Heels Down Happy Hour Podcast Episode 118: Sleepy Horse Girls
The horse internet is losing their minds over a unique and interesting clip job at Dressage Finals. This week, it’s time for all the No Stirrup November and bit fitting hot takes. Thanks for tuning in.
Click here to stream Episode 118.
Special Guests:
Anna Marek began showing and training dressage horses in 2001. With more than 150 scores at official USDF recognized shows on 50 different horses, Anna has won multiple championships in Region 3 every year since 2013. Her first regional championship win was in 2008 as a Junior/Young Rider. In 2010, Anna won National Reserve Champion Intermediate Junior/Young Rider. Anna, with her Grand Prix horse, Unico, rose to #12 nationwide in the USA during 2016. She has trained multiple horses to Grand Prix and more than a half dozen to Prix St. George, FEI level dressage. Showing alongside horses and riders in front of Olympic judges at the highest level, Anna continues to compete against the best teams in the country.
Anne Hawkins is a lifelong horse girl by heart and a digital strategist by trade. Prior to launching the LiveEQ app, Anne had a long career creating and marketing digital products for some of the world’s largest corporations working to connect people with digital experiences that elevated their daily lives. Striving to connect her professional skills with her heartfelt passion, Anne started LiveEQ in 2019. When she’s not traveling around the country meeting wonderful horse people at shows and rodeos, Anne can be found spending time on the mountain trails of Colorado with her husband, daughter and dog.
More on what we talked about in this episode:
Looking for a new sleepy time drink? Try the Sleepy Girl Mocktail from TikTok. | @BHG
A bold and brazen clip job at U.S. Dressage Finals is making waves. | @COTH
Are keyhole jumps on cross-country fair to the horse? Doug Payne weighs in. | @payneequestrian
It’s November, which means it’s time for all the “no stirrup” hot takes. | @heelsdown
Thanks to everyone who continues to support our show on Patreon! | @patreon
Product Review: Zero Proof Horse Treats are the sweet treat your horse really wants! | @ZPHT
Grand Prix dressage rider Anna Marek joins us fresh off her individual bronze finish at the Pan Ams. | @AMD
Heels Down is looking for equestrian innovators. Have an interesting business idea? We want to work with you. | @heelsdown
Anne Hawkins wants to connect horse communities. She stops by to talk to us about the app, LiveEQ. | @liveEQ
Mail Bag: It it worth consulting with a bit fitter?
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 month: Zero Proof Horse Treats & LiveEq!