Athletic Equestrian Podcast

Kate Roncarati Paul is the head coach of the Northeastern University Equestrian Team and has led an IEA team since 2018—both heading to nationals this year. She began as a working student and competed primarily on the local circuit before studying equine science at Mount Ida College, where she captained the IHSA team. After college, she worked under her former coach, Julie Chandler (Kelly), and returned to Massachusetts in 2017 to rejoin her at Cranberry Acres in Marshfield, MA—now home to both her teams. This year marks a milestone, with Northeastern making its first-ever appearance at IHSA Nationals.

Adaline Hanes is a full time student at Johnson and Wales University in her junior year, she is perusing a degree in Equine Business Management with a specialization in Equine Assisted Services. She is also a student assistant at the Johnson and Wales Equestrian Center and serves as a Team Captain of the IHSA Team. Madison Adams is a senior at Clemson University and a Level I Horsemanship rider on the Clemson Equestrian IHSA team. This is her second year riding for the team, she also serves as the Merchandise and Social Media Chair. She has been riding and showing for over 10 years and has a hunter/jumper mare that she competes on outside of IHSA. She is graduating with a degree in Business Management and Analytics, along with a minor in Psychology. 

The Black Hawk College Equestrian Team won the 2025 IHSA Nationals Western Team Championship held in May in Tryon, NC. Head Coach  Bekah Irish is joined by her team riders that competed at the 2025 IHSA Nationals.

The Purdue University Equestrian Team won the first IHSA Nationals Hunt Seat Team Championship in their history at the 2025 Nationals held in May in Tryon, NC. Head Coach Kathryn Kraft is joined by both her team and individual riders that competed at the 2025 IHSA Nationals.

Chase Summerville is a junior Business Administration major at St. Andrews University and competes on the school's Western IHSA Team under coach Carla Wennberg. Over his first two years, he has won multiple titles, including three IHSA Semi-Final Champion titles, one National Champion title, and three Reserve National Champion titles. In 2025, he added three more championships at the IHSA Western Semi-Finals. Outside of competition, he promotes equestrian opportunities in the Southeast as a YEDA Promotional Ambassador.      

works for EQ Media and is an IHSA Alumni of Alfred University where she graduated in 2014 with her BFA in Photography and Graphic Design with a minor in Equine Studies. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, she continues to ride and compete in the jumper divisions with her horse Terry, when she is not hiking and camping with her husband and dogs. 

Reagan is a recent graduate from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she earned a degree in sociology with a double minor in biology and chemistry. During her four years at UNCG, she rediscovered her passion for equestrian sports after a seven-year hiatus, joining the UNC-Greensboro Equestrian Team and competing under the IHSA. In her final year, she served as co-captain, leading the team through the challenges posed by Hurricane Helene.     Winter is pursuing a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Iowa, focusing her research on pulmonary function. Alongside her academic pursuits, she owns and operates Winters Riding Academy LLC, where she trains clients and their horses in hunter/jumper riding. Her passion for horses was sparked at a young age by her mother and further nurtured through her studies in Animal Science at Iowa State University. During her time at Iowa State, she was an active member of the equestrian club and gained valuable experience working at the Iowa State horse barns. Balancing her scientific career with her equestrian pursuits is a challenge she embraces with dedication and enthusiasm. Whether in the lab or at the barn, she brings the same level of commitment and passion to all her endeavors.

an experienced rider and coach for over 45 years, specializes in The Alexander Technique and Reiki to help equestrians and non-equestrians improve balance, biomechanics, and overall well-being. After overcoming personal health challenges, she developed a deep understanding of balance and body alignment, which she now shares through her company, Mindfully Mounted & Fit. Tanya works with riders to enhance their connection with their horses and with non-riders seeking greater physical awareness and freedom of movement. 

is the Director of Equestrian/Head Western Coach at Alfred University. Prior to that he was at Albion College where he was the Head Coach of the western team. He has his Master of Business Administration in Marketing and Organizational Leadership and two Bachelor of Science degrees in Western Equine Studies and Equine Business Management from the University of Findlay (OH). He also owns Empire Performance Horses in Alfred, NY.

Dr. Erin Cardea is the Dean of Equestrian Studies and the Hunter/Jumper instructor at William Woods University in Fulton, MO. She holds a B.S. in Equestrian Science and a Master's in Equestrian Education from William Woods as well as a Master's in Equine Science from the University of Edinburgh. Most recently, Dr. Cardea earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership in Higher Education from Johnson & Wales University. She is a Master Instructor, Certifier, and Lead Site Visitor for the Certified Horsemanship Association and is an Advanced Therapeutic Riding Instructor with PATH International. In her travels around the country and the world working with horses and teaching riding and horsemanship, she gained international credentials through the Bristish Horse Society and the German Equestrian Federation.

is the assistant coach for the Seton Hill Women's Equestrian team, in Greensburg, PA. Her equestrian career began when she was young where she would ride & show sale horses. From there she attended and graduated from Seton Hill and rode on their equestrian team during her tenure. She enjoys coaching at the collegiate level, and the opportunities the IHSA offer for students to continue their riding careers.

ACHA unites collegiate horsemen of all levels and disciplines through the promotion of leadership, education, service and national affiliations. ACHA hosts a national convention each year to bring student and chapter members together to learn more about the horse industry and develop their leadership skills through tours, panel discussions and other networking opportunities. The organization also recognizes outstanding chapters and students through annual awards. ACHA welcomes students from any four-year or two-year equine programs in the country. If you would like more information about the organization, the benefits of membership or how to start a local chapter, visit our Membership page for more information.

is the Head Coach of the Alvernia Equestrian located in Reading, PA. Eryn has been with Alvernia since their inception and enjoys competing in USHJA Hunter Derbies when she's not coaching the team.

is the Head Coach of the VA Tech Equestrian Team located in Blacksburg, VA. Beth is a VA Tech alum and has also coached at the University of Mary Washington and at Bridgewater College in VA. Beth is the IHSA Zone 4, Region 2 President and is a board member of the VA Horse Industry Board.

is in her third year as Head Coach of the Purdue Equestrian Team. Her equestrian journey began outside of the Indianapolis area showing in the Hunter and Equitation divisions on the “A” circuit. She continued her education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College where she competed on their IHSA team then went on to receive her masters in Athletic Leadership Development and served as the Graduate Assistant for the Equestrian Team at SMWC. During her graduate year, Kathryn earned a National Champion title in IHSA's Alumni Flat and a Reserve National Champion title in IHSA's Alumni Fences!

is the Head Equestrian Coach for the South Dakota State Equestrian program in Brookings, South Dakota. Her equestrian journey began in Woodbridge, Virginia competing on ponies which led her to selecting Delaware State University for their equestrian program. She continued her education at South Dakota State to receive her masters in Sport & Recreational Sciences with an Emphasis in Coaching & Teaching which led her to being hired on as the full time Division I Assistant Equestrian Coach for South Dakota State University. She left to continue opportunities at Bridgewater College in Virginia & William Woods University before returning back to South Daktoka State in 2024.

Luke Brock, originally from Franklin, TN, began riding at age 8 at a Quarter Horse breeding farm. He honed his skills breaking colts before joining the IHSA team at Western Kentucky University. Seeking new challenges, Luke moved to Colorado to earn an AAS in Horse Training and Management from Lamar Community College, followed by working with several cow horse trainers out West. Returning to Middle Tennessee, Luke completed a Bachelor's in Animal Science and a Master's in Equine Education from Middle Tennessee State University, where he was active on the IHSA, Stock Horse, and Horse Judging teams. His time at MTSU also included an opportunity to travel to England as an AQHA clinician. Now, as the Head Coach at Morehead State University, he leads the Western and Hunt Seat IHSA teams and has established a ranch horse team. Since returning to MSU, he has coached eight nationally ranked riders, including a 2024 National Champion in Ranch Riding, and secured funding for undergraduate research. 

has been riding for 12 years and currently rides for the Hollins University IHSA Hunt Seat team. Originally from Ferndale, Washington, she has ridden, shown, and groomed for various trainers across the US. Cora competed through the 1.10m jumpers and 3'3" Junior Hunters and Equitation on the A Circuit before college. She aims to become a professional rider and instructor after graduating in 2025.

is a sophomore majoring in biomedical science with a minor in chemistry to become a large animal veterinarian. She has been riding for fourteen years and has been showing for ten. Her horse Copper has joined her at college and outside of the barn she is the Executive Board President of my school's Honors College. 

She spent a majority of her early horse life driving and she just recently started her transition from a more dressage based riding to hunt seat riding. She currently rides on the SMWC hunt seat team and is looking to compete as her team's novice rider at IHSA nationals. When she isn't riding, she is double majoring in Biology and Equine Pre-Vet.

is from Orangeville, Pennsylvania where she grew up riding. She is in her senior year at Emory and Henry College and competes on both the IDA and IHSA teams. She has ridden on the IHSA team for 4 years and IDA for 2 years. At the end of this school year she will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Equine Studies with the goal to become a professor and IHSA/IDA coach.

 is a Mental Health Counselor and lifelong equestrian who runs Unbridled Mental Performance. She is a Virginia Intermont alum and currently lives north of Charlotte, NC. 

Sisters Melissa, Emily and Mollie Kowalchik grew up riding in Loveland, OH and all competed on their college and university teams: Melissa on the NCEA SMU team, Emily on the IHSA Cornell Equestrian Team and Mollie on the IHSA Mount Holyoke Equestrian Team.

is the LEGIS Operations Manager/ Co-owner. Her journey started in college competing on the Cal Poly Pomona Equestrian Team where she studied Equine Business Management. Outside of work, she competes on the hunter/jumper circuit with her horse, Quantum ETC. In addition to her competition experience, Sarah is licensed as a USEF Technical Delegate for Eventing, a USEF Jumper Judge, and an FEI Eventing Steward

is an incoming junior at Ohio University who is studying journalism. Olivia was recently elected Hunt Seat President of the Ohio University IHSA team which is a club sport. The equestrian team rides out of Stonegate Equine Facility located in Coolville, OH.

from Dripping Springs, TX just finished her first year at the University of Findlay in Findlay, OH. She is majoring in English Equine Studies and hopes to ride on the A-circuit in the future.

 from Huntsville, AL recently graduated from Mississippi State University in Starkville, MS on the pre-vet track. Isabella was on the IHSA Hunt Seat team, was in a sorority and founded a club on campus that raises future guide dogs.

rode in the 70's in the IHSA for Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, VA. Taking a long break after college from riding, Catherine returned as a trainer in TX and MA where she coached the Wesleyan College team. She is currently a FEI Eventing Steward and on the faculty at William Woods University in Fulton, MO.

is the Founder and President of Mad Barn, Inc an equine nutrition company focused on horse nutrition research and providing education and support to horse owners. Scott has a Master of Science from University of Guelph in Canada and studied abroad at the University of Queensland, Australia.

Meet 2024 IHSA National Championship Western Team Champions MTSU and Western High Point Rider Jordan Martin, Murfreesboro, TN from MTSU in this podcast episode. The IHSA Nationals were held at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, NC May 3-5, 2024.

Meet 2024 IHSA National Championship Hunt Seat Team Champions SCAD and Cacchione Champion Delani Franklin from Lake Erie College in this podcast episode. The IHSA Nationals were held at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, NC May 3-5, 2024.

Podcast Host Sally Batton's newest book, Equicize, is riding-specific fitness for equestrians looking to up their game, get back in the game, or stay in the game. With sensible, easy-to-implement steps, progressive how-to photographs, and dozens of QR codes to scan and view engaging instructional videos to help readers perform the exercises for the best result, this book is both a superb launch point for ambitious riders looking to grow their abilities and a stable lynchpin for those aiming to stay in the game, and in the saddle, as long as possible.

Margaret Cornwell is originally from Tuscaloosa, Alabama and grew up competing in local and A rated shows in the Hunters and Equitation divisions. She rode for Ferrum College on the IHSA team from 1997. In 2013 Ferrum College decided to bring the Equestrian team back as an athletic team and that's when she made the transition to coaching Ferrum's team. 

received a full ride scholarship to the University to Montana Western where she helped coach their equestrian team to 2 regional championships and was the high point rider three years in a row earning her trips to IHSA nationals her sophomore-senior years. After graduating college in 2012, Amanda moved back to Poulsbo to start her career as head trainer of Sandamar Farm which became Evolution Equestrian. Since then she has brought horses and riders through the 1.20 level and competed through the 1.30s and regional Grand Prix on her horse Spring Fling.

has been an avid horseman and rider since the age of seven. Originally from the Albany, NY area, David has competed as a junior both on the local circuit and at “A” rated shows in the hunter, jumper and equitation rings. Throughout his college years, David worked extensively as part of the IHSA coaching staff at Hartwick College and served as an interim coach at SUNY Oneonta. He has also stepped into the role of Head Coach For the Appalachian State University Equestrian Team, coaching both the hunt seat and dressage teams.

What does it take to become a Collegiate Rider? Sally Batton, 35-year collegiate head coach, discusses what it takes to get recruited and make the roster on a collegiate equestrian team, the differences between the IHSA, the NCEA, and the other groups that make up collegiate riding, and what you can do to improve your chances of riding through college.   Watch Here: https://youtu.be/_lQMlmIACrU

has been with the Connemara Therapeutic Riding program in Cleggan, Ireland for ten years. Listen in to learn about their program and internships available. Jacqueline's family connection to horse breeding can be traced back over 500 years.

is the owner and head trainer at Vermillion Valley Equine Center. She began riding as a child and her love of horses carried into her adult life as she began teaching lessons and training horses. Throughout her career she has led several riders to success at local, and national competitions as well as having several students, including two of her own daughters, compete on National Collegiate Equestrian Association Programs. 

is the Founder & CEO of Avenue Equestrian. Her equestrian journey started at 6, riding at a Hunter/Jumper barn in NJ and continued through her collegiate years on the Penn State Equestrian team. Immediately post college, she worked for IBM for 5 years, then a retail company and ecommerce agency before starting Avenue Equestrian. In her business she guides equestrian businesses through strategic clarity, from marketing plans to data-driven financial goals.

is a sophomore at Wake Forest University, double majoring in Religious Studies and Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies. Prior to joining the IHSA team at Wake Forest University, she had only done Mongolian horse riding before. Throughout this podcast, she discusses how skills, competitions, and even horses differ.

John is a Captain in the United States Air Force, and as an Air Battle Manager he controls medical evacuation, cargo, offensive, and defensive operations flying as aircrew on the E-3. As an officer he has led international teams of up to 30 people in dynamic environments to support strategic surveillance and reconnaissance missions for the United States and NATO. Prior to the military he was a Software Engineer at BAE Systems where he worked on mapping software for the Air Force. John graduated from Rochester Institute of technology in 2016 with a B.S in Computer Science, where he competed as a Western rider for his four years.

graduated from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado with a degree in Finance and earned three certificates from the University of Denver in Petroleum Land Management. From a young age, Wickes was drawn to horses, beginning lessons at the age of 5. After a brief hiatus, she rekindled her passion for equestrian sports by joining the University of Colorado's Equestrian Team in 2010, contributing to the team's success, including qualifying for nationals both as a team and individually in her junior and senior years. After graduation, she pursued her equestrian ambitions, working towards her higher-level jumper goals.

was raised in the UK, US and Singapore. She is 2022 graduate of Savannah College of Art & Design where she spent her senior year competing on their Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association team. Being raised in a horse-loving family in the United Kingdom, she knew from an early age that she wanted to ride horses. During the interview, she discusses differences between UK riding and US riding and her collegiate experience.

grew up riding on her parent's farm in northeastern Pennsylvania. After a successful junior career in the Big eq and hunters, Kate attended Goucher College and rode in the Open division for 3 years. She graduated in 2003 with a BA in Special Education and was a classroom teacher for 14 years. When she decided it was time for a change, she connected with Kevin Edwards, the owner of Springtime Supplements. Kate has been with Springtime Supplements for over 5 years primarily working in sales and customer service, as well as consulting with the marketing department.

is a 2nd year student at TUS Midlands Athlone studying Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy and is the vice captain of the equestrian team. When she isn't studying she lives in Connemara with her beloved Kingstown Connemara ponies at Glenbrickeen Farm.

Use the code AEL10 for 10% OFF your order at www.redingoteequestrian.com Connie DeMaio is a lifelong equestrian and professional rider and trainer. She's a second-generation horsewoman. Connie grew up showing in the hunter/jumper rings and has been backing and training horses since she was a teenager. Connie has taught at several show barns throughout New York and New Jersey, and most recently opened her own private facility at her home in Colts Neck, NJ. Allison Malenfant is a retail merchant and product developer who spent many years in the athletic apparel industry, working with New York brands to develop their active and lifestyle clothing lines. Allison started riding in 2015. When she's not in Redingote's office, she loves to trail ride, hunter pace, fox hunt, and take lessons.

Dr. Gary Fraser is currently Associate Dean of the Full Time MBA Program at the Anderson School of Management at the University of California Los Angeles, where he is responsible for admissions, academic affairs, career services and student affairs for all full time MBA students at UCLA Anderson. Most recently (2019-22), he served as Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at New York University's Stern School of Business. Jane Dacosta is the Executive Director and Founder of the Metropolitan Equestrian Team (MET). MET has branches in NY, CT, MD, GA, TX, MS and UT. MET's mission is based on Jane's belief that quality education and riding opportunities should be available to all, regardless of their socioeconomic status and she has obtained over $1.6 million in college scholarships for MET students. www.meteqteam.org

is the creator of Mane Street Market which is an online marketplace for sales horses and equine services. With decades of experience in brand marketing, India decided to create an app that would instantly connect equestrians and streamline the search and sales process for both horses and services. A life long equestrian - most recently an eventer turned dressage queen earning her bronze medal.

began riding at the age of 11 with DiAnn Langer at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. In a short time, her passion grew and she was competing at the highest levels for juniors. After studying at Pepperdine University, Kathryn knew that horses would always be the major focus in life. With the help of her parents, she founded Sunset Equine Farms. In 2012, Kathryn took on coaching the University of Southern California's Equestrian Team.

is the owner and head trainer and coach at Tightfit Stables in Baxter, TN. Becky grew up on a family farm in Baxter and graduated in December of 2000 from Tennessee Tech University with a degree in Animal Science and Agricultural Engineering. Since graduation, she has been teaching equitation and horsemanship and training horses at her farm. Becky has been the coach of the Equestrian Team at Tennessee Tech since 2001, after riding on the IHSA team as an undergraduate and as an alumni.

was raised in the US and the Netherlands. She is a USDF Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medalist as well as USDF “L” program graduate with distinction. For more than thirty years, Madeleine has coached the University of Vermont Equestrian Team, developing it from a tiny seed into a very competitive, nationally ranked team. The team has represented the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association's Zone 1, one of the most competitive in the country, at the organization's national championships five times. Madeleine resides in Williston, Vermont, with her husband Richard Erdman, the internationally acclaimed sculptor. She has an active training program at her equestrian center, Imajica.