Heels Down Happy Hour Podcast Episode 139: Making Show Jumping More Accessible
We’re doing our best to stay caffeinated thanks to a fun new horsey brand of coffee. Also this month, we’re talking about our mental prep for the sport, and how do we make the buying and selling process of horses more transparent and accessible for everyone? Thanks for tuning in.
Click here to stream Episode 139.
Special guests:
Adam Enger is the founder of Show Jumping World. The startup grew out of his love for horses and a desire to make the sport more transparent and accessible. Adam saw how overwhelming the buying and selling process could be, especially with outdated information and confusion around sourcing horses from Europe. Show Jumping World brings everything together in one place: real show results, videos, pedigree details, and resources to support horse care after the show circuit.
David Power: Originally from Kilkenny, Ireland, David Power began riding at a young age and went on to join the prestigious Irish Army Equitation School in 2008. He spent a decade competing at the highest levels of the sport before relocating to the U.S. in 2018, where he worked alongside well-known Irish riders Richie Moloney and David Blake. By 2020, he transitioned from competition to focus on training and sales, channeling his deep expertise into coaching emerging athletes.
More on what we talked about in this episode:
This month we can’t get enough espresso. So the Affagato it is! | @diffords
Wellington International is getting a major upgrade ahead of the 2025-2026 show season. | @COTH
It was a nail-biting finish in the FEI Nations Cup at Arville, but American eventer Lauren Nicholson came out on top, with Team USA in second place. | @EN
Victoria Colvin just won Derby Finals for the fourth time. Dang! | @COTH
Product Review: There’s a roast and blend for just about every coffee drinker in your life from Happy Horse Coffee. | @happyhorse
Adam Enger joins us to discuss his new data-driven startup, Show Jumping World. | @SJW
Heels Down is actively planning for the 2025 holiday season. Want to be part of our 2025 Holiday Gift Guide? Get the details here. | @heelsdown
Irish show jumper turned coach stops by to talk about how the sport of show jumping is evolving with this new generation. | @dpgp
Mailbag: Any tips to keep your feet dry at the barn during the wet summer season?
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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 partners this month: Ecogold!