Horse Person – Détails, épisodes et analyse

The horse world doesn't always agree on everything, but it can agree on this: The cost of competing is becoming prohibitively high. In fact, the cost of most things related to horses seem to be creeping up every time we turn around. 

How did showing get so expensive? Are enthusiastic riders getting priced out of being able to compete even just a few times a year? What is the sport's leadership's view on this and what's driving the bottom line at show venues?

To discuss, Caroline Culbertson is joined by USEF CEO Bill Moroney, CEO of West Palms Event Management Dale Harvey, and a Texas based adult amateur named Meg Walsh. As you can imagine, it's not a straightforward issue with straightforward answers, but the four try to untangle the strings in this discussion.

This episode is sponsored by Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services.

Taylor flury is doing something not that many professionals in the US are doing -- she isn't just breeding show jumping horses for top sport, she's breaking them and bringing them along herself. At only 34, Taylor has taken numerous young horses previously not started undersaddle and developed them into competitive FEI Grand Prix Jumpers. 

But Taylor still faces the frustrations, doubts, and questions that many of us face when developing young horses. She thrives on the process, but she's not immune to the moments of, 'Should I send this horse to someone else?' or 'Will this ever get better?' that many of us face. The difference is that Taylor has honed this skills and mindset to bust through those moments and make it to the other side. She's sharing that with us today, as well as how her frightening diagnosis of a brain disease as a young rider turned into a blessing fork-in-the-road moment for her career as a horsewoman today. 

This episode is also sponsored by #WeRideTogether. Their Out of Bounds video series has gone viral, viewed over 10 million times in just a few weeks. Check it out here. 

 

This special LIVE episode is made possible by Nikovian. Use code horseperson15 to get 15% off your entire order at checkout. 

This episode is also supported by WeRideTogether.today. We all have a part to play in preventing abuse and misconduct in equestrian sports. Learn more on their website. 

Dr. Jenny Susser is a renowned, Olympic level sport psychologist who has supported athletes from the beginner level through the Olympic game in all sports, but specializes in equestrian sports. Dr. Jenny joined us on a LIVE call-in show to answer 3 horse person podcast listener questions. 

Want to join the next one? Email me - caroline@horsepersonpodcast.com 

This episode is sponsored by Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services. Welcome to Horse Person: MADE — where we explore the stories behind the brands, businesses, and visionaries shaping the horse world. This isn't just about entrepreneurship — it's about the real, human journey: the risks, the resilience, the detours, and the drive it takes to build something meaningful in this industry. This is Olympic show jumper Daniel Bluman, documenting how he built Bluman Equestrian from a small family business that he founded at 20 years of age, and turned it into a global, multi-pronged equestrian business encompassing many equestrian professionals and areas of the industry. 

Learn more about Bluman Equestrian: https://www.blumanequestrian.com/

Learn more about Fairfield County Hunt Club: https://fairfieldhuntclub.com/

Learn more about Blue Star Equestrian: https://www.bluestareq.com/

Learn more about Urim Therapeutic Center: https://urimtherapy.com/

 

 

This episode is presented by Nikovian. Use code horseperson15 for 15% off your order. 

The bit is one of the most powerful—and potentially harmful—tools we use, yet most riders choose one without fully understanding its impact. In this episode, we unpack why choosing a bit and understanding that bit is actually a huge responsibility that we really need more focus and more education on. 

I'm joined by Mette Larsen who is one of the most knowledgeable sources of bit fitting and bit choice information here in the states. Mette Larsen is the president of Neue Schule USA and a lifelong equestrian who has dedicated her career to improving horse welfare through innovative bitting solutions. A successful dressage rider and also a board-certified physician, Mette's commitment to ethical, science-based horsemanship has made her a respected advocate for better communication and comfort between horse and rider.

You can expect to learn about the most common bit fitting mistakes, what to understand about the horse's mouth because it was designed for eating and drinking (not for carrying a bit!), and what you can do the next time you go to the barn to determine if you're one of the 80-90% of riders who have a sub-optimal bit in your horse's mouth - according to your horse's mouth anatomy, training, and preferences. 

This episode is supported by #WeRideTogether. To learn more about the CARD diagrams mentioned in today's episode, go to WeRideTogether.today or click here. 

 

This episode is presented by Nikovian. 

Saly Glassman spent nearly four decades leading one of the largest retail investment practices in the world, but she walked away to help people heal through horses, and isn't looking back. 

In this episode, we dive into how Saly combined her passions for psychology, philanthropy, and horsemanship to create the Kindle Hill Foundation, a cutting-edge equine-assisted therapy center serving first responders and individuals facing anxiety, PTSD, depression, and more. The wisdom about horses and humans that she has gained through this process will be of value to every person who tunes into this conversation. 

Saly has helped over 800 police officers, firefighters, dispatchers, and paramedics find emotional regulation and connection through the horse-human bond—and she's challenging all of us to rethink what we call a "relationship" with our horses.

This episode is supported by #WeRideTogether. Keep sport safe for everyone. Go to www.weridetogether.today

Learn more about the Kindle Hill Foundation:
https://www.kindlehillfoundation.org

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Emma Chapman has been a professional groom at the top of show jumping competition for almost 2 decades and in that time, she's learned a thing or two. Today, we get to learn from her. 

Emma, who manages WEG gold medalist Adrienne Sternlicht's operation, gives us an inside look at the essential role of grooms in horse care and competition. We also dive into the evolving career path for grooms and what needs to change to improve working conditions in the industry. Plus, Emma offers a candid look at how she balances life as a new mom with the demands of professional horse care.

We also discuss:
- Differences between Europe and the U.S
- How and why contracts are more rare in the US than Europe
- The importance of movement and turnout for equine health
- Why better working conditions for grooms benefit everyone
- How, really, no one has life with kids figured out (and that's okay!)

One thing is clear: if you want to understand and support top-level sport, look to the grooms. 

This episode is presented by Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services. Learn more at www.connaway.net

This episode is also supported by #WeRideTogether. Reach out to the team for FREE safeguarding resources for your barn: info@weridetogether.today

 

You know her from riding in the biggest arenas in the world as an elite US dressage rider, or from her beloved social media following documenting her life as a top athlete. But there's so much more to Anna Buffini and her story than what meets the eye, and today, we're peeling back some of the layers on this incredible young woman who is rightly becoming a role model for many up-and-coming riders.

This episode is proudly presented by Connaway and Associates Equine Insurance Services. 

Anna, 30, who trains with her longtime trainer, Olympic bronze medalist Guenter Seidel, shares her high highs, her low lows, and how she's found sturdiness in a sport and lifestyle that often feels unpredictable and out of control. 

We talk about: 

• How she's built her mental strength to allow her to 'control the controllables'
• The best lesson she ever learned from her trainer
• The value of putting herself out there on social media in a sport that is often conservative and... let's face it... a bit judgemental. 
• Her faith and how it has affected her worldview as a top athlete
• The moment she decided her fitness needed to become a top priority
• Dressage being a subjective sport vs. objective sport
• The lessons she learned from her parents, who were also successful athletes in other sports
• The heartbreaking moment her Olympic dreams evaporated ahead of Paris

This episode is supported by WeRideTogether.today. For more information on the response reporting guide mentioned in this episode, go here: https://www.weridetogether.today/blog-posts/response-reporting-guide

 

 

If the only things certain in life are death and taxes, we sure do a poor job talking about the former. Let's change that. 

In this heartfelt conversation, Caroline Culbertson and renowned sport psychologist Dr. Jenny Susser explore the complexities of grief, particularly in relation to the loss of beloved horses. They discuss personal experiences with anticipatory grief, the emotional toll of preparing for loss, and the challenges of communicating about death. 

Dr. Jenny shares her recent experiences with the loss of two horses only weeks apart, highlighting the stark differences between expected and unexpected losses. They discuss the importance of recognizing the physical and emotional toll of grief, and the necessity of managing personal energy during difficult times. Grief is an all-consuming physical, emotional, and spiritual process, and it's time we talk about it as such. 

This episode is supported by WeRideTogether - a nonprofit organization created to cast light upon the endemic issue of sexual abuse in youth and amateur sports. Their mission is to make the youth and amateur sport environment safer for all athletes. For more information from today's episode, as well as free resources, go here. 

00:00 Navigating Grief: Personal Experiences and Reflections

14:53 The Impact of Anticipatory Grief

30:08 The Language of Loss: Communicating Grief

45:13 Finding Presence Amidst Worry

44:43 Understanding Energy and Grief

50:06 Protecting Mental Space During Grief

54:28 The Physical Manifestations of Grief

01:01:06 The Complexity of Anger in Grief

01:05:15 The Permission to Grieve

01:12:07 Finding Permanence in Loss

To learn more about Dr. Jenny Susser and her work, visit her website, www.DrJenny.com

Paige Jardine is a 5* Australian show jumper whose symptoms started small. Some discomfort, some nausea. But as time went on and she kept pushing through, with doctors providing little insight or treatment, things got worse, until she collapsed at the ingate during an FEI show. 

Paige spent years seeking a diagnosis, and is now speaking out about the power of removing the shame from women's health issues, especially in a sport that is majority female. In this conversation, Paige shares her deeply personal journey through mental health struggles and the diagnosis of endometriosis. She discusses the impact of self-doubt, the pressure to maintain appearances, and the importance of seeking help.

Paige shares with us the power of knowing: the power of knowing your diagnosis, of knowing you're not 'crazy' for feeling the way you do, and the power of knowing your limits along the way.