The Equestrian Podcast

[EP 336] An Introduction to Positive Reinforcement with Shawna Karrasch

Shawna Karrasch is a pioneer in the use of Positive Reinforcement Training with horses. Her powerful and humane behavioral training techniques are an eye-opening experience for equine professionals, competitors, and amateurs alike. She has produced books and videos, and traveled worldwide to teach the concepts of bridge conditioning and positive reinforcement for horses. Shawna began her training career far outside the equestrian world, and when she was introduced to top equestrian competition, Shawna saw immediately how reward-based training could be used to engage the horse’s willingness in equestrian pursuits. Shawna has worked with many equestrians, most notably, John + Beezie Madden, and helped Beezie’s horse to overcome his fear of water. Listen in!

[EP 335] How Changing Your Mindset Becomes the Greatest Benefit to Strength and Conditioning with Coach Tony Sandoval

Tony Sandoval (aka Coach Sando) is a D1 Strength and Conditioning Coach who got his start in the equestrian space after he worked with a severely injured rider to bring her back to competition. Soon after her progress, Coach Sando decided working solely with equestrians was his passion. Being a rider himself, Coach Sando knows how to help riders feel connected to their horses and sharp in the ring by understanding how to increase their physical and mental skills. Coach Sando loves watching his students ride and compete in order to help them achieve their goals, and his team is passionate about using their experience to help riders become more athletic, ride with less pain, and feel more confident about their abilities. Listen in!

[EP 334] Tamie Smith Recaps Her Historic Win at the 2023 Land Rover Kentucky 3-Day Event

Tamie Smith is an accomplished equestrian and ICP Level 4 Certified Instructor with over 25 years of industry experience. Specializing in Eventing, Tamie recently became the first US Winner of the Kentucky Land Rover 3 Day Event in 15 years, the first woman to win the event in 12 years, and the first US woman to win the event in 18 years. In addition to having ridden Dressage at the Grand Prix level and having earned multiple Show Jumping accolades, Tamie has made a name for herself with career highlights including being named to the United States Developing and Elite Rider List multiple times (a proven training ground of the United States Olympic Team), participating as the fourth member of team USA and the traveling reserve in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, winning team silver at the 2022 World Equestrian Games, and more. Tamie takes great pride in each horse she works with and has developed excellent training skills. Achieving her long time goal of representing the United States in an Olympics or World Equestrian Games would be a dream come true and culminate her already fantastic equestrian career. Listen in!

[EP 333] How Ashlynn Meuchel Transitioned to a New Riding Discipline

Ashlynn began riding horses at a young age in Kalispell, Montana. She began competing in three day eventing at age eleven in the Northwest area of the country. Since then, her career in three day eventing has taken her all over the United States. She spent time on the eventing circuit in California before graduating college and moving to the East coast in order to pursue eventing as a full time career. Ashlynn works with horses and riders to achieve results through consistent education. Ashlynn has recently decided to pivot her personal career goals to focus on show jumping. She still trains her eventing clients, using what she learns across both disciplines to develop top horses and riders. Listen in!

[EP 332] How Christian Simonson Developed A Learning Framework for Balancing Life and Being in the Saddle

Christian Simonson is an accomplished dressage rider with many diverse interests. Inspired by his mother’s interest in riding, Christian discovered Dressage at the young age of six. He quickly became the protégé of USDF Gold Medalist, Gail Hoff Carmona and when, by the age of 13, Christian was ready to start showing at a national level, began training under the tutelage of Olympian, Jan Ebeling in Moorpark, Ca. He subsequently won both the Gold Team medal and Silver Individual medal in the 2016 Adequan/FEI NAYC, and the Silver Individual medal at the 2017 Adequan/FEI NAYC. Additionally, he was awarded the USDF Bronze and Silver medal that year. Christian and his horse Sonny were recently ranked number 1 in the CDIO 1* world rankings, along with Zeaball now second in the CDIO1* horse rankings. Listen in!

[EP 331] How Emma Tate Transferred Her Passion for Horses into Unique Art Pieces

Emma Tate grew up in a small lakeside town in central New York State riding, living, sleeping, and breathing horses. From day one, Emma has been affiliated with the colorful equestrian world. Her passion for horses led her to compete in several of the top competitions in the United States throughout her riding and training career. It wasn't until the final year of college when she took her first Figure Sculpture class, Emma realized her passion to make one of her greatest loves in art form. Emma's first sculpture was a self-portrait, and the second one a life-sized horse rearing out of the ground which now sits among the trees at the Stone Quarry Hill Art Park in Cazenovia, New York. The rest is history. Listen in!

[EP 330] The Similarities and Differences Between Showing in Europe and the U.S. with Sam Hutton

Samuel  Hutton is a professional showjumper who spends most of his time showing in Europe and the U.S. Prior to 2022, Sam had taken a several year break away from WEF, but since returning last year he has had great success. Sam is a regular Team GB Nations Cup rider, starting his career in the UK, and then making the move to Europe where he has been based for over 10 years. Sam has spent the last few years working for Abdel Said and has just spent the winter at WEF in Florida where he had multiple top placings, including 4th in the 4* Grand Prix. Listen in!

[EP 329] Reviewing the 2023 FEI World Cup Finals with Hunter Holloway

Hunter Holloway is one of the top emerging riders in the hunters and jumpers both nationally and internationally. Based in Topeka, Kansas, and Ocala, Florida, Hunter comes from a family deeply rooted in horses, and recently she won the bronze at 2023 FEI World Cup™ Finals Omaha this past April. In 2016, she rode to win the coveted ASPCA Maclay Championship as well as the 2016 Washington International Equitation Championships, winning all three phases of the competition. Hunter also won the U25 Jumper Championship at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in 2016. Hunter travels about eight months of the year competing in both Domestic and International competitions while also spending the Winters in Ocala, Florida competing at HITS and the World Equestrian Center winter circuit series. Listen in!

[EP 328] How Joey Emmert Evans Experienced Pregnancy in Combination with Riding

Joey Emmert Evans is the head trainer and barn manager at Whidbey Stables, located in the heart of wine county in Sonoma, California. She grew up riding in Pony Club, getting a love for foundational cross training that she still uses with her horses today. With a huge passion for groundwork, Joey's diverse background has given her a deep love and appreciation for riding and working horses outside of the competition arena. Joey currently trains with Guenter Seidel (EP 110), but has also worked with various clinicians such as Lilo Fore, Mike Osinski and Christine Traurig. In addition to riding, Joey is a busy mother of two, keeping family at the center of her passion and life. Listen in!

[EP 327] Learning the Horse’s Needs and Making Light of Every Situation with Nick Haness

Nick Haness is a hunter/jumper professional and owner of Hunterbrook Farms which was established in 2009. Currently located in Temecula, California, Nick grew up riding in Orange County as the only one in his family to work with horses, until his lifelong dream of owning his own farm came true. Nick has had many wins in some of the most prestigious hunter classes in the country, including the 2022 $25,000 WCHR Pro Final at Capital Challenge (Maryland), the $100,000 WCHR West Coast Hunter Spectacular (California), the $65,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Southwest Regional Championship (California). Listen in!