Horse care is a demanding and often unpredictable endeavor. One day your horse is calm and shiny, and the next, they're pacing, puffy, or blowing through your aids.

As a responsible owner, you might find yourself questioning: Am I doing this right?

The truth is, most owners overlook the intricate balance between fitness and care, either under-preparing their horse or overextending them, risking injury and burnout.

Max Corcoran is an Olympic-level groom, eventing insider, and the go-to person when top riders need their horses performing at their best. She’s managed the care of horses at the biggest competitions in the world, and today, she’s here for us—ready to demystify joint support, recovery routines, show prep, and how to keep your horse happy and sound, even when you’re the entire barn staff.

Max Corcoran is a highly respected leader in the equestrian world, known for her decades of experience as a professional groom, event organizer, and advocate for horse care.

A former manager of the O’Connor Event Team and past president of the United States Eventing Association, Max now serves as the Eventing Elite Program and Team Facilitator for the U.S. Equestrian Federation, supporting the nation’s top eventing athletes.

• Expert Horse Care Tips
• Managing Weight and Fitness
• Handling High-Energy Horses
• Barn Design for Efficiency
• Dealing with Separation Anxiety

If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and leave a review - it really helps us grow!

And for even more expert-led workshops, in-depth courses, and exclusive lectures designed to elevate your riding and horsemanship, visit NoelleFloydPlus.com and use code 'DHW' for 15% off annual memberships!

NF+ brings you direct access to top equestrian professionals, training insights, and a passionate community of riders dedicated to learning and improving.

And you can follow us on instagram too!
Click here 👉 www.instagram.com/dearhorseworld

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This episode is brought to you by YETI and Connaway & Associates

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.

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

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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.

Visit www.connaway.net to explore options, or get in touch today.

📱 instagram.com/connawayassociates
📱 www.facebook.com/people/Connaway-Associates-Equine-Insurance-Services-Inc/100063556540763/

Every rider knows the feeling: you're in the middle of a training session and something just doesn't click. There's a disconnect, not just with your horse, but with your approach and mindset. It's more than just a riding issue—it goes deeper, reflecting the challenges and complexities of the equestrian sport.

Today, we've got a guest who isn't afraid to challenge the status quo. Karl Cook is an Olympic medalist and top-level showjumper who brings innovation and blunt honesty to the equestrian world.

In this episode, we'll delve into Karl's unique viewpoints on horse care, training, and the tools and technology that are changing how we approach the sport.

Known for his blunt and innovative style, Karl discusses the importance of focusing on fundamentals, avoiding quick fixes, and the tendency of horse owners to frame their horses as inherently unique to evade responsibility.

He talks about his latest projects, including the development of new bits, bridles, and sensors to improve training accuracy. Karl emphasizes the value of actionable data over mere feelings, highlighting a balance between subjective feel and objective information. He also discusses how simple yet disciplined adjustments can significantly impact riding performance and horse care.

Karl dives into his methods for integrating new horses into his program and the subtle differences in their management, stressing the importance of treating horses well, maintaining consistency, and the role of structured, data-informed practices. He advocates for a straightforward, action-oriented approach to overcome challenges and promote continuous improvement in both riders and horses.

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Learn more from Karl Cook and follow him on social media:

📱www.instagram.com/mrtankcook/

And you can follow us on instagram too! Click here 👉 instagram.com/dearhorseworld/

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If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share with those you know in the Horse World - it really helps us grow.

For even more expert-led workshops, in-depth courses, and exclusive lectures designed to elevate your riding and horsemanship, visit www.NoelleFloydPlus.com and use code 'DHW' for 15% off annual memberships!

NF+ brings you direct access to top equestrian professionals, training insights, and a passionate community of riders dedicated to learning and improving.

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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.

Visit www.connaway.net to explore options, or get in touch today.

📱 instagram.com/connawayassociates
📱 www.facebook.com/people/Connaway-Associates-Equine-Insurance-Services-Inc/100063556540763/

Every horse owner knows the feeling: walking through the field, chasing after a horse that won’t come, sensing that disconnect not just with the horse, but with life.

It’s more than just a training issue—it’s a reflection of something deeper, a desire for connection and harmony that feels out of reach.

Being around horses is about more than riding—it’s about finding peace, balance, and a deeper bond. Many people long for that connection, not only with their horses but also with themselves, especially in a world full of stress and constant "doing." But how do you get there when the path feels unclear?

In this episode, we sit down with Cassandra Ogier—founder of The Reflective Horse and co-founder of She Herd Power—to explore how horses reflect not just our actions, but our internal state. Cassandra’s groundbreaking work in Somatic Riding and Equine Guided Empowerment helps riders regulate their nervous systems, claim space without force, and embody the kind of grounded leadership horses naturally trust.

This isn’t about fixing your horse—it’s about remembering yourself. Cassandra shares powerful, practical tools to shift from anxious doing to embodied being.

From simple grounding techniques to exercises in space claiming and energetic awareness, this episode offers a roadmap to true connection—moment to moment, breath by breath.

Whether you’re navigating tension in the saddle or in your life, this conversation is an invitation to slow down, listen in, and lead like a mare: calm, congruent, and unapologetically present.

Learn more about Cassandra and her work with The Reflective Horse here:
👉 https://www.thereflectivehorse.com/

👉 https://www.instagram.com/thereflectivehorse

And She Herd Power here: https://sheherdpower.squarespace.com/

And you can follow us on instagram too! Click here 👉 www.instagram.com/dearhorseworld

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If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share with those you know in the Horse World - it really helps us grow.

For even more expert-led workshops, in-depth courses, and exclusive lectures designed to elevate your riding and horsemanship, visit www.NoelleFloydPlus.com and use code 'DHW' for 15% off annual memberships!

NF+ brings you direct access to top equestrian professionals, training insights, and a passionate community of riders dedicated to learning and improving.