Heels Down Happy Hour Podcast Episode 126: All Things Paris
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It’s all systems go for the Paris Olympic Games and we just can’t wait. We’re talking to the pros on how to learn from the livestream and what it’s like actually being on an Olympic team. But wait there’s more – we’re busting cooling down horse myths and remember that dude in the mankini? Thanks for tuning in.
Click here to stream Episode 126.
Special Guests:
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Amelia Newcomb is a USDF Gold medalist. Based in Somis, California, she incorporates complete dressage training from starting the young horse through the FEI levels in both her in person and online programs. Amelia works to develop a trusting and confident relationship between horse and rider. Her approach incorporates all aspects of horsemanship from basic groundwork to advanced dressage movements. Amelia’s mantra has always been “Dressage for All”, which is evident in both her in person and online coaching. With a successful YouTube video library of hundreds of free educational videos, over 220,000 subscribers (and counting!), and thousands of students enrolled in her online USDF accredited.
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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:
We’re feeling very patriotic with these Red, White & Blue shooters. | @TSE
Get up to speed on the American riders headed to the Olympic Games for show jumping and dressage. | @USEF
There are a lot of myths out there on how to cool down a horse. Let’s dispel them. | @theHorse
Product Review: We’re obsessed with these ultra-lightweight and colorful sun shirts from All Things Equestrian. | @ATE
Amelia Newcomb joins us to talk about what you can learn and apply to your own riding from watching the Olympics livestream. | @AND
Doug Payne returns to dish on the behind the scenes details of what happened when he was at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. | @payneequestrian
Mail bag: What are the best resources out there to prepare to bring a young horse along? | @heelsdown
More about our hosts:
![](https://heelsdownmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Jessica-Payne.jpg)
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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 of this episode: All Things Equestrian, Zero Proof Horse Treats, and Amelia Newcomb Dressage!
Main image credit: Erin Gilmore Photography