Poles, Piaffe and Prosecco

Join us in our podroom at the National Equine Show as we chat with Bea from the Society of Master Saddlers. Find out why their work is important and listen to Bea answer to podfire questions. Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/show/5gCKvNq5eYWC2QfHW8w6Vj?si=VWPegJUlQ9-v7ye-NGdn4g #dressage #podcast #prosecco #proseccotime #piaffe #poleworkforhorses #poleworkout #dressagetrainer #dressagetrainin...

It’s not often you meet a real life knight in the middle of the NEC in Birmingham, but back when they ran the podroom at the National Equine Show, that’s exactly what Tania and Katie did. Meet Karl Ude-Martinez: Actor, stunt rider and Knight of Middle England. Find out all about the Knights of Middle England and listen to his answers to the podfire questions.  Listen here: https://open.spotify.com...

In today’s summer bonus, Katie and Tania chat to pilates expert Julie Driver at the National Equine Show about why it is so crucial for riders to maintain straightness. Julie also answers the podfire questions. Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/show/5gCKvNq5eYWC2QfHW8w6Vj?si=VWPegJUlQ9-v7ye-NGdn4g #dressage #podcast #prosecco #proseccotime #piaffe #poleworkforhorses #poleworkout #dressagetrain...

What is the first thing that influencer This Esme thinks about in the morning? Who is the best horse she’s ever known? Find out how Esme Higgs fairs as she answers the podfire questions at the National Equine Show! Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/show/5gCKvNq5eYWC2QfHW8w6Vj?si=VWPegJUlQ9-v7ye-NGdn4g #dressage #podcast #prosecco #proseccotime #piaffe #poleworkforhorses #poleworkout #dressaget...

Saracen’s head nurtitionist Lizzie Drury joined Katie and Tania in the National Equine Show pod room. Find out how much Lizzie loves a microphone and what she’s doing at the NES. Lizzie answers the podfire questions - find out what Lizzie thinks is the biggest threat to equestrian sports. Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/show/5gCKvNq5eYWC2QfHW8w6Vj?si=VWPegJUlQ9-v7ye-NGdn4g #dressage #podcast...

The iconic Lucinda Green joined Katie and Tania in the podroom at the National Equine Show. Find out why Lucinda was at the show, and how she fairs as she answers the Poles, Piaffe & Prosecco podfire questions! What does an eventing icon think about first thing in the morning, who is the trickiest horse she’s ever ridden and what is her biggest achievement? Find out in this short interview. Li...

POD DROP: IT’S THE END OF THE SERIES!  It’s the last episode of the series, and Katie and Tania review what has been a phenomenal series of amazing guests and a plethora of topics covered.  Tania answers your questions for the final time as we head into our summer break, and Katie tries a tack room tipple that sets up your summer.  We need your training questions. Email us: polesandprosecco@yahoo....

POD DROP: RICHARD DAVISON ON THE  FUTURE OF EQUESTRIAN SPORTS If there’s one thing both Katie and Tania love about the pod, it’s the licence to ask questions to amazing guests, and this week we chatted with a dressage legend. In a no-holds-barred interview, Richard Davison talks welfare, governing bodies and how horses learn. In this episode, you can hear the full conversation with Richard and we...

HOW DO WE MAINTAIN ENGAGEMENT IN EQUESTRIAN SPORTS?  British Equestrian has a huge remit. As a governing body, they work with the FEI, but they’re also committed to increasing engagement in Great Britain. Joining us on the pod today are Rebecca Gibson and Winnie Murphy to talk about the challenges, the Charter of the Horse and how they plan to bring the sport to more people.  Find out more about B...

POD DROP: THE MEDIA AND THE FUTURE OF EQUESTRIAN SPORTS How do you ensure accurate reporting when there are so many armchair experts on social media? How do you select a genuine photo, amongst all the AI? How does the media influence the future of equestrian sports? Answering all of these questions and more on today’s pod is Horse & Hound’s Editor-in-Chief, Sarah Jenkins.  Visit the Horse &amp...

The final month of this series of the pod brings with it an important conversation: what is the future of equestrian sports? With welfare concerns rightly prevalent, social license proving to have a loud voice and the rising costs of keeping horses and running equestrian businesses forcing many to make tough choices, is the future bleak for the sport we love? We’ll be discussing this subject throu...

Thank pod it’s Friday, team! Last week, we introduced you to Rui and Sandra from Quinta de Falcoa, and today we will be introducing you to their chief instructor - a big character with a lot of say, and we had a lot of fun with him! Pedro Farto be talking about working equitation - a discipline that’s fast becoming popular here in the UK, and we will talk about our experience of having a go at it!...

It’s Friday, which means we have a fresh pod for you to enjoy! In today’s episode, we continue our series on Portuguese riding holidays, courtesy of Zara’s Planet. Today, we’d like to introduce you to Rui and Sandra, who run Quinta de Falcoa. Rui has enjoyed an illustrious career as a bull fighter. We were tentative about exploring his career, but we are very glad we did; Portuguese bull fighting...

Happy new pod day, team! Last week, we took you on a trip to Portugal to meet Rita and Carlos, the couple behind Quinta de Rol, courtesy of Zara’s Planet. This week, we’ll be taking you straight back to Quinta de Rol to experience more of this charming destination for riders and their families to enjoy. This week, we introduce you to chief instructor Joao and intern Hannah. Tania talks outside rei...

Well done, team. The winter is behind us, and we have survived! Throughout April on the pod, we are bringing you the Portuguese sunshine… you are welcome! Back in January, when the UK gave us enough rain for a year, while simultaneously being freezing, we were lucky enough to be sent to Portugal by those lovely ladies at equestrian travel consultant’s Zara’s Planet. All of this month, you can come...

POD DROP - HOT FLUSHES AND HALF-PASS: THRIVING AS A MIDLIFE RIDER. LIVE FROM THE NATIONAL EQUINE SHOW. Supported by Flying Changes Mindset. We all know mid life is a challenging time, and adding horses into the mix can certainly add to that challenge. At the beginning of the month, we hosted a live panel show at the National Equine Show, called HOT FLUSHES & HALF PASS: THRIVING AS A MIDLIFE RI...

Trying to maintain human relationships when you are committed to the horses in your life can be a minefield. Our guest in today’s pod is a psychotherapist and counsellor, as well as being a dressage and showing enthusiast. In this episode, Nadia DiLuzio answers your questions on how to manage partner’s expectations and the best way to juggle toxic yard relationships. Tania talks in front of the bi...

In the second episode of our series on Mindset March, we bring you our panel show ’Not the Plan, Still the Passion’, recorded live at the National Equine Show. Join us as we chat with Saffron Cresswell, a former 4* Event rider and European pony champion gold medallist. In 2024, Saffron suffered a fall at Bramham that resulted in her becoming paralysed from the chest down. Dylan Ward joined us, alo...

It’s Mindset March on the pod, and there is no one we’d rather kick it off with than mindset and performance coach Jenni Winter-Leach of Flying Changes Mindset. In this episode, Jenni answers your questions on feelings of failure towards your horse, losing your riding mojo, focus and reframing. It’s definitely an episode that we can all learn from, with plenty of ‘huh’ moments.  This week’s tack r...

Can you imagine going on a podcast to tell the world what Becky Moody does that annoys you? That’s exactly the question that Kim, Becky’s ‘work wife’ answers on today’s pod. We loved chatting with Becky and Kim about how they work together, and their enduring friendship. Do listen for a real insight into being a travelling groom for a top rider.  Tania talks back engagement, haunches in a ducking...

Have you ever pulled the wool over your loved one’s eyes or, indeed, hidden a horse? In today’s pod, we meet farrier and TikTok legend Sam Dracott and his work wife, Dee Richardson. Find out which one of them has a secret horse and about their working relationship.  Tania talks double bridles, and pressure and Katie is not convinced by this week’s tack room tipple!  Find out more about Sam Dracott...

Happy pod day, and happy (almost) Valentine’s Day! In today’s pod, we chat with the gorgeous Louise Bell, and her work wife - her groom, Emma. Find out who annoys who and how Louise is mentoring Emma. It’s a heartwarming listen, and we really enjoyed talking with Louise and Emma in the Winter Garden at the London International.  Tania talks balance, sitting still in the trot and how low should you...

February is the month of love on the pod, and we have a cracking month planned for you. Never conventional, we are looking at work wives and husbands and today, we are sharing how met and how we work together. Tania will be talking toes, half passes and dressage tests going wrong, while Katie is loving this week’s February pink drink!  We need your training questions. Email us: polesandprosecco@ya...

Our guest today is no stranger to life as an athlete. Sharon Hunt is an event rider and formed part of the bronze medal winning team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with the eye catching chestnut Tankers Town, she has enjoyed placings at Badminton and won Lumuhlen and also competed successfully in show jumping and dressage. She joins us today to talk about maintaining fitness as an athlete and her ne...

They say ‘You are what you eat’, and, as we continue learning about riders as athletes, today we meet Annie, a nutritionist that can help you fuel your athletic body. Find out how she works with riders to manage energy alongside their normal routine, whether the fat jabs are worth reaching for and managing chronic health issues and concentration.  Also in this episode, Tania talks long horses, att...