Heels Down Happy Hour Podcast Episode 143: Horses Keep Us Going
It’s our last episode of the year and wow, what a year it’s been. We’ve got a great show for you this month, with fun guests who will make you laugh, hopefully teach you something, and inspire you to keep kicking on into 2026. Thanks for tuning in.
Click here to stream Episode 143.
Special Guests:
Dr. Holly Helbig joined Zoetis in 2023 as an Equine Technical Services Veterinarian. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a focus in lameness and sport horse medicine. Dr. Helbig was the Official Veterinarian for The World Equestrian Center-Ohio, The Kentucky Horse Shows series, and various FEI competitions, for 10 years prior to joining Zoetis. She also had an ambulatory practice serving patients around her hometown of Columbus, Ohio and into parts of Michigan and Kentucky. Dr. Helbig is an avid rider and competes professionally at hunter/jumper shows in her free time. She lives at home with her wheaten terrier, Bad Boy Brady.
Sydney Steverson is an accidental horse influencer who has dedicated her platform to the delicate nuances of these ridiculous creatures we call horses (and equestrians). A horse girl since she was eight, Sydney is all too aware of the highs and lows of life with horses and doesn’t think anyone should have to do this crazy sport alone!
More on what we talked about in this episode:
This month, we’re sipping on some festive eggnog. | @AB
Since it’s the last episode of the year, we’re talking about the top headlines of the year. Like the exciting finish to the inaugural U.S. Equestrian Open. | @USEF
Horse welfare issues are still top of mind, and making change in the sport. | @horseandhound
And new types of competing horse show organizations are popping up, like UDJC, and here to stay. | @heelsdown
Looking for the perfect gift for the equestrian in your life? Don’t miss our top picks in the 2025 Heels Down Holiday Gift Guide. | @heelsdown
Dr. Helbig joins us to talk about biosecurity measures at horse shows and how to keep our horses safe while traveling. | @zoetis
Dr. Helbig also digs deep into the regenerative medicine options for joint maintenance for horses. | @zoetis
Maybe you know her as “Bookipsies” on TikTok… eventer Sydney Steverson joins us to talk about her exciting year in 2025 and beyond. | @bookipsies
Mailbag: What are you favorite gifts for trainers? We discuss. | @heelsdown
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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: Horse Spot and Zoetis!