Equestrian Adult Amateur

Social media has changed the equestrian world—but has it actually made us better at communicating with each other?In this episode of the Equestrian Adult Amateur Podcast, Kelly and Alexis dive into the good, the bad, and the downright exhausting side of equestrian social media.

From viral clips and comment sections to influencer culture, unsolicited opinions, and conversations being taken completely out of context, we’r...

This episode dives into a conversation that started online and quickly sparked a much bigger discussion about horsemanship, training, genetics, and the relationship we have with our horses.

Katie shares how a life-changing rotational fall—and the loss of use of her left arm—completely shifted the way she approached horses and ultimately led her toward teaching better horsemanship. We talk about why giving horses more too...

Ever wondered what it actually takes to fly a horse across the world?

In this episode, we sit down with Bastian Schroeder from EquiJet to talk all things international horse transportation. Bastian shares how his love for logistics turned into a career helping horses travel between Europe and the United States, and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what really goes into getting a horse safely from one country to another.

We talk ...

In this fun and candid episode, we catch up on everything from life outside the barn to the latest happenings in the show ring. What starts as a lighthearted conversation about getting nails done quickly turns into a recap of a busy weekend at the horse show, where we celebrate a successful first big class, share memorable family moments, and laugh through the unexpected challenges that come with horse show life.

We also dive into t...

Navigating the Future of the Horse Industry: Media, Leadership, and Community

Join Kelly and Ellie Morris as they discuss the evolving landscape of the horse world, touching on leadership transitions, the power of media in sport perception, and building a united community. This episode offers deep insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping our sport’s future.In this episode:

• Ellie Morris’s journey from hun...

Is horse showing becoming too expensive for the average adult amateur?

In this episode of The Equestrian Adult Amateur Podcast, Alexis and I dive into one of the biggest conversations happening in the equestrian world today: the rising cost of horse ownership and competition. From skyrocketing horse prices to training, boarding, travel, and show expenses, we explore how the sport has changed—and what that means for everyday ri...

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 developed, believing that a horse's futu...

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.We talk about Hannah's journey in...

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 chose patience, faith, and the willingness to ...

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've been making. But as every equestr...

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 us feel judged differently depending on w...

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 developing a client base and earning trust ...

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 of owning a stallion eventually led her ...

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 inside and outside the industry.

The ...

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 marketing, Orchid opens up about l...

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 that happened in equestrian?...

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 anxiety and sp...

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 Pennsylvania shaped her understan...

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 helmets w...