PODCAST
The Equestrian's Inner Life
This podcast isn’t about training methods, competition results, or the latest gear.
It’s about what happens beneath the surface; where the breath softens, the awareness sharpens, and the horse becomes a mirror.
The Equestrian’s Inner Life is a sacred space for riders who feel that their time in the saddle is more than sport; it’s soul work. It’s for those who sense that every ride is part of something bigger. Something deeper. Something timeless.
Hosted by equestrian Dressage rider and author Pernille Hogg, this podcast weaves together the language of science and the language of soul. It’s where quantum mechanics meets emotional energy, where superposition becomes a metaphor for possibility, and where the breath, the pause, the half halt reveal themselves not just as riding aids, but as portals into presence.
In this space, we don’t teach you how to ride; we invite you to explore why you ride … and who you become through it.
Because if you’ve ever felt that your horse was trying to show you something; not just about the ride, but about yourself; you’re not imagining it. You’re awakening to the truth that:
The horse is the source.
The horse is the mirror.
The horse is the rider’s reflection.
This podcast is built around honest, often vulnerable conversations with equestrians, coaches, and thought leaders who are walking their own inner path. Each guest shares how their connection with the horse has transformed not just their riding, but their way of being
in the world.
We talk about breathwork, nervous system regulation, and mindset shifts. We talk about trust, grief, joy, resistance, and rhythm.
We talk about the razor’s edge of balance, where alignment lives and magic begins. We explore the idea that riding is not a linear path; but a spiralling one. One that circles ever inward and ever outward, asking more of us as we grow.
You won’t find judgment here. You won’t find rules or formulas or pressure to perform.
What you will find is a steady, gentle call back to yourself. Because how we show up in the saddle is how we show up in life. And if we can learn to ride with more presence, more patience, and more soul; then maybe, just maybe, we begin to live that way too.
If that resonates with something deep in your bones; If you’ve ever felt the breath catch in your chest at the feel of a horse’s heart next to yours; If you’re ready to explore not just what you do with your horse, but who you are with your horse; Then welcome. You’ve found your place — through stories lived and shared.
Take a breath.
Feel the pause.
Listen for the half halt.
And ride the way you want to live.
The Equestrians Inner Life is available wherever you listen - from Spotify and Apple Podcasts to all your favourite streaming platforms. Tune in from the saddle, the stables, or a quiet moment of your day. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
EPISODES
Ep 1. Mary Hanna
The Enduring Flame
Some riders are defined by their results—but others, like Mary Hanna, are defined by their legacy. With a career spanning more than three decades and six Olympic Games, Mary’s presence in the equestrian world goes beyond achievement. It’s a story of devotion: to the horse, to the craft, and to a lifelong pursuit of harmony.
In this opening conversation, Mary shares her reflections on resilience, the classical roots of riding, and the quiet steadiness that has carried her through both triumph and challenge. Together, we explore what it means to evolve with grace, to stay the course, and to remain in love with the horse through every season of life.
Ep 2. Brett Parbery
From Rodeo to International Dressage Rider
Brett Parbery is known as one of Australia’s most accomplished dressage riders. While his natural feel has always been evident, what sets Brett apart is his ability to put that feel into words—creating structure and systems that help riders understand and apply the principles of high-level dressage through his Performance Rider program.
Unlike many, Brett’s path into dressage began somewhere different, in the dust and rhythm of the rodeo. That early foundation gave him more than balance in the saddle—it gave him timing, feel, and a connection that runs deeper than technique. In this conversation, we explore the spaces between instinct and refinement, the body–mind connection, and what it truly means to become one with the horse—not just through training, but through transformation.
Ep 3. Rafael Soto
The Artist of Lightness
There are riders who train horses—and then there are riders who dance with them. Rafael Soto is one of the great classical masters of our time, a man whose riding doesn’t just follow principles but brings them to life with lightness, presence, and soul.
From the traditions of the Spanish Riding School in Jerez to the international stage, Rafael’s work has inspired riders and audiences around the world—not only for its technical brilliance but for the joy and harmony it awakens. To watch him ride is to witness art in motion. In this conversation, we explore the deeper language of classical riding—where timing becomes feel, movements become music, and every
gesture carries meaning.
Ep 4. Steffen Peters
The Art and Soul of Steffen Peters
Few riders in the world embody quiet mastery the way Steffen Peters does. A six-time Olympian and one of the most respected dressage riders of our time, Steffen is celebrated not only for his extraordinary achievements in the arena, but for the artistry and soul he brings to every partnership.
In this conversation, we explore the inner landscape of performance — how he balances the pressures of competition with the work of staying centred, what his horses have taught him about presence and resilience, and the wisdom that comes from a lifetime dedicated to the equestrian path.It’s a conversation about medals and moments, yes — but above all, about what it truly means to connect with a horse.
Ep 5. Roger Fitzhardinge
The Chronicler of Horses and Riders
Few voices in the equestrian world carry such warmth and wisdom as Roger Fitzhardinge. Judge, teacher, writer, and storyteller, Roger has devoted his life to the horse and to the riders who seek connection with them. As he once wrote, “The horse must learn to trust the rider’s aids, to understand the language of balance and lightness, and the rider must learn patience enough to let that language grow.” These words capture the spirit of his work — reminding us that horsemanship is as much about heart as it is about skill.
Ep 6. Bruce Goodin
Beyond the Arena: Five Olympics and a Lifetime of True Horsemanship
From the green pastures of New Zealand to the great arenas of Europe, Bruce Goodin’s journey is one of quiet strength, enduring passion, and timeless horsemanship. A five-time Olympian now based in Sweden, Bruce has dedicated his life to the art of showjumping guided by countless horses, each one a teacher deepening his understanding of balance, respect, and the lifelong equestrian journey.
Through triumphs and trials, including serious injury, he’s shown what true resilience looks like — returning to the saddle again and again with calm focus and unwavering love for the horse. In this conversation, we explore not only the great moments of sport but the subtler lessons, the ones that live between the fences, in the feel, and in the quiet dialogue that emerges when we
learn to listen.
Ep 7. Susie Whitcombe
The Spirit of a Life Lived with Horses
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Few lives could rival the adventure and artistry of Susie Whitcombe’s. A painter, a rider, a pilot, a race car driver, a wife and mother — and always, an equestrian at heart.Through every chapter of her life, horses have been her constant presence — grounding her, inspiring her, and reflecting the spirit that moves through her art.
In this conversation, we explore how Susie’s love of horses has shaped her way of seeing the world — how the courage, freedom, and sensitivity of the horse mirror her own creative journey. Her paintings are not just depictions, but living expressions of experience, connection, and truth.It’s a story of adventure and artistry, of devotion and daring — and of a woman who has followed the horse as her guiding muse through every landscape of her life.
Ep 8. Jan Bemelmans
A Master’s Touch with Jan Bemelmans
A Reitmeister of rare calibre, Jan Bemelmans bridges the timeless wisdom of classical training with the demands of modern sport. From guiding national teams to Olympic medals to cultivating harmony between horse and rider, Jan’s lifelong devotion to the art of dressage has inspired generations.
In this conversation, we explore the lessons behind his remarkable journey — the meaning of true connection, the evolution of the sport, and what it really takes to bring out the best in both horse and human.
Ep 9. Wendy Murdoch
The Importance of Inner Alignment
For over three decades, Wendy Murdoch has been guiding riders toward a deeper, more embodied understanding of themselves — and their horses. As the creator of Ride Like A Natural, founder of the SURE FOOT® Equine Stability Program, and a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner, Wendy’s work bridges the worlds of science, somatics, and horsemanship.
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In this conversation, Wendy shares how true mastery in riding begins within — by awakening awareness, balance, and the effortless flow that arises when body and mind move as one. Her own journey, sparked by a life-changing riding accident, led her to explore how healing, re-patterning, and conscious movement can transform not just how we ride, but how we feel and connect.
Together, we explore the mysteries of alignment, asymmetry, and the nervous system’s role in creating harmony in motion. Wendy shows us that becoming the best rider we can be isn’t about control — it’s about becoming a willing instrument: sensitive, centred, and alive to every moment with our horse.
Ep 10. Melissa Galloway
The Power of a Dream Realised
Melissa Galloway has become one of New Zealand’s brightest lights in international dressage — a rider whose determination and love for her horses have taken her from humble beginnings to the world stage.
As New Zealand’s highest-ranked dressage competitor, Melissa’s journey reached a new height at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, where she and her beloved horse Joey (Windermere J’Obei W) set a national Grand Prix record. Yet behind that achievement lies years of unwavering belief, overseas training, and a partnership built on trust and time — since Joey was just two years old.
Now in her early thirties, Melissa stands at a remarkable turning point. To have already represented her country on the Olympic stage is both a milestone and an opening — a doorway to what comes next. The experience has not only affirmed her place among the world’s elite riders but also expanded her vision of what’s possible, both for herself and for New Zealand dressage.
In this episode, we talk about the path that led her there — the highs, the lessons, and the quiet moments in between. We explore what it takes to stay true to yourself when new doors begin to open, and how purpose, presence, and heart continue to guide her forward.
Ep 11. Leif Törnblad
Seeing Dressage Through the Eyes of a Professional Judge
Few people have witnessed the evolution of modern dressage as closely and as thoughtfully as Leif Törnblad. A 5-star international judge, lifelong horseman, and a dressage rider himself, Leif brings to the sport a rare combination of clarity, empathy, and lived experience.
In this conversation, we explore dressage from the inside out — through the eyes of someone who has sat at C for Olympic Games, World Championships, and decades of top-level competition. Leif shares how judging has changed over the years, what true quality looks like in a performance, and why harmony, correctness, and feel remain the timeless pillars of our sport.
We also touch on his life with Anne-Grethe Törnblad — Olympic medalist and rider of the legendary Marzog — and the perspective that comes from a lifetime devoted to the art of riding.
It’s a rare opportunity to hear from a man who has shaped the sport at the highest level, and whose insights remind us that, at its heart, dressage is about the partnership between horse and rider.
Ep 12. Dan Brulé
Just Breathe: The Invisible Aid Every Rider Carries
Who would have thought that your own breath could be the key to becoming a better equestrian?
In this powerful conversation with world-renowned breathwork master Dan Brulé, we explore how the simple act of conscious breathing can transform not just how you ride, but how you live.
Dan has spent over five decades teaching breath to Olympic athletes, Navy SEALs, and top performers around the world — and today, he shares how riders can harness that same power to unlock presence, balance, and deeper connection with their horses.
This is an episode that takes you from the science of breath to the soul of horsemanship — reminding us that every great ride begins with one conscious breath.
Ep 13. Chris Burton
Precision Performance & Presence
Chris Burton is an Australian Olympic silver medallist whose career in three-day eventing reflects not just elite performance, but a deep commitment to feel, responsibility, and continual learning.
While his riding looks instinctive, Chris is clear: talent is never enough. Growth comes from awareness, discipline, and a willingness to refine. Every rider can improve. Every partnership can evolve.
Chris rides from a place where listening matters as much as action — where precision is shaped by presence, and performance is built on trust rather than force. In this conversation, we move beyond medals to explore the inner world of high performance: how feel is developed, how responsibility strengthens partnership, and how true connection between rider and horse creates excellence.
Ep 14. Rebekah Burton
It Takes Two: The Quiet Strength Behind an Olympic Partnership
In this episode of The Equestrian’s Inner Life, I sit down with Rebekah Burton — an Australian event rider, lawyer, mother, and the quiet force behind one of Australia’s most successful equestrian partnerships.
Rebekah is the wife of Olympic medallist Chris Burton, and together they have lived the full arc of the equestrian dream — moving from Australia to the UK in 2011, building their business and family overseas, raising two children, and pursuing success at the very highest level of the sport.
Now, they have returned home to Australia to begin an entirely new chapter together. But what does it really take to live the Olympic dream as a husband-and-wife team? Behind every Olympic performance lies an unseen world — one of support, sacrifice, resilience, and shared vision.
In this conversation, Rebekah offers a rare inside perspective on what it means to live alongside an elite equestrian athlete, how to find balance amid constant demands, and how to remain grounded and true to yourself while supporting another’s pursuit of excellence.
This is a conversation about partnership, purpose, and the often-unspoken strength that lives behind the scenes of high-performance sport
Ep 15. Will Rogers
Know Yourself, Know Your Horse
“The better we know and understand ourselves, the better we can connect with and understand our horses.”
In this episode of The Equestrian’s Inner Life, Pernille sits down with Australian horseman Will Rogers, whose work beautifully reflects this simple yet profound philosophy — that horsemanship and self-development go hand in hand.Originally from New South Wales, Australia, Will followed his curiosity and passion for horses across the world, training and learning in several different countries before eventually establishing himself in Germany.
Today he teaches and works with horses in a way that reflects a thoughtful and refined approach to communication, relationship, and trust. Through his beautiful videos — from the Swiss Alps as a breathtaking backdrop to the dressage arena — Will inspires us to believe that our dreams can become reality.
In this conversation, Will shares what the horse has consistently shown him throughout his journey — insights about behaviour, communication, and the principles he returns to every day in his work. Together we explore what it truly means to build connection with a horse, and what we as riders must first become aware of within ourselves to create harmony in the partnership.
A thoughtful and inspiring discussion for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of horses, horsemanship, and the inner journey of the rider.
Ep 16. Tanja Mitton
The Mind Behind the Ride
In this episode of The Equestrian’s Inner Life, Pernille sits down with equestrian mindset coach, author, and educator Tanja Mitton to explore the powerful relationship between the rider’s inner state and what unfolds with the horse.
Originally from Germany, Tanja began her career working in professional show jumping stables across Europe before moving to Australia, where she combined her extensive experience with horses with a deep interest in psychology and human behaviour.
Today she works with riders across all levels of the sport, helping them understand how thoughts, emotions, and beliefs influence both performance and partnership in the saddle. Together we explore the inner side of riding — how fear and self-doubt arise, how awareness can transform our experience with horses, and why the rider’s mindset plays such an important role in communication and connection.
Ep 17. Chris Irwin
No True Straightness Without Bend
What if the horse is not responding to what we do… but to how we are? In this episode of The Equestrian’s Inner Life, I sit down with internationally recognised horseman, clinician, and author Chris Irwin — whose work invites us to look beyond technique and into the deeper conversation taking place between horse and human.
Chris, author of Horses Don’t Lie, shares his understanding of the subtle yet powerful exchange of energy that is always present between horse and rider. An exchange that goes far beyond aids, and into our state of being — how we show up, how we hold ourselves, and how we enter the space around the horse.
Together, we explore the importance of awareness — of our posture, our positioning, our symmetry, and the energy we carry — and how these elements directly influence the connection we create.
Because the horse, in its honesty, reflects not what we intend… but what we embody.This conversation opens the door to a deeper way of understanding horsemanship — one that begins within.
Ep 18. Mary Seefried
The Inner Eye of Dressage - Seeing Beyond the Judge's Box
In this episode of The Equestrian’s Inner Life, Pernille sits down with Mary Seefried — a woman whose life has become an integral part of equestrian sport, both in Australia and internationally.
With more than four decades of service, Mary’s journey through the horse world is nothing short of extraordinary. Beginning as a rider in the 1970s, competing across dressage, eventing, and jumping — and even completing the demanding 160-kilometre Tevis Cup in the USA — her path has been shaped by both dedication and a deep connection to the horse.
It is, however, through her work as a judge, educator, and leader that Mary has made her greatest contribution. As the first Australian to become an FEI 5* dressage judge, she has officiated at the very highest levels of the sport, including Olympic Games, World Equestrian Games, World Cup Finals, and European Championships.
From the judge’s box, Mary has witnessed the sport from a rare vantage point — developing a refined ability to recognise not only what is technically correct, but what is truly harmonious between horse and rider.
Alongside this, her work as an FEI Judge Educator, Technical Delegate, and mentor has played a pivotal role in shaping the education and standards of dressage officials in Australia, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations. Her contribution has been recognised with her appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia and her induction into the Equestrian Queensland Hall of Fame.
But beyond the titles and achievements, this conversation explores something deeper — what draws a person so fully into the world of horses, what sustains a lifelong dedication to the sport, and what truly lies at the heart of harmony between horse and rider.
Ep 19. Jochen Schleese
When the Saddle Holds the Secret
What if one of the most fundamental elements of our riding… has been quietly working against us?
In this episode of The Equestrian’s Inner Life, I sit down with Jochen Schleese—a Certified Master Saddler, trained in Germany with Passier, and the youngest to achieve this distinction at the time—who has dedicated his life to understanding the true impact of saddle fit on both horse and rider.
Through a deeply personal encounter, Jochen was led to question what many had long accepted as truth. What followed was a lifelong pursuit of answers—one that would take him far beyond conventional thinking and into a completely new way of seeing the relationship between horse, rider, and saddle.
Raised between Germany and Buenos Aires, and now based in Canada, Jochen’s journey has been one of curiosity, courage, and innovation. Rather than approaching saddle fit purely as a technical necessity, he began to explore it as a living interface—something that directly influences movement, comfort, communication, and performance.
One of his most profound realisations is that men and women are built differently. Our skeletal structure, our physiology, and the way we sit and move in the saddle are not the same—yet for many years, saddles were not designed to reflect these differences. The result? Countless riders unknowingly working against their own bodies… and their horses.
In this conversation, we explore what led Jochen to these discoveries, how he began to challenge long-standing industry norms, and how his work now supports both horse and rider in moving, developing, and performing free from pain.
A conversation that invites us to look again—more closely, more honestly—at something we may have taken for granted.
Because when the saddle truly supports the body… it allows the horse to move freely, and the rider to meet them there. And in that space, both are cared for in a way that changes everything.
Ep 20. Mary Hanna
The Rider That Time Reveals
This week on The Equestrian’s Inner Life, I welcome back six-time Olympian Mary Hanna for a Part 2 conversation — one that moves beyond the arena and deeper into what truly shapes a rider over a lifetime.
Together, we explore the influence of learning from many different trainers around the world… how each perspective leaves its mark upon us, and why perhaps no single teacher can give us everything we need throughout the entirety of our journey.
We speak about the evolution that takes place within the rider over time — how every new level asks something different of us internally… not simply to become better riders, but more aware, more patient, and perhaps more refined human beings.
Mary also reflects on the role patience now plays in her riding, and how experience slowly changes the way we respond when things do not immediately go to plan.A conversation about growth, perspective, self-awareness, and the lifelong inner journey that exists behind the pursuit of mastery.
So once again, join us as we step a little further into the inner life of an equestrian.
