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,...
When We Lose Them: Love, Loss, and the Permission to Grieve
If the only things certain in life are death and taxes, we sure do a poor job talking about the former. Let's change that. In this heartfelt conversation, Caroline Culbertson and renowned sport psychologist Dr. Jenny Susser explore the complexities of grief, particularly in relation to the loss of beloved horses. They discuss personal experiences with anticipatory grief, the emotional toll of preparing for loss, and the challenges of communicating about death. Dr. Jenny shares her recent experiences with the loss of two horses only weeks apart, highlighting the stark differences between expected and unexpected losses. They discuss the importance of recognizing the physical and emotional toll of grief, and the necessity of managing personal energy during difficult times. Grief is an all-consuming physical, emotional, and spiritual process, and it’s time we talk about it as such. This episode is supported by WeRideTogether - a nonprofit organization created to cast light upon the endemic issue of sexual abuse in youth and amateur sports. Their mission is to make the youth and amateur sport environment safer for all athletes. For more information from today's episode, as well as free resources, go here. 00:00 Navigating Grief: Personal Experiences and Reflections 14:53 The Impact of Anticipatory Grief 30:08 The Language of Loss: Communicating Grief 45:13 Finding Presence Amidst Worry 44:43 Understanding Energy and Grief 50:06 Protecting Mental Space During Grief 54:28 The Physical Manifestations of Grief 01:01:06 The Complexity of Anger in Grief 01:05:15 The Permission to Grieve 01:12:07 Finding Permanence in Loss To learn more about Dr. Jenny Susser and her work, visit her website, www.DrJenny.com
--------
1:07:26
Her 5* Show Jumping Career - and Life - Were Sidelined by Undiagnosable Pain. Now, She's Speaking Out.
Paige Jardine is a 5* Australian show jumper whose symptoms started small. Some discomfort, some nausea. But as time went on and she kept pushing through, with doctors providing little insight or treatment, things got worse, until she collapsed at the ingate during an FEI show. Paige spent years seeking a diagnosis, and is now speaking out about the power of removing the shame from women's health issues, especially in a sport that is majority female. In this conversation, Paige shares her deeply personal journey through mental health struggles and the diagnosis of endometriosis. She discusses the impact of self-doubt, the pressure to maintain appearances, and the importance of seeking help. Paige shares with us the power of knowing: the power of knowing your diagnosis, of knowing you're not 'crazy' for feeling the way you do, and the power of knowing your limits along the way.
--------
54:21
'My Horse Ran Away from Me. Does He Hate Me?' Avoidant Behaviors in Horses and How to Understand and Address Them
If you’ve ever had a horse turn and walk away from you in the field when you’re trying to catch them, or turn away from you in the stall - you are so not alone. That moment can be confusing, annoying - at best it’s inconvenient and at worst it’s dangerous. But we’re going to walk through understanding this avoidant behavior today, give you some perspective on how to understand why your horse is doing it, and then an effective approach on how to address the behavior - and it doesn’t involve force or bribery - this is a proper fix with no shortcuts. My guest today is Chelsea Canedy. Chelsea is an event rider who specializes in groundwork and understanding horse behavior - she’s based in Ocala Florida and southern Maine. Chelsea and I talk about identifying this behacvior when it’s still small and subtle, why it never really comes out of nowhere, how to become a detective about the problem, and then 2 strategies to address the behaviour - one specifically on catching the horse and another on breaking up negative associations your horse might have that is triggering this behavior. And before we start, we do want to underline that pain needs to always be a factor in figuring this behavior out - that can involve your vet, your bodyworker, your saddle fitter, and/or your farrier. To learn more about Chelsea, visit her Patreon page. This episode is sponsored by WeRideTogether.today. For information from today's episode on Role Plays, go here. Today's episode is also sponsored by Antu Creative. To learn more about Jade and her design services, go here,
--------
51:54
'It's Worth the Reward': Skylar Wireman On Making It to the Top On a Limited Budget, Doing the Work Herself, and Focusing on Fun
Money is a factor in our sport - there's no getting around that. But dang if it isn't encouraging when we hear stories of riders who have made their way without extravagant wealth, by doing it themselves, and while prioritizing their horses' well-being. That's the story we have for you today with Skylar Wireman. Skylar Wireman has been called 'The future of show jumping', but she hasn't let her impressive transition from successful junior to 5* pro stop her from keeping things fun. Whether it's camping, riding at the beach and in the ocean, or playing gymkhana-type games on horseback, Skylar has put her focus on building her village and keeping fun central to her and her horses' training. And much of her competitive success has been on borrowed horses, catch rides, or homebred horses that she's developed herself with the help of her mom, Shayne. In this episode, Caroline sit down with Skylar to talk about all of this, plus course riding strategy, the balance between being a horse trainer and a competitor, the idea of "reset rounds", how to choose shows when you don't have an unlimited checkbook, and more. This episode is proudly sponsored by Connaway and Associates Equine Insurance Services. Listen in around 24 minutes for Laura's discussion on age restrictions on insurance policies in horses and how they may be changing. It is also supported by We Ride Together -- because every athlete deserves to train and grow in a safe and healthy environment.
--------
1:03:32
This Sport Is So Much More than Just the Riding! Tori Repole On Finding Your Own Way, Olympic Reflections, and the Horse-Human Connection
Have you ever felt like it was hard to find your place in the horse world? Maybe you didn't want to be a pro rider, but you wanted to be involved more than just as a hobby. You didn't feel pulled down the veterinary route, but your grades in biology didn't cut it (Caroline raises hand). There are so many ways to be involved, professionally or not, in horses - and Tori Repole is joining us today to help us peel apart the layers of the horse world so that we can all find our little nook. In this conversation, host Caroline Culbertson and award-winning equestrian journalist (turned philanthropist) Tori Repole discuss the importance of accessibility and inclusivity, the beauty of sport that captured Tori's heart, and her personal journey from a non-equestrian childhood to becoming a voice in the industry. We explore the role of photography and writing in shaping public perception, especially during events like the Olympics, and emphasize the need for storytelling that highlights the diverse contributions within the equestrian community. Tori shares her passion for storytelling through her docuseries concept, 'Top Sport,' and the personal growth that comes from hitting play on your ideas. Today's episode is sponsored by We Ride Together. Their website has loads of free resources for you to help promote safety for all athletes, including minors, at your barn and at shows. Check out their Athlete Toolkit as mentioned in this episode. Today's episode is also sponsored by Nikovian - luxury equestrian training and showing apparel without the luxury pricetag. Size inclusive and made to move with you and enhance your riding, rather than hinder it, this brand is one of our much-loved breech brands in the equestrian space. Use code horseperson15 for 15% off your order at Nikovian.com
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.