Episode 238: A Quick Note From Karen
We’re taking a little summer break from the pod. See you in September!
Aug 22, 2025•4 min•Season 1Ep. 238
Horse Training in Harmony
Do you want to advance up the levels without sacrificing your horse's welfare and your relationship with him? Do you find it confusing trying to reconcile competitive training techniques with methods that prioritize partnership? Get ready for some fresh insights and a deeper understanding of how to progress with your horse.
This podcast invites an evolution in your training and learning experience. Karen Rohlf will give you specific techniques and exercises, ‘outside the box’ concepts, and perspectives from top professionals. This show will explore how you can create stronger partnerships and healthy biomechanics, and will help you be your best self for your horse and for your life; free from the fear of making mistakes and dogmatic ‘right vs wrong’ thinking.
As an author, internationally popular clinician, and creator of the Dressage Naturally program, Karen has been filling in the missing pieces and catalyzing breakthroughs for amateur and professional horsemen and women around the world. This show will have something for riders of every level and discipline. Learn more at https://dressagenaturally.net/
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Episodes
EP237: More is More
Often we who want harmony and lightness can tend to focus on doing less, asking for less, and being as invisible as possible. In this episode I talk about how sometimes we want to do more, ask for more, and be more obvious in our requests. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and t...
Aug 15, 2025•35 min•Season 1Ep. 237
EP236: Chat with Christina Keim, Author of: Unwanted
In this episode I speak with Christina Keim, author of Unwanted, The Causes and Effects of America’s Horse Population Crisis . This is a book every horse lover needs to read, and I’m so happy to share this with you. It’s a subject that is uncomfortable to look at, but necessary. About the Guest: Christina Keim, M.Ed., M.F.A. is an award-winning equestrian journalist and professional horsewoman with over 25 years experience in the industry. Her written work has appeared extensively in top equestr...
Aug 01, 2025•55 min•Season 1Ep. 236
EP235: Chat with DN Instructor, Niki Wilde Broadhead
In this episode we’ll meet my newest DN licensed Instructor, Niki Wilde Broadhead from Utah. She has a background in foundational horsemanship and a passion for cowboy dressage and teaching. About the Guest: Niki has a strong background in foundational horsemanship, foal handling, and problem horses. She is a cowboy dressage endorsed clinician and a cowboy dressage level 3 judge with distinction, and has spent many years advancing adults and children. She is a really dedicated and enthusiastic h...
Jul 25, 2025•53 min•Season 1Ep. 235
EP234: Reintroduction: Happy Athlete Training Scale
This episode is a reintroduction of one of the most important concepts I teach, the Happy Athlete Training Scale. This is the framework for ethical training with a prioritization on your horse’s well-being. This training scale is ALWAYS in the back of my mind as I assess my horses and make my day-to-day and moment-to-moment training decisions. It’s simply my best, most simple description (so far) for explaining how to make those decisions. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dress...
Jul 18, 2025•42 min•Season 1Ep. 234
EP233: Clear It, or Clarify It
In this episode I give you a simple technique you can use in many different situations to improve what’s going on between you and your horse. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs. Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on...
Jul 11, 2025•25 min•Season 1Ep. 233
EP232: Professionals of a Certain Age
In this episode I talk about some of the challenges of being a horse professional for many decades, how things change, and perhaps a more positive way to navigate it. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs. Karen is well known for training ...
Jul 04, 2025•28 min•Season 1Ep. 232
EP231: You or The Horse?
In this episode I talk about how to keep track of all the things we need to keep track of when we’re doing stuff with our horses, and how do we know if it’s us that need to change or our horse? About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs. Karen ...
Jun 20, 2025•29 min•Season 1Ep. 231
EP230: Why Should They?
In this episode I’ll talk about some ways I help myself make decisions with my horses (and life). About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs. Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on partnership, a student-empowering approach ...
Jun 13, 2025•32 min•Season 1Ep. 230
EP229: Intention & Surrender
In this episode I talk about intention and surrender, that delicate dance between having a plan and allowing things to happen naturally, between leading our horses to do things, and allowing them to offer. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual prog...
Jun 06, 2025•34 min•Season 1Ep. 229
EP228: Responding To Welfare Issues
In this episode I take a look at horse welfare and how we can respond to situations where we think a horse is in a less-than-ideal situation. I’ll share three models, two to help you assess a situation and one to decide how to respond. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the D...
May 16, 2025•45 min•Season 1Ep. 228
EP227: Stopping Riding
In this episode I answer a listener’s question about the challenge of deciding when to stop riding when it is the horse’s decision to stop. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs. Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on p...
May 09, 2025•37 min•Season 1Ep. 227
EP226: Animal Consciousness, A Fable
In this episode I talk about animal consciousness. It’s a big subject that can get confusing quickly, and that’s why I wrote a fable about it. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs. Karen is well known for training horses with a priority o...
May 02, 2025•25 min•Season 1Ep. 226
EP225: The Extraordinary Ordinary
In this episode I talk about the magical stuff, those synchronous, rare moments when the stars align, and how maybe they are much more ordinary in the best way possible. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs. Karen is well known for traini...
Apr 25, 2025•28 min•Season 1Ep. 225
EP224: Revisiting Going Through
In this episode we revisit episode 87 on Going Through because it is such an important subject! This episode is about throughness in the dressagey sense of the word, and it’s also about going all the way through a process… so instead of getting stuck in the messy middle, you find your way to the beautiful stuff on the other side. Even if you’ve heard this one before, listen again with new ears… I’ll bet there is something you need help getting through right now that this will help you with. Abou...
Apr 18, 2025•34 min•Season 1Ep. 224
EP223: 2 Exercises, 1 Birthday Wish
In this episode I share a couple favorite must-have flexibility exercises from my book. I also share my birthday wish! About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs. Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on partnership, a student...
Apr 11, 2025•30 min•Season 1Ep. 223
EP222: All About the Sweet Spot Program
This episode is all about the Sweet Spot program and how it helps you find more harmony with your horse in an empowering and transformative way. At the time this is episode is released registration for the program is open (it only opens twice a year) so we want to make it easy for you to know if it’s right for you either now or in the future. You’ll hear from me and some SS students. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician...
Mar 28, 2025•51 min•Season 1Ep. 222
EP221: Questions and Answers
In this episode I am joined by DN Instructor Shawna Lewis. We answer questions from listeners. There are questions about connection with the reins, low energy horses, reactive horses, crooked horses and taking lessons. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally...
Mar 21, 2025•55 min•Season 1Ep. 221
EP220: A Story and Advice
In this episode I’ll tell a funny little scary story that is remotely horse-related and then I’ll share 5 pieces of advice that will help you with horses (and maybe with more than horses). About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs. Karen is we...
Mar 14, 2025•19 min•Season 1Ep. 220
EP219: Musical Freestyle with Sandra Beaulieu
In this episode I talk with Sandra Beaulieu, the award-winning author of FREESTYLE: The Ultimate Guide to Riding, Training, and Competing to Music. Sandra is a USDF Bronze & Silver Medalist, a USDF Freestyle Bronze Bar recipient, and a USDF "L" Graduate. She saw a need in the dressage world for do-it-yourself freestyle information and is passionate about helping riders begin the dance with their horse. We’ll talk about why you might want to ride to music even if you don’t want to do a compet...
Mar 07, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 219
EP218: Lateral Work & Self Carriage
In this episode I talk about a couple of excerpts from my book. This time it’s about lateral work and self carriage. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs. Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on partnership, a student-e...
Feb 28, 2025•38 min•Season 1Ep. 218
EP217: The Dance
In this episode I talk about the most important middle between reward and punishment: Communication and Dancing. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs. Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on partnership, a student-empow...
Feb 14, 2025•35 min•Season 1Ep. 217
EP216: When to Focus on Biomechanics
In this episode I talk about when it’s appropriate to prioritize improving how your horse moves. Doing it too soon or too late both have consequences…The most important thing is you learn how to do it! About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs...
Jan 31, 2025•42 min•Season 1Ep. 216
EP215: This, That, & The Other Thing
In this episode I’ll talk about variety - the kind we choose, and the kind we don’t. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs. Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on partnership, a student-empowering approach to teaching, ...
Jan 24, 2025•36 min•Season 1Ep. 215
EP214: Why
In this episode I muse about motivation and WHY we do horses… and how that may or may not affect the results we get. I’ll also share another story of how smart my horse Atomic is. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs. Karen is well known ...
Jan 17, 2025•45 min•Season 1Ep. 214
EP213: Equine Posture and Dentistry with Dr. Karen Gellman
In this episode I talk with Dr. Karen Gellman who specializes in biomechanics. She is part of a team of people who created the Postural Rehabilitation program. We’ll be talking about Equine Dentistry and Posture. It is full of valuable information. Not to be missed! About the Guest: Dr. Karen Gellman is a graduate of Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, and has a doctorate from Cornell in animal locomotion biomechanics. She has advanced training and certification in veterinary acupuncture and...
Jan 03, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 213
EP212B: New Year Message 2025
This is a bonus New Year Letter from Karen. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs. Karen is well known for training horses with a priority on partnership, a student-empowering approach to teaching, and a positive and balanced point of view...
Jan 01, 2025•27 min•Season 1Ep. 212
EP212: Attuned Assessment with Dr. Lily Wilson
In this episode I am joined by Dr. Lily Wilson, a veterinary surgeon who has created a new way of helping horse owners take the very best care of their equine partners. Today we talk about Dr. Lily’s 3 Pillars: Attuned Assessment, Whole-hearted decision-making and Compassionate implementation, as well as her 4 deep roots for health and happiness. It’s a conversation packed with information that I think you are going to LOVE. About the Guest: Dr. Lily Wilson, BVetMed BSc(Hons) MRCVS, has a wide b...
Dec 27, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Season 1Ep. 212
EP211: 3 Random Thoughts
In this episode, I’ll be sharing 3 random thoughts: A story about how smart horses are, some beautiful irony in the horse world today, and some reassurance for the people most worried about their horse’s well-being. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally vi...
Dec 13, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 211
EP210: Night Check
In this episode, you’ll be joining me while I do night check on Atomic. You’ll share our private special time together and muse about relationships with horses. About the Host: Karen Rohlf, author and creator of Dressage Naturally, is an internationally recognized clinician who is changing the equestrian educational paradigm. She teaches students of all disciplines and levels from around the world in her clinics and the Dressage Naturally virtual programs. Karen is well known for training horses...
Nov 29, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 210
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