Stable Connections the Podcast

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Do you ever wonder how someone got to where they are? How they overcame struggles or who some of their inspirations might have been along the way? Stable connections is my quest in flipping the conversation to focus more on the things we have in common

Shonna Berk


    • May 19, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 49m AVG DURATION
    • 142 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Stable Connections the Podcast is an incredibly inspiring and enlightening podcast for anyone on a journey in natural horsemanship. As someone living in the Bay Area in CA, I can relate to the challenges of making a living while still finding time for horses. The interviews featured on this podcast have been a saving grace, as they provide valuable insight and guidance on how to navigate these difficulties. The spiritual truths brought forth by horses are eloquently spoken by the interviewees, leaving listeners feeling uplifted and motivated. This podcast has truly been a 10/10 for me.

    One of the best aspects of The Stable Connections the Podcast is its inclusivity. Unlike many equestrian podcasts that exclusively feature famous trainers and riders, this podcast sheds light on every corner and element of the industry. From farriers to body workers, grooms to non-profit owners, each guest brings their unique perspective and experiences to the table. This 360-degree view gives listeners a comprehensive understanding of the diverse village it takes to support horses.

    While it's hard to find any significant flaws with this podcast, one possible downside could be that it may not appeal to everyone outside of the horse world. However, for those who are passionate about horses or interested in natural horsemanship, this podcast is an absolute gem.

    In conclusion, The Stable Connections the Podcast is a must-listen for anyone looking for inspiration and connection within the horse community. Shonna does an exceptional job interviewing people from all walks of life in the equestrian world and engages her guests in conversations that truly captivate listeners. Whether you're seeking advice on balancing work and horses or simply want to hear fascinating stories from horse enthusiasts, this podcast delivers it all with grace and authenticity.



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    Latest episodes from Stable Connections the Podcast

    Episode 139: Patrick Sullivan

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 56:13


    Patrick talks to us about how he left his “normal” job to pursue a career with horses, his journey with riding 2 horses on highway 50 across the country bridle-less while stopping at 17 different non profits along the way, and what he's offering now.www.moderndayhorsemanship.comgamilahunbridled.comYELOliberty.com https://www.facebook.com/GamilahUnbridledhttps://www.instagram.com/gamilahunbridled/Episode Sponsors:https://www.baymaredesign.comhttp://horseontheloose.com

    Episode 138: Dr. Claire Mollard

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2025 45:01


    Claire talks to us about how she got started in Acupuncture while growing her family, why she loves working with older dogs, and what she's doing now.Episode Sponsors:https://www.baymaredesign.comhttps://www.darbybonomi.com

    Episode 137: Lester Buckley

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 124:24


    Lester talks to us about losing both his parents at a young age, why he was so drawn to horses and cattle, multiple people who took a chance on him, and what he does now.https://lesterbuckley.comEpisode Sponsors: https://www.instrideproductions.com/abouthttps://www.stablemix.com

    Episode 136: Fenja Koenigsmann EDO®

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2024 42:06


    Fenja talks to us about why she began studying Osteopathy, why she is passionate about it and her journey moving to Siskiyou County in Northern California. www.flowingwaterswholistics.com https://www.facebook.com/flowingwaterswholistics/?_rdr Episode Sponsors: http://darbybonomi.com http://stablemix.com

    Episode 135: Luella Barton

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2024 35:54


    Luella Barton talks to us about being born in Germany but moving around a lot as a kid, her early start with horses, Being invited to go to compete in Vegas and what that was like for her.  Episode Sponsors: https://www.horseontheloose.com https://www.hookedonanimalsshop.com

    Episode 134: Sarah Reid

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2024 73:05


    Sarah Reid talks to us about getting into horses freshly married and out of college at 21 years old, going from showing to trail riding and endurance, how she got her mustang and the many adventures she experienced with him. Episode Sponsors: http://darbybonomi.com http://optimumsaddleservices.com

    Episode 133: Alicia Benson, DVM

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2024 52:30


    Doc Alicia Benson talks to us about deciding to become a vet in her early 20s, what it's been like starting her practice, and what Premier Equine has to offer. https://www.premierequineveterinaryservices.com https://www.instagram.com/premierequine_/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087654301925 Episode Sponsors: https://www.therapeuticesalenmassage.com https://www.stablemix.com

    Episode 132: Madelynne Colteaux

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2024 58:27


    Maddy talks to us about early years of wanting to become a trainer and how she made that happen, what she offers in her Dressage program now, and how much she loves her mom. https://www.gldressage.com https://www.instagram.com/gracelynnedressage/ Episode Sponsors https://www.changeyourlead.com http://optimumsaddleservices.com

    Episode 131: Dr. Angela Sherman

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2024 49:47


    Angela Sherman talks to us about being born in Brazil, landing in the US after 18, her experience working in prisons, and what she's doing with Change Your Lead. https://www.changeyourlead.com Episode Sponsors https://optimumsaddleservices.com https://freshsonoma.com

    Episode 130: Erin Gilmore

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2024 49:05


    Erin Gilmore talks to us about her horse journey in Oakland, her start in equestrian media at 21 years old, how she got into photography, and how she has been able to build a team of photospheres for eventing shows. https://www.eringilmorephotos.com https://www.facebook.com/eringilmorephotos/ https://www.instagram.com/eringilmorephotos/ Episode Sponsors: https://www.instrideproductions.com/about https://healthyhorse.co

    Episode 129: Mia Brown

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2024 42:52


    Mia Brown talks to us about her journey with falling in love with eventing, some body dysmorphia she experienced at a young age, landing at Chocolate Horse farm, and her opinions about Safe Sport. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100056289012896 Episode Sponsors: http://hannahbeebephotography.com https://www.stablemix.com

    Episode 128: Lizzy Martini

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2024 57:32


    Lizzy talks to us about what brought her first to San Francisco and now to Sonoma County, her journey back into the horse world and leasing horses versus buying, and what she's doing with Fresh Sonoma offering Fodder to locals in the area. https://freshsonoma.com/ Episode Sponsors: http://hannahbeebephotography.com https://www.changeyourlead.com/

    Episode 127: Hannah Beebe

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2024 37:31


    Hannah Beebe chats with us about how and why she started her photography business, moving her family to Auburn, California and managing her daughters food allergies.  https://hannahbeebephotography.shootproof.com/ https://www.facebook.com/hannahbeebephotography https://www.instagram.com/hannahbeebephotography/ Podcast Sponsors: https://freshsonoma.com/ https://www.horseontheloose.com/

    Episode 126: Giana Chilcott

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2024 57:55


    Giana talks to us about her extensive showing career starting on the East Coast, a horrific experience where she ran away for a bit and got out of the horse world, a failed suicide attempt where she feels horses saved her, and what she's doing now with “Be The Change in Mental Health”.  Episode Sponsors: https://www.stablemix.com/ https://baymaredesign.com/

    Episode 125: Kelly Robinson

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2024 46:26


    Kelly Robinson talks to us about getting a bachelors in Psychology, a masters in Counseling,  doing her thesis on Equine Related Therapy and how now she finds herself as an independent Saddle Fitter. https://optimumsaddleservices.com/ Episode Sponsors: https://www.hannahbeebephotography.com/ https://healthyhorse.co/

    Episode 124: Jordan Sullivan

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2024 28:03


    Jordan Sullivan talks to us about being born and raised in a small town, how she's preparing to leave to farrier school in Missouri and what she expects from it.   Episode Sponsors: https://www.stablemix.com/ https://baymaredesign.com/

    missouri jordan sullivan
    Episode 123: Marisha Chilcott

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2024 65:35


    Marisha Chilcott talks to us about how one plane ride pivoted her trajectory where she now runs “Be The Change in Mental Health”, a non-profit organization making Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation assessable to the public. https://btcmentalhealth.org/ Episode Sponsors: http://hannahbeebephotography.com https://www.phabco.org/

    Episode 122: Mary McCormick

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2024 71:43


    Mary McCormick talks to us about knowing Vaulting would be a part of her life since the young age of seven, going to the World Equestrian Games, and what she's doing now. https://www.facebook.com/silverstar82 https://www.instagram.com/marymccormick07/?hl=en Episode Sponsors: https://goatlandia.org/ https://www.phabco.org/

    Episode 121: Marissa Nielsen

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2024 49:51


    Marissa Nielsen talks to us about starting Pony Club around 8 years old with her mom, her experience going from Pony Club to Young Riders, traveling to England and Scotland, and what it was like moving her business from the Bay Area to Sacramento, California.   https://www.facebook.com/marissa.yolken https://www.blackdiamondequestrian.com/ https://www.instagram.com/marissa_nielsen_blackdiamond/ Episode Sponsors: https://www.horseontheloose.com/ https://www.jshorsewomanship.com/social-media

    Episode 210: Premier Equine Center

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2024 62:59


    Premier Equine Center owners Pat and Amie chat with us about the growth of their rehab facility.. Pat, coming from a 7th generation ranching family and Amie, with no horse family at all and how each of their skill sets have complimented each other over the years.   https://premierequinerehab.com/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100044190082457 https://www.instagram.com/premier_equine_center/ Episode Sponsors: https://www.pacificperformancechiro.com/ https://healthyhorse.co/

    Episode 119: Brittany Massey

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2024 47:24


    Brittany Massey talks to us about being super driven to learn everything “horse” starting around 12 years old, why she started her training program out of necessity and what happen right when she leased her first barn that changed her entire trajectory.   https://www.facebook.com/bth.equestrians https://www.bthequestrians.com/ https://www.instagram.com/silver_spur_stable/ Episode Sponsors: https://www.theequinecreative.com/ Equinebusinessmagazine.com

    Episode 118: Ondine Rangel

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2024 73:23


    Ondine Rangel talks to us about moving to multiple countries in her up bringing, how she's always had a strong connection to animals, and how socializing and learning “people skills” didn't get introduced to her until her early 20s. https://www.ondine.horse/ https://www.facebook.com/OndineEquine Episode Sponsors: https://stablemix.com/ https://theequinecreative.com/

    Episode 117: Nia Tahani

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2024 36:41


    Nia Tahani talks to us about early memories of standing out, how she made her way to Oakland, California from the East Coast, and her journey with vintage jewelry.   https://www.facebook.com/gemcorps https://www.instagram.com/gemcorps/ https://gemcorps.com/ Episode Sponsors: https://www.horseontheloose.com/shop https://healthyhorse.co/cbd

    Episode 116: Marie-Charlotte Guion-Bluechley “MC”

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2024 34:37


    Marie-Charlotte Guion-Bluechley “MC” talks to us about being born and raised on a 200+ acre farm in Sonoma County, what her riding struggles are, why she's more focused on Dressage than archery now. Episode Sponsors: https://amiablesporthorse.com/ www.Goatlandia.org

    Episode 115: Camille Kusin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2024 40:10


    Camille Kusin talks to us about living in Germany for a decade, her experience with learning the language, why she came back to the USA and what her Dressage training program in Penngrove, California offers now. https://www.facebook.com/camille.kusin/ Episode Sponsors: https://baymaredesign.com/ http://equinebusinessmagazine.com/

    Episode 114: Doctor Katie Prince

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2024 70:59


    Doctor Katie Prince talks to us about growing up being the only girl in a house with 8 siblings, working up until having her C section, going back to work 4 days after having her daughter, and what running her vet practice in Sonoma County has been like. https://canyonlargeanimalclinic.com/about-us https://www.facebook.com/canyonequinemedicalcenter https://www.instagram.com/canyonequinemedical/ Episode Sponsors: https://healthyhorse.co/cbd https://www.stablemix.com/

    Episode 113: Shannon Leveroni

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2023 45:06


    Shannon Leveroni chats with us about her experience with burnout, losing her house in the 2017 fires and evacuating multiple barns, and the bodywork she offers including Acuscope and Myopulse. https://www.slacuscopeandmyopulse.com/ https://www.facebook.com/SLAcuscopeAndMyopulse Podcast Sponsors: https://www.changeyourlead.com/ https://www.theequinecreative.com/

    Episode 112: Mike Hayward

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2023 42:37


    Mike Hayward talks to us about coming to the US from England when he got a job with the Ringling brothers circus doing Footwork for elephants, as well as training both elephants and chimps, and what running his farrier business is like now. https://www.farriermikehayward.com/ Episode Sponsors: https://www.stablemix.com/ https://www.blackhoundequestrian.com/

    Episode 111: Maddy Kent

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2023 29:32


    Maddy Kent chats with us about her five horses and what she's working towards with each one and what building her program has been like. http://kentdressage.com/ https://www.facebook.com/kentdressage https://www.instagram.com/maddykentdressage/ Episode Sponsors: http://darbybonimi.com/ http://equinebusinessmagazine.com/

    Episode 110: Maya Stessin

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2023 58:16


    Maya Stessin talks to us about what the reining shows were like, her experience on the East Coast and in Texas, what brought her back to the west coast and her recent big life change. https://www.facebook.com/maya.stessin Episode Sponsors: https://www.stablemix.com/ https://wildwilling.com/

    Episode 109: Shannon Ray Riley

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2023 66:28


    Shannon Ray Riley chats with us about how horses helped her heal through family trauma, how she found a horse community who better suited her gentle ways, and her journey with Ayurveda.  https://wildwilling.com/ https://www.instagram.com/wild.willing/ https://www.instagram.com/shannonrayriley/ Photo Cred: https://www.instagram.com/equineoutwest/ Episode Sponsors: http://goatlandia.org/ https://www.horseontheloose.com/shop

    ayurveda photo cred
    Episode 108: Terry Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2023 49:45


    Terry Church talks to us about her experience going to Germany, her journey with Tom Dorrance, and some insight on land management.  https://www.facebook.com/terry.church.12 https://findingpegasus.wordpress.com/ Podcast Sponsors: https://www.changeyourlead.com/ https://www.theequinecreative.com/

    church germany tom dorrance
    Episode 107: Blackhound Equestrian

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2023 64:49


    Morgan Caplane and Kate Jutagir talk to us about Blackhound Equestrian, what they have to offer and how their diverse backgrounds compliment each other so well. https://www.blackhoundequestrian.com/ https://www.instagram.com/blackhound.equestrian/ https://www.facebook.com/blackhoundeq Episode Sponsors: http://equinebusinessmagazine.com/ https://www.jshorsewomanship.com/social-media

    Episode 106: Joel Stewart

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2023 57:01


    Joel Stewart talks to us about shoeing horses starting at the young age of 12 in Australia, this trip being his first trip to the US and what he thinks of it so far, and what he feel needs to change within the horse world. https://www.facebook.com/joel.stewart.35110 Episode Sponsors: https://baymaredesign.com/ https://www.instrideproductions.com/

    Episode 105: Dr. Carrie Wicks

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2023 66:44


    Dr. Carrie Wicks talks to us about how relationships with horses have influenced her life and what inspired her to become a psychologist. https://www.carriewicks.com/ Episode Sponsors: https://healthyhorse.co/ https://www.equitherapeutics.com/

    Episode 104: Eva Herman

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2023 40:44


    Eva Herman talks to us about her first anxiety attack and how since then how she has learned tools to get through them, how she handled moving barns and what she's learned from each trainer she's been with.  Episode Sponsors: https://goatlandia.org/ https://www.stablemix.com/

    Episode 103: Liz Mouille

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2023 57:17


    Liz Mouille talks to us about her struggles in school not fitting in but finding horses as her safe place, her battle with addiction, including alcohol and overeating while going to 8 different treatment centers before getting clean, and what she offers with Phab Co. https://www.phabco.org/ https://www.instagram.com/phab_co/ Episode Sponsors: https://darbybonomi.com/ https://amiablesporthorse.com/

    Episode 102: Katrina Charmatz

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2023 38:33


    Katrina Charmatz talks to us about how she got started with Rebalance Pilates, a time she dissected a human body, her experience both of her hips resurfaced and what life is like living in siskiyou county mt shasta area. https://www.rebalancepilatesstudio.com/ https://www.facebook.com/rebalancepilatesstudio https://www.instagram.com/rebalancedbody/ Episode Sponsors: https://www.instagram.com/loveisrad.life/ https://healthyhorse.co/

    Episode 101: John Saint Ryan

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2023 91:13


    John Saint Ryan talks to us about some struggles growing up- including leaving school at 15 and how his temper made him lose his best friend but then how he got an opportunity to teach martial arts to the Army, jump starting his acting career, and his experiences with both Ray Hunt and Tom Dorrance.   https://johnsaintryan.com/ https://www.facebook.com/JSR2020 https://www.instagram.com/johnsaintryan/ Episode Sponsors: instrideproductions.com http://www.elkgrovemilling.net/

    army ray hunt tom dorrance
    Episode 100: Maggie Clancy

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2023 48:41


    Maggie Clancy talks to us about how she came to own the property she does in Sonoma County, what she offers there and how Enbarr, her new app was born. https://www.stridesridingacademy.com/ https://enbarrapp.com/ https://www.instagram.com/enbarr_app/ https://www.facebook.com/enbarrapp Episode Sponsors: https://wildwilling.com/ https://goatlandia.org/

    Episode 99: Amanda Apesos

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2023 48:52


    Amanda Apesos talks to us about how horses have impacted her life, why she become a chiropractor, her journey with Ben's Bit Butter and her struggles in 2017 when her and her horse had to evacuate.  https://www.bensbitbutter.com/ https://www.instagram.com/bens_bit_butter/ Episode Sponsors: https://www.phabco.org/ https://www.changeyourlead.com/

    Episode 98: Michelle Scully

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2023 68:24


    Michelle Scully talks to us about why being wide eyed and curious is her favorite thing about herself, her experiences with different clinicians over the years, and how breaking her back shaped who she is now. https://www.facebook.com/titaniumcowgirl https://www.instagram.com/talesofatitaniumcowgirl/ Episode Sponsors: https://wildwilling.com/ https://www.instrideproductions.com

    Episode 97: Tina Steward

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2023 44:29


    Tina Steward talks to us about why she chose to become a veterinarian even though she got rejected 4 times from Davis, how she got into doing medical illustrations, and what she's doing now. https://www.facebook.com/tina.steward.77 https://www.tinastewarddvm.com/ Episode Sponsors: https://baymaredesign.com/ https://healthyhorse.co/

    Episode 96: Simonne Berg

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2023 49:31


    Simonne Berg talks to us about going to the World Cup Finals, becoming a professional two years ago and deep dives into some experiences with loved ones dying over the years. Episode Sponsors: https://www.stablemix.com/ https://www.equitherapeutics.com/

    Episode 95: Vijoa Lucas

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2023 48:11


    Vijoa walks to us about her long family history of horse trainers and how she went from spending childhood at Anthony Chabot equestrian center to now training and being the concessionaire.  Episode Sponsors: https://healthyhorse.co/ https://www.chrisellsworthhorsemanship.com/

    Episode 94: Rodney Deck

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2023 52:39


    Rodney Deck talks to us about working briefly in the corporate world, his experience in college riding bucking horses, helping a friend train bomb dogs in Vegas, and a bit about his farrier business now. Episode Sponsors: https://www.blackhoundequestrian.com/ https://equestrianaccounting.co/

    Episode 93: Hope Hobday Glynn

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2023 69:03


    Hope Hobday Glynn chats with us about why she thinks there is a flawed system, her opinion on needs to change within the industry and if she thinks she's a better rider or trainer. Episode Sponsors: https://goatlandia.org/ https://darbybonomi.com/

    Episode 92: Jamie Shortz

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2023 50:33


    Jamie Shortz talks to us about growing up with a mom as a Dressage trainer, her journey with Chiropractic school, and what it's been like raising her son, growing her business and being newly married. https://www.pacificperformancechiro.com/ Episode Sponsors: https://darbybonomi.com/ https://equestrianaccounting.co/

    Episode 91: Elena Gaeta

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2023 38:51


    Elena Gaeta talks to us about how she started out in her photography/videography business and her experience posing naked on horseback. https://www.instrideproductions.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lanybiird/ https://www.facebook.com/InstrideProductions Episode Sponsors: https://mymareco.com/ https://healthyhorse.co/

    Episode 90: Toora O'Mahony

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2023 62:32


    Toora Omahony talks to us about why she moved from Oregon to Santa Rosa, California and soon after got an opportunity to work in France, and how she's taken what she has learned into becoming the eventing trainer she is today. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063568420916 https://www.raydianceeventing.com/ Episode Sponsors: https://goatlandia.org/ https://www.changeyourlead.com/

    Episode 89: Lindsey Close

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2023 47:52


    Lindsey Close talks to us about why she got into equine nutrition, her first OTTB she struggled with, and how she's been working through some fear after an accident. https://www.facebook.com/CloseRanch https://www.facebook.com/CloseEquineNutritionConsulting/ https://closeranch10179.wixsite.com/closeranch Episode Sponsors: https://www.theequinecreative.com/ https://www.chrisellsworthhorsemanship.com/

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