely as Clare's documentary Blue Zeus, narrated by Gerard Butler, reaches a new audience on Amazon Prime. Originally recorded in 2025, this episode offers an eye-opening look at what it means to protect not just wild horses themselves, but their families, freedom, and way of life.
August 12 · 49 min
How Is Anyone Affording This? You Called In!
Get 26% off a membership to ClipMyHorse.tv JUST in time to watch the FEI World Championships in Aachen! Go here (https://go.cmh.tv/horse-person/) and use code HPAACHEN26 for your discount. We asked, you called in! How do horse people actually afford this sport? In this special anonymous episode, horse people from across the financial spectrum share what they earn, what their horses really cost, the sacrifices they make, & how money shapes their experience in the sport. Let's look at the financial realities, worries, and philosophies that horse people have - and the questions we're too nervous to ask out loud.
August 5 · 59 min
Why Your Horse Feels Heavy in the Hand (It Might Be the Thoracic Sling) with Vet Physiotherapist Calli Charles
Get 26% off a membership to ClipMyHorse.tv JUST in time to watch the FEI World Championships in Aachen! Go here and use code HPAACHEN26 for your discount. If your horse feels heavy in the hand, struggles with transitions, trips, or just doesn't seem to move as freely as they should, the thoracic sling could be part of the answer. Veterinary physiotherapist Calli Charles (@vetphysiophyle) joins us to explain what the thoracic sling actually is, how it influences movement and performance, and how to recognize signs of dysfunction in your own horse. We also discuss the role of conformation, tack, rider position, and simple exercises you can use to help your horse move more comfortably and efficiently.
July 29 · 28 min
Horse Person Mini: Irene Neuwirth on the Hunter Ring, Jewlery & Second Acts
This episode is sponsored by Hooves and Paws. Get 15% off by using this URL: www.hoovesandpaws.com/horseperson Every so often, we bring you a lighter conversation with someone whose love of horses has shaped their life in unexpected ways. This week, Beth sits down with award-winning jewelry designer Irene Neuwirth to talk about rediscovering horses as an adult, building a world-class creative business, developing young hunters, and why riding has made her a better entrepreneur. It's a fun conversation about ambition, creativity, and embracing your inner horse girl, no matter where life takes you.
July 22 · 41 min
Booked with Beth: MARE by Emily Haworth-Booth
When people ask horse people why we love horses so deeply, it feels impossible to explain. In this first episode of Booked with Beth, a new series where Beth Behrs sits down with authors writing about horses, she talks with Emily Haworth-Booth, author of the extraordinary memoir MARE. What begins as a conversation about a book quickly becomes something much bigger: an exploration of grief, identity, menopause, creativity, womanhood, and the mysterious way horses seem to restore something essential in us. Emily shares the deeply personal story that inspired MARE, from navigating early menopause and the loss of her beloved dog to rediscovering horses as an adult. We explore why horses feel like home, why mares challenge us in ways geldings don't, and what it is about the barn that creates such a unique community... especially for women. Learn more about Emily here.
July 15 · 1 hr 6 min
Becky Moody: Good Horses (and Riders) Are Built, Not Discovered
This episode is proudly sponsored by Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services It's easy to assume Olympic horses look like future champions from the very beginning, but Becky Moody's didn't. Of the 3 horses she had at the time, her future Olympic mount was actually the least impressive. From evaluating young horses to creating positive tension instead of stress, British Olympian Becky Moody explains the principles that guide her training, coaching, and horse selection. She shares why trainability often beats brilliance, how to develop more independence as a rider, and what she believes separates someone who simply rides a horse from someone who truly trains one.
June 3 · 53 min
The Wilder Way: Eva zu Beck on Horse Trekking + the Courage to Live Differently
This episode is sponsored by Hooves & Paws. Go to www.hoovesandpaws.com/horseperson to get 15% off your order! In this episode, adventurer, writer, filmmaker, and National Geographic host Eva zu Beck joins us for a conversation about freedom, discomfort, curiosity, and what it means to feel truly alive. We discuss her solo horseback trek across Mongolia (and yes, we got into the logistics, which made the planner type A in us slightly panic), the lessons horses have taught her about wildness and resilience, and why she's intentionally "rewilding" every part of her life... from where she lives to how she travels and connects with the world around her. Learn more about Eva: Her new book is now available in the USA: The Wilder Way YouTube: Eva zu Beck YouTube Channel
May 24 · 37 min
The Dover Saddlery Collapse, And Who's Left in Its Wake
For decades, Dover Saddlery was part of the fabric of horse sport in America. But after store closures, liquidation, and reports of unpaid vendors sent shockwaves through the equestrian industry, bigger questions began to emerge. In this episode, Caroline sits down with Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse, to unpack how the story unfolded behind the scenes, what private equity's growing presence in horse sport could mean for the future of the industry, and why this moment may reveal deeper economic fragilities within equestrian sport itself. Read Piper's piece about this topic HERE
May 13 · 47 min
The Internet's Favorite Horse Girl: Esme Higgs
This episode is proudly sponsored by Hooves and Paws. Go to hoovesandpaws.com/horseperson or use code HP15 for 15% off your order. No shipping minimums, 365-day return policy, hundreds of thousands of happy customers. Esme Higgs grew up as a shy horse-crazy kid in a non-horsey family. But as a teenager, she persuaded her parents to film her on her horse who had a knack for picking up the wrong lead. She wanted to see if she could figure out why he was picking up the wrong lead, but then her phone ran low on storage. "No problem," she thought. "I'll upload it to Youtube to free up storage." That was about 10 years ago, and now she has over 2M followers and over 5B views of her content - one of the most famous and prolific equestrian content creators in the world. In this episode, Esme opens up about growing up publicly online, navigating burnout and boundaries, and why making horses feel accessible has always been at the heart of her work. We also dive into the surprisingly small team behind her content empire and the powerful ways she's used social media to advocate for horses and animal welfare. The biggest takeaway from this episode? Whatever you're chipping away at, keep chippin'. It might lead you to some wild places you never expected.
May 6 · 48 min
Better Riding Starts in Your Seat: A Physio's Perspective
This episode is sponsored by Hooves and Paws. Use code HP15 for 15% off your order. Let's just get this out of the way: There is no such thing as a symmetrical rider. In this episode, we're joined by physiotherapist and rider Maeve Sheridan, and we go deep into the rider's seat. We talk about why it matters so much and why many of us are chasing the wrong things when we try to "fix" it. We talk about: Why every single rider has asymmetries and why that's not a failure What your seat really is from a mechanical standpoint How your pelvis, hips, and breath affect your horse more than you think The difference between mobility and control (and why you need both) Why "engaging your core" might actually be making things worse Common rider issues like chair seat, back pain, and collapsing on a circle—and what's actually behind them The truth about trendy riding fixes (yes, including bands and posture gadgets )
April 29 · 59 min
Beyond Heartland: The Real Life of Amber Marshall
This episode is proudly sponsored by Hooves and Paws. Go to hoovesandpaws.com/horseperson or use code HP15 for 15% off your order. No shipping minimums, 365-day return policy, hundreds of thousands of happy customers. *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-69dfae47-e58c-8333-9041-7be529e6067d-11" data-testid= "conversation-turn-6" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> For nearly two decades, Amber Marshall has shaped how millions of people see horses through Heartland. But who is she beyond the screen? In this episode, Amber opens up about the responsibility of representing horses to a global audience, how she balances authenticity with storytelling, & what Heartland gets right (and has to adapt) about real horse life. We also go deeper into Amber's personal journey as a horsewoman. We discuss how horses grounded her in an industry built on performance, and what she's learned from living a true ranch life. This is an honest, thoughtful conversation that will remind you what you're missing if you're too busy thinking about the future or the past; Amber will invite you to sink into the moment and be where your feet are. Follow us on insta: www.instagram.com/horsepersonpodcast Subscribe on Youtube to watch this episode: www.youtube.com/horsepersonpod
April 22 · 51 min
The Ride After Loss: Starting Over with a New Horse, with Dr. Jenny Susser
After losing all three of her horses within a year, sport psychologist Dr. Jenny Susser returns to share what it really looks like to begin again. In this episode, we explore the emotional and psychological reality of getting back in the saddle after loss, from the unexpected voice in your head telling you to "get off," to the brain's need for familiarity, certainty, and control. Dr. Jenny breaks down how to distinguish fear from intuition, how your nervous system impacts your riding, and why starting over can feel so overwhelming even for experienced riders. We also talk about practical tools like breathwork, visualization, and co-regulation, and how shifting your mindset from expectation to support can transform a new partnership. This is a conversation about grief, growth, and rebuilding trust both in yourself, and in a new horse.
April 15 · 52 min
Most of Us Aren't Riding 6-Figure Horses (And That's Okay) - with Maddie Houser of @theblondeandthebay_
This episode is sponsored by Corro. Click here and use code horsewoman15 at checkout. There's a version of this sport that tells you success looks one way: the right horse, the right path, the right goals. And then there's real life, especially as adult amateurs. We have financial hurdles, time constraints, and changing priorities, It's time to embrace that. In this conversation, Madelyn Houser of @theblondeandthebay_ got really honest about her journey from losing her confidence, to completely redefining what success looks like as an amateur rider riding unconventional horses in the sport of dressage. For her, it meant letting go of what others expected or thought, and getting real with herself about what felt comfortable and happy to her. We talk about over-horsing ourselves, the pressure to "push through," and the reality that not everyone is riding a six-figure warmblood (in fact, most of us don't!)… and that doesn't make you any less of a rider. If anything, it might make you a better one. If you've ever felt behind, intimidated, or questioned your path in this sport, this episode is for you.
April 8 · 59 min
From the Tevis Cup to Hollywood: Glynn Turman on a Life Shaped by Horses
This episode is proudly sponsored by Nikovian - luxury equestrian apparel without the luxury price tag. Use code horseperson15 for 15% off your order at checkout. In this episode, Beth sits down with Emmy Award-winning actor and lifelong horseman Glynn Turman to explore the deep connection between presence, acting, and horses. From growing up in New York City sneaking off to ride in Central Park stables to competing in endurance races like the Tevis Cup and stepping into the rodeo world, he shares how horses have been a constant grounding force throughout the highs and uncertainties of his storied acting career. Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/horsepersonpodcast
April 1 · 43 min
The Story Behind the Story: Inside Sarah Maslin Nir's Investigation of Jimmy A. Williams and George Morris
If you or someone you love is experiencing abuse in sport, visit #WeRideTogether for crisis resources. Trigger Warning - This episode discusses sexual abuse. In 2018 and 2019, two of the most powerful figures in horse sport were banned for abusing minors. Today's guest tells us how she shined a light on the abuse for the world - outside of just our insular horse world - to see. In this episode, investigative journalist Sarah Maslin Nir takes us inside how those stories were uncovered with a detail most people would have missed (shout out to the incredible Mollie Bailey who first reported on Jimmy A William for The Chronicle of the Horse). From there, Sarah walks us through the meticulous but often uncomfortable process of building trust with survivors and exposing the abuse to the world at large through the words of The New York Times. Sarah is a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Learn more about her work here.
March 18 · 55 min
What Will It Take to Make Equestrian Sport Mainstream? With Frankie Thieriot
This episode is proudly sponsored by Nikovian - luxury equestrian apparel without the luxury price tag. Use code horseperson15 for 15% off your order at checkout. What would it take for equestrian sport to become mainstream? Caroline sits down with Frankie Thieriot - founder of Athletux, upper-level event rider, and longtime commentator - to explore what's really holding the sport back. We talk storytelling and vulnerability, sponsorship and social media. We unpack how equestrian sport is evolving and what riders, brands, and media need to do to grow it. In this episode: Why storytelling is key to growing the sport The risks riders face in being vulnerable What brands actually look for in sponsorships The biggest mistakes riders make when marketing themselves How equestrian sport can expand without losing its values
March 11 · 59 min
Back to Basics: The Foundation That Fixes Everything with Amelia Newcomb
This episode is supported by Nordic Autofeed. Use HP10 for a 10% discount to support your horse's gastric health through consistently timed hay feedings. Go to www.NordicAutofeed.com What does "go back to the basics" actually mean beyond the cliché? Caroline and Beth sit down with USDF Gold Medalist and Grand Prix rider Amelia Newcomb of Amelia Newcomb Dressage to break that phrase down into clear, actionable steps. Amelia shares the three core areas she always returns to when something isn't working: groundwork, rider position, and the dressage training scale. From the simple but powerful poll release, to improving rhythm through counting, to building true suppleness before chasing roundness, she explains how strengthening the foundation actually accelerates progress. You'll also hear practical tools you can use immediately like the "rider position sandwich," the A-R-R-R (Aid, Reaction, Release, Repeat) acronym, and why suppleness is the most commonly skipped step in training. Whether you ride dressage, jump, trail ride, or are simply trying to regain confidence, this episode is a reminder that basics aren't a step backward, they're the fastest way forward. Share it with a barn mate, trainer, or save it for the next time you need a reset.
March 4 · 45 min
Brain First, Bravery Second: Concussion Science for Riders
This episode is sponsored by Nikovian. Use code horseperson15 for 15% off your order at checkout. This episode is also supported by Nordic Autofeed. Use code HP10 for a 10% discount. Go here to learn more and take a crucial step in supporting your horse's gut health with timed, consistent forage feeding. In this episode, Caroline sits down with Dr. Erica Gaertner, a board-certified sports medicine physician and former professional equestrian, to break down what every rider needs to understand about concussions. What actually qualifies as a concussion? How have treatment protocols evolved beyond "go home and sleep it off"? And when is it truly safe to get back on a horse? Dr. Gaertner explains the medical definition of concussion (a form of traumatic brain injury), common and lesser-known symptoms like mood changes and balance issues, return-to-ride protocols, and why timely diagnosis is critical. We also touch on cumulative head injuries, CTE, long-term implications, and the difficult cost-benefit conversations riders may face after repeated falls. If you've ever hit your head and questioned whether to go to the ER, or felt the pressure to just get back on, this episode is essential listening for equestrians at every level. Your grit matters, but so does your brain.

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