Ali Brock: The Heart of Horse-and-Rider Connection

This episode of In Stride is presented by The Eventing Series by Natalie Keller Reinert and Flatiron Books. You can find The Eventing Series books in paperback, ebook, and audiobook wherever books are sold. Follow Natalie Keller Reinert on Instagram at @NatalieKReinert. This episode is also sponsored by Purdue University’s Online Certificate in Equitation Science. Rethink tradition and train with purpose as you explore the science behind how horses think, move, and learn. Register now at https://purdue.biz/EquitationScience! In this episode of “In Stride,” Sinead is joined by US Olympic dressage rider Ali Brock. Ali Brock is a U.S. Olympic dressage rider and trainer known for her dedication to the sport and to the horses and riders she supports. Originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, she left the islands at 17 to pursue a dressage career and went on to work under top professionals, including Olympian Sue Blinks. In 2004, she became head trainer at Deer Meadow Farm with the support of Fritz and Claudine Kundrun, and later spent time training in Europe with Jan Brink, Kyra Kyrklund, and Richard White. Ali earned international recognition riding Rosevelt, a 2002 Hanoverian stallion, as part of the U.S. team that won bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics—the first Olympic dressage medal for the U.S. in 12 years. She actively supports youth programs like Dressage4Kids and has served as the Equestrian Representative for the Athletes Advisory Council. Now based in Wellington, Florida, she continues to train horses and riders at the highest levels and to mentor the next generation of Grand Prix trainers. In this episode, Ali shares her philosophy on training and how it supports a strong, lasting partnership between horse and rider, including: • How a horse’s emotional state influences her training approach and why recognizing that is essential. • The importance she places on the rider-horse relationship and the early mentors who shaped that perspective. • What commonly used dressage terms like “thoroughness” and “harmony” really mean in practice. • Why rules and regulations in horse sport should be based on evidence and context—not just snapshots or headlines. Join Ali and Sinead for an honest and thoughtful conversation about the future of the sport and how riders can prioritize partnership in their daily training.