Mama in the Saddle – Details, episodes & analysis

I am so honored and excited to have Adele Shaw back on the podcast this week! As before, our conversation was impactful and encouraging.

We discussed so many good topics pertaining to horsemanship and motherhood. I asked some of the following questions:

1. What is a favorite memory (or memories) as a mom and horsewoman?

2. How have you had little kids/babies while having horses?

 3. What would you say to a woman who said she thought she would be selfish for wanting to pursue horses while being a mom?

4. What motivates you to keep going when there are tough days? Are there specific phrases you use, or reminders?

5. Explain R+, and how you’ve used it with horses, and even kids!

6. What would you say to a mom who is afraid to try, because she is afraid of making mistakes?

Listen in on this amazing conversation!

Mentioned in this episode:

1. How horses (caring for them, riding them, being with them) can help our teens

2. How horses help us bond with our children

3. How horses can be a amazing family experience

4. How to be flexible across all the seasons of motherhood

5. Creating goals as a family, with our kids, with our horses.

Megan's Bio:

Meg McInnes is a passionate equestrian and hobby farmer. Based in the suburbs of Salt Lake City, UT, she and her family share their lives with cows, pigs, chickens, and horses. They’ve even adopted and trained two mustangs!

Meg and her family love spending time together outdoors, especially trail riding in the stunning mountains of Utah. She's also an active member of the "WANNA BE COWGIRLS" riding group, where she enjoys exploring new trails with friends.

Currently, Meg is focused on developing her two-year-old American Quarter Horse. With the guidance of a skilled trainer, she’s working towards creating a versatile all-around companion.

Beyond her equestrian pursuits, Meg has a successful 20+ year career in the transportation industry. She’s been married for 25 years and is a proud mother of three, who share her love for animals.

Adele Shaw is an internationally recognized certified equine behavior consultant and horsemanship mentor, focused on creating a positive relationship between horse and human through science-based training and care practices. Drawn to horses labeled as “trouble makers” and “lost causes” from an early age, Adele has always had a passion for understanding the “why” behind behavior and a deep desire to help horses find their way back to wellness. This whole horse approach examines the horse’s environment, lifestyle, and physical and mental soundness to ensure that the horses are not simply surviving, but truly thriving in their life and relationship with their human caretakers. As a teacher, Adele is supportive and understanding of both horse and human, and tailors her lessons to provide the most personalized, accessible, and ethically minded coaching possible. Her approach goes beyond method: by offering flexible training and care systems, the wellbeing of the horse and the empowerment of the student always remain the primary goals.

In addition to her hands-on work with specialized rehabilitation cases at her ranch in Texas, Adele maintains an active role in the equestrian community through her clinics, online programs, courses, blog, podcast, and social media outreach. As she connects with students across the globe through The Willing Equine.

Mentioned in this episode:

*It's not about balancing horsemanship and motherhood. It's more a juggling act, with glass and rubber balls.

*Being an amazing and kind caregiver to your children and horses.

*How working with horses directly influences our motherhood, and vice versa

*Goal setting in small, manageable steps.

And much, much more! Such a rich conversation.

You can connect with Adele Shaw on her website or any of her social media sites, links are below:

https://www.thewillingequine.com/

https://www.instagram.com/thewillingequine/

https://www.youtube.com/thewillingequine

https://www.tiktok.com/@thewillingequine

https://www.facebook.com/thewillingequine

This conversation is one you certainly will not want to miss. It's encouraging, inspiring and a boost to keep going as equestrian moms!

About my guest, Jerusha Steinert:

Jerusha Steinert has had horses since childhood and has been working as a horse professional and artist for over 20 years. Her artistic projects include creating large scale drawings of horses and performing in Blue Horse Theatre. As a founder, Jerusha’s goal for the group was to promotes a deeper understanding of what horsemanship is through the expression of art, dance and theatre. 

In 2010 Jerusha was introduced to the Nokota breed at a colt starting clinic and fell in love with working with wild horses. In 2014 Jerusha and her Nokota Mesabi Warrior won the Grand Champion title for the American Horse Woman's Challenge in 2014 after competiting in Western Dressage, Extreme Cowboy Race, Liberty pattern, and theatrical freestyle. 

Since that time, she’s become a board member for the Nokota Horse Conservancy and enjoys gentling Nokotas for new owners. She owns her own training facility and breeds Nokota horses in Stacy Minnesota.

In this episode you will find:

-The importance of dreaming big as an equestrian and mom

-Having emotional intelligence and awareness in each season of life

- Recognizing the change motherhood can bring for us as horse lovers, but enjoying each moment as a gift

- Setting goals as a mom and horsewoman

- Counting successes when with your horses and your children

And much, much more! Take a listen!

Links:

Blue Horse Theatre: www.bluehorsetheatre.com

My website: www.stabletruths.wordpress.com

This conversation is a treat you will not want to miss!

Cristin Conner's Bio:

I was born and raised in a very small community in Indiana. My whole life, I have had a love affair with horses and Jesus.

We attended a Methodist church, where God introduced Himself to me around third or fourth grade. When I say introduced, I mean He let me know for a fact that He was my God in my Sunday school class room. I knew of Him before, but after that day I knew Jesus as my Lord and savior. Around the same time, my Mom and Dad decided it was time to purchase a horse for the family. The problem? Mom thought short, young horse was the way to go. “ You’re closer to the ground on a short horse.” So neither the horse nor I knew what we were doing. That being said she taught me a great deal. God put adults in my life , who helped me to grow and learn about horses. For that I am forever grateful.

Being a dyslexic child was tough. I had no friends during my whole elementary and high school experience. Fara, my horse, was my refuge. She had big shoulders to cry on. She keep me out of trouble.

I muddled my way through high and somehow got excepted to and all women’s Catholic college.

I met my now husband the summer before going off to school at a summer camp. He was Catholic. Well played God. Going to school at a Catholic college allowed God to work on my heart. So much so, that after Nathan and I got married I converted to being Catholic.

Life happened, and I had to sell my Fara. Nathan and I moved frequently. Nathan wanted to become a professor. We moved from Georgia to Florida, where Nathan received his PhD. To Tennessee where he got his first job. We weren’t happy there so we moved again to Nebraska where we are very happy.

Through it all I tried to keep my love for horses alive, even through a ten year spell of no horse contact at all. Thankfully God has allowed me to come back to horses.

Key themes in this episode:

1. Priorities in horsemanship and motherhood

2. The importance and gift of being a foster parent

3. Faith, family and horses

4. How horses are our "oxygen mask" that give us fuel to be better moms.

5. Being resourceful

6. A little goes a long way.

7. Our equestrian journeys are all different, and we can encourage one another.

She has more gold nuggets she shares in this episode that you will not want to miss. Take a listen.

Other links:

My website: www.stabletruths.wordpress.com

Just in time for the Holidays, check out the devotional I wrote called "Stable Truths: Fruits of the Spirit." You can find it by clicking the link below, or searching on Amazon.

https://a.co/d/7xAGXdf

On this podcast I welcome my first podcast guest, Riece Morris!

Riece Morris is a certified life and Equus Coach, equestrian, and mother of 5 based in Northern California. Her coaching practice focuses on helping women set and achieve goals, improve relationships, and find delight in every season of life.  She has a special passion for equine assisted coaching, where she facilitates healing and growth using horses as guides. Riece’s horsemanship journey has focused on liberty, Western Dressage, and bridleless riding.  Finally, and most importantly, her greatest joy in life is her family, including her husband of 22 years and her five children, who range in ages from 6 to 20.  

Discussed in this podcast:

-The importance of being kind to yourself and not beating yourself up as an equestrian mom

-A day in the life of an equestrian mom

-Experimenting, goal-setting and living within seasons

-Changing your mindset

-Managing emotions well

-Dreaming

-Dealing with Mom Guilt as an equestrian mom

And much, much more! I am so excited about this conversation. You are in for a treat!

You can find Riece Morris on her website: www.riecemorris.com

Also mentioned:

The Resourceful Rider program with Stacy Westfall: https://courses.stacywestfall.com/p/riding-bundle

Follow me on my blog: www.stabletruths.wordpress.com

Do you think of challenges as discouraging roadblocks to progress with your horse as a mom? Or do you think it's possible that those challenges are actually bonuses towards your dreams and goals?

That is what this episode is all about.

I discuss real life stories of my horse Pilot and I.

I discuss the reality that we face challenges daily as equestrian moms. I discuss how it is possible to use these challenges as opportunities to grow by taking our thoughts captive and not complaining, seeing things from a more neutral perspective. Asking, "How could I grow in this?"

See more on my website: www.stabletruths.wordpress.com

If you told yourself, "I'm a horse trainer," do you believe it? Would you believe it? Do you doubt it's possible or think you're not good enough? Do you think perhaps it's impossible to balance motherhood and horsemanship? Then this episode is for you.

Discussed in this podcast:

-Your self-concept (negative and positive)

-Figuring out what you will and will not do in various seasons of motherhood and horsemanship

-Three different categories of horse-loving mothers and how they might change their self-concept in each.

-Encouragement to keep pursuing your goals

-The importance of dreaming

-The importance of having our children watch us accomplish dreams and goals

-The importance of learning!

And much more.

Mentioned in this episode:

This podcast from Stacy Westfall is the one that changed my own self-concept: https://stacywestfall.com/episode-185-how-to-determine-if-your-self-concept-is-slowing-you-down/

Come visit me on my website for more encouragement and horse-talk:

www.stabletruths.wordpress.com

I wrote a devotional! It's called "Stable Truths: Fruits of the Spirit"

Check it out on Amazon: https://a.co/d/3OdiHjQ

In this first podcast episode of Mama in the Saddle, Elizabeth Do Carmo shares her story, her journey of horsemanship and motherhood and everything in between! She goes in depth into the horses who have personally impacted her life. Be encouraged and stay tuned for more as the weeks go on!

Mentioned in this episode:

Stacy Westfall's Resourceful Rider program: https://courses.stacywestfall.com/p/riding-bundle