The Pony Podcast

It's been a while since we've caught up hasn't it. I mean I know you hear a bit about our lives, episode to episode, but there's lots that doesn't get through, and not all of you have listened since we started the podcast. And we started the podcast a bloody long time ago now. Thinking how different our lives are is  a bit mad to be honest. As our lives are growing and morphing, we thought the podcast probably needed to too. Logically. So that's what this is. A quick catch up, and the low down.

We are joined by our absolute favourite person, Angela Jones, our very own resident Podcast Pet Vet, to talk all about Atypical Myopathy, what's a myopathy? Why is it not typical? Guess you'll have to listen won't you

This week we're joined by the effervescent Nandi Kegode, Kenyan Psychologist and honestly, visionary. We talk all about how keeping ponies in Kenya works, the challenges from the climate (and the wildlife), how competing works and how most people learn to ride. Nandi is current holder of the "Best Answer to What's One Thing You Couldn't Live Without" award

Content Manager for the Longines Global Champions Tour (among others) and all round wonderful human being, Anna Hollis, talks to us all about her job, making content for multiple platforms, where she gets her ideas, and being at events taking place in some of the most beautiful locations in the world. Under the Eiffel Tower, anyone? THE ACTUAL CIRCUS MAXIMUS, ANYONE?

This week, Lucy from Gemini Genetics joins us on the podcast to talk all about cloning, how it works, why you'd do it, and how it's helping in so many areas right now. This was a big episode for our resident Biology Nerd but I think we kept it in check and didn't go too science heavy.... you guys be the judge

Our second episode in our Breed series we're looking at one of the most carefully bred animals in the world, for one singular aim. Getting the fastest horse possible. Listen to Simon Cooper from the original Thoroughbred Studbook, Weatherbys, talk about how the breed came to be and what its future looks like. 

You might have heard episodes on mindset before, but none like this. Laura Schrøter is an eventer on the BEF's Podium Potential Squad, yard owner and all round ray of sunshine with the absolute best outlook on life. She rides Piglet for Tess and as part of her team, we've seen first hand the optimism, dedication, patience and resilience she approaches every day, every opportunity and every challenge with, and wanted to learn more...

Today, Alex and Tess talk about the benefit of being employed by someone else (Tess) and self employed (Alex) when you've got a horse to worry about, it includes discussing the pros and cons of a non-horsey job compared to being with horses full time and how we make each option work for us.

Did you know that movement in a horse's lower jaw can affect how far the hind leg can come forward and engage? How about knowing that to fix David Beckham's knee trouble, they gave him a plate to put in his mouth? Intrigued yet?

Our very first World Equestrian Games GOLD MEDALIST and one that we were so so excited about. When we started thinking about what other sports we wanted to learn about, Vaulting was top of the list. Who better to learn from than a member of GB Vaulting's Royal Family

We ask our pet vet everything you ever wanted to know that we could think of about Equine Metabolic Syndrome. Signs and Symptoms, Outcomes and Causes. Poo Smoothies and The Dirtiest Joke Tess Has Ever Been Told (probably). 

In our new series spotlighting how different breeds of our furry friends came to be, we start with the biggest personalities of them all: Shetlands. Fun fact, the mp3 to this episode is named by their super fun nickname that Alex wouldn't let me say on air

For Coaching Week this week, we're revisiting our FIRST EVER EPISODE, with the incomparable Caroline Moore, from when we were BABIES back in 2019 and very exceptionally new to this whole recording lark. Have we changed? Have we improved? No. But as this episode shows, we were fire from the off. 

As this week is National Volunteering Week, we thought we'd give you a quick run down of our own volunteering experience in Riding for the Disabled and British Eventing/Pony Club, what you can gain from it, why we like it and what you can expect. We both absolutely love doing it, listen to find out why. For a handy blog on the subject, go to www.theponypodcast.com

We take a step into the world of Para Dressage to try to get answers to all of our questions with more and more squads being announced for Tokyo 2020(1) by the day. Bert Sheffield is a para-dressage rider for Team Canada, and has represented them at World and Olympic level. Hear about how para dressage works, how to get into it and some sneaky Championship stories, just for us

Looking for a way to be involved in eventing without the crazy price tag? The Event Horse Owners Syndicate has made itself a solution for you (and Tess). A one off payment, weekly updates, and all the fun bits of horse ownership. Want to find out more?

Have you ever wondered whether horses in other countries are looked after the same way as yours? Well we had many many questions about our different perspectives and experiences, so decided to recruit a different viewpoint. The lovely Teal Shoop joins us all the way from Oregon USA to tell us all about keeping horses in the United States and clear up some questions for us. DO horses in Florida grow a winter coat?

In a new series for us, we ask our resident vet, Angela Jones, everything we ever wanted to know about strangles. It includes the phrases "haemorrhaging custard" and "the custard clap". You're welcome. 

Everything you guys wanted to know about rider fitness, from how much you need to how best to get it, which doesn't seem like a big range but there are plenty of pit stops along the way. If you're a competing rider, at whatever level, or just trying to make some progress, you NEED to listen to this

Biology Nerds Unite! A whole episode on biosecurity, why it's important (incase the whole pandemic thing wasn't reason enough) and some easy ways to make your horses that little bit safer.

You guys ever heard of Le Trec? Okay well we hadn't, so we got the wonderful GB Le Trec rider and Chef d'Equipe Julia Knight-Jones on to talk to us all about it! What it is, what you do, how to get involved, what you'll need. All the information you could want and as with any good Trec adventure, a couple of tangents

We are joined by lovely lovely Angela Jones for our favourite type of episode - one requested by you lovely lot. We ask Angela everything we could think of about the Vetting process, based in some way on personal experience. Enjoy!

We're on our own again this week to do a little follow up to last week's episode with Riders Minds. We talk a bit about our own experiences, how they've affected us, how we dealt with them and what we learned. As ever if you want to talk to us about anything covered in this episode or outside it our DMs are always open @theponypodcast 

This week we speak to Liz Daniels from Riders Minds about mental health within the equestrian industry. Lockdown has been rough for lots of people and with how relentless equestrian sports can be, we talk a bit about why we struggle and more importantly, what help is available to us. 

Your two hosts talk about what Fitness looks like in reality, making sure your horse is fit enough, how we've dealt with our horses over lockdown, how we use galloping for more than just getting some speed into the legs and how the way our horses gallop and hold their fitness has changed as they've got older.

Ever wondered how your favourite clothing brands... happen? Well we spoke to Tara from Mochara (it's just fun to say) about starting an equestrian fashion business in her third year of university (and stayed sane), product testing, how she designs and how sometimes the best thing to do is to not know what you want to do. Enjoy!

Have you ever seen an advert for an ambassador programme? Of course you have. Because you don't live under a rock. But have you ever wondered what brands actually GET OUT of them? Or even how you make yourself stand out from the crowd to be selected? Well you're only a play away...

The most highly anticipated of all episodes by those in the know. Life Hacks like: Arena Mirrors for 90p, Feed Storage for free, showjump courses when you're pushed for space?!

As people with notoriously terrible eating habits who've definitely never been known to have chocolate for breakfast, Dominos pizza for lunch and then ice cream for dinner while drinking nothing but coffee... we decided it was high time we spoke to an expert about some common nutrition myths and some tools to use to make sure you're actually getting what you need. And most importantly, how planning your competition season around the food stands available (or Jonno the Coffee Man) is totally acceptable. Enter, Jay Dimery, Nutritionist Extraordinaire

In another listener requested episode, the wonderful Lindsay Gall, Brand Manager at Likit, talks us through how they make likits! From choosing flavours to the production process and what products they're coming out with next. As one of the Podcast's very first supporters this has been something we've wanted to do for SO LONG so thank you everyone who requested it for giving us an excuse! 

Is your favourite daydream galloping along a beach, pristine white sand, your friends around you, bow and arrow in hand, thick armour as you head into battle? No? Where did I lose you? Well if even SOME of that is true, how about listening to real life (ish) Amazon, Amy Obiajulu, talk about her experience being a stunt double in the brilliant film, Wonder Woman 1984? How to get cast, what to expect from the experience, whether you'll be able to steal stuff from set. Enjoy!

This was literally meant to be one of our first episodes EVER and then it got postponed one week, and then two, and then two years happened with Rosanna always coming in "next time" and now. FINALLY. It only took two years and three lockdowns! We have an episode with the amazing carriage driver and sports psychologist, Rosanna Walters-Symons

We are joined by the lovely Ashton and Claire from Ac Equine to talk about... well to talk about how it works really.. As you all know, Tess LOVES anything techy and biology related so expect some excited science noises and a bit of easy learning! 

This is a long one, but a big one. We talk to Sandra about her experiences as a black equestrian and the racism she's experienced as a black woman in the equestrian community. She's our new hero. Even if you don't think you'll agree with what's discussed in this episode, we urge you just to listen with an open mind. 

Here it is! Our top 10 episodes from this absolute clusterbang of a year. Behind the scenes insight, the usual hilarity and our favourites that aren't the list yet. 

What am I doing the minute lockdown's over? Pub? Dinner? Party? Nope, I'm going carriage driving. We love having people on the podcast who care about what they do and Sarah Dance is no different. Her passion and enthusiasm are catching and we LOVED talking about every aspect of the sport(s) that we could fit in. Want a go? Get in line

Today, ladies and gentlemen and other, marks the day we relent on a rule we've had since the podcast began. "Alicia Wilkinson, is not coming on". Alicia used the first lockdown VERY prosperously and started her own business. Did she do this just to get on the podcast? Guess we'll never know. But yes. Listen for a step by step how she did it and come up with your own absolutely genius BibEazness. BibEazness. Business. Gettit?

Two major dorks went to interview an actual major who's been in the army and everything. He was charming and we were overexcited. It's everything you dream it could be.

What do the Equestrian Sports need? MORE DIVERSITY! When do they need them? NOW? Ashleigh Wicheard is not only an amazing racing stable jockey but she's also a member of the BAME Equine and Rural activities Focus Group, helping  to make the sport more inclusive and more diverse. Hear about not only her career but how she's making a difference.

If you struggled in the last lockdown (in the UK) or are struggling with how your country is handling the current situation (we do have international listeners - shoutout to the two of you in Vietnam, we see you!) here is an episode with a qualified professional to help you find your way to coping, and maybe even enjoying it, you truly never know

Yaaayyy another episode where we get really off topic. LOVE a chat, whatcha gon' do. We speak to Sophie Green of Evergreen Coaching all about how to stay positive this winter. Topical right?! We've got loads in store to help you guys out during this Lockdown so stay tuned and feel the positive Pony Podcast vibes. Love you all

Ebony Horse Club is located right in the middle of London, in the heart of Brixton. How did they fit a riding school in the centre of Brixton? How do they help the community? What amazing projects have they got going on? Quick! Listen!

Are people still saying "Winter is Coming"? Is that a very old GoT reference? Does this show that we're not actually cool and hip? Does saying hip reaffirm that we're old now?  Aaannyyway. Here's an episode with a lil' Noble Equestrian product review and then us going insane in a room in France starting off on rugs and winter life hacks and ending up with Tess getting stuck in a turnout pen showing that the pony who escaped from it is literally smarter than her. No I don't know how we got from A to B. 

Ever heard of Working Equitation? Okay well Alex and I hadn't so we had the LOVELY Holly Barber on to tell us all about it! Want to know more? You know what to do...

We chat to Nottingham University Vet Izzy Wild about her work on Colic research at the Nottingham University Colic and Wound Project. If you want to download any of the resources we talk about in this episode head to the Nottingham University or BHS website - or just give it a google, you all know how it works

Super simple - a sweet chat with PR magician Katie Lawrence from Riviera PR Ltd about how to grow your social media audience and why it's so important to be thinking about your brand and what you're putting out on social media. Oh and there's a bit about food. Because it's us, and everything's better with food involved.

Looking for (another) lockdown project but missing one key component? Trying to update your yard communication but lacking app design skills? Equimi is offering you the simplest of simple solutions, a platform where you simply set up an account, build your own website (with a dedicated helpline for anything that's not playing ball - website's can be like that) and go. Have a listen to learn more and launch yourself into your new chapter!

This week we're joined by the incredible Rosie Tapner, model, presenter, jockey and English Channel swimmer (who HATES swimming). There's insight into how to make having a job while at university work for you, what pressures Rosie faced with modelling, why it's okay if your university experience isn't the absolute massive friendship group, party all the time, raging fun time you're sometimes told it should be, and LOADS of other amazing life advice. We do touch on the issues with weight that Rosie came up against working in modelling and if it's close to home for anyone, visit Rosie's instagram and read some of her latest posts on the industry. She's so honest and transparent and if you feel like you need help, put yourself first and get it. 

After a request for an episode covering prohibited substances and how to make sure you're on the right side of the rules, we sit down with Claire Williams the Executive Director of the British Equestrian Trade Association about their NOPS scheme, what that involves and what we need to be careful of to make sure we don't fall foul of their prohibited substances list. This one is super important if you compete affiliated with any organisation, not just British Eventing, British Showjumping, British Dressage or the FEI, as more and more Pony Clubs and Riding Clubs are testing for this stuff. Let us know what you think! 

Ever experienced wanderlust? The call of the wild? The pull of adventure? Well this episode is about someone who didn't just feel those, she chased them. Hannah Bicket was one of only 24 riders in the WORLD to take part in the FIRST EVER Gaucho Derby in Patagonia earlier this year AND she and a friend are off next summer to ride 1000km across Mongolia on semi-feral mongol ponies and race in the Mongol Derby. Crazy? Yes. Inspiring.....

The lovely Lydia Heywood joins us to talk about getting into riding as a black rider, riding for Jamaica and being a mentor at Ebony Horse Club in Brixton. Lydia also runs Cool Ridings (best name ever), a foundation with a vision to make equestrian sport more accessible worldwide. If you're looking for someone who doesn't just say "a change has to be made", but GETS UP AND MAKES THE CHANGE, Lydia is your girl and we are So. Here. For. It.