Fit for Halter Podcast

What do you do when life throws you a curveball and the path you’ve been on isn’t possible anymore? This week on the podcast, I’m joined by Subrina Hobart, whose journey in the show pen took an inspiring turn.

Subrina started out in the pleasure arena, but when health challenges made riding unsafe, she wasn’t ready to give up her love of horses or showing. Instead, she discovered a brand-new passion in the halter pen. 

In this episode, Subrina opens up about:

Behind every winning halter horse program is someone making sure everything runs like clockwork.

In this week’s episode, meet Natasha “Tosh” Bothwell — the right hand to top halter trainer Andy Staton. From sunrise feedings to late-night prep, Tosh shares what it’s really like to work 12–15 hour days at major shows like Congress and the World Show. Hear how Tosh keeps a top program running smoothly at the shows while staying passionate about the halter horse world.

We talk about:

This week on the podcast, we’re heading to Australia to meet Melissa Eeles — a respected amateur halter horse exhibitor, breeder, and program builder with a passion for confirmation and class.

From working at the largest equine hospital in the Southern Hemisphere to preserving legendary bloodlines like Statutory and Mighty Awesome, Melissa shares her journey, her breeding goals, and what it’s really like to raise and show halter horses across Australia’s vast and challenging landscape.

Meet Ami & Kendall Bennett — a dynamic mother-daughter team who share not just their halter horses, but the road trips, early mornings, late nights, and the heart and hustle that come with this sport.

From Ami’s first halter horse to their current string of champions, their story is one of family teamwork, passion, and balance. You’ll hear how they choose horses with the perfect temperament for kids, the special backstory behind their world show yearling, and how even their riding horse with “quirks” has a place in the show lineup.

* How they got started in halter horses

Meet Aynslee Gavey: founder of The Arena Admin, a virtual assistant service tailored specifically for horse business owners and western entrepreneurs.

Learn more about:

🔹 How her passion for horses + business mindset led to The Arena Admin

This week, we sit down with Kathy Smallwood of Kathy Smallwood Quarter Horses — a renowned breeder and trainer whose halter babies shine in the pen and leave a lasting legacy.

Hear how Kathy’s passion began at a very young age, how she evolved her program through decades of dedication, and how she’s preparing the next generation of champions for the fall futurities. We talk daily prep, confidence-building in young horses, breeding insights, and what it really takes to peak at the right time.

Whether you're raising your first foal or fine-tuning your show calendar, this episode is packed with practical advice and inspiration.

This week we’re shifting from the show pen to the camera lens to explore the artistry behind great equine photography. Whether it’s an ad, horse and rider sessions, horse show candids or those amazing black background shots, guest Brittany Callahan of Brittany Callahan Photography plays a huge role in how our horses are seen and remembered.

Tune in as Brittany shares:

*Her journey from the show pen to the photography world

Find her on Facebook here!

What if you could connect your tail extension in seconds or use the same tail extension for more than one horse?  This week we’re joined by RJ Tail Designs, the creators of a revolutionary quick connect tail system for show horses. 

This little detail makes a big difference in the show pen.  They created a system that saves time and protects your horse's real tail on those long show days while still accomplishing the full and beautiful tail we’re looking for in the pen.  We look at how it works and why it’s a game-changer for trainers and amateur exhibitors.