Mane Brain: The Science of Smarter Riding
Welcome to Mane Brain, the podcast where neuroscience meets the saddle! Hosted by Audrey Paslow, a board-certified neurologic physical therapist and expert in rider biomechanics, this show dives deep into the brain-body connection that makes great riders.
Each episode explores the science behind balance, coordination, flexibility, strength, breathing, and timing—essential elements for equestrians looking to improve their performance. Through expert interviews, rider fitness strategies, and neuroscience-backed insights, you’ll learn how to train smarter, ride better, and unlock your full potential in the saddle.
Mane Brain: The Science of Smarter Riding
Friday’s With Frankie: Fitness for Riders — Training the Brain & Body with the Equicizer
SEASON 2 of the Mane Brain Podcast opens with an episode of Friday’s with Frankie and reframes what fitness for riders really means — and how off-horse tools like the Equicizer can support cardiovascular conditioning, balance, and motor learning.
As riders, we often think of fitness as something separate from skill. In this episode, Frankie Lovato Jr and I explore why that separation doesn’t hold up — especially when viewed through a neuroscience lens. Fitness influences not only endurance, but also how well the brain can organize movement, maintain balance, and stay regulated under load.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why rider fitness is more than just strength or stamina
- Ways riders can challenge cardiovascular fitness that match their riding goals
- How the Equicizer allows riders to work on balance and conditioning simultaneously
I introduce the concept of heart rate zones and explains why different riding disciplines place different demands on the rider’s nervous system and cardiovascular capacity. These ideas are teased here and explored more fully in the next full Mane Brain episode, where riders will learn how to match off-horse cardio training to the demands of their discipline.
This episode sets the tone for Season 2: evidence-based, rider-focused, and grounded in how the brain and body work together — both in and out of the saddle.
🎧 Next up on Mane Brain:
A deep dive into zone-based cardiovascular training for riders, including METs, heart rate ranges, and how you as the rider can train effectively off the horse for dressage, show jumping, and eventing.
Mane Brain Podcast is part of Anchored Seat's mission to bring neuroscience to the saddle! Learn more about training programs and clinic opportunities at www.anchoredseat.com.