Talk Horse

Olympian, Badminton winner and one of the greatest riders the sport of eventing has ever seen.

We were so keen to get her on that we had to whisk her into the studio, even though Tristan wasn’t around, so this week Pippa is flying solo in this incredible Badminton special. Lucinda Green joins Talk Horse to share the stories, lessons and mindset behind an extraordinary career. She reflects on her early years in the saddle, the horses that shaped her, and how she built a reputation as the ultimate cross-country rider.

Lucinda opens up about risk, instinct, and what it really takes to succeed at the top level, and how she’s now passing that knowledge on to the next generation of riders with the Lucinda Green Academy.Plus, she and Pippa discuss the runners and riders at this year’s Badminton Horse Trials.

Can Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo do it again?

Do get in touch. The email is [email protected] 

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Best known as the creator behind Life on the Left Rein social channels, Tina has built a loyal following by sharing the real, unfiltered side of grassroots eventing, the highs, the setbacks, and everything in between.

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This week on Talk Horse, Pippa Funnell and Tristan Phipps are joined by one of the most recognisable faces in modern equestrian media, Esme Higgs, better known online as This Esme.

Starting out as a young rider sharing her horsey life on YouTube, Esme has grown her channel into one of the biggest equestrian platforms in the world, reaching millions of viewers across more than 170 countries. But behind the glossy videos is a serious horsewoman with a deep passion for horse welfare, training, and bringing new audiences into the sport.

Esme joins Pippa and Tristan to talk about growing up in an “unhorsey” family, how a simple YouTube channel turned into a global career and the realities of balancing content creation with riding.

Plus a couple of big announcements for the upcoming Royal Windsor Horse show. Use the code TALKHORSE for 20% off tickets for the Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

Let us know where you listen! [email protected]

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Dressage rider Sadie Smith joins Pippa Funnell and Tristan Phipps on this week’s Talk Horse to talk about life inside one of equestrian sport’s most precise and demanding disciplines.

Sadie became British Dressage National Champion at Grand Prix level in 2025, made her World Cup debut at the London International Horse Show, and was shortlisted for the FEI European Dressage Championships. Known for her sympathetic training style and ability to produce horses through the levels, she’s quickly established herself among the UK’s top riders.

Sadie talks about her incredible partnership with Swanmore Dantina, the horse that helped take her to the top, as well as her journey producing horses from young prospects to Grand Prix performers. She also reflects on her time working with Carl Hester, gaining experience around legendary horses like Valegro, and riding professionally in the Netherlands.

Do share your horsey stories with us [email protected]

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From Peckham to Goodwood… this is a story that changed British racing.

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What does it take to build an Olympic medal-winning eventing team and keep horses performing at the very highest level?

This week on Talk Horse, we’re joined by one of the most respected figures in the equine world - Yogi Breisner. From competing at the Olympics himself to leading the British Eventing Team through four consecutive Games as Team Performance Manager, Yogi has shaped some of the biggest moments in modern equestrian history.

Over 17 years he helped deliver four Olympic team medals, multiple European titles, and a World Championship win transforming Britain into a dominant force on the global stage. But it all could have been so different were it not for a postal strike… Listen now to hear the full incredible story. 

Plus, Pippa turns her attention to Thoresby Park, a crucial qualifier for Badminton and Tristan reveals a rather shocking truth for a horse podcast presenter. 

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Pippa Funnell and Tristan Phipps are joined by Ben Atkinson, one of the UK’s most electrifying equestrian performers, stunt riders and horse trainers. From standing astride galloping horses in Roman Riding to commanding teams with nothing but voice and body in Liberty, Ben isn’t just a rider… he’s a true action star on horseback.

Raised in a family of elite horsemen, Ben was performing by the age of nine, working on film sets by eleven and training with world-class stunt riders as a teenager. Today he leads Atkinson Action Horses, supplying highly trained horses and stunt riders for major productions including Poldark, Peaky Blinders and Victoria.

Plus, Pippa and Tristan dive into some of the strangest horse events around the world, and Tristan reveals what happened when he had a rather sharp encounter with a New Forest pony…

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Pippa and Tristan are joined by a true powerhouse of the equine world this week. If you don't know Nat's story - then you really should!

From being fired because of her passion for horses to raising over £1 million in a national campaign to save her riding school, Natalie O’Rourke MBE has one of the most remarkable stories in grassroots equestrian sport. As the founder of Park Lane Stables in South London, she has built a community where horses help children and adults with disabilities develop confidence, independence and joy through her long association with the RDA.

When the stables faced sudden closure in 2021, Natalie and her volunteers launched an extraordinary fundraising effort that captured the public’s imagination. The campaign secured the future of the centre and the thousands of families it supports each year, earning Natalie an MBE and The Sunday Times Grassroots Sportswoman of the Year along the way.

Plus Pippa and Tristan are dallying with AI once again!

Details of Park Lane Stables can be found here - https://www.parklanestables.co.uk/

We love hearing from you. Do email us at [email protected].

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It's Cheltenham week! And who better to join Pippa and Tristan this special week than one of jump racing’s most successful riders, Nico de Boinville.

As the principal jockey for Champion Trainer Nicky Henderson, Nico has ridden more than 800 winners, claimed over 50 Grade 1 victories and celebrated many wins at the legendary Cheltenham Festival - including on Old Park Star this week - winning the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, the opening race of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. 

With the Cheltenham roar ringing out this week, Nico joins the pod to talk about the thrill, pressure and preparation behind the biggest meeting in jump racing. He reflects on his journey into the sport leaving university early to pursue a career in racing and working his way up. Nico also opens up about bouncing back after a recent fall earlier this season, the mindset it takes to recover from injury and get straight back in the saddle, and what it’s like riding some of the greatest horses in modern racing, including the phenomenal Constitution Hill. Plus and unusual technique to avoid post race interviews...

Plus we'll have a guest appearance from pod alumni Mick Fitzgerald and a mini Cheltenham quiz.

Keep sharing your stories, join us on social media, or drop us an email at [email protected].

See you soon for lots more Talk Horse.

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We’re back for Series 3 of Talk Horse! Did you miss us? We’re kicking things off in style with a guest hot off a flight from LA.

Actor Joe Ashman, otherwise known as Callum in Netflix’s epic equine drama Free Rein, sits down with Olympic eventer Pippa Funnell and Made in Chelsea star Tristan Phipps to discuss all things horse. How he exaggerated his riding ability to land his dream role, why Free Rein ignited a love of horses, his bond with his on screen equine partner Milo, and his passion for the work he now does as an ambassador for the Riding for the Disabled Association.

Donate to Joe's London Marathon for the RDA here https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/joe-ashman?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPMTI0MDI0NTc0Mjg3NDE0AAGnAzfYunM4mViLZVqiYGEXcUZp1-XfNuzgKAFcOAGKpGZpPJrNEiNdAeO8RiI_aem_-zt3qRICJM8d_PzMeo4IbQ

Plus, he has an important message for Tristan about why it’s never too late to start riding.

And the games are back! Today Pippa takes on Tristan in “Nay-Listers”. There may even have been some cheeky cheating. We’ll be revealing all on our socials this week...

Whether you’re a lifelong rider or simply horse curious, saddle up and let’s Talk Horse.

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