The Centaur Podcast: "The Compassionate Equestrian" – Detailed Episode Summary
Host: Cameron Adibi
Guest: Susan Gordon (Co-author of The Compassionate Equestrian, former professional hunter/jumper trainer)
Release Date: June 6, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode explores the evolution of horse-human relationships, training philosophies, and the equestrian industry through a conversation with Susan Gordon. Drawing on decades of classical training and her advocacy for compassionate equitation, Susan shares valuable insights into the challenges facing modern horsemanship, the welfare of horses, and how the equestrian world might shift toward a kinder, more sustainable future.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Shifts in Training and Perception
- Changing Horse “Trainability”: Susan notes a growing recognition that not all horses can or should be trained for riding, especially as many owners focus more on pushing horses beyond their limits for competition.
"So many issues now that I just, I just kind of call a full stop in some cases or I try. It's hard with owners. They just want to keep the horses going and I just see, nope, can't be done." — Susan Gordon [02:21] - From Simplicity to Complexity: Cameron and Susan observe how training and equipment have become more complicated, often at the expense of horsemanship and the horse’s well-being.
2. Classical Training Foundations
- Origin Story at Spruce Meadows: Susan shares her foundational experiences at Spruce Meadows, boarding her Appaloosa and learning from classical European trainers.
"I was at age 17, president of riding club in Calgary…here I am with Appaloosas at a quarter horse show barn and this huge Mercedes horse van pulls up. These gigantic horses come out and that was my introduction to real classical European style horses and training…I studied Podeyski [Pohatsky] and it just became a real passion to focus on classical, real classical training.” — Susan Gordon [04:11] - Breaking Breed Norms: Despite the emphasis on warmbloods, Susan’s small but brilliantly trained Appaloosa, "Top Canadian" (T.C.), regularly outperformed larger, “fancier” horses.
“My 15 hand Appaloosa could beat the big warm bloods and thoroughbreds in dressage tests. He was that spectacular.” — Susan Gordon [08:31]
3. The Problem with Modern Equestrian Trends
- Horses as Status Symbols: Susan traces how European warmbloods were bred heavier for large men, then altered for the American market — specifically, “the middle aged woman who has pretty deep pockets." She warns that this shift, plus impatience and pushing horses too fast, has led to unsoundness and loss of classical values.
"If an 8-year-old is all of a sudden at Grand Prix, that's too soon. They've pushed the training and they've only pushed it because they can sort of get away with it because the breeding has now produced these horses." — Susan Gordon [17:07] - Modern Equipment & Cruelty: Susan bemoans the proliferation of complex, harsh tack and heavy saddles, seeing it as “abject cruelty.”
"People have gotten quite impatient and they're trusting that this horse has generations of super jumpers in his bloodline...it's just not fair to the horse." — Susan Gordon [12:29]
4. Compassionate Equitation Principles
- The Book’s Mission & 10-Year Impact: The Compassionate Equestrian marked a decade of advocating for common-sense, horse-centric, and kind approaches to training.
"There's definitely a growing interest...That's the hopeful part because...we have made it very impossible for a lot of people to even enter this." — Cameron Adibi [24:02] - Missing Common Sense and Safety: The loss of the British Pony Club model and shrinking grassroots opportunities is a concern. Safety is recast from the horse’s viewpoint (proximity to herd, trauma triggers, proper starts), not just the rider’s.
"You really want your horses to have a good safe start with a professional...Classical training just makes these horses so safe, so easy to work with." — Susan Gordon [26:02]
5. The Qualities of a Good Trainer
- Origins in Apprenticeship: Susan values traditional apprenticeship over current trends of self-proclaimed online experts and clinics.
- Modern Challenges: Even those attending respected clinics often make mistakes unsupervised; steady mentorship is irreplaceable.
"For people seeking a trainer, I mean, I think it's good to connect with some clinics...but then they go back to their backyards and...I'm so seeing a lot of huge mistakes and issues with horses that shouldn't be happening." — Susan Gordon [36:32]
6. Practical Kindness in Daily Horse Work
- Horse Well-being After Work: Susan advocates decompression and allowing horses to “be horses” after rides rather than rushing back to the barn.
"You get off your horse at the end of a ride and just let them look around, let them decompress, walk them around, strip the tack..." — Susan Gordon [40:03] - Role Models in Equestrian Care: She highlights the Mexican team at Spruce Meadows, who were exceptional in their daily, gentle care and walking of horses.
7. The Future of Riding and Accessibility
- Concerns for the Industry: Rising costs, unsound horses, breed-specific health issues, and liability mean fewer opportunities for newcomers and fewer accessible local competitions.
- Sustainability & Adaptation: Susan sees growing interest in recreational and working equitation, advocating smaller, user-friendly breeds (quarter horses, ponies) and inclusive, local-centered events.
"Anybody who wants to ride should have access to horses, put it that way." — Susan Gordon [46:46] - New Class Ideas: Susan is creating "cowgirl equitation" classes, blending fun western events with proper form, aiming to foster culture and inclusion (“create a culture...even if people don’t ride, they feel like a part of that culture”).
"We're going to do barrel race their equitation where they have to show good form. So we judge like an equitation class and then they can run their speed classes and if they win both...they'll get a special prize." — Susan Gordon [54:47]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On breed overemphasis:
"They saw what the market was...they kept the best stallions in Europe and let some of the later stallions come to North America, breed with thoroughbreds and Arabians...sometimes they worked, sometimes the confirmation was off..." — Susan Gordon [17:07] -
On compassion and kindness:
"There's a lightness. It's all about that lightness." — Susan Gordon, on classical and compassionate riding [08:31] -
On the loss of common sense:
"It's just like shifting...what's best for the horse at this moment in time." — Cameron Adibi [43:00] -
On the fate of unsound horses:
"More horses in the system than people who can train them properly. But we're having issues keeping those horses healthy...I see a lot of these lame, sick and unrideable horses are still going to the auctions." — Susan Gordon [46:46] -
On local and inclusive equestrian culture:
"Create a culture...even if people don't ride, they feel like they're part of that culture. And I think that's kind of what we have to do with horses to pull people back into it." — Susan Gordon [55:50]
Important Timestamps
- 02:21 – Susan on recognizing some horses shouldn’t be trained/ridden
- 04:11 – Spruce Meadows & Susan's introduction to classical training
- 07:26-08:31 – The story of her Appaloosa “Top Canadian” and breaking breed stereotypes
- 12:29-15:32 – Observations about modern equipment, trends, and cruelty
- 17:07-24:02 – Breed trends, market demands, and how the industry changed
- 26:02-31:37 – Safety, trauma, and horse psychology
- 36:32-39:01 – The role of mentorship, risk of online learning, and dangers for horses
- 40:03-42:36 – Practical daily acts of kindness toward horses
- 46:46-50:26 – Health issues, cost, and access for riders now and future risks
- 54:47-55:50 – New equestrian class innovations & fostering inclusion/culture
Conclusion
Susan Gordon’s perspective, strengthened by decades of experience and a foundation in compassionate, classical equitation, offers a critical look at the state and future of horse-human relationships. The episode calls for a return to kindness, common sense, inclusivity, and sustainable practices—placing the horse’s welfare front and center and building a culture that invites all to share in the joy of horsemanship.
Resources:
- The Compassionate Equestrian Facebook Page
- The Compassionate Equestrian eBook via Trafalgar Square Books
Host Website: CamronAdibi.com