This one’s with Sheryl Sick, the Pacific Northwest Circuit Governor for the USPA and someone I’ve always looked up to in polo. She’s got a tech sales career that funds her weekends chasing the white ball and a story that includes everything from working at a seafood cannery in Alaska to hauling her own horses 10 hours into Canada. She’s proof you can build your own way into this sport, and she’s generous about how she did it.

Key topics we got into:

• How she found polo in college and sold her graduation bike to chase the sport
• The grooming gig that earned her custom boots and a foot in the door
• Managing a full-time tech job, a polo circuit, and a herd of horses without losing her mind
• Her thoughts on growing the game, getting more kids and women in, and why arena polo’s a gateway drug
• The five Ps - preparation prevents piss poor performance.

Hit that subscribe button if you haven’t already. And if you’ve been thinking about getting back into riding or finally trying polo, take Sheryl’s advice and just start showing up.

Follow Sheryl on [Instagram]

Find more about the role at USPA [here]

This episode is so good. I sat down with Jutta Putz, a branding consultant and strategist who's carved out a niche helping equestrian businesses and startups go global. From growing up in a tiny Austrian town to building her career in Kentucky’s Thoroughbred heartland, Jutta’s story is one of persistence, clarity, and a deep love for horses. We talk about how she turned that passion into a career, and how you can too.

Key topics we discussed in 5 bullet points:

1. Why branding is more than just logos, and how clarity can make or break your horse business

2. The moment Jutta realized the Thoroughbred world was missing a huge opportunity in visibility

3. How wearable tech and AI are reshaping equine health and what’s coming by 2030

4. Personal branding for jockeys and equestrian professionals: what it really means

5. How to turn your equestrian side hustle into a full-time job with real strategy and intention

Bonus:Jutta moved from Austria to Kentucky after mailing out applications to 20 horse farms and receiving a life-changing internship from one hand-written letter.

Connect with Jutta on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jutta-putz/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juttaputz/?hl=en

Website: https://jpbrandplus.com/

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. If you’re building something in the horse world or thinking about it, send this episode to someone who needs to hear it.

On this episode of the podcast, I have the distinct pleasure to sit down with UK stud veterinarians Kate and Tim, the husband-and-wife duo who kept horses (and wayward riders) in one piece during the 2024 Mongol Derby.

We swap memories about wild ponies, mystery meat stew, and the not so surprise reveal that Tim moonlights as a racing-pigeon enthusiast and advocate. Plus, we track their jump from globe-trotting vet work to running their own breeding farm in Newmarket.

Key topics we discussed:

1. How Kate talked Tim onto a flight to Mongolia and what shocked them most on arrival.

2. The unfiltered day-to-day of a Derby vet: twelve-hour shifts, storm chasing, and handing out time penalties with a smile.

3. Food culture on the step, including the infamous offal bowl and why Skittles sometimes save lives.

4. Life after the Derby: setting up a thoroughbred breeding business, balancing farm chores with late-night foal checks, and Tim’s first polo lesson.

5. Racing pigeons explained by a guy who owns fifty of them and still finds time to check heart rates on horses.

   
   

Follow along Tim and Kate's journey:

Facebook:@burden_lee_equine_ltd

@burden_lee_equine_ltd

Like what you heard? Hit subscribe so you never miss a barn-floor conversation; if this episode made you crave adventure, consider supporting the Mongolian charities that keep the Derby running strong.

In this episode, Gideon sits down with Holly Caccamise, editor in chief of Horse Illustrated and Young Rider magazines, and co‑host of the Horse Illustrated Podcast. Holly shares her journey from equine science to publishing, her passion for print in a digital age, tips for getting started in the horse world, and why the Mongol Derby left her in awe.

Key topics we discussed:

1. Why Holly left the lab for editorial life, and how she climbed the ladder from Thoroughbred Times to leading two beloved horse magazines.

2. The enduring power of print in the horse world and how readers, especially kids, cherish holding a magazine in their hands.

3. Horse Illustrated’s recipe for engagement: breed profiles, human‑horse stories, and “the angle” that hooks readers.

4. Practical advice for new riders, start on the ground, understand horsemanship basics, and pick a barn that fits your personality.

5. Trends in equine media: podcasts are an area of opportunity, video versions of interviews are gaining traction, and AI may not cut it for horse stories or imagery.

Bonus:Holly's favorite breed? Appaloosa mares “they just clicked with my brain.”

Social media links for the guest:

Social media links for Horse People Podcast:

Instagram: @HorsePeoplePodcast
LinkedIn: Horse People Podcast
If you love heartfelt horse stories and want a behind‑the‑scenes look at horse media, subscribe to Horse Illustrated (print or digital) and give our podcast a follow. And if you're inspired to start riding or become a writer, go check out Pony Club or reach out to your local barn, you never know where your horse journey will take you.

Follow and subscribe for more cross-discipline horse content and stories!!

This episode features Kristy Donaldson, a high-volume recruiter at Chewy by day and a full-blown horse and Breyer model enthusiast by night. Kristy’s world is a fascinating blend of real horses, collectible horses, YouTube creativity, and early morning barn rides before work. We talk about her journey into dressage, her obsession with Breyer models, and how she balances the two worlds like a pro.

Key topics we discussed in 6 bullet points:

1. The world of Breyer model horses and how Kristy grew a collection of over 300

2. The surprising resale value of rare models and the collector economy behind them

3. Starting a YouTube channel and what content horse people actually want to see

4. Riding at 6 a.m. and juggling shows with a full-time job at Chewy

5. Why horse people secretly (and not so secretly) hire other horse people

6. The misunderstood beauty and grind of dressage for adult amateurs

   
   

Bonus fact:
Kristy once scored a bullseye on her very first horseback archery attempt, combining her two passions—horses and archery—into one epic moment.

Social media links for the guest:
YouTube: Blue Eyed Breyers
Instagram: @blue_eyed_breyers and @spartographer07

Social media links for Horse People Podcast:
Instagram: @horsepeoplepodcast
LinkedIn: Horse People Podcast

Subscribe to the show and leave us a review and if you’ve got a model horse collection you’re proud of, shoot us a message—we want to hear your story.

Intro:
This episode is with Shelley Golan, a senior director at a leading fintech company, lifelong horse lover, and multi-time entrepreneur. Shelley shares her journey of reentering the horse world as an adult amateur after a long hiatus: a story that weaves through startups, motorcycles, autoimmune disease, and the pipeline of drawing horses as a kid to becoming a horse person.

It’s about choosing joy, reclaiming identity, and doing things for no other reason than because they mean something to you.

Key topics we discussed:

1. How Shelley went from urban agriculture founder to startup accelerator leader to fintech exec and why supporting founders still lights her up

2. Growing up horse-crazy in Manhattan, learning to ride in the now-closed Claremont Stables and yes, galloping through Central Park at 10 years old

3. The adult amateur’s return to riding: the courage to restart, the right trainer fit, and how motorcycles reawakened her horsemanship muscle memory

4. The unspoken barriers in lesson barns from saddle soreness to aging school horses and the case for a new model between leasing and buying

5. What it really takes (mentally, physically, emotionally) to become a stronger, more confident rider in your 30s and how intentional strength training changed her seat

   
   

   Bonus: We coin the term “horse virus” instead of “horse bug”, because, let’s be honest, it lies dormant and then flares up like clockwork

   
   

Social media links:
Instagram: @horsepeoplepodcast
LinkedIn: Shelley Golan

If you’ve ever felt the horse virus stir in your bones even a little hit that subscribe button and share this episode with someone who’s been “thinking about getting back into riding.”

In this episode of Horse People, I sit down with Scott Cieslar, founder and CEO of Mad Barn, to talk about how he's building something pretty rare in the world, a business rooted in research first. Scott is laying the groundwork for a smarter, science-backed approach to equine nutrition. We dive into everything from why salt is wildly underrated to how a simple hay test could change your horse’s health. If you care about performance, longevity, and doing right by your horse, this one’s for you.

Key topics we discussed:

• 1. Why Mad Barn is investing in foundational research instead of chasing trends
  2. Why most horse owners misunderstand hay quality, and how earlier cuts actually provide more nutrients than later ones
  3. How horses use oxygen differently, and what that means for training and recovery
  4. The role of salt, forage, and minerals in avoiding common health issues
  5. What Scott’s big-picture vision is for Mad Barn and equine nutrition worldwide

  
  

  Social media:
  Instagram: @madbarnequine
  

  
  
  Website: madbarn.com

  Subscribe to Horse People and get 5% off at Madbarn.com with code HORSEPEOPLE. Your horse could probably use some vitamins and minerals!

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In this episode of Horse People, I’m joined by Josh Edwards aka Cowboy Josh a rodeo legend, entrepreneur, dad, and 3rd place Mongol Derby finisher. We talk about what it means to hang up the saddle after a career in the arena, chase freedom on the Mongolian steppe, and keep going after hard things even when you’ve already got the belt buckles to prove yourself. From the rodeo halls of fame to a quiet moment of clarity in the middle of nowhere, Cowboy shares a raw, honest look at a life well ridden.

Oh! And how to win the derby:)

Key topics we discussed:

• What life after rodeo looks like, and why Josh says retirement came at the perfect time.

• Getting drugged up a Mongolian hill by SJO , horse in tow, tied to her saddle.

• The Mongol Derby: the heartbreak, the donkeys, the glory, and what it taught him about letting go of control.

• Why finishing third meant more than winning, and how that ride became a cornerstone of his cowboy legacy.
• The powerful role of rodeo brotherhood and the unseen emotional moments that defined the Derby for him.

What happens to America’s wild horses after they're rounded up? Why is the politics around public lands and wild horses so heated? And what does it look like when horses are given their freedom back?

In this moving and wide-ranging episode, we sat down with Scott Beckstead, a lifelong animal advocate, law professor, and Chief Equine Program Officer at the Wild Horse Refuge the world’s largest sanctuary of its kind, spanning 30,000 acres in Northwest Colorado.

Scott walks us through:

• The daily joy (and responsibility) of overseeing 200+ wild horses living free on the range

• The legacy of Picasso - the most iconic Mustang in America - and the horses that carry his bloodline today

• How trauma shapes behavior in wild horses and what it means to let them heal on their own terms

• Why wild horses are native to North America despite what the critics say

• The controversial role of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and how Scott’s team has formed a surprising partnership to give horses a second chance

• Fertility control, land politics, and why building one refuge per state could be the game-changer we all need

🐴 Want to help? Chip in a piece of $777 to own an acre and we can become a founding donor at wildhorserefuge.org - make sure to mention "horse people podcast" when contributing!

In this heartfelt episode of Horse People, we sit down with Sam Bregman: lifelong horseman, current Bernalillo County District Attorney, and newly announced candidate for Governor of New Mexico. Sam opens up about how horses have shaped his outlook on leadership, resilience, and what truly matters in life.

From the barn to the campaign trail, Sam reflects on the powerful life lessons horses continue to teach him. He shares how their quiet wisdom has helped him navigate the messiness of both personal struggles and public service, offering moments of clarity in times of chaos.

We explore how these incredible animals ground us in the present, remind us of the world’s beauty, and teach us to find joy in simplicity — whether you're working through big decisions or just mucking a stall on a quiet morning.

Takeaways:

• Horses offer a unique lens through which to view life and leadership.

• Their presence helps us reconnect with what truly matters.

• In moments of stress or uncertainty, horses can bring clarity and calm.

• Life is complicated — horses remind us it doesn’t always have to be.

• Appreciating simple, joyful moments can be a powerful form of resilience.

  
  

Whether you’re in the arena or the governor’s office, Sam reminds us: horses don’t just carry us — they keep us grounded.

Hear more about Sam's announcement: [here]