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.
Episodes
23 episodes
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 conditio...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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50:17
Riding Blindfolded (Sort Of): How Vision Affects Balance and Why Riders Rely on It Too Much
Vision is powerful — but sometimes, it’s doing too much of the work.In this episode of Mane Brain, Audrey Paslow, PT, DPT, NCS, dives into the neuroscience behind visual input and rider balance, exploring why temporarily ...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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31:04
Mistakes Are the Mechanism: How Errors Build Better Riders
In this episode of Mane Brain, Audrey dives into one of the most misunderstood — and most powerful — truths about rider development:Mistakes are not the problem. Missing the learning opportunity is.Building on her ep...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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33:38
Friday’s With Frankie: Brain-Boosting Gifts to Elevate Every Ride
In this festive installment of Friday’s With Frankie, Frankie and I unwrap our favorite brain-boosting, balance-enhancing, ride-changing gift ideas for the equestrians in your life (including you!).We cover:✔️ G...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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29:30
Hands-Free, Brain-On: Unlocking Rider Balance Through the Lunge Line with My Trainer & Mentor, Cailin Sanford
This week on The Mane Brain Podcast, Audrey welcomes one of the most important guests in her riding journey: her trainer and mentor, Cailin Sanford, a USDF Level 1 Certified Instructor known for her thoughtful, biomechanics-backed...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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44:34
Friday's with Frankie: Healing in Motion - How Esther Nofziger Blends Occupational Therapy, Horses, and the Equicizer
In this episode of the special series on Mane Brain — Fridays with Frankie, Audrey Paslow PT, DPT, NCS and Frankie Lovato Jr. sit down with Esther Nofziger, Occupational Therapist, Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist (AHA), Th...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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49:54
The Learning Sweet Spot: How Simplifying Your Ride Maximizes Motor Learning
As riders, we’re often asking for more from our bodies on each ride - be it more refined communication, better timing, or better balance. Trying to train for MORE of these elements may seem helpful, but neuroscience says otherwise. In this epis...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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32:50
Fridays with Frankie: From Box to Balance — The First 5 Things to Know About Your Equicizer
Welcome to the very first Fridays with Frankie, a special Mane Brain mini-series featuring Frankie Lovato Jr., creator of the Equicizer and former professional jockey.In this inaugural episode, From Box to Balanc...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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50:49
Rewiring Rider Balance: How the Equicizer Builds Balance, Rhythm, and Better Harmony
Your brain learns new and novel movements through repetition and good feedback — and that’s exactly what the Equicizer can deliver. In this episode, Audrey wraps up her interview with Frankie Lovato Jr, by diving into the neuroscience...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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37:16
From Injury to Innovation: Frankie Lovato Jr.’s Journey with the Equicizer
What happens when a rider’s body is injured, but their drive to ride remains unshakable? In this episode, Audrey sits down with Frankie Lovato Jr., former professional jockey and creator of the Equi...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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33:41
Breathe, Balance, Ride: Pelvic Floor Training for Equestrians (Part 2)
Your breath is the gateway to pelvic floor health — and the key to unlocking better movement, balance, and strength in the saddle. In Part 2 of my conversation with Emily Suttor, PT, DPT, OCS, we move beyond the basics and into the how: simple ...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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32:05
Strong Seat, Strong Core: Pelvic Floor Basics Every Rider Should Know (Part 1)
The pelvic floor is the foundation of a rider’s strength, stability, and confidence in the saddle — yet it’s one of the most overlooked areas of fitness. In this two-part series for the month of September, I sit down with Emily Suttor, PT, DPT,...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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42:10
Brain First, Ride Second — Helmet Fit for Every Equestrian
Your 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 fit, sizing, and care? In this follow-up to my last episode, I'll share my reflections from speaking with Deb Rear...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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20:57
Not Just a Bump: The Real Data on Concussion in Equestrian Sport
Concussions are more common in equestrian sports than perhaps many riders realize—and yet, remain one of the more misunderstood injuries in our community. In this powerful and personal episode, I dive deep into the facts, statistics, and preven...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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52:29
From Chaos to Connection: Why Coordination Training Should be a Key Element in Your Unmounted Workouts
You've heard this riding advice before: "inside leg to outside rein." It's the holy grail of connection with your horse. But if you're like many adult amateur riders, you've probably found yourself wondering how to work toward...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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33:10
Rider Reflexes & the Sticky Seat: The Neuroscience Behind Staying On
Ever watched a rider stay perfectly centered during a buck, spook, or stumble—and wondered how they pulled it off? What you witnessed was their reactive balance skills in action. In this episode of Mane Brain, neurologic physical th...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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40:02
From Breath to Balance – The Missing Piece in Rider Feel
If you're an adult amateur dressage rider working to improve your position, stability, and harmony with your horse—this episode is for you.As a neurologic physical therapist and rider balance coach, I’m here to show you how your <...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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35:08
The Hip Flexor Stretch Trap: Why You Might Be Focusing on the Wrong Fix
You know the feeling — a little tight in the hips, stiff through the back, maybe even one-sided tension you can’t quite shake off. Naturally, you stretch… but what if stretching isn’t the whole answer?In this episode of Mane Brain
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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38:43
See It, Feel It, Ride It: Visualization as a Competitive Edge
You 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 visualization to sharpen your skills, improve body awareness, and mentally rehearse for better performance ...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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41:13
Feel Isn’t Magic: How Smart Riders Build It From the Ground Up
Every rider wants to develop feel—that subtle, intuitive connection with your horse that makes it all click. And here’s the truth: feel isn’t magic. It’s not something you either have or don’t. It’s a skill—and you can train it....
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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40:11
From Strategy to Saddle: Goal Setting for Competitive Dressage Riders
Set 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 plan.In this episode of Mane Brain, you will learn about the goal-setting process th...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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20:28
Train Smarter, Ride Better: The Level Up Your Seat Blueprint
Want 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 Seat Blueprint—a sport-specific, unmounted training guide built on five key skills: breathing, fl...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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19:31