Heels Down Happy Hour Podcast 101: The Road To WEG
Have you ever wanted to leave your adult life behind and go play ponies in Ocala for the winter? We talked to one rider who has made a professional career out of it. This week, we’re gearing up for WEG in Italy and discussing the importance of staying hydrated. Thanks for tuning in.
Click here to stream Episode 101.
Special Guests:
Ariel Grald is a 5* event rider based in North Carolina, who is headed to Patroni as part of the U.S. Eventing Team soon! Ariel finished 12th in their 5* debut at the 2019 Land Rover Kentucky Three Day Event. They also finished 10th as the highest placed first timer at the 2019 Land Rover Burghley CCI5*-L.. Most recently, she had a top 3 finish at Luhmuhlen last year as well as a top 15 finish at Badminton this spring. She has also competed in the 1.40m show jumping.
Brooke Massie is a 4* Canadian event rider and FEI level groom. When she’s not competing or training on her personal horse, Major Chase, she’s riding and grooming for other pros in the sport. For years, Brooke has traveled to Florida to groom for the winter season, where she’s worked for riders like Liz Halliday-Sharp and many others. She traveled to Tokyo as a groom for Colleen Loach and will be headed to Italy for WEG with her next month.
More about what we talked about on this episode:
The drink this week is a DIY hard seltzer with Topo Chico. | @g+g
We’ve seen some pretty amazing partnerships come out of the WEGs this year. | @COTH
A century-old horse tooth is key to determining the lineage of the Assateague wild horses. | @CNN
Grooms are seeing unprecedented recognition at this year’s world championships. | @horsesport
Thanks to everyone who continues to support us on Patreon! | @patreon
Product Review: We love the new RepleniMesh from Purina. | @purina
Brooke Massie joins us to talk about what it’s like to move to Ocala for the eventing season. | @BME
Ariel Grald is headed to Patroni soon to represent the USA in the eventing. | @USEA
Mailbag: Help, there are mice everywhere at my boarding barn!!!
More about our hosts:
Jessica Payne is a 35-year-old 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 once lost the tip of her pinky finger clipping her 4* horse, and husband Doug says she can “talk to anyone including a wall….and they will like it!”
Ellie Woznica is a 24-year-old freelance book designer and horse trainer because she couldn’t choose which career to pursue and her mom said she wouldn’t make the decision for her. She grew up showing the hunters and jumpers, but in university, she learned to ride western and fell in love with reining.
Justine Griffin is an award winning 34-year-old 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 firm believer in unicorns and feminism. So take everything she says with a grain of salt.
Many thanks to our sponsors: Candles For Burned-Out Equestrians, Ecogold and Purina!