Will Matthew owns and operates Bellaroo Equestrian, a show jumping stable offering a range of equestrian services. From breakers to Grand Prix horses, Will believes in bringing out the best in his horses through a methodical and ethical approach.  

After training under some of Australia’s top riders including three time Olympian Vicki Roycroft, as well as additional training in the US, he has a wealth of knowledge to pass on to others, and has taught show jumping, dressage and eventing to riders of all ages and levels. 

Equestrian Hub podcast host Charlie Brister spoke to Will on a range of topics including: 

• From bush bashing to World Cup show jumping  
• Surfing for your sanity  
• The German vs American system 
• Producing young horses 
• Bellbirds and kangaroos  

Caleb Degen has built a career around his love of horses, competing in eventing, polo in the UK, and currently working as Equine Coordinator with the Australian Outback Spectacular. At home on Queensland’s Gold Coast, he offers clinics in liberty and groundwork that exemplify his innovative approach to training as well as his commitment to animal welfare. 

He sat down with Equestrian Hub podcast host Charie Brister to talk about: 

• Building connection 
• Equestrian wizardry  
• Mastery of the horse  
• Aiming for ‘impossible’ goals 
• African adventures  

It’s a fascinating conversation – don’t miss it! 

An accredited Level 2 Dressage Specialist Coach and National A Level Grand Prix Judge, Nicole has over 30 years’ experience in training, competing, judging and coaching. She’s trained in Germany, Spain and The Netherlands, and has produced nine very successful FEI horses.

With over 39 championship titles and multiple Australian titles to her name, she offers personalised coaching and full care agistment in Queensland’s beautiful Gold Coast hinterland.

Listen as Nicole goes in depth with podcast host Charlie Brister on some fascinating topics, including:

· Making your comebacks better than your setbacks

· Gaining Level 3 coaching accreditation

· Sports psychology

· The importance of life-long learning

· The evolution of the Sporthorse

Catch this conversation on the Equestrian Hub’s podcast page, or listen on your favourite streaming app.

Luke Dee was given an unexpected opportunity when he was asked to represent New Zealand in the FEI World Cup Final after Julie Davey, the FEI World Cup New Zealand League Series winner, decided not to travel to Switzerland to compete.

Luke, a Kiwi, had previously represented New Zealand at the Nations Cup in Europe and the United States, and with his current jumping partner Gangster WW, had won an FEI World Cup Qualifier round in December 2024. Hardly able to believe his luck, he was more than happy to act as the replacement.

He spoke to podcast host Charlie Brister about the experience, as well as:

• The benefits of working overseas
• The importance of having good systems in place
• Trusting more experienced professionals when purchasing horses
• Experimenting with different bits
• The need to be transparent with clients and owners
• Going from selling real estate to a World Cup Final

You can hear this interview on the Equestrian Hub’s podcast page, or listen on your favourite streaming app.

Hear what internationally recognised dressage expert Kristen Closson has to say about horse welfare, classical versus contemporary riding, and what it is to be a dressage judge. 
Originally from Southern California, Kristen Closson’s passion has always been horses. A professional junior rider at the age of 14, she achieved Grand Prix in her early 20s. 
Along with coaching, her interests in judging and horse management led her to travel the world. Now permanently based in Australia, she draws on over 30 years’ experience coaching in nearly 10 countries. She is a Level II Dressage Specialist Coach, a Coach Educator, an 'A' Level (Grand Prix) Dressage Judge, a Judge Educator, and a Young Horse Judge, as well as holding committee roles with both Equestrian NSW and Dressage NSW.
You won’t want to miss this one! Head over to Equestrian Hub to listen to this fascinating interview with podcast host Charlie Brister.

Growing up in Western Australia, Sonja Johnson learned to ride by mustering cattle on her parent’s property. She joined her local Pony Club at around five years old, and at 13, finished second at the Pony Club State Eventing Championships.
In 1996 she was named Australian Event Rider of the Year and was selected as the non-travelling reserve for the Atlanta Olympics. While based with Andrew Hoy in the UK, she competed at many of Europe's largest events, and in 2006, was a member of the Australian bronze medal winning team at the FEI World Equestrian Games.
She brought home team silver from her Olympic debut at the 2008 Beijing games, and in 2019, team gold from the Oceania Championships. She was also the eventing team’s reserve combination for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
She talked to podcast host Charlie Brister on a range of topics, from the value her coaches have added to her life, to how she trains for skinnies. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation! 

Olympic gold and bronze medallist Stuart Tinney OAM, has a list of eventing accolades too long to mention. 

He has represented Australia on numerous occasions and is an inductee in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, the NSW Sports Hall of Fame, and Equestrian Australia’s Sports Hall of Fame.  

He has been named Equestrian NSW Rider of the Year five times, awarded the Anna Savage Medal for Best and Fairest Rider on multiple occasions, and in 2018 and 2022 served as Australian Eventing Chef d’Equipe. 

An accredited EA Level 4 and FEI Level 3 Course Designer, Stuart, along with wife Karen and daughter Gemma, operates a yard just outside Sydney NSW where the focus is primarily on campaigning eventers and providing an elite training centre for up-and-coming performance riders. 

Don’t miss this informative Equestrian Hub podcast.

Charlotte Allison-Bruce is an equestrian, fashion designer, business owner and a former Miss Intercontinental Australia.
Based in NSW, she grew up riding and began her show career in the hack ring as a eight-year-old. Now competing at the national level, she has represented NSW on many occasions, with wins and placings that include:
•3rd in the 2015 Equestrian Australia Australasian Championships
•Runner Up Adult Rider of the Year in 2015 and 2016
•Champion Adult Rider of the Year 21-30 Years at the 2017 Show Horse Council Horse of The Year
•1st in the Open Lady Rider 21-40 Years at the 2018 Sydney Royal Easter Show
•Equestrian Australia’s Rider of the Year 25 Years and Over in 2022. 
Don’t miss her enjoyable and informative conversation with Equestrian Hub podcast host Charlie Brister.

William Fox-Pitt MBE, the first British rider to become eventing’s World No 1, is one of Britain’s most successful event riders. The five-time Olympian is the only rider to have won five out of the six CCI-4*s worldwide, and has won the HSBC FEI Classics series four times.  

Recently retired from the sport, William won six Burghley titles, and was one of the first riders to ever win a CCI-I*, CCI-2* and CCI-3* at the same event on the same day. He has also won an unprecedented 14 CCI-4*s and 59 CCI three-day events.  

In an unmissable episode, he spoke with Equestrian Hub Podcast host Charlie Brister about: 

• Where it all began 
• Sponsorship and how it's changed  
• Coaching your kids 
• Winning Burghley and the Leaf Pit 
• Competing with the goal in mind 
• Going quietly 

Equine therapist and founder of The Masterson Method, Jim Masterson for many years worked on top U.S. equine athletes competing in events such as the FEI Grand Prix, Nations Cup, and Pan American and World Cup jumping, as well as with the USEF Singles Driving Team and U.S. Endurance Team.  

His book Beyond Horse Massage has been translated into six languages and has sold over 70,000 copies. He spoke with Equestrian Hub Podcast host Charlie Brister, touching on a range of topics including: 

• Developing a partnership with your horse 
• The Bladder Meridian Technique  
• Yawning means something 
• Mystery hind end issues 
• Slow down and pay attention 
• Horses on military bases in the Philippines 

https://mastersonmethod.com/