Heels Down Happy Hour Podcast Episode 135: Go Big In Kentucky Or Go Home
The countdown is on my friends. It’s going to be an action-packed Best Weekend All Year in 2025, thanks to two very big five-stars: the Kentucky Three-Day Event and the Kentucky Invitational. We’re talking to the riders hoping to conquer some of the biggest eventing and show jumping tracks in America this month. Thanks for tuning in.
Click here to stream Episode 135.
Special guests:
Will Coleman is an American event rider based in Ocala/Virginia. He’s represented the USA at two Olympic Games and the World Equestrian Games. Will has several FEI wins under his belt, including CHIO Aachen in 2021. Now, Will is gearing up for the Kentucky Three-Day Event and beyond.
Alex Granato is a lifelong rider who competed in his first grand prix at just 18 years old. He has competed in multiple Nations Cups for the U.S. as well as represented USA at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. He is based in Lexington, Ky., and Wellington, Fla., and is now preparing for the Split Rock Kentucky Invitational during the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event.
Mary Bess Davis is a lifelong horsewoman who has competed in vaulting and hunters, but has a true passion for three-day eventing. She’s headed to the Kentucky 5* this spring after having many successful runs at 4* including Boekelo last fall. She manages her busy sport horse program while raising her kids and teaching students at all levels of the sport.
More on what we talked about in this episode:
This month, it had to be bourbon. So enjoy this very classy Velvet & Vice cocktail. | @LB
Who is competing in the Kentucky 3-Day CCI5*-L? And what about the CCI4*-S? We’ve got the deets. | @DK3DE
We’re also predicting who could be in Lexington for the Kentucky Invitational, also running as a five-star this year. | @splitrock
Headed to the Kentucky Horse Park for the first time? We’ve got a great list of highlights you won’t want to miss. | @heelsdown
Product Review: We tried out the latest calming supplement from SynNutra Equine – SynChill Pure. | @synnutra
Listener perk: Get 15% now through April 25 at Ecogold with the coupon code “happyhour.” Read our review about the new Vertical saddle pad here.
Will Coleman joins us to talk about how he’s regrouped since Paris and what’s ahead for his eventers in Kentucky and beyond. | @WCE
Show jumper Alex Granato bases part of the year in Kentucky and dishes on why he loves it there. | @madseason
Mary Bess Davis is headed into her first five-star with a very special horse and we’re all rooting for her.
Mail bag: What are your favorite things to do in Traverse City if you’re headed there this summer to show horse show? | @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 this month’s partners: Traverse City Horse Shows, SynNutra Equine and Alexsyn.