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The Thinking Horse and Rider: Helping Riders Understand Their Horses | Anna Fox

Equus Enlightened
Equus Enlightened
Horse
Perfectionism
Horsemanship
Horse Training
Dressage
Relaxation
Autonomy
Leadership
Horse Riding
Flow
Horses
Self-Carriage
Anna Fox
Awareness
Rhythm
Equestrian Training
The Thinking Horse and Rider
Balance
Latency

Helping riders understand their horses through horse training, behavior, and connection. This equestrian podcast explores horse psychology, rider mindset, and practical horsemanship to solve common training problems like tension, miscommunication, and lack of trust. Learn how to build a calm, willing partnership using groundwork, riding, and awareness—so your horse isn’t something to control, but ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes74Founded3 years ago
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Pets & AnimalsKids & Family

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Artwork for The Thinking Horse and Rider: Helping Riders Understand Their Horses

Latest Episodes

Should you lead your horse with your heart or your head?

In this episode, Anna talks with Stacey Carter, founder of Heart Centered Horsemanship, about moving beyond dominance-based training to create safer, more cooperative relationships with horses... more

Did your horse really spook, buck or bolt “out of nowhere”—or did both of your nervous systems miss the quieter signals leading up to it?

In this episode of The Thinking Horse and Rider, Anna explores how stress, information overload and a high base... more

We spend so much time chasing outcomes in the horse world. We celebrate ribbons, scores, smooth rides, and milestones. But what if those aren’t the things that truly shape us—or our horses?

In this episode of The Thinking Horse & Rider, I explore wh... more

Is it too hot to ride your horse? The answer isn’t as simple as checking the thermometer.

As a former collegiate athletic trainer, I learned that heat safety isn’t about comfort—it’s about physiology. In this episode, I compare modern sports medicin... more

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Recent Guests

Elizabeth Reicks
Founder of Hatha Equus and co-founder of Hatha Equus International
Hatha Equus
Episode: 61. Horse Autonomy: How Giving Your Horse Choice Builds Safety, Trust & Better Riding
Elizabeth Ricks
Guest announced for next week
Hatha Equus
Episode: 60. How to Motivate a Lazy Horse Using the Energy Ladder
Giorgia Ghizzoni
Co-founder of Hatha Equus International
Hatha Equus International
Episode: 59. How Playfulness Helps Horses Learn and Perform Better with Giorgia Ghizzoni
Kim Hallin
Author of Horse Wisdom, Life Lessons for Humanity; founder of Unbridled LLC
Unbridled LLC
Episode: 56. Why Horses Need the Right to Say No | Rethinking Horse Training
Angie Morin
Animal communicator and former competitive dressage rider and trainer
Angie Morin Animal Communicator
Episode: 54. Seeing the World Through Your Horse’s Eyes
Elaine Hayes
Founder of Partnership Dressage, LLC
Partnership Dressage, LLC
Episode: 53. Why Your Horse Isn’t Progressing: The Missing Piece of Awareness
Ellen Peebles
Horseperson with parallel background to Anna, discussing seven things not learned in riding lessons
Episode: 52. What Riding Lessons Don’t Teach You (But Your Horse Needs Most)
Teresa Pilegaard
Instructor and biomechanics coach; certified therapeutic riding instructor; founder of North Star Stables NOVA and Dorado Performance Horses
Dorado Performance Horses; North Star Stables NOVA
Episode: 49. Creating Thinking Horses and Riders with Teresa Pilegaard
Anna Fox
Founder/Instructor at Equus Enlightened
Equus Enlightened
Episode: 43. How to Stop Balancing on Your Horse’s Mouth

Host

Anna Fox
Host of The Thinking Horse and Rider

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 9 ratings
  • Incredibly supportive

    I love Anna’s perspective on horses, her interesting and approachable exercises and suggestions, her thought-provoking guests, and her calm, grounded way of communicating. Her work has been an inspiration to me as a new rider who wants to prioritize my horse’s well-being.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CarolynD9154
    United States2 months ago
  • A True Horsewoman's Podcast

    I love this podcast because it teaches a horse-centric approach to building a relationship with your horse. I found this podcast when I was looking to change my approach and mindset when it comes to my relationship with my horse and training my horse. Somewhere along the way things got flat. We both lost the fun and playfulness. Anna's podcast, and her wonderful guests, have helped bring back the joy, fun, and wonder. My horse and I have been together for 17 years, and the approaches I'm learnin... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kmoshea
    United States3 months ago
  • Reflex to relax

    Don’t have a firm grasp of that “technique.” In the fake it ‘til I make stage at this point

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SavvyMike48
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many remarks highlight the host's clear, encouraging coaching style.
Listeners appreciate practical, compassionate training ideas.
Audience notes the episodes offer relatable, actionable drills and energy-based concepts.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

68. The Biggest Myth in Horse Training: Dominance
Q: What can riders do in the short term to move toward cooperative leadership with their horses?
Start by observing horses for 10 minutes to notice alignment and cooperation rather than forcing dominance, and experiment with allowing more autonomy and consent within training and daily care.
68. The Biggest Myth in Horse Training: Dominance
Q: Where do you think the dominance theory in training horses comes from?
The guest suggests it stems from a desire to equate control with safety and from historical training cultures that rewarded obedience and punished resistance, but notes it is not universally observed in wild horse societies and is often misapplied to domestic settings.
61. Horse Autonomy: How Giving Your Horse Choice Builds Safety, Trust & Better Riding
Q: How can someone start thinking about teaching themselves and their horse autonomy without triggering panic or unsafe situations?
Begin slowly, reduce micromanagement, and use grounded exercises that foster trust, such as starting on the ground, practicing gentle self-regulation, and gradually introducing low-risk autonomous movement under supervision or with supportive materials; always have safety boundaries and seek help if needed.
61. Horse Autonomy: How Giving Your Horse Choice Builds Safety, Trust & Better Riding
Q: So what is your definition of autonomy as it relates to horses?
Autonomy, in this context, is about giving horses choice and agency within clearly defined boundaries and movements that promote safe, healthy bodies and minds, rather than isolating them with rigid control; it's a spectrum that prioritizes movement development, self-regulation, and consent.
59. How Playfulness Helps Horses Learn and Perform Better with Giorgia Ghizzoni
Q: What is the core difference between play and traditional training in your view?
Play is about intrinsic motivation where the horse chooses to engage, driven by curiosity and a sense of safety, which leads to lasting learning and better movement. Traditional training often relies on external rewards or pressure, which can undermine genuine engagement.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on building a calm, reciprocal partnership between riders and their horses through humane, relationship-focused horsemanship. Episodes frequently explore autonomy, energy management, and emotional regulation, emphasizing that true progress comes from understanding the horse's perspective, sensing subtle cues, and practicing trust-building exercises rather than forcing performance. That practical angle—paired with clear, actionable drills and personal stories from real-world training—helps listeners apply concepts in ground work and riding. A standout trait is the consistent emphasis on empathy, consent, and co-creation, plus a framework that blends science-informed ideas with accessible, step-by-step practice for riders of... more

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1. The Elevated Equestrian
2. The NOËLLE FLOYD Podcast
3. Curious Equestrian
4. The Daily
5. Animal Behavior Conversations: The Podcast of The ABMA

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this podcast launched 3 years ago and published 74 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Elizabeth Reicks
2. Elizabeth Ricks
3. Giorgia Ghizzoni
4. Kim Hallin
5. Angie Morin
6. Elaine Hayes
7. Ellen Peebles
8. Teresa Pilegaard

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