From the Vault: Dr. Stephen Peters on How a Horse’s Brain Works

How Adults Can Learn to Ride Like Kids Again — with Dr. Tracey Sulak

In this fun, 10-min excerpt, I talk with Dr. Tracey Sulak of Baylor University—an expert in how kids learn—about what adult riders can take from a more juvenile approach. 🤸‍♀️ This was originally recorded in September 2025 as a private session for my Ride Like a Kid Again 4-week challenge. We get into: * Why kids often learn riding more easily * How adults get stuck overthinking * How your adult brain can actually help you get your feel back If riding used to feel easier… this will click. Want help applying this to your own horse? That’s exactly what I teach inside Horse Wise® → https://horsewisecoach.com [https://horsewisecoach.com] I’ll be running another Ride Like a Kid Again challenge later in 2026. If you want to be on the waitlist, email me at : horsewisecoach@icloud.com

From the Vault: Dr. Stephen Peters on How a Horse’s Brain Works

Just for fun, I’m bringing back one of the most useful conversations from the podcast. In this episode from 2022, I talk with Dr. Stephen Peters, neuroscientist and co-author of Evidence-Based Horsemanship (with Martin Black). Dr. Peters has studied the equine brain extensively, and what stands out is this: good horsemanship already lines up with how a horse’s brain works. We keep this practical—how horses learn, what helps them stay calmer, and why simpler, clearer communication tends to work better than doing more. If you tend to overthink things with your horse, this will help you step back and see what actually matters. * How the horse’s brain differs from ours * Why timing and clarity matter more than technique * What helps horses stay relaxed and able to learn * Why good horsemanship often looks simple (but isn’t random) Dr. Peters’ work: https://horsebrainscience.info [https://horsebrainscience.info] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evidencebasedhorsemanship [https://www.facebook.com/evidencebasedhorsemanship] Learn more about my work with Horse Wise® -- I help adult amateur riders stop overthinking, relax, and ride like a kid again.: https://horsewisecoach.com

Why Play Can Be the Fastest Way to Learn

A long time ago, before Horse Wise, before LOPE, and before I ever taught horsemanship, I said yes to teaching a class I had never taught before. It was a graphic design history class — and the students were smart, creative, and absolutely terrified of being “bad at school.” What I learned in that classroom changed the way I teach everything. In this episode, I share that story — and how it led me to stop teaching by explanation, correction, and “trying harder,” and start teaching through observation, imitation, and play. It turns out this is exactly how horses learn too. When we make learning visual, physical, and a little bit playful, fear drops away. Understanding sticks. And people — and horses — surprise themselves. This idea is at the heart of the free workshop I’m teaching next week: Impersonate Your Horse A live, online workshop where we explore how you and your horse mirror each other — and how seeing the world from your horse’s perspective can change the conversation fast. We’ll weave in equine biology, anatomy, and how horses actually experience movement and pressure — all in a light, accessible way. 📅 Tuesday, February 3, 2026 🕖 7:00 PM Central 💻 Live on Zoom 🎁 $100 gift card drawing during the live session (must attend live) You can learn more and sign up here: 👉 horsewisecoach.com/zoom If riding has started to feel heavy or effortful, this is a simple, fun place to reset.

One Simple Way to End the Year Well With Your Horse

As the year winds down, it’s easy to feel like you should be doing more with your horse — even when the weather, daylight, and holiday chaos make that unrealistic. In this short episode, I’m sharing one simple way to end the year well with your horse — without rushing, drilling, or forcing yourself into a last-minute training push. I also talk about the LOPE Virtual Horse Show, a low-pressure, fun way to support LOPE and do something meaningful with your horse before the year ends. Registration is open through December 31 at 8 PM Central, and the best part is that videos aren’t due until January 17 — so you can sign up now and film later, when the weather and schedule feel easier. It’s a gentle, horsemanship-first way to close out the year — and a great way to support retired racehorses who are now teaching kids, adults, and communities through LOPE’s programs. Learn more or register here: lopetx.org/show Sometimes ending the year well doesn’t mean doing more. It means choosing one good thing — and letting that be enough. For more information on my services, please go to horsewisecoach.com

Why Downtime Isn’t Wasted Time With Your Horse

Winter can make riders feel rushed, behind, or unsure what to do with their horse. In this short episode, I share why downtime isn’t wasted time — and how winter can actually deepen your connection. I also tell the story of the 2021 Texas snowpocalypse and what those frozen days revealed about calm, clarity, and soaking. Show Notes: This weekend’s episode is a quiet reflection on something many riders feel this time of year: the worry that winter will set them back. Short days, cold weather, muddy footing — it’s easy to feel behind or unsure how to use your horse time. In this episode, I share why downtime isn’t wasted time, for horses or humans. In good horsemanship, we talk about soaking — the quiet time after a session when the real learning takes place. Winter is the seasonal version of that. It slows things down and gives both you and your horse space to breathe and absorb. I also tell the story of the 2021 Texas snowpocalypse, when I spent twelve frozen days caring for three horses through the deep freeze. The roads were shut down and everyone was stalled — yet the horses stayed calm and handled their turnout with surprising ease. That experience taught me that winter doesn’t always set us back. Sometimes it shows us where our horses truly are — and where we are, too. You’ll hear: • why winter’s slower rhythm can help your horse • how “doing less” leads to deeper learning • why quiet time matters for riders • what those icy days revealed about calm and connection At the end, I share a small, personal Black Friday offer for riders who want a gentle reset this winter: the Stop Trying So Hard: Winter Reset — a simple, individualized way to make winter horse time feel calmer and less effortful. LINKS: • Join the Winter Reset ($97 — limited to 8 spots): https://horsewisecoach.com/reset