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! 

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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.

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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.

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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 

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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/

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New Zealander Jody Hartstone was horse obsessed as a child and nothing has changed. From Pony Club to Grand Prix, she followed her passion to become an accomplished dressage rider whose entire approach was transformed after reading Dr Andrew McLean’s book Equitation Science.  

She now specialises in coaching and lecturing in Equitation Science around the world, and has established Hartstone Equestrian as well as her Lusitano stud Cruzeiro Do Sul Lusitanos (Lusitanos of the Southern Cross).  

Jody’s not to be missed conversation with podcast host Charlie Brister covers:  

• Training the front legs more than the back  
• Social licence  
• The crossover of dressage and jump coaching  
• Nervous system regulation  
• Dressage without a nose band 
• Behaviour modification through Equitation Science  
• A happier horse for better performance  
• Float loading super powers  

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At one time listed 3rd in the FEI event rider world rankings (an outstanding achievement for an Australian-based rider), there have been numerous highlights in Megan Jones’ stellar career, not the least of which was collecting team silver at the Beijing Olympics. 

With a wealth of experience to share, Megan joined Equestrian Hub Podcast host Charlie Brister for a talk that ranged across multiple topics including: 

• Keeping an open mind when training horses and riders  
• From pony club to podium  
• The importance of shifting your perspective  
• Trials and tribulations of competing overseas  
• Downsizing and finding balance  
• Pace and line when riding 

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Olympian William Matthew began his equestrian career on leased riding school horses at a Perth Pony Club.  Aged 17, he travelled to Europe for an equestrian gap year and 15 years later is based in Germany competing in elite level dressage.

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

• The pressure and logistics of an Olympic debut
• The benefits of working for one of the world’s best dressage riders
• Starting young horses using the Jeffrey method
• Keeping an open mind when training horses
• Where to go in Europe when you’re starting out

Image: William Matthew and Mysterious Star competing in Paris (Image courtesy FEI/Benjamin Clark).

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International show jumper Oliver Lazarus was all but born in the saddle. From just a few weeks old, his mother carried him on her back as she rode around the family farm in Malkerns, Swaziland. 
Since then he has ridden daily. From a highly successful child rider progressing up the ranks on ponies he trained himself, he now competes all over the world. 
When he’s not riding, he enjoys golf, snowboarding, and traveling. He’s climbed Kilimanjaro, and also plays the violin and guitar.
Podcast host Charlie Brister spoke to Oliver about the value of working and training in Germany with Ludger Beerbaum, the importance of a good work ethic, competing on the Longines Global Champions Tour, hill training, a balanced life, and having an appreciation for a decent bottle of Gin!

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Darren Mills of Cadence and Co fame, father to an eventing daughter, is definitely living the dream! 

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