The Equestrian's Inner Life

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.Resources:Connect with Mary: https://www.gg.gov.au/australian-honours-and-awardsorder-australiarecipient-profiles/mary-seefried-amConnect with Mary on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.comConnect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossportFollow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcastMusic produced by Melissa Parris

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.Resources:Connect with Chris: http://www.mindyourhorse.com/Connect with Chris through email: [email protected] with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossportFollow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcastMusic produced by Melissa Parris

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.Resources:Connect with Tanja through coaching: http://www.tanjamittoncoaching.com/Connect with Tanja through email: [email protected] with Tanja: http://www.tanjamitton.com/Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossportFollow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcastMusic produced by Melissa Parris

“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.Resources:Connect with Will on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/will.rogers.horses/Connect with Will on his website: https://willrogersapproach.com/Connect with Will on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/will.rogers.horses/Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossportFollow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcastMusic produced by Melissa Parris

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 sportResources:Connect with Rebekah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deofutura/ Connect with Rebekah on her website: https://deofutura.com/the-burtons/Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossportFollow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcastMusic produced by Melissa Parris

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.Resources:Connect with Chris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burtonequestrian/ Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossportFollow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcastMusic produced by Melissa Parris

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.Resources:Connect with Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danbrule/ Connect with Dan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danbruleofficial/ Become a Breathe Master: https://breathmastery.com/  Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossportFollow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcastMusic produced by Melissa Parris

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.Resources:Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossportFollow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcastMusic produced by Melissa Parris

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.Resources:Connect with Melissa Galloway: https://www.instagram.com/melissa_gallowaynzConnect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossportFollow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcastMusic produced by Melissa Parris

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.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. Resources:Connect with Wendy Murdoch: https://murdochmethod.com/Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossportFollow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcastMusic produced by Melissa Parris

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. Resources:Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossportFollow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcastMusic produced by Melissa Parris

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. Resources:Connect with Susie Whitcombe: https://www.instagram.com/whitcombesusie Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossportFollow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcastMusic produced by Melissa Parris

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.Resources:Connect with Bruce Goodin: https://www.instagram.com/brucegoodinshowjumperConnect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossportFollow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcastMusic produced by Melissa Parris

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.Resources:Connect with Roger Fitzhardinge: https://www.facebook.com/roger.fitzhardinge.1/Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossportFollow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcastMusic produced by Melissa Parris

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.Resources:Connect with Steffen Peters: https://www.instagram.com/speters_dressageConnect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossportFollow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcastMusic produced by Melissa Parris

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 the 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 touched the hearts of 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. To speak with him is to be reminded that the horse is not just an athlete, but a partner, a mirror, and a friend. In this conversation, we begin to explore the deeper language of classical riding—where timing becomes feel, movements become music, and every gesture carries meaning. Resources:Connect with Rafael Soto: https://www.instagram.com/rafaelsotodressage Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossportFollow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcastMusic produced by Melissa Parris

Some riders take a traditional path into dressage. But Brett Parbery’s story begins somewhere different—in the dust and rhythm of the rodeo arena. That early foundation gave him more than just balance in the saddle—it gave him feel, timing, and a connection that runs deeper than technique. Today, Brett is known as one of Australia’s most accomplished dressage riders, with a reputation not only for his natural feel but also for his ability to translate that feel into words. Through his Performance Riders program, he’s created systems that help others understand and apply the principles of high-level dressage in their own riding.In this conversation, we explore the spaces between instinct and refinement, the connection of body and mind, and what it truly means to become one with the horse—not just through training, but through transformation.Resources:Contact Brett Parbery: [email protected]:www.performanceriders.commInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/performance.ridersConnect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossportFollow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcastMusic produced by Melissa Parris

Some riders are remembered for their results. Others—like Mary Hanna—are remembered for their legacy. With a career spanning more than three decades and six Olympic Games, Mary’s presence in the equestrian world is not just about achievement—it’s about devotion. Devotion to the horse, to the craft, and to the lifelong pursuit of harmony.In this opening conversation, Mary shares her journey of resilience through change, her respect for the classical roots of riding, and the quiet steadiness that has carried her through triumphs and challenges alike. Together, we reflect not only on the art of riding but also on what it means to evolve with grace, stay the course, and remain deeply connected to the horse through every season of life.Resources:Contact Mary Hanna: [email protected] more about Mary: www.statenepark.comConnect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rramossportFollow along on the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcastMusic produced by Melissa Parris

Welcome to The Equestrian’s Inner Life.This is a space for riders, coaches, artists, and thought leaders to explore the art and soul of horses — beyond technique, into presence, creativity, and the deeper connection we share with them. Each episode unfolds through stories lived and shared, weaving together wisdom from extraordinary equestrians around the world. Follow now to join the journey: https://www.pernillehogg.com/podcast