Heal Your Horse

In this deeply moving episode, Nika sits down with Zoe Van Kruiningen-Coade, founder of Get Good With Horses and former Parelli professional, to explore the truth behind horse-human connection.Zoe shares how her 900 kg Irish Warmblood, Mia, forced her to question everything she thought she knew — leading her to discover that real horsemanship begins when the ego ends.From building trust with traumatized horses to balancing empathy with clarity, Zoe and Nika dive into:The moment Zoe realised her horse was mirroring her own energy.Why softness, not strength, creates true partnership.How to stop using your horse as a therapist — and start showing up as the grounded leader they deserve.This conversation is a reminder that getting good with horses isn’t about technique — it’s about who you become in the process. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if your emotions were the key to your next level — not the obstacle?In this powerful conversation, Nika Vorster sits down with performance psychologist and coach Dr Anne-Marie King to explore how high achievers can release emotional blocks that keep them stuck in cycles of proving, perfectionism, and burnout.Dr Anne-Marie shares her four-step Realignment Process — non-resistance, non-judgment, non-attachment, and alignment — a practical framework that helps ambitious people get out of their heads and back into flow. Together, they unpack how to turn emotions into intelligence, why women often hesitate to claim their own growth, and how to reconnect with what feels genuinely exciting and alive. If you’ve ever felt driven but drained, this episode will help you realign — and rise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when your gym strength doesn’t translate to the saddle?In this episode, Nika Vorster talks with dressage rider and founder of Equibody Fit Fitness, Jack, about the gap between general fitness and rider-specific fitness. Jack shares how his powerlifting background left him with tight hips and poor mobility, and how retraining his body — even learning the splits — transformed his riding at Grand Prix level.Together, they discuss Equibody’s mission to help riders build a body that “just works,” the differences in training for men and women, and why most riders should focus on the 80% foundations rather than the last 10% of optimization. If you’ve ever felt strong in the gym but stiff in the saddle, this episode will change the way you think about rider fitness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What separates a good rider from a great one? According to Dan, it’s not flashy exercises or quick fixes—it’s repetition, fitness, and mindset.In this episode, Nika sits down with international rider and coach Dan, whose career spans from the junior European Championships to over 15 years of training riders in the UK and Italy. They explore why the fundamentals never stop mattering, how to address “bad habits” with clarity and consistency, and the role of rider fitness in building confidence in the saddle. Dan also shares his coaching philosophy: listening first, acting second, and empowering riders to be self-sufficient rather than dependent on a trainer.Whether you’re chasing medals or just aiming to ride with more confidence, this episode is packed with practical wisdom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the “dangerous” horse isn’t dangerous at all—but depressed or misunderstood?In this episode, Nika Vorster speaks with equestrian coach and author Joanna (Horses Explained) about horse psychology and the overlooked mental health of our equine partners. Joanna shares insights from her book Understanding Horse Depression, explains the difference between temperament and personality, and breaks down the four temperament types that shape how horses respond to training. Together, they explore how rider energy and emotions influence horses, why labels like “difficult” can hide deeper issues, and how rehabilitation rooted in patience and empathy changes outcomes. Joanna also tells the story of her horse Ella, a so-called “dangerous” mare who became a trusted partner through understanding and trust.Joanna wants to clarify a few things from the conversation:The Research citation is credit to a 2012 study by Carole Fureix and Martine Hausberger.-The link to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22761752/ Clarification on horse depression- This is a brief introduction to horse depression. The first step in recognizing subtle signs is knowing your individual horse and being familiar with the equine ethogram so you can distinguish species-typical behaviours from those that may suggest a problem. Depression in horses is a real, diagnosable condition with specific symptoms; I’d love to dive deeper into this in a future conversation.Definitions to include:Temperament: A horse’s inborn way of reacting to the world—how sensitive he is, how quickly he startles, and how easily he settles. Temperament shows up early, is largely genetic, and remains stable over time. We can shape responses, but not the core reactivity.Personality: The whole picture—temperament plus learned patterns from experience and environment, along with quirks, preferences, and social habits. Personality evolves over time, but core traits tend to stay recognisable.In short: Temperament is innate; personality is temperament shaped by environment and experience. By improving the environment and handling, we can influence (not replace) aspects of personality while respecting the horse’s nature.To work or contact Joanna directly: Book a Horse Personality Portrait: www.horsesexplained.comInstagram: @horsesexplainedMedia/Lessons/Workshops: [email protected] book: Understanding Horse Depression — releasing Spring 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.