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Send us Fan Mail You might think that growing up as the daughter of Frank and Mary Chapot that you would feel tremendous pressure, but Laura Chapot always saw it as opportunity. She had two parents who were both brilliant riders and trainers and Laura embraced the lessons she could learn from them. She knew from a very early age that horses were to be her path and while she attended Drew University and graduated with honours, she was always focused on the riding . Laura had tremendous success on 3 well known mounts - Gem Twist , Little Big Man and Chandon Blue but Little Big Man remains her “heart horse “. We talked about her parents, the horses ,  training methods and cloning. Sometimes I sit down with a guest and I learn something very special about their training approach that I can take away as a gem . Such was the case with Laura Chapot. I walked away feeling like the legacy of the Chapot family carries on. This episode is brought to you by the international law firm of Cooley LLP. Clients partner with Cooley on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters , and high-stakes litigation.  Our connection to the law firm comes through Cooley Partner and jumper rider Cullen Drescher , who competes in the High Amateur and Grand Prix levels in addition to leading Cooley's Business Restructuring practice from the firm's offices in New York City.

Send us Fan Mail Chris Pratt thought that his days of show jumping at the top level of the sport were over. He had settled in to a business of training students and was content to make that his focus. But as fate would have it, the universe had other plans for him. Even when he took over the rides for his clients (Karen Long Dwight and Glen Fleischer) he thought it would just be until they could find a replacement. Thankfully for all of us, Chris stayed the course. Now he is having the time of his life with Ideaal ES and Lollipop and leaning in to believing in his own judgment while achieving success at the top level of the sport at the same time. Chris Pratt is proof that dreams really do come true if you work hard and believe in yourself. This episode is brought to you by the international law firm of Cooley LLP. Clients partner with Cooley on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters , and high-stakes litigation.  Our connection to the law firm comes through Cooley Partner and jumper rider Cullen Drescher , who competes in the High Amateur and Grand Prix levels in addition to leading Cooley's Business Restructuring practice from the firm's offices in New York City.

Send us Fan Mail In part 2 of my conversation with show jumper Kevin Babington, Kevin recounts his recollection of the day he had his life-changing fall off Shorapur. He shares his journey of treatment, rehabilitation and finding a new way to share his gifts from the confines of a wheelchair. He has rebuilt his life and reinvented himself with tenacity, grace and humility. His positivity and optimism  are both inspiring and contagious. I hope with all my heart that if a miracle can happen for him in the future that it does. Be sure to check out the book about his life “Babington :Triumph, Tragedy, Inspiration “ This episode is brought to you by the international law firm of Cooley LLP. Clients partner with Cooley on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters , and high-stakes litigation.  Our connection to the law firm comes through Cooley Partner and jumper rider Cullen Drescher , who competes in the High Amateur and Grand Prix levels in addition to leading Cooley's Business Restructuring practice from the firm's offices in New York City.

Send us Fan Mail The youngest of 11 children, Kevin wasn’t sure about how he was going to make a life with horses growing up in Ireland but he was obsessed with them from a very early age. He initially thought his future was in racing but thankfully for us he made friends with some showjumpers and pursued that path instead. In part one of this two part chat we talk about where Kevin’s passion started and the journey that took him to America. He shares the story of the people who influenced him and the mounts who made his dreams a reality . This episode was originally recorded on May 24, 2026 but we delayed releasing it due to the launch of the book sharing Kevin’s story. Be sure to check out “Babington: Triumph, Tragedy, Inspiration “ available on Amazon. All proceeds benefit the Kevin Babington Foundation. This episode is brought to you in part by Horseflight, an equine transport company established in 2007, known for excellence in international shipping. When you fly with Horseflight, you fly first class. This episode is brought to you by the international law firm of Cooley LLP. Clients partner with Cooley on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters , and high-stakes litigation.  Our connection to the law firm comes through Cooley Partner and jumper rider Cullen Drescher , who competes in the High Amateur and Grand Prix levels in addition to leading Cooley's Business Restructuring practice from the firm's offices in New York City.

Send us Fan Mail From as far back as she can remember, Lauren Hough always wanted to go to the Olympics. She knew that her father had gone and so she was determined to do the same ,albeit in a different discipline. She set her sights on the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and managed to convince a group of clients (with the assistance of her mother Linda )that she had found the horse to do it.  She still marvels today that she had such confidence in herself and her horse Clasiko , that she was able get a syndicate together.   Even more remarkable was that she qualified to be a member of the show jumping team by winning enough of the  trials . All this at the age of 23 and as a member of an all women US team who were all first time Olympians.  Although the team did not win a medal - they finished 6th- Lauren would go on to medal 4 times at the Pan American games . She would also go on to be a member of 40 Nations Cup Teams. Always on the path of learning, Lauren has worn different hats within the sport- rider, trainer, horse developer, commentator  and judge . However, she is now circling back to pursue her earliest passion which is the riding.  Here’s hoping that we get the opportunity to see her represent her country internationally once again on the Olympic stage proving that “once is not enough “. This episode is brought to you in part by Horseflight, an equine transport company established in 2007, known for excellence in international shipping. When you fly with Horseflight, you fly first class. This episode is brought to you by the international law firm of Cooley LLP. Clients partner with Cooley on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters , and high-stakes litigation.  Our connection to the law firm comes through Cooley Partner and jumper rider Cullen Drescher , who competes in the High Amateur and Grand Prix levels in addition to leading Cooley's Business Restructuring practice from the firm's offices in New York City.

Send us Fan Mail Stal Hendrix has been an institution in Europe for almost 50 years. Their breeding, training, selling and auction business was built on commitment to quality , relationships , respect and word of mouth. If you meet, Janou Hendrix , the head of marketing behind the brand , you understand why they are so successful . She is humble, authentic, passionate and smart. There is a quiet strength and grace about her and a positive energy you want to share. Janou and the rest of the family have a clear vision of how they wish to maintain their business and adapt it for the next generation.  Janou shares their story and how they have adapted to meet the changing needs of the world around them. She talks about how they are constantly striving to improve. Most importantly they have made their love of the horse centre stage. I walked away from our conversation inspired and convinced that they will be around for another 50 years. This episode is brought to you in part by Horseflight, an equine transport company established in 2007, known for excellence in international shipping. When you fly with Horseflight, you fly first class. This episode is brought to you by the international law firm of Cooley LLP. Clients partner with Cooley on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters , and high-stakes litigation.  Our connection to the law firm comes through Cooley Partner and jumper rider Cullen Drescher , who competes in the High Amateur and Grand Prix levels in addition to leading Cooley's Business Restructuring practice from the firm's offices in New York City.

Send us Fan Mail They say that there is a heart horse for everyone and for Rowan Willis , that may have been Blue Movie. Rowan met Carrots ( her barn name ) when she was a foal and spent everyday with her for 19 years.  She was a complicated mare and it took a non traditional approach to train her, but in the end she gave everything and their partnership took them to the top of the sport. Rowan retired Carrots from jumping in 2024 and she is now enjoying her life in England.  Today he has a string of new horses he is campaigning and hopes to represent Australia at The World Equestrian Games , The Pan Americans and ultimately at the Los Angeles Olympics. I was struck by the fact that he is both thoughtful and emotional in his approach to the horses- I loved his descriptions of the characters of his mounts and how that dictates how he trains them. We got down to details as far as what bits he uses and why and I appreciated what I found to be a sophisticated choice. While it is going to be hard to duplicate the partnership Rowan had with Carrots, he has several potential mounts that are her babies and siblings . Fingers crossed that one of them gives Rowan Willis the fairy tale ending he deserves . This episode is brought to you by the international law firm of Cooley LLP. Clients partner with Cooley on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters , and high-stakes litigation.  Our connection to the law firm comes through Cooley Partner and jumper rider Cullen Drescher , who competes in the High Amateur and Grand Prix levels in addition to leading Cooley's Business Restructuring practice from the firm's offices in New York City.

Send us Fan Mail It has been 50 years since Michel Vaillancourt won an individual silver medal in showjumping at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal but it feels like only yesterday when you hear his story.  At 22 years of age with a young horse who had no international experience , he was a longshot just to qualify for the team.  Couple that with an incredibly difficult course , a jump-off following a deluge of rain and an unexpected delay after warm-up and you recognize how extraordinary his accomplishment was. Michel remains the youngest equestrian to have ever won an individual medal at the Olympics. He has gone on to have a successful career as a coach and course designer and has no regrets about any of his choices. I would say that is about as good as it gets in the horse world. This episode is brought to you by the international law firm of Cooley LLP. Clients partner with Cooley on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters , and high-stakes litigation.  Our connection to the law firm comes through Cooley Partner and jumper rider Cullen Drescher , who competes in the High Amateur and Grand Prix levels in addition to leading Cooley's Business Restructuring practice from the firm's offices in New York City.

Send us Fan Mail Luis Sabino Goncalves started his riding career in Santarim , Portugal as a bullfight rider. However,it did not take long after his exposure to showjumping in Lisbon that he decided he had found his real calling. After spending years in Europe pursuing his dream he found himself unexpectedly in America during the pandemic and decided to make Ocala, Florida his home . There he has established a solid business in sales, training and riding by being very focussed on keeping a smaller number of horses and clients under his watchful eye. Like many of the riders and trainers I have spoken with over the last couple of months, Luis does not believe in a “one size fits all “ approach but rather changes his training plan to suit each horse depending on what they did on any given day. English is not Luis’ first language but his passion for the horses and training does not need translating. The excitement comes through in his voice when he talks about the riders he helps and the horses he works with. He has represented the  national team for Portugal at many championships but is finally in the enviable position of having a mount that could make his dream of going to the Olympics a possibility. I for one am jumping on the support team that hopes to see him in Los Angeles. This episode is brought to you by the international law firm of Cooley LLP. Clients partner with Cooley on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters , and high-stakes litigation.  Our connection to the law firm comes through Cooley Partner and jumper rider Cullen Drescher , who competes in the High Amateur and Grand Prix levels in addition to leading Cooley's Business Restructuring practice from the firm's offices in New York City.

Send us Fan Mail There are two things you need to immediately know about showjumping legend  Shane Sweetnam. The first is that he is from Castlemagner not Dunmanway. The second is that his partnerships with his horses are always evolving. What immediately struck me in my conversation with Shane was that he is very much in tune with his horses and he is of the mind that there is not one mold that fits all. He says that it is important that each horse is in the right place at the right time and with the right state of mind. He also is the first rider to talk about ring IQ and how the best horses all have the ability to figure things out when they are competing. In fact, they may learn more in the ring on competition day than when they are practicing. Shane also has a good system and good control over his nerves and like many good riders gives credit to his support  team especially his wife. I walked away feeling that I had met someone who has truly mastered the art of show jumping and totally respects the art. This episode is brought to you by the international law firm of Cooley LLP. Clients partner with Cooley on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters , and high-stakes litigation.  Our connection to the law firm comes through Cooley Partner and jumper rider Cullen Drescher , who competes in the High Amateur and Grand Prix levels in addition to leading Cooley's Business Restructuring practice from the firm's offices in New York City.

Send us Fan Mail In part 2 of the series, showjumping legend Eric Lamaze sits down with me to share his side of the lawsuits that have impacted him and where they sit right now.  He does not pull any punches as far as the details are concerned. Be that as it may, he also gives his insight on what role horsemanship plays in finding a new mount for an amateur and how important it is that the horse and rider be actual partners. He laments that many riders are in a rush to get in the ring and neglect this aspect of the sport. He cautions both riders and trainers to take their time. Finally , he reveals that his Olympic and Pan American medals are not in his possession and appeals to those who have them to return them to him. This episode is brought to you by the international law firm of Cooley LLP. Clients partner with Cooley on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters , and high-stakes litigation.  Our connection to the law firm comes through Cooley Partner and jumper rider Cullen Drescher , who competes in the High Amateur and Grand Prix levels in addition to leading Cooley's Business Restructuring practice from the firm's offices in New York City.

Send us Fan Mail It is not often a Canadian rider at World Equestrian Centre (Ocala) gets to hear the Canadian anthem play in the hotel ring. However, Sean Jobin managed to experience it twice this past winter at the 3* level. Add to this a win in the International ring at Spruce Meadows on his first time there in 2024, several podiums in 2025 and it gives one reason to pause . After spending several years in the US, Sean is returning to Canada to where he first started and hoping to create a thriving business at Antrim Equestrian.  Low key by nature, Sean shows some excitement when he talks about his hopes for the future. He is off to a good start with the home team he has created and a young horse that seems to be taking on new challenges in stride. I expect we will see Sean representing the team and continuing to impress us for many years to come with his slow, steady and horse-centric approach. I believe he is a rider to keep in your sights. This episode is brought to you by the international law firm of Cooley LLP. Clients partner with Cooley on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters , and high-stakes litigation.  Our connection to the law firm comes through Cooley Partner and jumper rider Cullen Drescher , who competes in the High Amateur and Grand Prix levels in addition to leading Cooley's Business Restructuring practice from the firm's offices in New York City.

Send us Fan Mail When Covid 19 shut down most of the world , Elena Haas had the same concerns that most of us had . She was not sure how she would continue to do the things that brought her the most joy. However, she quickly realized that there were some blessings during that restrictive period - riders could continue to ride their horses and studies would go online. She seized that opportunity to shift her passion to be front and centre in her world and also shared the joy of being at the stables with her family giving them some semblance of normalcy.  Delightful is the word I would use to describe my time spent with Elena. She is earnest, thoughtful and exceptionally grateful for the privilege to be doing something that she loves so much .She has a tremendous work ethic and has balanced her riding with a rigorous university schedule without complaint. She repeatedly reminds me that no one could have ever thought such a dark time as the pandemic could have had blessings, but for her there was and she is eternally grateful for that . This episode is dedicated to Elena’s horse “Centana” , who passed away , and without whom, she thinks none of her dreams would have been realized. This episode is brought to you by the international law firm of Cooley LLP. Clients partner with Cooley on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters , and high-stakes litigation.  Our connection to the law firm comes through Cooley Partner and jumper rider Cullen Drescher , who competes in the High Amateur and Grand Prix levels in addition to leading Cooley's Business Restructuring practice from the firm's offices in New York City.

Send us Fan Mail There have been many times in the last year that I have been struck by what a gift it is to have the opportunity to sit down and chat with the best that the sport of show jumping has to offer .  None no more than this last episode. Hot on the heels of my conversation with Norman Dello Joio , I had the opportunity to sit down with Leopoldo Palacios. What made it even more special is that we were sitting in the stands of the Stadium ring at WEC in Ocala , watching competitors jump one of his courses. Leopoldo  knows this sport so intimately- it has been his life’s work and he has studied well beyond his craft. His enthusiasm is infectious and his attention to detail unparalleled. His primary goal is to protect the horses and challenge the riders. He likens what he does as a designer to making a soup - all the ingredients come together to make the finished product. I thought about calling this episode - The Chef but I didn’t think that quite captured everything Leopoldo does out in rings where he designs. He jokes that his mentor Pam Caruthers told him not to worry too much about the distances. She told him that  “the riders will always find a way to make it more difficult.” I learned so much about Leopoldo, his designs, the sport and life from my time with him. I hope that you do too. This episode is brought to you by the international law firm of Cooley LLP. Clients partner with Cooley on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters , and high-stakes litigation.  Our connection to the law firm comes through Cooley Partner and jumper rider Cullen Drescher , who competes in the High Amateur and Grand Prix levels in addition to leading Cooley's Business Restructuring practice from the firm's offices in New York City.

Send us Fan Mail I have spoken to a number of legends in the sport of show jumping this past year. But I don’t think any have been as thoughtful in their answers as Norman Dello Joio.  He is quiet in his demeanour but strong in his character and opinions and is very engaging. He remembers many details of his days of competition and is happy to share the memories but is equally enthusiastic about his transition to the role of trainer . I think I loved most that he really tailors his approach to each horse as each is an individual. He also taught me that the most important skill you can learn with a horse is patience . Norman clearly values his family and loves running Wembley Farm with his wife Jeannie and son Nick .He is quick to point out that one of his favourite roles is grandfather to his daughter’s two children. I walked away feeling like I had been imparted some wisdom without even having had to ask. This episode is brought to you by the international law firm of Cooley LLP. Clients partner with Cooley on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters , and high-stakes litigation.  Our connection to the law firm comes through Cooley Partner and jumper rider Cullen Drescher , who competes in the High Amateur and Grand Prix levels in addition to leading Cooley's Business Restructuring practice from the firm's offices in New York City.