Heels Down Happy Hour Podcast Episode 130: Very, Very Merry
Are you giddy for the holidays? They’ll be here before you know it! This week, we’re sharing our top gift picks for the equestrian in your life and we’re talking about our favorite end-of-year horse shows, from the Royal Winter Fair to the Maclay Finals. Thanks for tuning in.
Click here to stream Episode 130.
Special guests:
Doug Payne is an Olympic 5-star eventer, grand prix show jumper, FEI dressage rider, USEF judge, author, clinician, and USEA certified instructor based in Aiken, S.C. Doug has a mechanical engineering degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He was first named to the USEF High Performance list in 2011 and will compete on the U.S. team at the 2019 Pan American Games. Doug designed and produced “The Rider’s Eye,” an instructional DVD along with Jimmy Wofford. His first book is titled “The Problem Horse Repair Manual.” Doug is married to Jessica Payne.
More on what we talked about on this episode:
This cocktail is for the bourbon lovers out there: Apple Cider Bourbon Punch. | @NYT
A 16-year-old from Wellinton, Taylor Cawley, won this year’s ASPCA Maclay Finals. | @COTH
Which is better for your horse: barn doors open or closed during the winter? | @theHorse
It’s the time of year for the Royal Horse Show, one of our faves. Did you see the indoor eventing? | @TRHS
Don’t miss out: We’re hosting a virtual trunk show on Nov. 26. Sip and shop with us! | @heelsdown
It’s here!! All our gift picks for the equestrians in your life in our 2024 Heels Down Holiday Gift Guide. | @heelsdown
Doug joined us to talk about what it takes to start young horses under tack. | @dpaynequestrian
Mailbag: Where are your go-to places to market horses for sale? | @heelsdown
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More about our hosts:
Jessica Payne is an international event rider who is rarely seen without her long-haired chihuahua under her arm. She was born in London, Ontario, but grew up in Franklin, Tenn., and graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Animal Science. She’s now a coach, a mom and one-half of Payne Equestrian, a full-service eventing, show jumping and dressage operation based in North Carolina with her Olympian husband, Doug. Jess once lost the tip of her pinky finger clipping her 5* horse, and husband Doug says she can “talk to anyone including a wall….and they will like it!”
Ellie Woznica happily lives on a mountain in northern Pennsylvania in her horses’ front yard. She works from home as a graphic designer, manure mucker, and zoo keeper, but only gets paid for one of those gigs. Ellie grew up showing hunter/jumpers (and still does) but in college she learned to ride western and fell in love with reining and reined cow horse. Outside of horses, Ellie loves to knit, whittle, and write! Her boyfriend says she has too many hobbies.
Justine Griffin is an award winning journalist who has written about everything from horses to high-profile CEOs to her ovaries. (She donated her eggs once.) Two things she loves the most? Whippet puppies and cheese. Justine is a lifelong lover of Thoroughbreds and is a native Floridian.
Many thanks to this month’s partners: Ecogold, Purina Mills, All Things Equestrian, Pinsnickety, Draper Therapies, Belt It Out Goods and SynNutra Equine.