Intro:
This episode's a little different. I was at this years Breeders’ Cup. One of the biggest races in the world!! Big shoutout to the media relations team for letting me be around the barns at Del Mar. I just was walking around, casually met the folks who make the sport run every day, and had some quick, honest conversations. These are the people who muck stalls at 4:30 a.m., ride babies before the sun comes up, and know every twitch and snort of the horses they care for.

It made me think about what this podcast has become. At the core of it all is the same question: why do we love horses the way we do?

Key topics we discussed in 5 bullet points:

1. Eddie Figueroa talks about staying calm in the starting gate and yelling at jockeys when he needs to

2. Lisa Conway shares how grooming horses is like being a mechanic with a lot more emotion

3. Raul Alejandro explains how exercise riders have to know their horses and also have a mental stopwatch

4. Got to talk to Steve Asmussen, who grew up in a racing family and still believes it all comes down to love of the horse

5. What it feels like to be back behind the barns, hearing stories from the real heartbeat of horse racing

   
   

This one is personal. I got to ride with Gianna Aycock and Colby Coltrain during the Mongol Derby, and by the first night in training camp they basically adopted me. These two became my Derby older brother and sister, gear gurus, morale squad, and a big reason I made it to the finish line.

In this episode, we finally sat down to unpack their whole journey, how Gianna went from riding anything she could as a kid in New Mexico to riding 12 horses a day prepping for the Derby, and how Colby, the ultimate jack-of-all-trades, went from college baseball to welding fences to racing ponies across Mongolia.

They're some of my favorite humans, and this conversation is everything I love about horses and horse people, real talk, good stories, and a lot of heart. We get into the nitty gritty of how they prepped for the world’s toughest horse race, what nearly broke them (and what didn’t), and why Gianna’s doing it again in 2026.

Key topics we discussed:

1. The backstory: how Gianna first fell into horses and how Colby got pulled into the world alongside her

2. Gearing up for the Derby—what equipment they optimized, what they regretted, and the art of ultra‑light packing

3. The emotional and physical highs and lows during the race: illness, navigation challenges, horse draws, and how they stuck together

4. Lessons from the trail: reading terrain, trusting horses, managing scarcity, and the power of small acts of kindness

5. How the Derby changed them: in gratitude, relationship to food, presence, mindset—and why Gianna is doing it again in 2026

   
   

This episode is with Ross Colbert, lifelong horseman, investment banker, polo junkie, and 70-year-old finisher of the Mongol Derby.

And not just any finisher. Ross crossed the line dead last. But what happened in those 10 days is the stuff you don’t hear about in the press releases. He got lost in the mountains, had his horse chased by dogs, was thrown, walked solo for miles, slept alone by a river, and still managed to roll into camp with his horse sound and his head high.

We talk about the years he spent dreaming of Mongolia, what it took to prep, what gear saved his ass (literally), and how he avoided the saddle sores that plagued most of the field. Ross also shares what it felt like to come home, how the Derby rewired his perspective on business, resilience, and what he’s still capable of. It’s one of the most honest and human accounts of the Derby you’ll hear.

Key topics we discussed in 5 bullet points:

1. Ross’s early involvement with horses, growing up on a farm, riding, polo, and how that shaped his relationship with horses and risk.

2. How the idea of doing the Mongol Derby was planted from meeting his wife, her research on Genghis Khan and the Silk Road, eloping in Mongolia, seeing the Derby, and holding that dream over the years.

3. The training and preparation: building endurance, lots of saddle time, attending a Derby boot camp, gear, avoiding saddle sores, etc.

4. The race itself: checkpoints missed, stone bruised horse, getting thrown, losing tack, walking sections, getting lost in high terrain, nights alone, mindset through setbacks.

5. The aftermath: finishing last but finishing strong, what came home with him beyond the race (resilience, optimism, what he now knows about himself and what he’s capable of), reflections on business, horses, and what’s next.

   
   

If you liked this episode, hit subscribe so you don’t miss the next wild Derby story or horse‑person journey. And if you feel moved, share it with someone who needs a boost of grit or has ever wondered what’s possible when you keep going.

Follow @horsepeoplepodcast for more cross discipline stories and content.

Intro:

Madeleine Bunbury knew what she wanted early on, and it wasn’t what anyone else expected. After bombing her high school exams and getting kicked out, she found her way to a classical art school in Florence where she trained to paint portraits, then as soon as she could started painting horses instead.

In this episode, we talk about how she went from couch-surfing in exchange for paintings to traveling the world with a homemade easel and a dream.

She paints every horse from life, often life-size, and always with the same goal: to capture something deeper than a photo ever could.

Key topics we discussed in 5 bullet points:

• The very non-linear path from failed science student to classically-trained artist living out of a suitcase and painting horses for a living.
• What “site size” painting means and why she never paints from photographs, only from horses standing right next to the canvas.
• The heartbreak and hilarity of trying to get high-strung sport horses to stand still for hours in the blazing sun.
• Her mission to document the 18 native British horse breeds before they disappear, starting with a life-size Suffolk Punch on a three-meter canvas.

Subscribe to the Horse People Podcast for more cross-discipline content. And if you want to follow Madeleine’s adventures across the world, give her a follow: @bunbury_equine_art

Want to learn more about her exhibition in Virginia, here's the link: National Sporting Library and Museum

Intro:

Lisa Lazarus is the CEO of the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA). From NFL negotiations to equestrian rulebooks in Switzerland, Lisa’s career has taken her across sports, continents, and now into the heart of American horse racing reform.

We talk about what it means to rebuild trust in an industry that’s often under fire, how to change deeply embedded cultures without losing the soul of the sport, and what it actually takes to reduce fatalities by 37 percent in just three years.

Follow @horsepeoplepodcast for more cross-discipline content and stories.

Key topics we discussed in 5 bullet points:

• Lisa’s winding career path from international sports law to leading HISA

• The real metrics behind reducing equine fatalities and why transparency matters

• The cultural shift underway in horse racing and why trust is the hardest part

• Balancing federal oversight with racetrack realities across the U.S.

• Why bringing younger generations into the sport is non-negotiable

Subscribe to Horse People Podcast wherever you listen so you don’t miss the conversations that matter to the future of our industry. And if you’ve got a friend who works at a track, send them this episode.

Follow Lisa and HISA updates on their website:

https://hisaus.org/

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.