Poles, Piaffe and Prosecco

If you are a beleaguered equestrian that tends to grown as you get out of bed with every joint aching and sore, or if, like Katie, you have had a career in clock watching while exercising, then this is the pod for you. You may have heard of it, or you may say, ‘Reformer, what?’ but in today’s pod we talk about the new trend sweeping the country as we continue our investigation into riders as athle...

Today we are continuing our exploration of ‘Riders as Athletes’. You don’t need to be a professional or competitive rider to be considered an athlete, and this episode applies to you - whatever you do with your horse. Today we are finding out more about osteopathy and how it can help you in your riding goals. Join us as we chat to Ben Holland from Core Osteo. Ben is not only and osteo, but also a...

Happy New Year, Pod Team! It’s a New Year and a new start for you as an athlete. Yes, you. You are an athlete! This month on the pod, we are exploring riders as athletes and today we talk to sports psychologist Jo Davies, who has herself competed to a high level. Jo answers your questions and her advice is relevant to us all.  Tania talks goal setting and busy riders, while Katie gives a non alcoh...

It’s the last episode of the pod for 2025, and it’s a Christmas cracker! Join us as we record live from the London International Horse Show. Find out the best Christmas gifts received by equestrian personalities, such as Becky Moody, Rebecca Hughes, Ruby Hughes, This Esme and Louise Bell among other good company, and what they wish they could find under the tree.  Also in this episode, Tania talks...

In the first of our December episodes, we met Rebecca Hughes and talked about the ultimate Christmas present of finding a pony under the Christmas tree. What happens though, if you do indeed find a new pony under the Christmas tree and you want to get out and about? Or if you have dreamed of owning your own wheels to take you and your pony wherever your heart desires. Joining us today to talk abou...

It’s very sparkly on the pod as we proceed through December. If you’re stuck on what to buy your loved one or your yard mates this Christmas, this is the episode for you! In today’s pod, we talk about the best gifts for under £30. Tania talks about how you can avoid being overwhelmed with horse chores at Christmas, and straight lines and motorbiking.  Join us for the Podvent Calendar: Poles, Piaff...

A hearty ho-ho-ho, and a big welcome to December on the pod! This week, we meet a real Christmas fairy, who can indeed arrange for a pony to be under your tree. There’s lots of banter with the brilliant Rebecca Hughes, as we encourage Tania to get her Christmas on. In this episode, we reveal more about the Podvent Calendar, and the prizes you can expect to win. Tania talks voice rule change and st...

There is something deeply humbling about standing with one of the heavy horses. For centuries they pulled ploughs to farm for us, delivered beer as dray horses and served in the military as drum horses amongst other roles. After such a history of service, its saddening to see many heavy breeds are either at risk or endangered and today we are looking at two breeds that are much loved by the equest...

How can a breed favoured by royalty and bred by our very own king be on the endangered list? This is the question we put to Catherine Lea of the Cleveland Bay Society on today’s pod. Find out more about a breed that could well be the ultimate all rounder.  Tania talks fizzy mares and stiff gifts (not a euphemism) and the duo finally go on brand to test a new Prosecco.  Find out more about Clevelan...

It’s the second Friday in November, and we are continuing to delve into rare breeds. Today, we are heading to Scotland to talk with Ruth McMinn about the Eriskay pony. Never heard of them? Neither had we! Find out all about these lovely ponies on today’s pod.  Tania talks arena footing and riding with ADHD, and Katie turns her nose up at this week’s tack room tipple! Find out what to avoid and don...

It’s a new month, which means it’s a new theme on the pod. This month, we are looking into rare breeds: what they are, and how we can support them. It’s an important topic, which, as horse lovers, we should all be aware of before breeds are consigned to history. The Rare Breeds Survival Trust exists to monitor and secure our native livestock breeds. Not just horses, but all livestock. They have se...

Our very own resident expert and Grand Prix rider and trainer, Tania Grantham, talks about her journey with Sam, and how she managed him with Bailey’s Lorna Edgar’s help. This episode gives you an insight into feeding for temperament and competition Katie gets quite excited about this week’s tipple, and Tania answers your questions on chicken wings, freezing in canter and planning for stay-away sh...

Our guest today is Nicki Bates, a West Sussex based show jumper that rides and produces horses up to Grand Prix and CSI 2*. In between popping fences, she’s a very  busy coach, with clients of varying levels. Along with her husband, dressage rider Michael Bates, she also breeds and produces sport horses. Find out how Nicki feeds her yard of competition horses, broodmares and young stock.  Tania ta...

Event rider Gaspard Maksud and nutritionist Lorna Edgar join Katie and Tania today to talk about how Gaspard feeds his team of horses. Gaspard really does treat every horse as an individual, and his management makes for really good listening!  Tania talks tension in trot, and answers a listener question on, ‘How low can you go?’, while Katie declares this week’s tipple as ‘a cuddle in a glass’! Al...

Jane Buchan of Baileys Horse Feeds joins us to answer your feeding and nutrition questions. Jane talks fussy feeders, complicated cases, tying up and turning away. So much good advice in one place!  Tania talks bitting, surviving injury and simple changes, while Katie announces the winner of our Award Equine Physio prize.  All of this month, the pod is kindly supported by Baileys, and just to add...

How do the product designers at Baileys develop a new feed, and why? These are two of the questions we ask our special guests, Jane Buchan and Liz Bulbrook, as we take a tour of the Baileys factory. Our eyes popped when we saw just how many feeds they make, and how. For the horse geeks among us, this is an episode you cannot miss!  The pod is kindly sponsored Baileys Horse Feeds this month, and th...

“Pammy Hutton conned me into dressage,” said our special guest on this week’s pod. The very lovely Davy Harvey joins us to talk about the horses that have meant the most to him and his climb from a go-ey Shetland to ‘a bit of Grand Prix’. We loved talking to Davy - he’s self-effacing, laid back and charming and we hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed our chat!  Tania talks ex-racers, bal...

Pippa El Derby (nee Hutton) joins Katie and Tania on today's episode and gives a brave, powerful and raw interview as she shares what horses mean to her. This is one episode you cannot miss, and one we are very proud of. Our heartfelt thanks to Pippa for being so open, so honest and for sharing her story. Tania talks swishy tails, renver and breathing, while Katie enjoys a little devil. This e...

It's FriYAY which means it's new pod day! In today's episode, we meet Emily Cole to talk about how a career in architecture led to life as an illustrator, how she comes up with ideas for her cartoon horses and what horses mean to her. Tania talks exercising in extreme heat, corner poles and nappy hackers, and the duo talk rosé tastings and test a tipple of Peyrassol. Once again, we are supported t...

Welcome to Series 3 of Poles, Piaffe & Prosecco! This month we are asking, “What Horses Mean To Me”. In today’s episode we chat with the remarkably level headed Ruby Hughes about her life with horses and a potential return to vaulting. We’d like to bottle Ruby’s brilliant attitude. Pretty sure we could become millionaires! Tania talks cobs, leg aids and hands and we try an English sparkling wi...

It's the end of Series Two of the pod, and in this episode Katie and Tania talk about their favourite bits. Tania answers more of your training questions and there's a bonus tip with this week's Tip of the Week and Fail of the Week. Series Three begins on 5 September 2025, but you don't need to miss us! All of the episodes from Series Two and Series One will remain available on you...

We continue investigating 'What horses do for us' in today's episode of the pod. Today we meet Maggie, who started her journey with horses as an adult ten years ago. Maggie was born without fingers on her left hand due to amniotic band syndrome, and competes both as a para rider and able bodied. In this episode, Maggie shares her very personal story of what horses do for her. As always...

All of this month we’ve been delving into what horses do for us, and today’s guests represent one of the most prolific charities that are known for changing the lives of disabled and disadvantaged people with horses. Formed in 1969, the Riding for the Disabled Association enriches lives through the unique bond between people and horses. Over 25,000 disabled children and adults are supported throug...

For many of us, marking a life event with a horse is the stuff our dreams are made of. Imagine being taken to your wedding in a shiny carriage, pulled by white horses. Or saying your final goodbye to a loved one that takes their last journey on a hearse pulled by black horses - the comfort a soft nose gives grieving relatives. Our guest in today's pod makes that a possibility. White Horse Farm...

Welcome to May, friends! The April showers are behind us, and with a new month comes a new theme. Throughout May, we are exploring 'What Horses Do For Us'. Now, day to day, we know that our hooved friends bring immense joy to our life, but we’re going deeper than that, and I am so excited to introduce today’s special guest. Imagine if you will being elderly with no contact with animals, an...