The Elevated Equestrian

In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian podcast, Samantha Baer sits down with Inga Wolframm, Professor of Sustainable Equestrianism, to uncover the hidden biases in dressage judging. From eye-tracking research to AI-assisted scoring, they dive into the future of equestrian sports, sustainable horse training, and why flashy movement gets rewarded over correct biomechanics. Don't miss this deep dive into the biggest judging controversy in horse sport!

In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian, Samantha Baer sits down with horse trainer, author, and filmmaker Elsa Sinclair to ask the uncomfortable question that changed her entire approach to horses: do horses actually want to be ridden—if they truly had a choice? What starts as a simple question quickly opens the door to a radically different way of thinking about training, consent, and partnership.
We talk about what it really means to train from the horse’s point of view, including Elsa’s decision to start a mustang without a halter, without food rewards, and without trapping or forcing participation. She shares how prioritizing the horse’s sensory and emotional systems—not just physical training—completely reshaped her understanding of motivation, cooperation, and trust.
This conversation dives deep into sensory-based and emotional training, the peak-end rule and how horses form memories, and why many “problem behaviors” are actually patterns we unintentionally train into our horses. We also explore how these ideas apply to sport horses, especially sensitive, expressive horses who struggle with anxiety, explosiveness, or shutdown in high-pressure environments.
If you’ve ever questioned where the line is between consent and compliance, or felt stuck between wanting partnership and needing results, this episode will challenge you—in the best way.
👉 Subscribe to The Elevated Equestrian wherever you listen to podcasts for more honest conversations about horsemanship, performance, and putting the horse first without losing the joy of the sport.

When a horse is labeled “metabolic,” it often feels like the end of the conversation. In this episode, I’m joined by Alison Lepanto, founder of Cataract Nutrition, to challenge that assumption and explore what may actually be driving inflammation, behavioral changes, and metabolic red flags in horses.
We unpack the difference between sugar management and toxic load, what GMO and herbicide exposure really means for equine health, and how nutrient density is lost from many modern feeds and pastures. We also discuss why some horses seem constantly hungry despite being fed “enough,” and how chronic inflammation can show up as both physical and behavioral symptoms.
The conversation expands into pasture biology, rotational grazing, and hay diversity, including practical strategies for horses on dry lots, stall rest, or limited turnout. Alison shares accessible management approaches that support soil health, gut health, and long-term resilience without turning horse ownership into an all-or-nothing system.
If you’ve ever felt like something is off with your horse but couldn’t quite explain it, this episode offers a new lens on longevity, welfare, and thriving—not just surviving. Follow The Elevated Equestrian and subscribe so you don’t miss future horse-first conversations.

Starting a young horse will expose your nervous system faster than any training issue ever could. In this episode, I sit down with Gabi Neurohr of Understanding Horses to talk about emotional regulation—why it matters, how horses mirror it, and what happens when we lose it under pressure.
We dive into what it actually means to be a steady leader for a young horse, how to tell the difference between a horse that feels safe versus one that is simply compliant, and why spooking isn’t the problem—poor recovery is. Gabi shares her relationship-based approach to starting young horses, including how she uses clarity, timing, and emotional fitness instead of force, how to avoid getting stuck chasing perfection, and why slowing down often leads to faster progress.
If you’re bringing along a young horse, rebuilding trust, or trying to stay calm when things get unpredictable, this conversation will shift how you think about training and leadership.
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In this episode of The Elevated Equestrian, Samantha sits down with Jessica Howell — a licensed Thoroughbred trainer who is quietly rewriting the rules of racehorse development from the inside out.
Jessica didn’t come up through the traditional racing pipeline. She came from eventing, classical dressage, and a background in producing sound, educated horses. And when she stepped into the racetrack world, she brought all of that with her — heart-rate-based conditioning, periodized programming, biomechanics, turnout, mental health days, and a level of horsemanship most people don’t associate with racing.
Together, we dive into how racehorses are actually trained, why so many break down, and what a more thoughtful, horse-centric approach could look like. Jessica explains the structure of racehorse conditioning, the hidden costs of claiming races, the difference between American and European systems, and how classical principles can transform a horse coming off (or preparing for) the track.
This conversation challenges assumptions, opens doors into a closed world, and paints a picture of what’s possible when responsibility, science, and real horsemanship drive the training process — even in a high-speed, high-pressure sport.
If you care about soundness, welfare, and the future of the Thoroughbred, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.
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