Equestrian Adult Amateur

Are we giving young horses the foundation they actually need to succeed? In this episode of The Equestrian Adult Amateur Podcast, we sit down with Katie Armstrong, founder of Building Better Hunters, to talk about one of the most important conversations happening in the hunter/jumper industry today: how we start young horses. Katie has dedicated her career to improving the way young horses are dev...

In this episode of the **Equestrian Adult Amateur Podcast**, Alexis and I sit down with our longtime trainer, Hannah Stone of Stone Performance Horses, for one of our most honest conversations yet. Hannah has spent years developing hunters, jumpers, and all-around horses in both the USEF and AQHA worlds, and she's sharing what she's learned from training horses—and riders—at every level. W...

What happens when everyone tells you it's over? In this episode of The Equestrian Adult Amateur, we share the incredible story of Wyatt, a Thoroughbred who suffered a devastating injury that many believed would end his career for good. Faced with difficult decisions, discouraging prognoses, and multiple professionals advising against continuing, Wyatt's team chose a different path. They ch...

This week on The Equestrian Adult Amateur, I'm sharing a horse show weekend recap as Sunny and Ollie continue preparing for one of our biggest goals of the season—the Big A Quarter Horse Show in Conyers, Georgia. Going into the weekend, I felt like we were in a really good place. Sunny had some great trips, Ollie had been working well at home, and I was feeling excited about the progress we&#3...

Why does it feel like no one outside the equestrian bubble cares about our sport? In this episode, we get honest about the stuff most riders only whisper about — the bitterness, the inequality, and the quiet competition between disciplines that nobody wants to admit is there. We dig into the hunter ring and the subjective side of judging, the "horse girl" stereotype, and why so many of u...

In this episode of the Equestrian Adult Amateur Podcast, we dive into one of the most debated topics in the hunter/jumper world: when is someone truly ready to call themselves a professional? We discuss the differences between amateurs and professionals, the challenges young trainers face when building a business, and the realities of managing horses, clients, staff, and expectations. From develop...

What does it take to breed a horse that can truly succeed in the hunter ring? In this episode of the Equestrian Adult Amateur Podcast, Kelly sits down with Ashley Adler of Oasis Sport Horses, along with trainer Josh Dolan, to talk about breeding, temperament, and the journey behind one of the hunter world's most recognizable palomino stallions, Kiss of Gold. Ashley shares how a childhood dream...

In this episode of the Equestrian Adult Amateur podcast, Kelly and the crew dive into the controversial Netflix documentary surrounding the shocking shooting at a horse farm and the media storm that followed. The conversation unpacks the highly produced nature of the documentary, the unanswered questions left behind, and how the portrayal of the equestrian world has sparked major discussion both i...

In this episode of the Equestrian Adult Amateur podcast, Kelly sits down with Orchid In this episode of the Equestrian Adult Amateur podcast, Kelly sits down with Orchid Bertelsen to talk about returning to the horse world after a 25-year break, rediscovering passion as an adult, and navigating the realities of balancing horses, motherhood, work, and personal identity. With a background in digital...

Or maybe more specifically… why does nobody outside of our world care about the top athletes in our sport? In every major sport, there are household names. Golf has Tiger Woods. Gymnastics has Simone Biles. Swimming has Michael Phelps. These athletes became bigger than their sports because media, storytelling, sponsorship, and marketing dollars were invested into making people care. So why hasn’t...

In this episode of the Equestrian Adult Amateur Podcast, Alexis and I are sitting down for a real life update — and it’s one of those conversations that feels a little messy, a little emotional, and very real. We talk about what’s been going on behind the scenes, especially with my young horse, Oli. After being in training while I was recovering from a broken leg, he’s come back struggling with an...

In this episode of the Equestrian Adult Amateur Podcast , I’m sitting down with Mel, an equine massage therapist whose journey in the horse world started early — from caring for horses at 13 to studying biblical counseling with a minor in equine studies, and eventually building a career centered around helping horses feel and perform better. Mel shares how her time as a working student in Pennsylv...

In this episode of the Equestrian Adult Amateur Podcast, we’re diving into one of my favorite (and slightly controversial) topics — equestrian fashion, brands, and the trends we love… and the ones we don’t. We get into some honest opinions on brands like Cowgirl Up and Charles Owen, and talk through what we’re actually drawn to when it comes to style in the ring. From rust-colored breeches to helm...

In this episode of the Equestrian Adult Amateur Podcast, we’re joined by Michelle, an adult amateur rider whose story is one so many of us can relate to. Michelle started riding as a kid, but like a lot of us, life got busy and horses had to take a back seat. It wasn’t until years later — after her fiancé surprised her with a trail ride — that she found her way back into the saddle. From there, ev...

In this episode of the Equestrian Adult Amateur Podcast, we’re addressing something that’s been coming up a lot lately — the conversation around how adult amateurs are portrayed, both online and within the horse world. If you’ve seen our skits, you know we lean into humor. Yes, they’re exaggerated. Yes, they’re satirical. But they’re also rooted in very real experiences — things I’ve felt, things...

What does it really mean to be an adult amateur in the equestrian world? In this episode, we dive into the complicated, hilarious, and sometimes misunderstood life of the adult amateur rider. From juggling careers, families, and finances to managing the emotional investment we place in our horses, being an amateur rider comes with its own unique set of challenges. We talk about why amateurs often...

In this episode of the Equestrian Adult Amateur Podcast, we’re having a conversation that isn’t always comfortable — but it’s necessary. We talk openly about the pressure to be perfect in today’s equestrian world and how that pressure has evolved over the years. The horses are more athletic, more powerful, and the expectations — from judges, trainers, owners, and even social media — are higher tha...

In this episode of the Equestrian Adult Amateur Podcast, I’m joined by Maxi Witrak — a comedian, actor, and lifelong horse girl whose story perfectly blends humor, heart, and honesty. Maxi grew up riding horses in Seattle before moving to Los Angeles, where she built a career in comedy and acting. We talk about how her mom first introduced her to the horse world, the many disciplines she explored...

In this episode of the Equestrian Adult Amateur Podcast, I’m taking a step back to reflect on a year that stretched me in ways I didn’t expect — personally, professionally, and within the horse world. 2025 was hard. I struggled, I questioned myself, and I watched so many other adult amateurs go through similar seasons. I even managed to break my ankle in a ball pit while playing with my nephew — a...

In today’s episode, I’m catching you up on a very full couple of weeks — from local horse shows to scary moments, derby fun, and prepping for GHJA Finals with Ollie and Sunny. I talk about my love for local shows and our most recent derby event, plus how I use forage-based diets to keep my horses feeling their best. If you’ve been here awhile, you already know how much I swear by Standlee — their...

In this episode, we’re recording right from the horse show grounds—Hannah isn’t with us today—so it’s Alexis and her horse stepping into a flat class together. Alexis opens up about the nerves that come with putting a horse in the ring for good, confidence-building experiences, even when you’re not totally sure what’s going to happen. We talk about how differently we ride now compared to when we w...

In this episode, we chat with a Product Marketing Manager from Garmin about their groundbreaking new wearable for horses — the Garmin BLAZE Smart Heart Rate & Health Monitor. They share the behind-the-scenes story of how this revolutionary product came to life — from testing on horses across different disciplines to uncovering new insights about equine health and fitness. The BLAZE tracks your...

In this episode, Alexis and I dive into a topic that so many riders can relate to — dealing with toxic trainers in the equestrian world. We’ve all either experienced it ourselves or watched someone else go through it, and it’s time to have an open, honest conversation about it. We share our personal experiences and unpack what really makes a trainer “toxic,” from emotional manipulation to poor com...

In this special one-year anniversary episode, we celebrate a full year of being on air and building an incredible equestrian community! Joining us for this milestone conversation is Kali Crosby, a gifted animal communicator who helps her clients connect with their animals on a deeper level to uncover what they truly need. Kali shares how she discovered her unique ability to speak with animals, the...

In this episode, I sit down with Brad DiMaggio from Scrapyard Media to talk all things filmmaking, pre-production, and the chaos of shooting in the performance boating world. Brad and I first met while working for a mutual client — and let’s just say, things got a little wild when we got kicked out of a boat race mid-filming! From there, we dive into what makes great content actually work : planni...