Send us your feedback! Does the regulated rider or handler regulate the disregulated horse, or does the disregulated horse disregulate the regulated rider or handler?Working with horses influences their regulation as well as their body organisation. In addition, horses can help us become more regulated. Through working together, we can lead each other into comfortable regulation. Dive into this episode and listen to the theory as well as some very relevant stories.
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Ep. 74 Beyond fight, flight, or freeze
Send us your feedback!In this episode, I return to the nervous system — and to Stephen Porges’ polyvagal theory, which reshapes our old picture of fight, flight and freeze.Your autonomic nervous system is constantly scanning for safety or threat, and it quietly drives your thoughts, emotions and actions. I explore how trauma fills your “threat bucket,” why hypervigilance is so common in riders as well as horses, and how simple cranial-nerve exercises can start to empty your "threat bucket". You’ll discover six states — from regulation to freeze — and how your state shapes your story, your riding, and your partnership with your horse.
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Ep. 73 Deep dive into hollow backs
Send us your feedback!Back to Rider Biomechanics! I’ll uncover the effective alternatives to growing tall.The majority of women are hollow-backed, with their front longer than their back, and the majority of men are round-backed. There are different ways and places that people hollow, so let's dive in and explore both the challenges and the solutions! We’ll meet low‑beam headlights, seat‑bone flashlights, and two hinges that click you into neutral spine.
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Ep. 72 Mind the gap or embrace the gain?
Send us your feedback!This episode is about how our perspective shapes our experience.So often, we measure ourselves against where we wish we were, living in the “gap” and feeling the distance between where we are and where we think we should be. This episode invites you to turn around and notice your “gains”—the small, real steps you’ve made, even if they feel tiny or hard-won. Through some stories, we’ll explore how shifting focus from what’s missing to what’s growing can change your experience of learning, riding, and even daily life. It’s about celebrating progress, not perfection, and finding satisfaction in the journey itself.
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Ep 71. Bringing out the best in you and your horse!
Send us your feedback!Do you want to bring out the best in you and your horse? I certainly do. In this episode, we’re diving into what it takes to bring out the best in both of you—and how to navigate the journey ahead.Every journey needs a map, and I’ll be sharing one that’s robust, reliable, and designed to guide you whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills. This episode is packed with insights to help you unlock hidden potential.
MARY WANLESS presents crucial information on how the Ride With Your Mind approach to Rider Biomechanics can transform your learning, your riding, and possibly your life. Out of frustration at her progression as a rider, Mary embarked on a journey to discover the 'how' of skilled riding - why couldn’t she learn to ride as skilfully as “talented” riders? Over more than 40 years she has decoded the hidden laws of rider-horse interaction and now teaches the skills that combine to create “talent”, both in person and through online courses at www.dressagetraining.tv. In these podcasts, Mary talks about her journey to date, her key discoveries, and some pivotal moments. She illuminates her key points with metaphor and story, and, at times, presents insights derived from sports psychology. Prepare to be entertained, to learn, to become curious, and to understand a little (or maybe a lot) more about your interaction with your horse. Check out these podcasts, and visit www.dressagetraining.tv for information about their vast library of online courses and webinars, presented by Mary and her Ride With Your Mind colleagues.
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