Ask An Expert: Horse Care and Riding Advice

Positive reinforcement training isn’t just about treats and clickers. It’s about helping your horse feel safe enough to learn. In this episode of Ask an Expert, Shawna Karrasch, a pioneer in the field, and trainer and breeder Jessie Hillegas explain how it builds more confident, trusting horses, how to bring it into a horse who was trained traditionally, and how it can help with everything from separation anxiety to vet care.

Please note: Shawna shares a personal story in this episode that includes a mention of childhood sexual abuse.

Episode Highlights:
What positive and negative reinforcement actually mean, how clicker, target, and food-based training fit in, and why they affect a horse’s brain and emotions differently
How to bring positive reinforcement into a horse who was trained traditionally, and how it fits with dressage, eventing, hunters, and jumpers
Why separation anxiety happens and how to build a new association with being apart, one small step at a time
How cooperative care and giving your horse a choice can make vet visits, handling, and grooming easier
Simple ways to enrich your horse’s turnout and keep them mentally engaged

Meet the Experts, Shawna Karrasch and Jessie Hillegas
Shawna Karrasch is a pioneer of positive reinforcement training in the equestrian world, bringing humane, effective behavior techniques to professionals and amateurs alike through her teaching, books, and global clinics. She began her career training marine mammals like dolphins, sea lions, and orcas, where voluntary participation made reward-based methods essential, and later recognized how these same principles could transform horse training. She is the author of You Can Train Your Horse to Do Anything.

Jessie Hillegas began her riding career in traditional hunter jumper programs, spending 20 years working with large A-rated show barns on the East Coast, where she trained young horses, coached Bucknell University’s equestrian team, taught lessons from beginner through advanced, and prepared horses for competition. She later launched her own warmblood breeding and training program in Pennsylvania, breeding top hunters that have won prizes at venues like Warrenton, Upperville, and the Devon Horse Show. After a filly she bred came back to her with PTSD-like behavior, she turned to positive reinforcement, and today she and Shawna work as partners through Shawna Karrasch Equine.

Ask an Expert Is Brought to You by Ride iQ

Ride iQ helps everyday riders ride with more clarity, confidence, and purpose through on-demand audio lessons from world-class coaches.

Members also get:
Weekly live Q&As with equestrian experts
Exclusive podcast episodes
Dressage test prep resources
A supportive learning community

Start your free 14-day trial and get 20% off your first month or year when you sign up at ⁠askrideiq.com

Is your horse’s personality working with your training or against it? In this episode of Ask an Expert, Grand Prix dressage rider and author Yvonne Barteau breaks down the four core horse personality types and shows you how to figure out which one you’re dealing with, and how to adjust your handling and riding to match.

Episode Highlights:
The four core personality types (social, fearful, aloof, and challenging), and how to read your horse’s true personality
How personality, energy level, and intelligence combine to shape your training plan, plus the passive-to-aggressive scale and why some horses show two personalities
How to find a horse that fits you as a rider, how to train each type, and Yvonne’s book recommendations

Meet the Expert, Yvonne Barteau
Yvonne Barteau is a lifelong horsewoman, USDF bronze, silver, and gold medalist, and FEI trainer and clinician. She’s the author of Ride the Right Horse and The Dressage Horse Manifesto, and the founder of Horses Without Humans, a horse rescue and rehabilitation organization.

Ask an Expert Is Brought to You by Ride iQ

Ride iQ helps everyday riders ride with more clarity, confidence, and purpose through on-demand audio lessons from world-class coaches.

Members also get:
Weekly live Q&As with equestrian experts
Exclusive podcast episodes
Dressage test prep resources
A supportive learning community

Start your free 14-day trial and get 20% off your first month or year when you sign up at ⁠askrideiq.com

Are you making the right choices for your horse’s digestive health, or is their internal ecosystem suffering in silence? In this episode of Ask an Expert, Dr. Mary Beth Gordon, Senior Director of Equine Technical Innovation for Purina Animal Nutrition, demystifies the equine microbiome and explains how it impacts every aspect of your horse’s well-being.

Episode Highlights:
9:04: What the microbiome actually is, why it matters, and how it functions as your horse’s hidden health driver
18:24: Real-world warning signs your horse’s microbiome may be out of balance and key links to behavior, immunity, and colic risk
25:31: How fiber, feed, stress, and even travel or medications can shape the gut
30:18: The difference between prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics - and how to spot products that actually work

Meet the Expert, Dr. Mary Beth Gordon

Dr. Mary Beth Gordon is the Senior Director of Equine Technical Innovation at Purina Animal Nutrition, where she leads research focused on equine nutrition, exercise physiology, and digestive health. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Delaware Valley University and her PhD in Animal Science, with a focus on equine nutrition and exercise physiology, from Rutgers University. In addition to her work in research, Mary Beth is active in the horse world as a dressage rider.

Episode Sponsor

Connaway & Associates
The friendly and knowledgeable team at Connaway & Associates brings together more than 30 years of experience to offer a wide range of insurance services, including horse insurance, farm insurance, and liability insurance.

Visit www.connaway.net or call 501-868-8084 to explore your options. 

Brought to you by Ride iQ 

This episode is part of the Ask An Expert podcast series, usually available exclusively in the Ride iQ app, where members have access to more than 200 expert interviews covering training, horse care, sports psychology, and more.

Ride iQ helps everyday riders ride with more clarity, confidence, and purpose through on-demand audio lessons from world-class coaches. Members also get weekly live Q&As with equestrian experts, exclusive podcast episodes, dressage test playbooks, and supportive community conversations that make learning feel fun and doable.

If you’d like to explore what Ride iQ offers, you can learn more and start your free 14-day trial at Ride-iQ.com.

Ride iQ is currently offering a special Kentucky Legacy Rate - a 20% lifetime discount on membership, available for one week only. Use code LEGACY at Ride-iQ.com to lock in your savings for as long as you remain a member.
What if your horse’s happiness is the missing piece in your performance? In this episode of Ask an Expert, renowned Grand Prix dressage rider and clinician Karen Rohlf shares her holistic approach to creating joyful equine athletes. Blending classical dressage with natural horsemanship, Karen dives deep into what real partnership looks like, how to recognize true happiness in your horse, and why everyday choices make a difference.
Episode Highlights:
11:56: Introducing the Happy Athlete Training Scale and why happiness and harmony come before communication, biomechanics, and sport
19:44: Concrete ways to add more choice, enrichment, and mental stimulation to your horse’s daily routine
27:37: What true harmony feels like, how to “join up” with your horse, and why being present and patient matters more than you think
34:11: The nine habits of excellent horsemanship and why a sense of humor is a secret weapon for riders at any level
44:16: Understanding healthy biomechanics, practical tips to find your horse’s “sweet spot,” and why trust and curiosity fuel athleticism
Meet the Expert, Karen Rohlf
Karen Rohlf is the founder of Dressage Naturally, an internationally recognized clinician, and the author of multiple books on training and horsemanship. She is known for her approach that prioritizes partnership, empowers riders as students, and blends classical dressage with relationship-based training. Karen focuses on developing the mental, emotional, and physical connection between horse and rider, with a goal of helping both horses and humans thrive.
Episode Sponsor
Connaway & Associates
The friendly and knowledgeable team at Connaway & Associates brings together more than 30 years of experience to offer a wide range of insurance services, including horse insurance, farm insurance, and liability insurance.
Visit www.connaway.net or call 501-868-8084 to explore your options. 
Brought to you by Ride iQ 
This episode is part of the Ask An Expert podcast series, usually available exclusively in the Ride iQ app, where members have access to more than 200 expert interviews covering training, horse care, sports psychology, and more.
Ride iQ helps everyday riders ride with more clarity, confidence, and purpose through on-demand audio lessons from world-class coaches. Members also get weekly live Q&As with equestrian experts, exclusive podcast episodes, dressage test playbooks, and supportive community conversations that make learning feel fun and doable.
If you’d like to explore what Ride iQ offers, you can learn more and start your free 14-day trial at Ride-iQ.com.

Understanding and protecting your horse’s respiratory health is key to their comfort, performance, and long-term well-being. In this episode of Ask an Expert, equine respiratory specialist Dr. Laurent Couëtil breaks down the most common issues affecting horses’ lungs and airways. You’ll learn how to identify early signs of asthma, what makes environments either harmful or protective, and which practical steps can make a major difference. 
Episode Highlights: 
06:16: What equine asthma is, why it’s often missed, and key environmental triggers every horse owner should know 
11:38: If asthma is genetic, environmental, or both and what current research tells us about risk factors 
28:53: What actually causes inflammation in the horse’s airway, why invisible dust matters most, and how hay feeding practices can dramatically reduce risk 
45:13: Traveling with hay, head position during hauling, and best-practice strategies to prevent both asthma flares and respiratory infections 
50:11: How to recognize subtle signs of asthma, when to call the vet, and what treatments protect your horse without compromising performance 

Meet the Expert, Dr. Laurent Couëtil
Dr. Couëtil is a professor of large animal medicine at Purdue University, where he directs the Equine Sports Medicine Center and is involved in equine research initiatives. With a veterinary degree from France, a residency at Tufts, and a PhD in respiratory physiology, his work has significantly advanced the understanding and management of respiratory health in sport horses.
Episode Sponsor
Connaway & Associates
The friendly and knowledgeable team at Connaway & Associates brings together more than 30 years of experience to offer a wide range of insurance services, including horse insurance, farm insurance, and liability insurance.
Visit www.connaway.net or call 501-868-8084 to explore your options. 
Brought to you by Ride iQ 
This episode is part of the Ask An Expert podcast series, usually available exclusively in the Ride iQ app, where members have access to more than 200 expert interviews covering training, horse care, sports psychology, and more.
Ride iQ helps everyday riders ride with more clarity, confidence, and purpose through on-demand audio lessons from world-class coaches. Members also get weekly live Q&As with equestrian experts, exclusive podcast episodes, dressage test playbooks, and supportive community conversations that make learning feel fun and doable.
If you’d like to explore what Ride iQ offers, you can learn more and start your free 14-day trial at Ride-iQ.com. 
Want straightforward, expert advice on keeping your horse sound and thriving? Dr. Erica Lacher’s eight-part program, Horse Health Essentials, is now available, and you can use code POD35 for 35% off. Learn more at RideIQElevate.com/horse-health.