Heels Down Happy Hour Podcast 116: Talking About Makeovers
The countdown to the Thoroughbred Makeover is on! This week, we’re talking to a dressage trainer almost everyone knows from Youtube and learning more about the mission of the Retired Racehorse Project. And we’ve got all the tips and tricks for shopping at a big horse show. Thanks for tuning in.
Click here to stream Episode 116.
Special guests:
Amelia Newcomb is a winner of the prestigious USEF Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize, a member of the USEF Dressage Develop Program, and a Bronze, Silver, & Gold USDF Medalist, and a decorated Grand Prix Competitor & Trainer based out of Somis, California. Amelia’s mantra is “Dressage for all” and has built her successful online community and business off of providing free and affortable educational material online.
Kristen Kovatch Bentley is the communications manager for the Retired Racehorse Project by day, co-host of Retired Racehorse Radio by evening, and a hobby rancher all the times in between helping to run her husband’s family’s farm and beef operation from the backs of her off-track Thoroughbred and Standardbred. On the rare chance she’s not in the saddle or sitting at a computer, you can find her baking bread, weaving baskets, or getting into some sort of mishap in her flower garden.
Joy Orr is a dressage rider and riding instructor in East Michigan. She grew up on her family’s horse farm where she began her horse obsession riding her parents’ Arabians at the age of 2. Joy rode western pleasure off and on up until her teens where she was introduced to the world of dressage. She is one half of the Retired Racehorse Radio podcast.
More on what we talked about in this episode:
Don’t miss Jess’ Kentucky spin on an Old Fashioned. | @sgs
It was an exciting year for American & Canadian riders at the Burghley Horse Trials. | @horse&hound
We discuss the tips and tricks on treating those tricky tendon and ligament injuries. | @theHorse
Ruffian, perhaps the greatest filly to ever race, had her remains moved from Belmont Park to Kentucky. | @NYT
Thanks to everyone who continues to support our show on Patreon! | @patreon
Product Review: The highlights of shopping at the AECs this year. | @ecogold
Amelia Newcomb is back and ready to answer all your dressage questions! | @AND
Kristen & Joy from the Retired Racehorse Radio swung by to chat about the upcoming Thoroughbred Makeover. | @RRR
Mailbag: I feel like I am SO BAD at measuring distances between lines when I’m walking my course. Any advice? | @heelsdown
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 our sponsors this week: Ecogold!