Two Point Perspective

We talk a lot about how expensive this sport has become. But what does that actually mean? In this episode, we look beyond the financial side of rising costs in horse showing and ask a bigger question: what is it doing to the rider? As the sport becomes more structured—with increased reliance on trainers, grooms, and managed programs—the system is evolving in ways that create consistency and reduc...

We talk a lot about “moving up” in this sport — and lately, there’s been a lot of conversation around whether riders are moving up too soon. But the reality is more complicated than that. There was a time when readiness felt more clearly defined. You either could do something, or you couldn’t. Today, with more divisions, more options, and more pathways, that clarity isn’t always there. And that sh...

In this episode of Two-Point Perspective, Elizabeth is joined again by Reynolds as they continue the conversation around what it actually means to go professional in the hunter/jumper world. Following last week’s discussion with Josie Elliott, they take a closer look at the realities behind that decision — from working for a professional and navigating the early stages of a career, to understandin...

What does it actually take to become a professional rider today? In this episode of Two-Point Perspective , Elizabeth talks with young professional Josie Elliot about the modern path into the horse industry — from college riding to working in top training programs. Josie shares her experience riding at Oklahoma State, working for top trainer Stacia Madden, traveling to Europe to source horses, and...

In this episode of Two-Point Perspective , Elizabeth looks at how the business of horse showing has evolved — and how that evolution reshaped the structure of modern training barns. For many riders who grew up in the sport years ago, learning to ride meant developing your own horse. Trainers taught lessons, coached riders, and occasionally schooled horses when needed, but the expectation was that...

This week I flew to Florida to try horses. I thought I knew exactly what I was looking for. I had a plan. I had advice. I had a checklist. What I didn’t have was certainty. After losing horses, starting over more than once, and learning lessons I never intended to learn, the pressure to “get it right” feels sharper than ever. Not because of outside noise — but because of a quiet internal clock. Ov...

As riders, we work hard to be prepared. But if mistakes at horse shows are managed for us… how do we grow? In this episode, I explore something sitting underneath a lot of conversations in our sport — budget, green horses, expectations, and what’s “realistic.” Yes, riding is expensive. Yes, sometimes a horse simply isn’t ready yet. And yes, sometimes moving on is the right decision. But I keep com...

Last week, I talked about wanting more — not more divisions, not more height. More momentum. But the more I sat with it, the more I realized something uncomfortable: It’s not about the level. It’s about time. When a plan falls apart. When a horse needs to step down. When another year disappears in what feels like a blink. This episode is about the moments that remind you how quickly things shift —...

For most of my riding life, progress worked in a predictable way. You showed up. You did the work. And over time, things moved forward. So what happens when that stops? In this episode, I talk about something a lot of adult amateur riders experience — but don’t always say out loud: Doing the work… and not moving up. After a series of scary falls, I stepped down a division. That part made sense. Bu...

In Episode 7 of Two Point Perspective, Elizabeth opens up about the side of riding most people don’t talk about — the real cost beyond just money. From heartbreaking horse losses to injuries, vet bills, tough decisions, and starting over more times than she ever imagined, Elizabeth shares her personal journey through the highs and lows of adult amateur riding. As an Older Adult Amateur, time feels...

When plans change — in riding and in life — it’s rarely easy. In this solo episode of Two Point Perspective , Elizabeth shares real moments where everything shifted fast: horses that didn’t turn out as expected, plans that had to change, and the emotional ups and downs that come with riding. She also gives an update on Reynolds’ recovery and reflects on the powerful friendships this sport creates...

Detours happen in riding — sometimes it’s the horse, sometimes it’s us, and sometimes it’s life. And when you hit a detour — physically or emotionally — it can change more than just the plan. In Episode 5 of Two Point Perspective , Elizabeth is joined by Samantha Shanks-Husband of Prepare to Win to talk about what happens when riding (and life) take a detour — and why anxiety in the saddle isn’t s...

This week’s episode is a shorter, more personal Two Point Check-In — because sometimes life interrupts the plan. Reynolds is having surgery this week as she navigates what she lovingly called her “shitty titty” 2026. She’s okay, she’s strong, and she’s surrounded by support — and we’re giving her the space to focus on healing and recovery. Meanwhile, Elizabeth is en route to Georgia to accompany h...

Perfection in this sport isn’t accidental — and it isn’t cheap. In this episode of The Two Point Perspective , Lizzo and Reynolds talk honestly about the financial, emotional, and cultural costs behind modern equestrian sport. From tack that costs more than a first car, to horse shows that add up faster than anyone wants to admit, this is a real conversation about what it takes to stay in the game...

In this episode of The Two Point Perspective , Lizzo and Reynolds break down the generational gap in horsemanship — what riding looked like in the 1970s and what it looks like now. They talk about barn culture, hands-on horse care, green horses, the rise of “rules,” and how trainers today are balancing safety, liability, and an entirely different business model. This conversation isn’t about which...

In our very first episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on who we are, where we come from, and why this podcast even exists. I’m Lizzo — a junior rider in the 1970s who spent most of my childhood in the barn, long before anyone talked about “programs” or “pathways.” I was trained the old-school way: miles, feel, fundamentals… and eventually by a trainer who went on to become one of the most infl...