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In this episode, I talk about cognitive dissonance in the horse world: why we do what we know we shouldn’t – and how to move from maybe to integrity. We revisit Festinger’s theory, real barn-life examples, and research showing how humans often adjust perception when they don’t want to change behaviour. Pop-culture bridge: Fettes Brot – “Jein”. The perfect anthem for ambivalence.

In this episode, we explore how emotions take shape in the body – in humans and in horses alike.
What we call a “gut feeling” is actually measurable through breathing, posture, and muscle tone.

📎 Key research mentioned:

Hausberger et al. (2021): Detecting Welfare in a Non-Verbal Species: Social/Cultural Biases and Difficulties in Horse Welfare Assessment

Additional recent research: ScienceDirect article

💡 Takeaways:

Emotions aren’t just in the mind – they show up in the body.

The horse’s body speaks first – we often listen too late.

What we perceive as “normal” may already signal compromised welfare.

Awareness + training...

Emotions aren’t moods or attitudes – they are biology in action. In this episode of Science & Soulfulness for Equestrians, we dive deep into the neurobiology of feeling: What happens inside your horse when it reacts? How do hormones like cortisol, dopamine, and oxytocin shape its behavior? And why is emotional safety the foundation for all real learning?

Two people, one horse – and two completely different interpretations.
“He’s scared.” – “No, he’s just being stubborn.”
Both convinced they’re right.

This episode dives into why perception isn’t the same as truth, how our brains constantly predict what we see, and why that means we often misread our horses.

Celina explores what science really says about emotions in horses – from Cathrynne Henshall to Karen Merkies and Wathan & McComb – and why “excitement” doesn’t automatically mean “joy.”
You’ll also learn how to read your horse more accurately and empathetically, without falling for the traps of projection, bias, or...

“If people start listening to you, there’ll be no horses left for classical training.”
Seriously?

In this episode, we take a closer look at why statements like this still appear in the horse world –
and what they reveal about our relationship with knowledge, responsibility, and change.

🔍 What it’s about
In this episode, Celina Skogan openly addresses a topic many in the horse industry prefer to avoid:
the fear of knowledge – and the business model that has grown from it.

We talk about:
- Why not knowing can be frightening – and why that’s exactly where real progress...

On the podcast, we disscuss today Topline Syndrome. It´s everywhere right now. Each riding style claims its own recipe: more collection, head down, fascia release.

But if we look closer, we quickly realize: it’s not that simple.
In this new podcast episode, we look beyond the myths.
Because: we don’t see true health during training, but in moments of rest. Context is king.

I thought this topic had been covered long ago – but in practice, myths and dangerous half-truths about gastric issues in horses still come up every single day. That’s why, in this episode, we’re setting the record straight and sharing the latest scientific insights.
You’ll learn:
▶️ Why gastric problems are more the rule than the exception
▶️ Which therapies make sense – and which don’t
▶️ Why at Equidemia we always start by (not) excluding GI diseases
▶️ How stomach health affects your horse’s entire biomechanics

A teaching break doesn’t mean standing still! In this episode I share:

- Our very first Summer Camp in Norway

- Highlights: stress markers, gait analysis, Stable Core & pain workshop with Dr. Frauke Musial

- My seminar in Germany & new plans for the Masterclass

- Your wild social media stories and the question: Does my horse have to be sick to join Equidemia?

What truly makes a horse a horse – and what does that mean for how we interact with them? In this podcast episode, I spoke with Zefanja Vermeulen about exactly that.

We take a look back at the beginnings of domestication and explore which characteristics are still deeply rooted in the horse’s nature – the so-called primitive traits. Traits that are often overlooked.
Yet they explain so much: from behavioral issues to physical stress.

This episode is a heartfelt invitation to stop merely “training” horses
– and to truly understand them instead.

You’ll learn:
▶️ Why primitive traits still matter...

What if a Grand Prix test looks softer – but the horse still shows stress?
What if a rider’s hands are kind – but the body says: “This is too much?”

In this episode, I talk about:
🔹 The performance of Justin Verboom & Zonik Plus
🔹 Biomechanical overload and hypermobility
🔹 Jessica von Bredow-Werndl’s public reaction to criticism
🔹 Why equipment matters more than image

✨ Bottom line: Not being brutal isn’t the same as being ethical.
We need new standards – for the horse, the sport, and ourselves.