Imagine knocking a rail with your own horse’s rouge pulled shoe. This week, we’re talking to a para rider with big dreams ahead of her and getting up to speed on why posture matters for horses. Thanks for tuning in.
Click here to stream Episode 102.
Special Guests:
Charlotte Merle-Smith is a para-dressage rider who has represented team USA. She has been competing at the FEI level for the last 12 years. Prior to an accident, she competed as an able-body rider in eventing up to the 3* international level. Outside of horses, Charlotte competed twice at the world championships adaptive divisions of the World CrossFit Open. Her goal is to represent the USA at the 2024 Paralympic Games in France.
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 in this episode:
This week we’re drinking some Honey Deuces. | @SL
What does posture say about overall horse health? | @EQUUS
This rouge shoe photo bomb went viral! | @COTH
Finally… The World Eventing Championships are here! | @COTH
Thanks to everyone who continues to support us on Patreon! | @patreon
Product Review: The Charles Owen Halo | @CO
Charlotte Merle-Smith joins us to talk about riding at the FEI level and her Paralympic dreams. | @heelsdown
Doug Payne stops by to talk about a new educational subscription service. | @dpequestrian
Mailbag: Help! I can’t remember my rides after walking a course!
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 this month, Purina!