Dressage Today Podcast

In this episode of the Dressage Today Podcast, Stephany and Aviva interview dressage rider, upper-level eventer, mom and life-long learner Chelsea Canedy. The avid Mustang and meditation advocate talks about her debut memoir Finding Purpose: A Life Managing the Passion, Compulsion, and Borderline Addiction Called “Horses.”The book documents Chelsea’s time with horses and how they’ve shaped the trajectory of her life and gives readers a behind-the-scenes’ view of what it’s like to compete at the upper levels and the inner work that sustains it. Blending raw personal stories with lessons from her decade-long meditation practice and career studying equine behavior, the lifelong horsewoman reflects on resilience, identity and the joy of choosing a life built on passion.We also talked to Chelsea about how publishing her memoir has impacted the conversation she’s part of in the horse world, her beloved horses and how each is doing and many points of connection all horses lovers can relate to. This was such a fun interview; we know you’ll love listening to Chelsea, too, and will likely also find many points of connection with her!In this episode, Aviva and Stephany also catch up on what’s been happening in their respective horse worlds. Stephany talks about her recent venture up to WEC Ocala to compete with Dante, and Aviva is focused on avoiding the heat as much as possible as the unofficial summer kicks off.In our Ask the L segment, Aviva answers a question from listener Mary about collection and what judges expect to see at Second Level. Listen to get her keen advice!And as always if you enjoy our podcasts, please like and share them on social media!About This Episode's Sponsors: Farnam, Tribute and KPPFarnamThis episode is brought to you by Farnam, celebrating 80 years of trusted equine care, and Endure Gold Killer Fly & Mosquito Control, a new fly spray for horses. When your horse needs to stay focused, it helps to take flies out of the equation. Endure Gold uses brand-new, EPA-approved ingredients never before seen in equine care to annihilate flies, ticks, and mosquitoes. This advanced formula delivers fast knockdown and up to 14 days of fly protection you can trust. Discover fly protection with Endure Gold from Farnam.TributeWhat if your horse’s nutrition only changed when it truly mattered? That’s the philosophy behind Tribute Equine Nutrition. As a fixed-formula brand, they don’t make changes unless new research shows they can make their feeds meaningfully better—supporting things like digestibility, nutrient absorption, and overall performance. That’s why Tribute Equine Nutrition is upgrading every formula in their lineup, building on improvements made to their best-sellers and rolling those advancements out across 2026. To celebrate, Tribute has hidden golden tickets in random bags—worth up to a year’s supply of feed for one horse. Horse owners can also get a free, personalized feeding plan, and new customers receive their first bag shipped free. Visit TributeEquineNutrition.com and click “Get a Feed Plan” to learn more.KPPHas your horse been diagnosed with a neurological or muscular disorder? Is he showing signs of muscle wasting and impaired balance or coordination? Studies show that supplemented water-soluble natural vitamin E can reach a horse’s brain and spinal cord through the blood-brain barrier, where it can benefit horses with neurological issues. If your horse has any of these problems, Elevate® W.S., a natural vitamin liquid, can help. A research-proven, powerful antioxidant, Elevate maintains healthy muscle, nerve, and immune function. It does this by delivering a highly bioavailable source of natural vitamin E that is preferentially absorbed and retained in a horse’s tissues. For more information, visit KPPusa.com or call 859-873-2974. Connect with the Hosts: Email Aviva Nebesky ([email protected]) | Email Stephany Fish Crossman ([email protected])Connect with the Show: Website (DressageToday.com) | Socials (@DressageToday) Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | PinterestGuest: Chelsea Canedy | FacebookOur Sponsors this month: Farnam, Tribute, KPP

In this special episode of the Dressage Today Podcast, we talk to rising dressage superstar and Team Prac memeber Christian Simonson fresh off his double silver podium placing with Indian Rock at the 2026 Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in Fort Worth, Texas. Christian tells us about his experience at his first-ever World Cup™ Final, his close partnership with "Rocky," what he loves so much about the sport and why he's excited to see dressage riders having more fun.As always, if you love our podcasts, make sure to subscribe, like and share them with your friends!About This Episode's Guest: Christian SimonsonGrowing up in Ventura, California, Christian Simonson had plenty of hobbies. From mountain biking and downhill skiing to scuba diving to getting his student’s pilot license at 15, he’s always had a sense of adventure, but dressage is where his heart lies. Having started dressage at 6 years old, Christian dedicated himself to the sport and had an illustrious junior career, which included competing at four FEI North American Youth Championships, winning junior team gold and individual silver in 2017, young rider team silver in 2018 and young rider team, individual and freestyle gold in 2021. He also won the Horseware Ireland/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship title at the 2021 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions.Christian has been part of the U.S. Dressage Young Rider European Tour three times, winning team bronze at the Future Champions CDIY in Hagen, Germany, twice, first with Zeaball Diawind in 2021, then with Son of a Lady in 2023. Under the tutelage of his coach, Olympian Adrienne Lyle, he has competed at CHIO Aachen, finishing third in the young rider freestyle with Son of a Lady twice in 2022 and 2023. He and Son of a Lady were named to the U.S. Dressage Team for the 2023 Pan American Games, where they helped secure team gold.Christian's success didn’t stop upon making it to the senior levels; in fact, he’s just gotten more competitive. Before Heidi Humphries of Zen Elite Equestrian Center purchased Indian Rock for him to ride, the 23-year-old had never competed at Grand Prix, but with the 13-year-old stallion, he’s been unbeatable. They’ve never lost a class and were champions in the Neue Schule/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship at the 2025 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions. In addition, he rode Fleau de Baian, who is also owned by Humphries, to the Adequan®/USEF Brentina Cup Dressage National Championship.He started the 2026 season with “Rocky” by winning the CDI-W in at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida, qualifying them for this year’s Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in Fort Worth, Texas. In their World Cup™ Final debut, the pair brought the crowd to their feet with an explosive freestyle choreographed to the “Rocky” movies’ soundtrack to take silver on a personal best score of 83.81%.About This Episode's Sponsor: Zoetis® Equine Has your horse experienced lameness? Did you know that your veterinarian can use the healing power of your horse’s own blood to help manage lameness, joint pain and more? The Pro-Stride APS regenerative medicine device is designed to help keep horses feeling and performing at their best. Ask your vet if Pro-Stride APS may be a great option to help support your horse’s joint health journey. Zoetis® is always by your side in the barn, down the centerline and everywhere in between.Connect with the Hosts: Email Aviva Nebesky ([email protected]) | Email Stephany Fish Crossman ([email protected])Connect with the Show: Website (DressageToday.com) | Socials (@DressageToday) Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | PinterestGuest: Christian SimonsonOur Sponsors this month: Zoetis® Equine

In this episode of the Dressage Today Podcast, we have a twist on our usual format with two interviews! Instead of doing our normal catch-up and “Ask the L” segment, we welcome back our friend and former Dressage Today editor Stephanie Ruff. She tells us what she’s been doing at The Horse and offers insights on her new podcast, “Feeding Horses.”Our other interview in this episode arose from a suggestion from one of our amazing listeners, who suggested we talk to an Israeli dressage rider after Aviva discussed her recent trip to Israel. In response to your request, we interviewed dressage rider, judge and coach Na’ama Segev Hasson. With more than 30 years of experience in the sport and as a member of the National Equestrian Federation’s Dressage and Education Committees, Na’ama is a central figure in Israel’s equestrian community and plays a vital role in shaping the sport’s future.She is also the co-founder and program manager of the “Pegasus” project, an equestrian leadership program designed to advance youth, instructors and trainers in Israel, and serves as chief examiner for their federation, overseeing the certification and training of instructors and coaches at all professional levels. Outside of her official roles, Na'ama is the proud mother of three, including daughter Maya, who is carrying on her mother’s riding tradition in both dressage and jumping.It was amazing to hear about the riding programs in Israel, as well as how both horses and riders are coping with riding and training during war times. We enjoyed getting to hear more about dressage in Israel, and we know that you will, too. Take a listen!As always, if you love our podcasts, make sure to subscribe, like and share them with your friends!About This Episodes Sponsors: Tribute Equine Nutrition and KPP Elevate®Tribute Equine NutritionYou know that feeling when everything comes together—the rhythm, the balance, the connection. At Tribute Equine Nutrition, that same pursuit of excellence drives us to keep improving. We’re upgrading our entire line with advanced formulations to better support your horse’s health, performance, and longevity. To celebrate, we’re hiding golden tickets in select bags—each one worth 40 free bags of feed… about a year’s supply for one horse. Ready to elevate your program? Visit TributeEquineNutrition.com for a free, personalized feeding plan. If you’re new to Tribute, your first bag is on us—and everything we make is backed by a 100% money-back guarantee. Be sure to mention Dressage Today sent you!Kentucky Performance ProductsDo you want to help ensure your breeding stallion’s reproductive efficiency? Do you want to make sure your newborn foal has the strongest immune system possible? Studies show that supplemental vitamin E can support a stallion’s sperm-cell quality and motility and offset the effects of stress associated with breeding. They also show that foals of mares supplemented with vitamin E have more responsive immune system than those that weren’t. Elevate® natural vitamin E can help. A research-proven, powerful antioxidant, Elevate maintains healthy muscle, nerve, and immune functions. It does this by delivering a highly bioavailable source of natural vitamin E that is preferentially absorbed and retained in a horse’s tissues. For more information, visit KPPusa.com or call 859-873-2974. Our Sponsors this month: KPP and their product Elevate® & Tribute Equine NutritionConnect with the Hosts: Email Aviva Nebesky ([email protected]) | Email Stephany Fish Crossman ([email protected])Connect with the Show: Website (DressageToday.com) | Socials (@DressageToday) Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | PinterestGuest: Stephanie Ruff,Guest: Na'ama

As part of our 2026 Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final post-coverage, this episode, sponsored by Tribute, features a press conference with the top three riders following the freestyle competition—Becky Moody, Christian Simonson and Sandra Sysojeva.British dressage powerhouse Becky Moody and her homebred 11-year-old gelding Jagerbomb delivered a dynamite and near flawless freestyle 2026 Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in Fort Worth. Set to a medley of The Beatles’ hits, the pair’s freestyle performance sent them to top the podium on a final score of 88.33%—a personal-best for both of them.Dressage movements are beautiful with or without a soundtrack, but there is something magical in the freestyle when a horse and rider have the technical ability not only to ride to music but to dance with it—and Moody and Jagerbomb, more commonly known as “Bomb,” proved to be the ultimate dance partners.From double pirouettes, one-tempis down the centerline and one and two-tempi serpentines to Beatles’ favorites like “All You Need is Love,” “Here Comes the Sun” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” their freestyle included plenty of technically difficult choreography, sending the explosive crowd into an eruption of applause and cheers.To the home crowd’s delight, the U.S.’s 23-year-old rising superstar Christian Simonson and 13-year-old KWPN stallion Indian Rock brought the crowd to their feet with an explosive freestyle choreographed to the “Rocky” movies’ soundtrack to take silver in their World Cup™ Final debut—also on a personal best score of 83.81%.Poland’s Sandra Sysojeva and her 10-year-old mare Maxima Bella rounded out the podium on a score of 80.77%, marking an impressive leap from their seventh-place finish at last year’s World Cup™ Final and underscoring just how quickly the young mare is maturing on the world stage.In this special episode, you’ll get behind-the-scenes’ feel for the World Cup press room and hear directly from these talented riders, fresh off their 2026 podium finishes.Take a listen!If you like what we are doing, remember to hit the LIKE button, share with your friends and make sure to subscribe!Our sponsor this month is Tribute Equine Nutrition.You know that feeling when everything comes together—the rhythm, the balance, the connection. At Tribute Equine Nutrition, that same pursuit of excellence drives us to keep improving. We’re upgrading our entire line with advanced formulations to better support your horse’s health, performance, and longevity. To celebrate, we’re hiding golden tickets in select bags—each one worth 40 free bags of feed… about a year’s supply for one horse. Ready to elevate your program? Visit TributeEquineNutrition.com for a free, personalized feeding plan. If you’re new to Tribute, your first bag is on us—and everything we make is backed by a 100% money-back guarantee. Be sure to mention Dressage Today sent you!Connect with the Hosts: Email Aviva Nebesky ([email protected]) | Email Stephany Fish Crossman ([email protected])Connect with the Show: Website (DressageToday.com) | Socials (@DressageToday) Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | PinterestGuests: Becky Moody, Christian Simonson, and Sandra SysojevaOur Sponsors this month: KPP and their product Elevate® & Tribute Equine Nutrition

This month, Aviva and Stephany interview Noel Williams of Noel Williams Dressage, based in Maryland. They catch up with what has been going on with each other – Mary Wanless, Maui and an exciting trip coming up (or going down centerline!) for Stephany, and a bittersweet sharing for Aviva. In the Ask the L, they discuss what is needed to have a successful move from Training to First Levels – thanks to Deana for the question!The daughter of George and Roberta Williams, Noel Williams grew up around classical and high performance dressage. Noel has been riding and competing all of her life with an Olympic Dream at heart. Noel is a USEF “R” Dressage Judge, and is currently in the USEF “r” DSHB Judge’s Program. She has trained and competed numerous horses from young horses to FEI Grand Prix.Noel is a USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold Medalist. A member of the 2007 NAJYRC Silver Medal team (Region 2), and the 2005 USEF Junior Dressage Team Championships Gold Medal, Noel was also the 2005 USEF Junior Dressage National Champion on the Hanoverian stallion Pik L.Noel aspires to continue her career on the international stage and to represent Team USA in competition. Noel's greatest passion is starting and developing young horses, especially stallions, to campaign them through the CDI levels.In the interview, Aviva and Stephany get the benefit of Noel’s super humor, her history of riding and her boundless enthusiasm for our sport. It was great getting to know her and her belief system, and we wish her all the best!Take a listen!If you like what we are doing, remember to hit the LIKE button, share with your friends and make sure to subscribe!Thank You to Our Sponsors This Month: KPP and Tribute Equine Nutrition! KPPDoes your performance horse have sore, stiff muscles? Does he lack energy or tire quickly during exercise? Does his competition schedule require travel? Studies show that horses in regular training and those with limited access to pasture often require additional vitamin E. They also show that horses being trailered even short distances can face immunity challenges. Elevate® natural vitamin E can help. A research-proven, powerful antioxidant, Elevate maintains healthy muscle, nerve, and immune functions. It does this by delivering a highly bioavailable source of natural vitamin E that is preferentially absorbed and retained in a horse’s tissues. For more information, visit KPPusa.com or call 859-873-2974.Tribute Equine NutritionLet’s be honest—no two dressage horses are the same. So it's no surprise their nutrition needs will differ. Tribute Equine Nutrition’s equine nutrition specialists can help you create personalized feeding plans based on your horse and your goals—from building topline and strength to supporting soundness and longevity. Their feeds are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, made in their own ionophore-free facilities, and are fixed formulas you can trust—so your horse gets consistent nutrition, every ride, every test. And if you’re new to Tribute, your first bag is free, so you can try it with confidence! Take the stress out of feeding your dressage partner. Visit tributeequinenutrition.com to get started and let them know Dressage Today sent you.Connect with the Hosts: Email Aviva Nebesky ([email protected]) | Email Stephany Fish Crossman ([email protected])Connect with the Show: Website (DressageToday.com) | Socials (@DressageToday) Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | PinterestGuest: Noel Williams of Noel Williams DressageOur Sponsors this month: KPP and their product Elevate® & Tribute Equine Nutrition