Horse Person

This episode is proudly sponsored by Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services
Irish Olympic dressage rider Abi Lyle didn't come from money or an equestrian legacy. In fact, when she decided to give serious dressage training a go in her mid-20s, she was working in retail. 
Abi has overcome far more in her 40 years than many people, including extreme domestic abuse, the death of her brother, mental health struggles, and more. She speaks in this episode about what changed when someone close to her finally said, 'You don't have to live like this,' and she began to take her mental health more seriously. 
She also walks us through per pre-Paris Olympics mental prep system line-by-line in this not-to-be-missed episode. 
Follow Abi on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/abilyle/

Caroline is joined by a special guest to announce a change about the show. 
Weigh in - we want to hear from you! DM us on Instagram @horsepersonpodcast or email me - caroline[AT]horsepersonpodcast.com

Today I'm going to do something a little different on the podcast and I'm going to read a letter written to the equestrian community by husband and wife team Matt Brown and Cecily Clark. Matt and Cecily were one of the first interviews I did for this podcast, and I really enjoy their perspective and respect their willingness to put bold ideas and statements forward, especially with regard to horse welfare and social license.
Matt is a member of the U.S. Eventing Team and five-star competitor. He was an alternate for the Olympic team in eventing and also develops young horses for sport. Cecily has a background in Hunters and Equitation and is currently pursuing goals as a dressage rider. Together, they run East West Training Stables, which they founded jointly in 2004. 
The following letter is a Facebook post that they made on their joint account, and while it has mostly been circulating around the eventing community, I wanted to read it on this podcast which has an audience that spans into the show jumping, hunter/eq and dressage disciplines as well. There will be some parts that you'll find provocative, some you might find surprising, but all of it is food for thought and well-situated to be part of a larger discussion.
What do you think? Email me - [email protected]

This episode is proudly sponsored by Nikovian. Use code horseperson15 for 15% off at checkout. 
This episode first appeared on The Horsewoman's Almanac. Click here to subscribe to that show - for free!
In this episode, Clare Staples shares her journey from a horse-loving child in England to becoming a leading advocate for wild horses in America. She discusses the deep spiritual connection she feels with horses, the challenges of running a sanctuary, and the importance of preserving wild horse families. Clare also touches on the legislative landscape affecting wild horses and her efforts to inspire change through storytelling and advocacy.
This episode is also supported by #weridetogether. Check out their viral Out of Bounds series here.

The horse world doesn't always agree on everything, but it can agree on this: The cost of competing is becoming prohibitively high. In fact, the cost of most things related to horses seem to be creeping up every time we turn around. 
How did showing get so expensive? Are enthusiastic riders getting priced out of being able to compete even just a few times a year? What is the sport's leadership's view on this and what's driving the bottom line at show venues?
To discuss, Caroline Culbertson is joined by USEF CEO Bill Moroney, CEO of West Palms Event Management Dale Harvey, and a Texas based adult amateur named Meg Walsh. As you can imagine, it's not a straightforward issue with straightforward answers, but the four try to untangle the strings in this discussion.