Part 2 continues the conversation by moving into the moments that test riders and trainers alike. This episode focuses on what happens when something doesn't feel right, and the courage it can take to pause, question, or choose a different path in the middle of a lesson.

Karen Rohlf is an FEI Grand Prix dressage rider, USDF Gold Medalist, internationally respected clinician, and the founder of Dressage Naturally. In this part of the conversation, Karen explores how easily context gets overlooked in training, and why protecting the relationship must come before any single exercise or result.

Karen and Noelle talk about situations many riders recognize immediately: being asked to push forward when a horse is clearly uncomfortable, feeling pressure to comply even when instincts say otherwise, and how quickly intuition can be silenced.

• Why some "training problems" are actually context problems

• How fear and tension are often mislabeled

• How to be a mindful, courageous student

• How trainers can foster confident, curious riders

• Why no result is worth sacrificing the relationship
  
  

Karen also shares how different horses require different approaches, why consistency does not mean sameness, and how commitment to a decision matters more than the decision itself.

Part 2 invites riders and trainers to reflect on how trust is built moment by moment, and how much influence educators have in shaping riders who feel safe to think, feel, and advocate for their horses.

• Karen Rohlf's Book: Dressage Naturally
  https://dressagenaturally.net/book/

• Dressage Naturally
  https://dressagenaturally.net/

• Parelli
  https://parelli.com/

The Black Stallion:
https://theblackstallion.com/web/books/the-series

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Have you ever questioned whether the way you've been taught to train truly fits the horse in front of you? Most people don't. And when they do, they're often reprimanded for it, which is usually enough to make them stop asking.

We repeat the same exercises and routines because that's how we were taught, rarely questioning the system even when our horses do. This conversation challenges that pattern and asks a harder question: what happens when the system stops working for the horse?

Karen Rohlf is an FEI Grand Prix dressage rider, USDF Gold Medalist, internationally respected clinician, and the founder of Dressage Naturally. Her career spans the highest levels of the sport, but the foundation of her work traces back to her first horse. As a child, Karen watched that horse be sold and change in ways that frightened her. Same horse. Same environment. Completely different outcome under different hands. That moment led her to make a promise to herself and to every horse she would ride, a promise that still guides her work today.

In Part 1, Karen shares stories she rarely tells publicly. She explains why she stepped away from a conventional training model most professionals never question. She tells the story of a horse who flinched simply for touching something in the barn aisle, and what changed when she responded differently than she had been taught. These moments show how curiosity and confidence can return to horses who have shut down, and why what we call tension is often something we haven't learned to read.

During the conversation, lightning strikes just as Karen names three essential needs of horses, reinforcing a central theme of the episode: the system is often the problem, not the horse.

• The childhood experience that shaped Karen's approach to horses

• Why curiosity is often suppressed and what happens when it returns

• How to distinguish between physical, mental, and emotional training challenges

• Why giving horses real choice builds confidence rather than resistance

• Why no two horses should ever be trained the same way

• How tension often disguises itself as dullness or resistance

In this episode, you will learn how to recognize horses as individuals and partners, and how to ground your training in responsibility and trust.

• Karen Rohlf's Book: Dressage Naturally
  https://dressagenaturally.net/book/

Dressage Naturally
https://dressagenaturally.net/

----

Episode Sponsored by

YETI

Made for early mornings in the barn and long days in the saddle. Whether you're hauling feed, chasing daylight on the trail, or loading up for a weekend on the road, YETI coolers and drinkware are built to handle it.

No shortcuts.
No compromise.

Just gear that works as hard as you do. Explore more at yeti.com.

📱 @yeti

📱 facebook.com/YETI

Have you ever felt your heart thumping and your palms sweating before a competition, only to realize it wasn't just nerves but something deeper? Riders know what it means to carry pressure long before a round begins. It often starts early. Parents want so deeply for their children to thrive, yet the fear of falling behind can blur the line between supporting and pushing.

Most riders have compared themselves to people who make the hardest moments look effortless. And when some young riders rise while others quietly disappear, it forces all of us to question what truly creates long term success.

In this episode, we sit down with Rodrigo Pessoa, who brings honesty and decades of legendary experience. As one of the most iconic show jumpers of our generation, his openness is a rare gift. He shares how real development comes from patience, thoughtful pressure and the courage to learn in full view of others. He also explains why young horses and young riders need almost the exact same environment to thrive.

Rodrigo takes us inside the realities shaping modern sport. He talks about why wealth does not create perseverance, how the wrong coach can derail a rider faster than no coach at all, and why early pressure often shuts potential down rather than unlocking it. He reflects on the mentorship behind Baloubet du Rouet and the moment that permanently changed how he handles public scrutiny.

By the end, you will understand the sport more clearly and feel steadier in your own path forward.

You will learn
• How pressure really works and why timing matters more than intensity
• Why perseverance and engagement outweigh access or privilege
• What ruins good horses and good riders and how to prevent it
• How to set goals that stretch you without overwhelming you
• Why comparison derails progress and how professionals truly think about it
• The core mentorship principles behind developing young horses and young athletes

Learn more about Rodrigo Pessoa at www.rodrigopessoa.com or on Instagram at @rodrigopessoa.

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This episode is brought to you by Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services, Inc.

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.

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and YETI

Made for early mornings in the barn and long days in the saddle. Whether you're hauling feed, chasing daylight on the trail, or loading up for a weekend on the road, YETI coolers and drinkware are built to handle it.

No shortcuts.
No compromise.

Just gear that works as hard as you do. Explore more at yeti.com.

📱 @yeti

📱 facebook.com/YETI