Mane Brain: The Science of Smarter Riding
Episodes
The Three Riding Illusions: Strength, Effort, and Stillness
28 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailMany riders work incredibly hard to improve their riding—but sometimes the beliefs guiding that effort are the very things holding t...
Why Getting Fit Isn’t Enough: The Missing Layer in Rider Training
14 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailYou can be strong, flexible, and in great shape—and still struggle in the saddle. That’s because riding performance isn’t just a...
Train Like an Elite Rider: The Muscles That Matter Most
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailWhat muscles do riders actually need to train—and how do elite riders use them differently? Research shows the difference between am...
Strength Training for Riders: Building Power for Brain and Body
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailMany riders believe that getting stronger will automatically make them more stable in the saddle. Strength absolutely matters—but st...
Fatigue Changes Everything: Why Rider Fitness Protects Balance and Skill
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a text🎯 A key thought as we wrap up our discussion on cardiovascular fitness:Cardiovascular fitness doesn’t make you a better rider by itsel...
The Missing Link in Rider Endurance: How Breathing Rhythm Shapes Cardiovascular Performance
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textRiders might focus on cardiovascular conditioning — but many still struggle with fatigue, tension, and loss of coordination when effort i...
Training the Rider’s Heart: Cardio Workouts That Actually Transfer to the Tack
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textRiders often hear that they need “better cardio,” but few are told how to set up a program targeting cardiovascular fitness that the...
Friday’s With Frankie: "Literary Hooves" — Caroline Nesbitt on Books, Breeding, and Horses
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textOn this episode of Friday’s With Frankie, Frankie Lovato Jr. and I sit down with Caroline Nesbitt — a rider, Connemara breeder, au...
The Hidden Cardio of Riding: Heart Rate Demands Across the Disciplines
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWe often focus on the horse’s conditioning, but what about the rider? Research shows that riders experience significant cardiovascular...
Friday’s With Frankie: Fitness for Riders — Training the Brain & Body with the Equicizer
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textSEASON 2 of the Mane Brain Podcast opens with an episode of Friday’s with Frankie and reframes what fitness for riders really means —...
Riding Blindfolded (Sort Of): How Vision Affects Balance and Why Riders Rely on It Too Much
31 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textVision is powerful — but sometimes, it’s doing too much of the work.In this episode of Mane Brain, Audrey Paslow, PT, DPT, NCS, dive...
Mistakes Are the Mechanism: How Errors Build Better Riders
13 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode of Mane Brain, Audrey dives into one of the most misunderstood — and most powerful — truths about rider development:...
Friday’s With Frankie: Brain-Boosting Gifts to Elevate Every Ride
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this festive installment of Friday’s With Frankie, Frankie and I unwrap our favorite brain-boosting, balance-enhancing, ride-changi...
Hands-Free, Brain-On: Unlocking Rider Balance Through the Lunge Line with My Trainer & Mentor, Cailin Sanford
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThis week on The Mane Brain Podcast, Audrey welcomes one of the most important guests in her riding journey: her trainer and mentor, Cai...
Friday's with Frankie: Healing in Motion - How Esther Nofziger Blends Occupational Therapy, Horses, and the Equicizer
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this episode of the special series on Mane Brain — Fridays with Frankie, Audrey Paslow PT, DPT, NCS and Frankie Lovato Jr. sit down...
The Learning Sweet Spot: How Simplifying Your Ride Maximizes Motor Learning
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textAs riders, we’re often asking for more from our bodies on each ride - be it more refined communication, better timing, or better balan...
Fridays with Frankie: From Box to Balance — The First 5 Things to Know About Your Equicizer
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWelcome to the very first Fridays with Frankie, a special Mane Brain mini-series featuring Frankie Lovato Jr., creator of the Equicizer ...
Rewiring Rider Balance: How the Equicizer Builds Balance, Rhythm, and Better Harmony
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textYour brain learns new and novel movements through repetition and good feedback — and that’s exactly what the Equicizer can deliver. ...
From Injury to Innovation: Frankie Lovato Jr.’s Journey with the Equicizer
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWhat happens when a rider’s body is injured, but their drive to ride remains unshakable? In this episode, Audrey sits down with Franki...
Breathe, Balance, Ride: Pelvic Floor Training for Equestrians (Part 2)
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textYour breath is the gateway to pelvic floor health — and the key to unlocking better movement, balance, and strength in the saddle. In ...
Strong Seat, Strong Core: Pelvic Floor Basics Every Rider Should Know (Part 1)
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThe pelvic floor is the foundation of a rider’s strength, stability, and confidence in the saddle — yet it’s one of the most overl...
Brain First, Ride Second — Helmet Fit for Every Equestrian
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textYour helmet is more than just gear — it’s your brain’s first line of defense. But how much do you really know about proper helmet ...
Not Just a Bump: The Real Data on Concussion in Equestrian Sport
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textConcussions are more common in equestrian sports than perhaps many riders realize—and yet, remain one of the more misunderstood injuri...
From Chaos to Connection: Why Coordination Training Should be a Key Element in Your Unmounted Workouts
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textYou've heard this riding advice before: "inside leg to outside rein." It's the holy grail of connection with your ho...
Rider Reflexes & the Sticky Seat: The Neuroscience Behind Staying On
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textEver watched a rider stay perfectly centered during a buck, spook, or stumble—and wondered how they pulled it off? What you witnessed ...
From Breath to Balance – The Missing Piece in Rider Feel
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIf you're an adult amateur dressage rider working to improve your position, stability, and harmony with your horse—this episode i...
The Hip Flexor Stretch Trap: Why You Might Be Focusing on the Wrong Fix
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textYou know the feeling — a little tight in the hips, stiff through the back, maybe even one-sided tension you can’t quite shake off. N...
See It, Feel It, Ride It: Visualization as a Competitive Edge
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textYou don’t need to be in the tack to improve your ride. In this episode of Mane Brain, you’ll learn how to use motor imagery and visu...
Feel Isn’t Magic: How Smart Riders Build It From the Ground Up
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textEvery rider wants to develop feel—that subtle, intuitive connection with your horse that makes it all click. And here’s the truth: f...
From Strategy to Saddle: Goal Setting for Competitive Dressage Riders
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textSet Smarter Riding Goals—Plan to Win from the Ground Up.Your dressage season doesn’t begin in the warm-up ring—it begins with a pl...
Train Smarter, Ride Better: The Level Up Your Seat Blueprint
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWant a better seat? You don’t have to be in the saddle to get there. In this episode of Mane Brain, I break down the Level Up Your Sea...
Bringing Science to the Saddle: My Path to Smarter Riding
30 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textIn this initial episode, I share my story to building this podcast as a physical therapist and equestrian as well as reflection question...