The Mounting Block - Riding, Life, and Laughs, Because We're Over 40 and Still Getting a Leg Over!

This week on The Mounting Block , Marissa shares the latest chapter in her horse search journey, riding everything from Gypsy Cobs and Clydesdales to highly sensitive Andalusians, while Oriel celebrates a major personal milestone as she conquers her fear of cantering over poles and small jumps. The pair are then joined by entrepreneur, business leader and change specialist Anna Whitlam for an incr...

This week on The Mounting Block , Marissa and Oriel share all the highs, nerves and hilarious moments from their first local hacking show experience — from soggy rugs and rain-soaked mornings to reserve champion ribbons and proud pony mum moments. The girls chat about stepping outside their comfort zones, the unexpected thrill of the show ring, and why hacking might just become their new obsession...

This episode of The Mounting Block is a powerful mix of real-life horse struggles, personal breakthroughs, and an incredibly inspiring conversation with global powerhouse Amy Kunrojpanya . The girls kick things off with the highs and lows of horse shopping—navigating confidence, capability, and knowing when a horse just isn’t the right fit (even when she’s beautiful). There’s also a huge personal...

In this special in-person episode of The Mounting Block , we’re joined by the man behind the magic — Will Shaw from Equine on the Move . The calm voice in our chaotic horse journeys, Will shares the real secrets behind horsemanship, confidence, and why sometimes… it’s not actually the horse that needs fixing. We dive into everything from float-loading disasters and gate dramas to the psychology of...

Horse shopping sounds exciting… until you’re dodging bucking broncos and questioning every listing like it’s online dating for horses. This week, we’re deep in the reality of finding “the one” for Marissa, the highs, the red flags, and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with it. From unexpected pig roots in the arena to the sobering truth that great horses set a very high bar, Oriel and Mariss...

In this episode of The Mounting Block , we sit down with Olympic three-day eventer Rebel Morrow—and let’s just say, it’s equal parts inspiring, humbling, and wildly relatable. From buying her Olympic horse for just $300 (yes, really) to finishing 11th in the world at the Athens Olympics, Rebel shares the raw, unfiltered reality behind elite equestrian sport. No perfect pathway, no grand plan—just...

In this thoughtful and refreshingly honest episode of The Mounting Block , Marissa and Oriel kick things off with their usual horsey catch-up, sharing updates on groundwork with Hickatee as she continues to recover, and Laney’s lesson prep ahead of an upcoming dressage protocol day. From invisible lead ropes and flag coordination struggles to the realities of training transitions and halts, it’s a...

This week on The Mounting Block , Marissa and Oriel kick things off with a very real horsey debrief after a day that did not go to plan — from Hickatee feeling off in work to Laney’s unexpected leg injury during groundwork. It’s a raw and relatable chat about the emotional roller coaster of horse ownership, the guilt riders carry, and why sometimes even the calmest days at pony club can unravel fa...

No wine today, which frankly feels suspicious given the week that was. Marissa kicks things off with the saga of Hickatee’s mystery lip injury — an incident involving stitches, rain-washed paddock evidence, and the shocking revelation that she is, in fact, wildly squeamish at the sight of horse blood. Nearly fainting while the vet insisted she stand on the exact side of the wound? Yes. Character b...

In this episode of The Mounting Block , Marissa and Oriel kick things off in classic style – joking about wine, bravery, and the small acts of courage it sometimes takes just to show up and have real conversations. It’s light, honest, and very on-brand, setting the tone for an episode that blends humour with meaningful depth. They’re joined by Leslie, a life coach calling in from Vietnam, who desc...

In this episode of The Mounting Block , Oriel is finally back after a big family adventure through the US, complete with snow, national parks, margaritas (the strong kind), and a whole lot of memories. While she was away, Marissa held down the fort with the horses, did some solo riding… and casually bought a horse float from overseas. As the girls ease into 2026 (and confront some very questionabl...

In this empowering episode of The Mounting Block , Marissa and Oriel welcome a very special guest: leadership, confidence and mindset coach Fiona Spence . With a background that spans corporate burnout, martial arts, deep mindset work and years of helping people transform their lives, Fiona brings a powerful mix of wisdom, humour and no-nonsense clarity. Together, the trio unpack why so many of us...

This week on The Mounting Block, it’s been A LOT. Oriel rides solo in her lesson (and misses Marissa terribly), we fall head-first into the absolute minefield that is horse float shopping (kitchens? tack boxes? air-con for the horses?!), and Oriel shares the story of copping a full-face head-butt from Hickatee and ending up at the doctor before the school Christmas concert. Then we’re joined by th...

Episode 4 is a big warm hug for every tired parent crawling toward the end of the year. Marissa and Oriel debrief on their latest riding lessons — complete with yelling coaches, triumphant canter circles, and Queensland heat exhaustion — before diving into the chaos of December. From school concerts to Christmas pressure, dropping balls left and right, Santa politics, Elf-on-the-Shelf panic and th...

Oriel and Marissa are back — and this week, it’s all about bravery in every form. From Oriel conquering her first official dressage test (complete with white jods, trembling hands and a bravery award) to Marissa’s first trail ride in decades , the pair share laughter, nerves and small victories in the saddle. Then they’re joined by the incredible Professor Matt Sanders , founder of the Triple P Po...

Oriel and Marissa tick off a huge milestone: their first unsupervised ride together. In a fenceless grass arena (gulp), they work on serpentines, self-carriage and a few baby canters—plus a quick refresher on arena manners after Laney threatens a cheeky bum-bite. They also unpack a horsemanship clinic with Will from Equine on the Move —think pallets-as-seesaws, pool noodles, bridges and those gian...

After a short break, Oriel and Marissa are back behind the mic — and back in the saddle — for Season Two of The Mounting Block ! This catch-up episode is packed with updates from “Horseland,” including the exciting arrival of Hickatee, Marissa’s new quarter horse on lease, and the blossoming paddock friendship (and surprising pecking order!) between Hickatee and Laney. The duo also opens up about...

In this episode of The Mounting Block , Oriel and Marissa sit down with Pam Hird — a nutritionist, naturopath, and personal trainer — to unpack the realities of burnout, sleep struggles, and the changes our bodies face as we move through our 40s and 50s. Pam brings her holistic perspective to the conversation, breaking down how stress impacts our energy, why sleep disturbances become more common,...

In Episode 17 of The Mounting Block , Oriel and Marissa share the twists and turns of their latest riding lesson. With Laney out of action and Marissa feeling under the weather, the pair mixed up their horses and found themselves navigating all the quirks and challenges that come with riding something new. They also take a moment to reflect on their nearly 12 months back in the saddle, prompted by...

In this episode of The Mounting Block , Marissa shares the hilarious tale of her whirlwind 48 hours as a brand-new pony owner — complete with a cheeky Houdini pony determined to test her patience (and her fences!). After the laughter, Oriel and Marissa welcome guest Claire Riley from claireriley.co , a business coach who helps business owners back themselves with confidence. Claire talks about why...

This episode of The Mounting Block takes a powerful turn as Marissa and Oriel are joined by parenting expert Carol Markie-Dadds from Triple P Parenting to mark Bullying Awareness Week. Carol brings decades of experience in child development and family support to an open, honest conversation about the challenges families face when bullying enters the picture. Together, they explore how bullying sho...

In this deeply personal and heartfelt episode of The Mounting Block , Oriel and Marissa open up about the reality of life getting in the way of riding, of routines, and of each other. With honesty and warmth, they reflect on the few weeks they haven’t ridden together and how hard it can be to keep passions alive when everything else feels overwhelming. But the real heart of this episode comes as O...

This week on The Mounting Block , we’re joined by an absolute powerhouse — five-time Olympian and beach volleyball gold medallist Natalie Cook! From the sandy courts of Sydney 2000 to life beyond elite sport, Nat shares what it really takes to reach the pinnacle of performance and how she transitioned into her post-athletic life with purpose. We dive into the mental grit, goal-setting, and laser-s...

In this episode, Marissa finally gets her moment in the saddle on Oriel’s horse, Laney—but where was Oriel during this ride? The duo catch up and unpack the juggle that so many families face: the chaos of coordinating life as working parents, managing FIFO (fly-in fly-out) schedules, travelling without kids, and all the moving parts that come with it. From school pick-ups to juggling the holidays,...

In this episode of The Mounting Block , Marissa and Oriel saddle up for some serious (but not too serious) money talk with financial advisor Shane Light from The Hopkins Group. If you’ve ever wondered how much do I actually need for retirement? or is it too late to get this sorted? , you’re not alone – because that’s exactly what we’re asking too. Shane breaks down the mysteries of superannuation,...