Two Point Perspective

Reynolds is on vacation, so this week it's a solo rabbit hole — and Elizabeth can't stop pulling the thread. Between Bill Moroney's retirement, the new Professional Jumping League, USETA's town halls, and the ongoing debate over whether USEF and USHJA should even stay together, it can feel like members are having five different arguments at once. Are they? This episode digs into a viral Facebook d...

People call horses a hobby all the time. But somewhere along the way, for many riders, they become much more than that. In Episode 28 of Two Point Perspective , Elizabeth and Reynolds talk about why horses have a way of shaping our lives—from childhood and college to careers, family, competition, and even wedding vows. They explore why so many horse people build their lives around the barn and why...

Horse buyers have more information than ever before. Videos. X-rays. Show records. Social media. PPEs. So why is buying a horse still so difficult? In this episode of Two Point Perspective, Elizabeth and Reynolds discuss horse shopping, pre-purchase exams, risk, trainer guidance, insurance considerations and the realities of making a major purchasing decision when there are no guarantees. From Rey...

Most riders can tell you what they worked on in their last lesson. Fewer riders can explain how that lesson connects to their long-term goals. In this episode of Two Point Perspective, Elizabeth and Reynolds discuss the difference between simply taking lessons and being part of a structured riding program. From lesson tracking apps and measuring progress to homework, trainer communication, assista...

After attending a USEF Member Listening Session, a USETA town hall, and spending far more time than intended digging into governance documents, Elizabeth found herself asking a different question. Most people agree something in the sport needs to change. But how does change actually happen? This episode explores participation, influence, membership, public pressure, and the often-complicated path...

Horse shows have always required travel, but somewhere along the way they became destinations. In Episode 24, Elizabeth and Reynolds talk about how the horse show experience has evolved—from local circuits and weekender shows to massive venues like the World Equestrian Center that have transformed the way many riders, trainers, and families experience the sport. What have we gained? What have we l...

In Episode 23 of Two Point Perspective, Elizabeth and Reynolds discuss the growing pressure inside modern horse showing and why so many riders feel like the structure of the sport has changed dramatically over the last decade. The conversation moves beyond one town hall or one controversy and looks at the larger issues many riders, trainers, parents, and adult amateurs are reacting to: rising cost...

This week on Two Point Perspective, we break down the public USEF town hall and the larger conversation happening across the hunter/jumper industry. From trainer pressure and rising costs to communication, governance, trust, and the growing disconnect many riders feel, this episode looks at what was actually said — and what riders may have heard underneath it. We attended the town hall, recorded t...

There’s still a lot of conversation happening around the sport right now — governance, frustration, access, fairness, cost, and where things are headed. But this week’s episode goes somewhere a little different. After going with Reynolds to her final chemo treatment, Elizabeth found herself thinking less about the structure of the sport and more about the people inside it — and why horses become s...

Last episode, we talked about how decisions get made — and what happens when they don’t line up. This week, we sat down with Chris Wynne to talk about why trainers are starting to organize, what they think needs to change, and how those decisions affect riders, horse shows, costs, and the future of the sport. This isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about understanding why this conversation i...

This week didn’t go the way anyone expected. After an EHV-1 case at HITS Culpeper, the Virginia Horse Center made an initial decision to keep certain horses away from the upcoming shows. Then USEF clarified that only they had the authority to restrict entries. And from there, things didn’t get clearer—they got harder. Trainers had to decide whether to go or stay home. Clients had to decide whether...

Last week, we talked about the size and value of the sport—and how it’s built from a lot of small, often invisible pieces. This week, we take that one step further. Because all of that structure… all of those moving parts… don’t exist on their own. They land on someone. And that’s the professional running the program. In this episode, I walk through what that actually looks like now. Not just teac...

We’ve been talking a lot about the cost of this sport. But this week, we looked at it differently. A recent post put the equestrian industry at over $300 billion a year. On paper, that makes it larger than most major sports. And yet, it rarely shows up in the same conversations. So why is that? In this episode, we break down what’s actually behind that number—and why it doesn’t look the way people...

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...