In Stride

In this episode, Natalie works through visualization exercises with one of her clients, who is overwhelmed in the warmup ring at jumping competitions and wants to learn how to stay present in that environment. They discuss an experience she had as a kid where she was scared after a fall and didn’t receive the support and security she needed to process that fear. Natalie guides her through an exerc...

In this episode of “In Stride,” Sinead is joined by Olympic event rider Clark Montgomery. Clark Montgomery is an international event rider and show jumper that has successfully trained numerous horses up the levels. With his horse Loughan Glen, Clark competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics, placed 1st in the 2015 Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials CCI3*, placed 6th in the 2015 Luhmuhlen CCI4*, a...

In this episode, Lucy talks to the founder of Urban Cowgirl Ranch, Brianna Noble, also known as the “Urban Cowgirl.” Brianna Noble is an accomplished horsewoman who focuses on expanding the reach and accessibility of riding and horsemanship sports to communities that are generally excluded from the sport, including youth of color and economically disenfranchised populations. Brianna is pioneering...

In this episode, Natalie talks to 5* event rider Hannah Sue Hollberg, who is preparing to compete at the Burghley Horse Trials. Natalie and Hannah want to give people an inside look into mentally preparing for a big event. They discuss practicing presence in a peak performance state so that she can recreate the feeling. Natalie guides her through an exercise to help her cope with any stress or wor...

In this episode, Lucy talks to thoroughbred racing trainer Jena Antonucci. Jena Antonucci became the first female trainer in history to win a triple crown race when Arcangelo won the Belmont Stakes in 2023. Arcangelo had an incredible season and went on to be awarded champion three-year-old male horse that year. Jena has numerous awards and accolades within her sector of the industry, and she curr...

In this episode, Natalie works through visualization exercises with one of her clients, who feels like regardless of how much progress she makes, she will never be a good enough rider. They discuss people’s tendency to learn from a shame-based approach and the challenges of learning to ride with a trainer who sold a young and green horse to a beginner rider. Natalie guides her through an exercise...

In this episode of “In Stride,” Sinead is joined by former 4* event rider and sports psychology consultant Abigail Lufkin. Abigail Lufkin is a former US Team Equestrian athlete who transitioned from the role of competitor to the role of sports psychologist for top athletes in the sport. Abigail was fourteen when she competed in her first CCI three-day event and sixteen when she won her first natio...

In this episode, Natalie works through visualization exercises with one of her clients, who is anticipating bad behavior during her rides and has become afraid over jumps, on the flat, and on hacks. They discuss the horse she had as a kid that frightened her and made her feel like she couldn’t make progress, and the patterns were established from that experience. Natalie guides her through an exer...

In this episode, Lucy talks to PATH-certified instructor and owner of Endeavor Therapeutic Horsemanship, Emily Bushnell. Emily has three children, and in addition to her therapeutic riding business, she is the owner of a thoroughbred named Resilience, who finished 6th in the 2024 Kentucky Derby. Lucy and Emily talk about Emily’s involvement in the racing industry, how she got into therapeutic ridi...

In this episode, Natalie talks with 5* event rider Hannah Sue Holberg about the nervous system and mindset work she’s done with Natalie and how it’s allowed her to consistently find peak performance in competition. They discuss helping other riders by hosting clinics where they will teach people systems in skill and mindset work that are reliable and repeatable. Hannah and Natalie talk about horse...

In this episode of “In Stride,” Sinead is joined by Canadian Olympic event rider Jessica Phoenix. Jessica Phoenix is a five-time Pan American Games medalist and one of Canada’s most successful event riders. Jessica has competed in three Olympic games: London in 2012, Rio in 2016, and Paris in 2024. At the Pan American Games, Jessica won team bronze in 2019, individual silver in 2015, and individua...

In this episode, Lucy talks to Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer Betsy Steiner. Betsy is a USDF gold medalist with over three decades of experience as an elite competitor, trainer, and clinician. Betsy has two children, and her daughter, Jessie Steiner, is also a professional dressage rider and trainer. Lucy and Betsy talk about Betsy’s experience as a young mother and up-and-coming profession...

In this episode, Natalie works through visualization exercises with one of her clients, who is worried about what the future holds and just wants to enjoy every day with her horse. They discuss the misunderstandings that were established after her beloved pony was suddenly taken away when she was fifteen and how she worries that the same thing will happen with her current horse. Natalie guides her...

In this episode, Lucy talks to the Canadian designer and founder of the Noel Asmar Group, Noel Asmar. Noel has two sons, ages nineteen and seventeen, and a daughter, age twelve. Lucy and Noel talk about the challenges of maternity leave as a self-employed business owner and how women should be more forgiving with themselves in the early stages of motherhood. They discuss changing the business mode...

In this episode of “In Stride,” Sinead is joined by top three-day eventer Marcia Kulak. Marcia Kulak is a top three-day event rider and trainer who has successfully competed at some of the world’s largest competitions, including Rolex, Burghley, Blenheim, Boekelo, and Fair Hill. Marcia has been shortlisted for two Olympic Games and has had the opportunity to train with numerous experts, including...

In this episode, Lucy talks to the former host and producer of the award-winning podcast, Equestrian Voices, Caroline Culbertson. Caroline works in the journalism and editorial space within the equestrian sport and has two children the ages of two and four. Lucy and Caroline have both experienced miscarriages, and in this episode, they vulnerably share their story and the hardships they faced. The...

In this episode, Lucy talks to the founder of the equestrian brand Novella Equestrian and USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medalist Taryn Young. Like Lucy, Taryn has a toddler and is in the third trimester of her second pregnancy. Taryn discusses her riding life and career before starting a family and how that has shifted after having her son. They talk about the importance of kids seeing their mothe...

In this episode, Natalie works through visualization exercises with one of her clients, who wants to face the challenges in her personal life so she can be emotionally available for her horses at competitions and in everyday training. They discuss the misunderstandings that were established after a traumatic event when she was seventeen and how that has created an avoidance pattern for painful emo...

In this episode of “In Stride,” Sinead is joined by 4* event rider and US Olympic team selector Jon Elliott. Jon started riding at an early age and went on to develop numerous upper-level event horses and have an influential role in the eventing world. On his horse Aspen, Jon finished 4th at the Rolex Kentucky CCI*** in 1998. In addition to his long-time partnership with Aspen, Jon completed the B...

In this episode of Equestrian Mama, Lucy talks about her postpartum experience and how it changed her life as a professional rider and trainer. Lucy discusses the mental and physical challenges she faced after giving birth and the parts of postpartum life she wasn’t expecting. Lucy stresses the importance of focusing on the good things in difficult times and using horses as therapy throughout this...

In this episode, Lucy talks about going through her first pregnancy and how she navigated running her dressage training business while simultaneously preparing to be a mother. She discusses struggling with the idea of taking time away from riding and how she had to design a system that allowed her to stay involved in her business throughout the pregnancy. Lucy talks about feeling alone and a lack...

In this episode, Lucy talks to OBGYN Dr. Kathleen Bertuna about riding while pregnant and postpartum recovery. They discuss the risk vs. reward of riding while pregnant, how a rider can minimize the risk during different stages of their pregnancy, and the importance of being in tune with your body and knowing when to not push the limits. They also discuss the difference between recovering from a c...

In this episode of Riders Unscripted, Natalie works through visualization exercises with one of her clients, who is feeling guilty about the horses in her past that have had soundness or health issues and fears that her current horse will have the same fate. They discuss the misunderstandings that were established in her childhood and how she can heal her younger self in order to find unconditiona...

This is the fourth and final session of Equestrian Mastermind with top riders Lauren Sprieser, Olivia LaGoy-Weltz, and Lehua Custer guided by transformational life coach Natalie Hummel. This episode was recorded on March 18th, 2024. Natalie prompts the group to talk about detaching their identity from the highs and lows of their ego. In the fourth episode, they discuss approaching situations from...

This is the third session of Equestrian Mastermind with top riders Lauren Sprieser, Olivia LaGoy-Weltz, and Lehua Custer guided by transformational life coach Natalie Hummel. This episode was recorded on February 19th, 2024. Natalie prompts the group to talk about the avoidant strategies their nervous system uses in moments of high stress. In the third episode, they reflect on the mindset shift fr...