Heels Down Happy Hour Podcast 80: Airing Our Grievances
We’re in the homestretch – the end of the year is almost here. This week, we’re sharing some yuletide laughs and Jessica Phoenix returns to talk about her Plan B for the winter competition season. Thanks for tuning in.
Click here to steam Episode 80.
Special Guests:
Abriana Johnson is a diversity advocate and co-founder of Young Black Equestrians, The Podcast. She has a Master’s in Health Sciences from the University of Florida and lives in Raleigh, NC with her Tennessee Walking Horse gelding Maestro, and Miniature Horse, Encore.
Jessica Phoenix is a two-time Canadian Olympic eventer. She won the individual gold medal and team silver at the 2011 Pan American Games on Pavarotti and was named Canada’s Equestrian of the Year. After an accident, which she explains in her book, Rise which was written by her sister, she came back eight weeks later to win the individual silver and a team bronze at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto.
More on what we talked about this episode:
This week, we’re drooling over Aldi (and Total Wine’s) Advent Wine Calendars. | @aldi
Top headlines of the year: Horse shows were canceled. And then they weren’t. And then they were again. | @heelsdown
Meaningful conversations about diversity and inclusion were front and center in horse sport. | @heelsdown
Protective riding vests are becoming more commonplace in more disciplines. | @heelsdown
Abriana Johnson joins us to talk about the Young Black Equestrians podcast. | @YBE
Jessica Phoenix is back… and she’s got a different plan than most this winter. | @heelsdown
Thank you to everyone who continues to support us on Patreon! | @patreon
Mailbag: Do you live with someone who is allergic to horses? How do you handle it?
Have a question for us? Send us an email at hello[at]heelsdownmedia.com or join our Facebook group: the Heels Down Happy Hour Podcast Lounge.
Jessica Payne Ellie Woznica Justine Griffin
Jessica Payne is a 32-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 22-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 32-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 week, Ecogold and Arena Saddles!