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We're checking in from Germany at the 2026 FEI Eventing World Championships for Seniors at the storied Aachen venue, which hosted the 2006 World Equestrian Games. As we hurtle towards cross country day, EN's Sally Spickard sat down for an in-depth interview with course designer Guiseppe Della Chiesa, who you may recognize as the designer for the 2022 World Championships at Pratoni in his home country of Italy.  Listen in as Guiseppe dives in to his cross country course, allllll of the alternate routes that exist -- and what his role as a course designer means for the broader picture of the sport.  It's a candid conversation and we think you'll leave it as big of a fan of Giuseppe's as we are.  ----more---- This episode and EN's coverage of World Championships is supported by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional support. Learn more at kppusa.com.  Visit EventingNation.com to catch up on all of our coverage.  #GoEventing The Go Eventing Podcast powered by Eventing Nation is your front-row seat to the heartbeat of eventing. From exclusive athlete interviews to behind-the-scenes insights, we bring you closer to the horses, riders, and stories that make our sport unforgettable. Our vision: Celebrate the stories of eventing while connecting fans, riders, and supporters worldwide. What makes us different: Rider-first conversations  Honest, unfiltered stories  🧑‍🤝‍🧑 A community-driven approach

“Where Eventing Lives” Welcome back to Go Eventing, the podcast where the heart, soul, and stories of the eventing world come to life. This week, we're going to Aachen, so ride along with us! The 2026 FEI Eventing World Championships are here, and there may be no venue in the sport that carries more weight, more history, or more atmosphere than Aachen. Whether you're watching from the stands, following along from home, or just trying to understand why everyone in the eventing world gets a little misty-eyed when this city comes up in conversation, this episode is your complete guide to what's at stake, what's come before, and what to watch for this weekend. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 🔎What’s Inside Season 2, Episode 11? Host Sally Spickard is joined by EN British correspondent, journalist, photographer, and amateur eventing encyclopedia Tilly Berendt for a deep dive into the 2026 FEI Eventing World Championships at Aachen. The first half of this discussion unpacks the history and legacy of this iconic venue, with Tilly unearthing many lesser-known storylines, details, and defining moments from the last time the world descended on Aachen: the 2006 World Equestrian Games. After dipping into the past, Sally and Tilly look to the near future of this weekend: the entries to watch, the course design philosophy shaping this year's competition, and the broader movements — in media, horse welfare, and social license — that are redefining what a World Championship means for the sport in 2026. 🔥In This Episode, We Cover... 01:46 - One Big Thing: All About Aachen Sally sets the stage for the Championships, walking us through the significance of Aachen as a venue, the course design choices and challenges that define this particular site, and what makes this year's field compelling. She and Tilly explore the legacy of the short format, the cultural shift toward European dominance in eventing, and how the sheer atmosphere of Aachen — the crowd, the history, the pressure, the twisty-turny cross-country track — shapes what happens on the field of play. [EN’s Ultimate Guide to the FEI Eventing World Championships] 19:41 - History Time with Tilly: Aachen, WEG, the Olympics, & Riders from the Past Tilly reaches back to the 2006 World Equestrian Games at Aachen and brings to life the storylines, characters, and moments that shaped the sport's trajectory. She traces the longevity of the sport's great partnerships, the trailblazers who changed what was possible for riders from smaller nations, and the ways in which Aachen's history is inseparable from that of eventing. 52:57 - Storylines to Follow at Aachen 2026 Pivoting to the present, Sally and Tilly break down the entries, partnerships, and narratives worth tracking across this coming weekend. They point out established names chasing records alongside emerging talents making their first major championship appearances, under-the-radar stories that don't always make the preview coverage, and make the case for why this year's competition is one of the most fascinating ones we've staged in years. The influence of trailblazers like Noor Slaoui, Phillip Dutton, and others threading through the current generation comes into focus here as well. [S1, E12: Go Eventing with Noor Slaoui] 01:19:10 - Modern Movements & Social License The conversation broadens into the forces shaping eventing's present and future. Sally and Tilly discuss the evolving media landscape and what it means for how Championships like Aachen and the Olympics are covered and experienced by fans around the world. Horse welfare takes center stage as they explore the scientific research being applied at Aachen, the growing importance of transparency in the sport, and why social license — the sport's relationship with public trust — has become one of the most constant and important conversations in eventing. The role of data and technology in advancing welfare standards, and the challenges smaller nations face in keeping pace with the sport's evolving demands, round out a wide-ranging and genuinely important discussion. [Read More: FEI and Signify join forces on online safeguarding for FEI World Championships Aachen 2026] [Read More: FEI World Championships: “Horse welfare is at the heart of the event”] [About the CHIO Aachen Scientist Circle: an initiative for the well-being of sport horses] 01:43:35 - Finish Flags A huge thank you to Kentucky Performance Products, who are supporting this week’s coverage. You can learn more about Kentucky Performance Products’ science-backed nutritional solutions here. Follow along with Eventing Nation at the FEI Eventing World Championships for Seniors (Aachen, Germany): [Website] [Tickets] [Definite Entries by Country] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream] [Official App – Apple] [Official App – Android] [EN's Ultimate Guide] [EN’s Coverage] [Support Our Sponsor: Kentucky Performance Products] Like this episode format and want more like it? Hated it and want us to stop rambling on and taking up two hours of your life that you'll never get back? Send us your feedback at [email protected] and tell us what other topics you'd like covered. 🎧 Tune In to Eventing Everywhere with EN Head over to EventingNation.com to read all the latest from all levels of eventing across the globe. Connect with us @goeventing, or you can reach us anytime at [email protected]. 📌 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Go Eventing wherever you get your podcasts! Let's keep building this community together. #GoEventing #EventingNation #WhereEventingLives __________________________________________________________________________ The Go Eventing Podcast powered by Eventing Nation is your front-row seat to the heartbeat of eventing. From exclusive athlete interviews to behind-the-scenes insights, we bring you closer to the horses, riders, and stories that make our sport unforgettable. Our vision: Celebrate the stories of eventing while connecting fans, riders, and supporters worldwide. What makes us different: Rider-first conversations  Honest, unfiltered stories  🧑‍🤝‍🧑 A community-driven approach

“Where Eventing Lives” Welcome back to Go Eventing, the podcast where the heart, soul, and stories of the eventing world come to life. This week, we're sitting down with someone whose fingerprints are on some of the most consequential chapters in American eventing history — as a horsewoman, a leader, and a tireless advocate for the people and animals who make this sport run. Eventing is easy to love from the outside. From the inside, it is a sport held together by people who care deeply, work extraordinarily hard, and think long and hard about its future. Have a seat and tune in to a conversation with one of the most influential of those people. This episode is supported by Sentinel Horse Feeds _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 🔎What’s Inside Season 2, Episode 10? Host Sally Spickard sits down with Max Corcoran — recent USEA Wofford Cup recipient, former USEA President, and current USEA Board of Governors member and USEF Eventing Elite Program & Team Facilitator — for one of the most wide-ranging conversations the podcast has hosted yet. Max's career began with a formative role alongside Karen and David O'Connor, before evolving into leadership roles as a groom, leader, mentor, and advocate of the sport. She brings that full arc to this conversation — the horsemanship, the strategy, the institutional knowledge, and the sharp perspective on where the sport is thriving and where we still have work to do. 🔥In This Episode, We Cover... 0:22 - News & Notes: FEI Eventing World Championship Teams & Clayton Fredericks' Adelaide Sally brings listeners up to speed on the nominations and team selections taking shape ahead of the 2026 FEI Eventing World Championships for Seniors in Aachen, breaking down who is in contention, what the selection process looks like, and what a World Championship field at this venue truly means. She also covers the U25 World Championship in Millstreet — an event highlighted as a meaningful marker for the next generation of eventing talent, and a competition worth following closely for anyone interested in who is coming up through the ranks. Sally guides us on a dive into the Adelaide 5*, where newly-appointed course designer Clayton Fredericks is bringing a fresh design philosophy to the Southern Hemisphere's most crucial event in the sport. Listen in to snippets from an interview with Clayton, where he reveals what his design choices signal about the broader direction of cross-country course design and how the philosophy behind a course shapes what we actually see from athletes on competition day. [EN Database: All Current Entry Nominations for the FEI Eventing World Championships] [Read It on EN: Stars of the Future Set to Make History at Millstreet] [Read It on EN: Clayton Fredericks Named as Cross Country Designer for Adelaide Equestrian Festival CCI5*] 14:23 - One Big Thing: Lessons from the Sport's System Max opens with memories from both Aachen and the World Championships (the event formerly known as the World Equestrian Games) — touchstone experiences that shaped her understanding of what elite eventing looks and feels like at its very best — opening a conversation about what it takes to build toward that level, both as an individual and as a sport. Max walks through her philosophy on the development of young riders and horses, with a strong emphasis on process, patience, and the kind of strategic planning makes careers. Mentorship sits at the center of that philosophy, and Max speaks on what meaningful mentorship looks like in eventing, what the O'Connor Method taught her about horsemanship and leadership, and how she tries to bring that education forward in her current roles. The conversation turns to some of the sport's most pressing structural challenges: entry number downward trends, athlete migration, and the broader question of what eventing needs to do to retain the riders it grows and attract the ones it hasn't yet reached. Max addresses these with the candor of someone who has sat in enough rooms and read enough data to understand the picture clearly. She and Sally also dig into the operational side of the sport — the challenges facing event organizers, the realities of land management and venue sustainability, and the funding and support models that Max believes hold the most promise for keeping competition opportunities alive at every level. The episode rounds out with a discussion on areas where Max sees genuine progress alongside continued opportunity: sponsorship, how bringing owners deeper into the fabric of the sport creates investment and longevity, and the continued evolution of safety technology and course design. 1:48:45 - Finish Flags Follow along with Max: IG: @mmc338 Email: [email protected] Learn more about the USEA Grooms Program: IG: @useventinggroomsprogram Website: USEventing.com/membership/grooms 🎧 Tune In to Eventing Everywhere with EN Head over to EventingNation.com to read all the latest from all levels of eventing across the globe. Connect with us @goeventing, or you can reach us anytime at [email protected]. 📌 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Go Eventing wherever you get your podcasts! Let's keep building this community together. #GoEventing #EventingNation #WhereEventingLives __________________________________________________________________________ The Go Eventing Podcast powered by Eventing Nation is your front-row seat to the heartbeat of eventing. From exclusive athlete interviews to behind-the-scenes insights, we bring you closer to the horses, riders, and stories that make our sport unforgettable. Our vision: Celebrate the stories of eventing while connecting fans, riders, and supporters worldwide. What makes us different: Rider-first conversations  Honest, unfiltered stories  🧑‍🤝‍🧑 A community-driven approach

“Where Eventing Lives” Welcome back to Go Eventing, the podcast where the heart, soul, and stories of the eventing world come to life. This is a big one! We are in full world championship season and Sally is joined by her favorite co-conspirator — Eventing Nation's European Correspondent and The Athletic contributor Tilly Berendt — for an unfiltered, wide-ranging conversation that covers the five star season so far, the road to the FEI Eventing World Championships at Aachen, the growing mainstream spotlight on equestrian sport, and what it will take for eventing to seize this moment. Buckle up. We have thoughts. 🔎What’s Inside Season 2, Episode 9? Host Sally Spickard and Tilly Berendt pick up right where they left off — from two different countries, at their respective computers this time, which is both more professional and arguably less entertaining than their last recorded episode barreling down a highway in England at 11 PM. Some upgrades come at a cost. Sally and Tilly dig into a full recap of Luhmühlen, with Tilly just off the ground there, before pivoting to the state of the five-star season at large — and the horses and riders who've captured their attention heading into the championship stretch. The conversation then broadens into the terrain Tilly and Sally know best: what eventing's growing visibility in mainstream media actually means, what the sport must do to capitalize on it, and a candid look at transparency, officiating, and the role of eventing media in all of it. 🔥In This Episode, We Cover... 0:00 — Tilly Berendt Is Back  Sally and Tilly reunite for the first time on mic since the infamous moving-car episode at Burghley, which Sally confirms was genuinely car-sickness-inducing and, inexplicably, one of their best-received episodes. They set the scene for a world championship season that is moving impossibly fast. 2:12 — Luhmühlen Recap: The Fairy Tale Forest, Great Butt, and D-Day's Masterclass Tilly paints a picture of Luhmühlen — the Lower Saxony woodland setting, the sponge-like ground that absorbs flash floods and delivers perfect footing, and the Hanoverian foal auction that provides some of the championship season's more memorable naming moments. She then breaks down the performance of the weekend: Caroline Harris and D. Day, who became the only pair to make the time on cross country — 18 seconds inside it — on their way to victory. Tilly recounts her conversation with Caroline, who said she genuinely couldn't explain how it kept happening. They also discuss Emily King's competitive weekend and look ahead at what the five-star season's results are telling us about form heading into August. 24:00 — The Five-Star Season at Large: What We've Learned Broader reflections on a season that has felt unusually compressed — past what feels like a starting gun, already approaching selection deadlines for World Championships. The duo discuss which horses and combinations have made the strongest case for themselves across the year's major five-star results, which performances they're watching most closely, and why this particular championship year feels different from others. 35:00 — World Championships Preview: GB & US Team Picks Tilly puts forward her British senior team — Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo (her pick without hesitation for best event horse in the world right now) obviously make the cut, and there may even be a surprise or two on her list. Sally then lays out her US team predictions: Will Coleman and Diabolo (Kentucky winner, effectively a lock) and some others make the cut.  56:00 — Eventing's Mainstream Moment: The Athletic, Faultless, and What Comes Next Sally and Tilly discuss the broader renaissance currently happening in equestrian sport's mainstream visibility — led largely by show jumping and the Rolex Grand Prix series — and what it means for eventing. Tilly shares how she came to be writing for The Athletic, covering the Rolex series with journalist Gemma Redrup, and how she's been pitching features with the explicit goal of steering the platform's editorial attention toward eventing. Sally discusses Faultless, the new Rolex-backed documentary now streaming on Roku, and what eventing could learn from its Formula One-esque storytelling approach. If you see any equestrian content from Tilly on The Athletic, click it. Open it in five tabs. The numbers matter. 1:03:00 — What Eventing Can Steal from Other Sports: Transparency, Broadcast, and the Flag Rule One of the meatiest stretches of conversation in recent podcast memory. Tilly makes the case for bringing transparency in officiating decisions into the broadcast product — using the example of a referee body cam at the World Cup as a model for how decisions can be explained in real time rather than leaving audiences and journalists guessing. Sally adds the technology gap angle: the Morven Park flag review delay as a case study in how slow footage retrieval undermines the broadcast and the official review process simultaneously. Both agree: if something exists in our sport, we should be able to explain it. If we can't, that's worth paying attention to. 1:15:00 — Social License, Transparency, and Eventing's Relationship with the Public A candid discussion about the tension between protecting the sport's image and actually building public trust — and why those two things are increasingly in conflict. Tilly argues, persuasively, that the sport's relationship with the public is more like a tricky romantic relationship than anyone in administration would probably like to hear: trust is built most in the moments where things go wrong and the response is honest, not defensive. Sally raises the specific challenge of visible incidents on course — blood rules, horse welfare checks — and asks whether more transparency in those moments would actually help the sport's reputation, not hurt it. Both agree the answer is probably yes, and that fear of showing anything imperfect may be doing more damage than the imperfections themselves. 1:31:00 — Eventing Media: What It Takes, What's at Stake Sally and Tilly turn the lens on themselves — and their profession. What does it mean to be eventing media right now? What responsibilities come with the trust that officials, riders, and venues extend to journalists? Integrity, both argue, is the whole job. 1:39:37 — Finish Flags Tilly's next stop is Millstreet in Ireland for the inaugural Under-25 World Championships — her first time at the venue, and very nearly her first time at an Irish eventing event since Tattersalls 2019. Sally and Tilly will next see each other at Aachen. There is an open bar in the Champions Circle. That's all the motivation anyone needs. Sally previews two upcoming podcast series: a deep dive into the economics and business side of equestrian sport, and a series on the Thoroughbred in eventing. Stay tuned. 🎧 Tune In to Eventing Everywhere with EN Head over to EventingNation.com to read all the latest from all levels of eventing across the globe. Connect with us @goeventing, or you can reach us anytime at [email protected]. 📌 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Go Eventing wherever you get your podcasts! Let's keep building this community together. #GoEventing #EventingNation #WhereEventingLives __________________________________________________________________________ The Go Eventing Podcast powered by Eventing Nation is your front-row seat to the heartbeat of eventing. From exclusive athlete interviews to behind-the-scenes insights, we bring you closer to the horses, riders, and stories that make our sport unforgettable. Our vision: Celebrate the stories of eventing while connecting fans, riders, and supporters worldwide. What makes us different: Rider-first conversations  Honest, unfiltered stories  🧑‍🤝‍🧑 A community-driven approach

“Where Eventing Lives” Welcome back to Go Eventing, the podcast where the heart, soul, and stories of the eventing world come to life. This episode marks the debut of our new Go Eventing In Focus format — a series of deeper conversations designed to explore the topics, challenges, and questions shaping eventing beyond the headlines. Alongside our interviews and conversations, we're excited to create more space for thoughtful discussions, expert perspectives, and community-wide issues that affect the future of our sport. This week, we're stepping away from the upper levels and shining a spotlight on the foundation that supports the entire sport: grassroots eventing. From local horse trials and volunteer crews to organizers balancing budgets and competitors deciding where to direct their entry money, this conversation explores the realities shaping eventing at the ground level. To speak plainly, the future of eventing won't be determined by 5* winners or championship medals — it will be shaped by whether local events can continue to run, volunteers continue to show up, and new riders continue to find a place in our sport. This episode takes an honest look at the challenges facing grassroots eventing today and what opportunities we must chase to strengthen it for tomorrow. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 🔎What’s Inside Season 2, Episode 8? Host Sally Spickard welcomes Emily Holmes — event organizer, USEF 'R' Technical Delegate, and eventing advocate — to this Go Eventing Podcast deep-dive into what is happening behind the scenes, in the show office, and out on course at your local events. Drawing on years of experience running horse trials and working within the sport, Emily shares valuable insight into participation trends, the rising costs of hosting events, volunteer recruitment, sponsorship realities, and the regional differences shaping eventing across the country. Sally and Emily open a candid discussion on what it actually takes to put on a horse trial in today's environment. They discuss the financial pressures organizers face, where entry fees really go, and why community involvement remains one of the most important — and often overlooked — factors in keeping events viable. Whether you're a competitor, organizer, volunteer, owner, or passionate supporter of the sport, this reality check and roadmap offers thoughtful ideas on how we can help create a more sustainable future for the sport. 🔥In This Episode, We Cover... 0:20 - News & Notes: Bromont, Nations Cup at Bicton, & Upcoming Luhmühlen A quick rundown of some upcoming major events with the MARS Bromont CCI4*-L this week, which will see EN with boots on the ground in Quebec. Sally covers results from the recent FEI Eventing Nations Cup at Bicton, and looks forward to our next 5* in Luhmühlen later this month. [Red, White, & Gold Fundraising Party for the Canadian Eventing Team] [Watch It Live: MARS Bromont on ClipMyHorse.tv] [MARS Bromont on YouTube] [Read It on EN: Defender U.S. Eventing Team Takes Silver at FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Great Britian CCIO4*-NC-S] 14:10 - One Big Thing: Grassroots Eventing in the Wild Emily breaks down the current state of grassroots eventing in the United States, including participation trends, entry numbers, and the regional differences she's seeing across the country. She discusses how event attendance has shifted in recent years and what those trends may indicate for the future of the sport. The conversation then turns to the economics of running horse trials with a behind-the-scenes look at event budgets, including the rising costs associated with officials, facilities, insurance, prizes, equipment, and labor. She explains why many organizers are facing difficult financial realities and how those pressures ultimately affect competitors. Sally and Emily also dive into volunteerism — one of the most critical components of any successful event. They discuss strategies for recruiting and retaining volunteers, why volunteer culture varies regionally, and how event organizers can better engage their communities. Finally, they explore the role of sponsorships, the challenges of attracting new partners, and why grassroots eventing may need to think differently about community engagement, accessibility, and long-term sustainability if the sport is to continue growing from the ground up. [FEI's Key Event Requirements (KERs) System for Competition Venues] [FEI's Eventing Education System for Eventing Officials] [The FEI Event Organizer's Guide] [Watch Jon Holling get dunked by Zach Brandt] 1:39:07 - Finish Flags Follow along with Emily on Facebook. Follow some of Emily's events: Florida Horse Park: Website | Instagram Flora Lea Horse Trials: Website | Instagram Horse Park of New Jersey: Website | Instagram Rocking Horse Stables: Website | Instagram Poplar Place Horse Trials: Website | Instagram Majestic Oaks Horse Trials: Website | Instagram Interested in learning more about grassroots eventing or supporting your local events? Start by volunteering, spectating, or reaching out to organizers in your area — you might be surprised how much impact one person can have. 🎧 Tune In to Eventing Everywhere with EN Head over to EventingNation.com to read all the latest from all levels of eventing across the globe. Connect with us @goeventing, or you can reach us anytime at [email protected]. 📌 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Go Eventing wherever you get your podcasts! Let's keep building this community together. #GoEventing #EventingNation #WhereEventingLives __________________________________________________________________________ The Go Eventing Podcast powered by Eventing Nation is your front-row seat to the heartbeat of eventing. From exclusive athlete interviews to behind-the-scenes insights, we bring you closer to the horses, riders, and stories that make our sport unforgettable. Our vision: Celebrate the stories of eventing while connecting fans, riders, and supporters worldwide. What makes us different: Rider-first conversations  Honest, unfiltered stories  🧑‍🤝‍🧑 A community-driven approach

“Where Eventing Lives” Welcome back to Go Eventing, the podcast where the heart, soul, and stories of the eventing world come to life. This week, we're sitting down with a quietly compelling figure in eventing, whose results speak loudly, but whose philosophy speaks even louder. Elite eventing is won and lost in the details: the training decisions made months before a competition, the way a rider reads a course, the relationship built with a horse over years of patient, welfare-first work. This episode is for anyone who has ever wanted to understand what it takes to make it in the sport without funding or support, and what it actually looks like to pursue excellence in this sport with both ambition and integrity. This episode is supported by Sentinel Horse Feeds. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 🔎What’s Inside Season 2, Episode 7? Host Sally Spickard sits down with Costa Rican eventer Leonor Muñoz for a conversation that is equal parts personal journey and rallying cry for the future of the sport. Leonor has spent years working to build eventing in Costa Rica from the ground up — navigating the very real challenges of funding, infrastructure, and international access that riders in smaller nations face every day — while simultaneously forging the international connections and mentorship pathways that she believes are essential to making the sport truly global. Her story is one of community, creativity, and an unwavering belief that a small country can make a big mark on eventing. 🔥In This Episode, We Cover... 0:20 - News & Notes: Badminton, Tryon, Championships, and Upcoming Prize Funds Sally recaps our most recent 5* coverage from MARS Badminton, where Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo set a new record as the event's first-ever three-time winners. She touches on the upcoming FEI Eventing World Championships at Aachen, where we predict a close battle of the greats: Ros and Lordships Graffalo, Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk, and Laura Collett and London 52. Sally also walks us through our weekend at Tryon International — the first CCI4*-L in the US — where our fan-favorite Mia Farley managed her first 4*-L win with Invictus.  Sally also introduces us to the USEF Eventing Young Riders National Championship coming up in June at the Maryland Horse Trials for the event's 20-year anniversary, which for the first time ever will see a $100,000 prize pot across its FEI divisions. MARS Bromont has also seen a prize fund increase up to $50,000 for their June event, so make sure to keep an eye out for our reports on both these events next month! Be sure to also see the link below for our recap on the newly-introduced Intro Level with USEA, as well as the upcoming Combined Test Leaderboard, set to debut December 1, 2026. [Read it on EN: "How Mia Farley Got Her Groove Back: Stories from the Tryon International CCI4*-L"] [Read it on EN: "Wednesday News & Notes: New USEA Intro Level & Combined Test Leaderboard"] 10:35 - One Big Thing: Growing Costa Rican Eventing from the Ground Up Leonor opens with her own journey into eventing — one shaped by passion, persistence, and the kind of community that forms when a small group of people decides to build something together. She speaks about the role of family and community in sustaining the sport in Costa Rica, and how those relationships have been as important to the program's growth as any formal structure. The conversation moves into the very real challenges Leo and her fellow riders face: funding gaps, limited access to international competition, and the logistical complexity of developing horses and riders in a country where the eventing ecosystem is still taking shape. She is candid about what those constraints look like in practice and the creative strategies she and others have developed in response. Leo speaks about the role of international clinics and exchange programs in accelerating development, and how building genuine connections with riders, coaches, and officials from more established eventing nations has been one of the most powerful tools available to her. She shares her experiences with the FEI Solidarity Program, including what it offers, how it has shaped opportunities for Costa Rican riders, and where she sees its greatest potential for developing nations looking to grow the sport sustainably. Sally and Leo share several ideas for making eventing more accessible and more globally inclusive, from mentorship initiatives that connect experienced international riders with emerging talent in developing countries to structural changes they believe could open the sport to a far wider world than it currently reaches. Leo's vision is not just for Costa Rica, but for what eventing could look like if it took its global ambitions seriously. [Read it on EN: "Costa Rica Equestrian Has Big Plans as First Recipient of FEI Gender Equality Grant"] [Read it on EN: "The Costa Rica Connection: Full Moon Farm Represents on the International Stage"] [USEA Foundation Now Accepting Applications for 2025 Organizer's Relief and Competition Assistance Fund and Frangible Technology Fund] [About FEI Solidarity] 1:45:34 - Finish Flags Follow along with Leonor: IG: @lafincaecuestre FB: La Finca Centro Ecuestre LinkedIn: Leonor Muñoz Ortiz Learn more about WISH: Website: UH WISH IG: @wish_pathway 2024 Impact Report & Future Delivery Framework 🎧 Tune In to Eventing Everywhere with EN Head over to EventingNation.com to read all the latest from all levels of eventing across the globe. Connect with us @goeventing, or you can reach us anytime at [email protected]. 📌 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Go Eventing wherever you get your podcasts! Let's keep building this community together. #GoEventing #EventingNation #WhereEventingLives __________________________________________________________________________ The Go Eventing Podcast powered by Eventing Nation is your front-row seat to the heartbeat of eventing. From exclusive athlete interviews to behind-the-scenes insights, we bring you closer to the horses, riders, and stories that make our sport unforgettable. Our vision: Celebrate the stories of eventing while connecting fans, riders, and supporters worldwide. What makes us different: Rider-first conversations  Honest, unfiltered stories  🧑‍🤝‍🧑 A community-driven approach

“Where Eventing Lives” Welcome back to Go Eventing, the podcast where the heart, soul, and stories of the eventing world come to life. This week, we're sitting down with one of eventing's most quietly compelling figures whose results speak loudly and philosophy speaks even louder. Elite eventing is won and lost in the details — the training decisions made months before a competition, the way a rider reads a course, and the relationship built with a horse over years of patient, horse-first work. This episode is for anyone who has ever wanted to understand what separates good from great, and what it actually looks like to pursue excellence in this sport with both ambition and integrity. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 🔎What’s Inside Season 2, Episode 6? Host Sally Spickard sits down with Swiss eventing Champion and reigning Maryland 5* winner Felix Vogg for a thoughtful conversation on what it means to operate at the top of this sport without losing sight of the horse at the center of it all. Felix has long been regarded as one of eventing's most technical competitors, and this episode gives listeners a rare look inside the mind of a rider who approaches the sport as much like a craftsman as a competitor — deeply curious, relentlessly detail-oriented, and uncompromising when it comes to the welfare and longevity of his horses. 🔥In This Episode, We Cover... 0:22 - News & Notes: Kentucky Three-Day Recap Another wild and long-winded Kentucky 5* has come and gone, and it was another one for the history books. Sally recaps all of EN's contributions and dives into Will Coleman's long-awaited 5* win, Tamie Smith's victory in the 4*-S, some rookie and veteran highlights, and a few farewells to certain four-legged stalwarts of the sport. [Read it on EN: Millions of Dreams Come Real: Will Coleman Nabs First CCI5* Win at Kentucky with Diabolo] [Read it on EN: Two Eventing Legends Bid Farewell to 5* at This Year’s Defender Kentucky] 10:41 - One Big Thing: The Horse-First Approach Felix pulls back the curtain on his training philosophy built on careful observation, individual adaptation, and a genuine belief that the horse's needs must drive the process, not the other way around. He walks us through his mentorship with some of the greatest riders on the circuits today, and how he has honed his approach to each horse individually, resisting the temptation to apply a one-size-fits-all system in favor of something more responsive, patient, and ultimately more effective. Felix's international experience across the world's biggest events has given him a closer look at design philosophies that few riders can match, and his insight into how that shapes performance is genuinely authentic. Felix and Sally also explore the mental side of competing at the highest level and the resilience required to perform under pressure and recover from setbacks, manage the uncertainty inherent in the sport, and sustain the kind of long-term focus that elite results demand. Threading through the entire conversation is Felix's commitment to horse welfare and longevity. He reflects on what it means to make decisions in the best interest of a horse's long-term soundness and happiness, even when those decisions run counter to competitive ambition, and why he believes that approach is actually the foundation of everything he's achieved. [EquiRatings Eventing Podcast: When Nicole Met... Felix Vogg] 1:05:26 - You Ask, We Answer: Rapid Fire Questions While unable to ever catch Felix off guard, Sally throws out some rapid questions for Felix to bring us more into his life and history. Felix shares anecdotes of his first ever horse ride, and explains how the one thing he's bad at is sitting still! 1:12:10 - Finish Flags Follow along with Felix Instagram: @felixvogg Facebook: Felix Vogg Sporthorses 🎧 Tune In to Eventing Everywhere with EN Head over to EventingNation.com to read all the latest from all levels of eventing across the globe. Connect with us @goeventing, or you can reach us anytime at [email protected]. 📌 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Go Eventing wherever you get your podcasts! Let's keep building this community together. #GoEventing #EventingNation #WhereEventingLives __________________________________________________________________________ The Go Eventing Podcast powered by Eventing Nation is your front-row seat to the heartbeat of eventing. From exclusive athlete interviews to behind-the-scenes insights, we bring you closer to the horses, riders, and stories that make our sport unforgettable. Our vision: Celebrate the stories of eventing while connecting fans, riders, and supporters worldwide. What makes us different: Rider-first conversations  Honest, unfiltered stories  🧑‍🤝‍🧑 A community-driven approach

“Where Eventing Lives” Welcome back to Go Eventing, the podcast where the heart, soul, and stories of the eventing world come to life. We're testing a new episode format this week, as we hope to begin utilizing this platform for long-form discussions covering a variety of in-depth discussions, for which our featured guests and co-hosts will act as an expert panelist to contribute to a deeper dive into topics, events, and various areas of our industry we feel deserve a spotlight. The Kentucky Three-Day Event is no mere walk in the park — it's a pilgrimage, the place where the eventing world convenes every spring, where legends are made on cross country, and where first-time spectators leave as lifelong eventing fans. If you've never been — or if you've been a dozen times and still feel like you're figuring it out as you go — this episode is your cheat sheet, a one-stop guide from seasoned attendees with all the tips and tricks to making the most of your Kentucky week. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 🔎What’s Inside Season 2, Episode 5? Host Sally Spickard is joined by Cherie Chauvin, Director of Optimum Time - Global Eventing Tourism, for a comprehensive insider's guide to experiencing the Kentucky Three-Day Event like a seasoned pro. Whether you're planning your first trip to the Bluegrass or looking to finally stop missing the things everyone else seems to know about, Cherie has spent more time navigating this event than almost anyone — and she's sharing all of it. Which activities you should star on the schedule? What are the tricks to navigating cross-country day? Should you stay to watch the awards ceremony? What inspires someone to go into the porta-potty business? What flavor of ice cream should you bring to meet Bruce Davidson? Learn more about the answers to these questions (as well as Sally’s near-criminal experience on course in Paris) in this episode filled to the brim with all the insider tricks you’ll need at Kentucky! 🔥In This Episode, We Cover... 00:20 - News & Notes: Win the Warmup at Kentucky & the Adelaide Equestrian Festival Join EN and Optimum Time - Global Eventing Tourism at the Kentucky Three-Day Event on Friday, April 24th at 10am for a Win the Warmup Experience, featuring guest host Lainey Ashker. This is a great educational experience, and completely FREE, so save your spot with the link below and we'll look forward to seeing you there! We also had EN photographer and reporter Atalya Boytner catch up with our most recent 5* winner, Oliver Barrett, who just this past weekend won the Adelaide CCI5* on his homebred Sandhills Briar. Listen in to their exclusive interview, and join us in keeping our eye on this young star as he aims for "that pretty big event in August in Germany". [Click here to RSVP for the EN x Optimum Time KY3DE Win the Warmup Experience] [Read it on EN — A Weekend in Adelaide: Wins On and Off the Leaderboard, A Full Circle Family Dream and Career Goals Realized] [US Equestrian Open Leaderboard] [EN’s KY3DE Form Guide] 11:40 - Entries Preview: Who We're Following From rookies to old favorites, up-and-coming stars to 5* winners, this year's entry list is sure to be packed full of drama. [Click here to follow along with all of Eventing Nation's Kentucky coverage] where you can find pre-event stories and rookie highlights, mid-competition updates and breaking news, and post-event reports and highlights from our team on the ground and around the world. [Read it on EN — The Newest Members of the Pink Pony Club: Ali Kuhn and Little Hail (and how the Pink began)] [EN'S KY3DE Ultimate Guide] 25:29 - One Big Thing: How to Go Eventing at Kentucky Follow along as you listen and star all the places and activities Sally and Cherie mention on the grounds map here: [Kentucky Horse Park map] [Provisional Event Schedule] 34:58 - (Saturday) Cross Country Day [Bringing Your Dog to Kentucky?] 57:29 - (Wednesday) Horse Inspection Day 1:01:57 - (Thursday & Friday) Dressage & CSI5* Days 1:08:29 - Shopping & Vendors Maps & Vendor Lists: [Sponsor Village & Courtyard] [The Hill] [Trade Fair] 1:21:51 - (Sunday) Show Jumping Day 1:32:38 - Dining & Drinking [Food Vendors] 1:40:59 - Bathrooms & Hydration 1:51:18 - The Official KY Scavenger Hunt [You could win a horse trailer, lawn mower, or saddle!] 1:57:06 - Watching at Home [ClipMyHorse.tv Livestream: Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event & Kentucky International CSI5*] 1:58:58 - Navigation, Volunteers, & Rules of the Park [Volunteer at the Kentucky Three-Day Event] [What to Wear at Kentucky] Make sure to check out the Official Event Program at the Park or on their website, as it includes links to all the official happenings and activities during the event, info on every horse and rider entry, breakdowns of the 4* and 5* dressage tests, and our favorite: a guide to the cross country and show jumping courses with details on every single obstacle our competitors will see. 2:05:49 - Finish Flags Follow Cherie and plan your next eventing trip with Optimum Time: Facebook: Optimum Time - Eventing Tourism Website: optimum-time.com Like this episode format and want more like it? Hated it and want us to stop rambling on and taking up two hours of your life that you'll never get back? Send us your feedback at [email protected] and tell us what other topics you'd like covered. 🎧 Tune In to Eventing Everywhere with EN Head over to EventingNation.com to read all the latest from all levels of eventing across the globe. Connect with us @goeventing, or you can reach us anytime at [email protected]. 📌 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Go Eventing wherever you get your podcasts! Let's keep building this community together. #GoEventing #EventingNation #WhereEventingLives __________________________________________________________________________ The Go Eventing Podcast powered by Eventing Nation is your front-row seat to the heartbeat of eventing. From exclusive athlete interviews to behind-the-scenes insights, we bring you closer to the horses, riders, and stories that make our sport unforgettable. Our vision: Celebrate the stories of eventing while connecting fans, riders, and supporters worldwide. What makes us different: Rider-first conversations  Honest, unfiltered stories  🧑‍🤝‍🧑 A community-driven approach

“Where Eventing Lives” Welcome back to Go Eventing, the podcast where the heart, soul, and stories of the eventing world come to life. This week, we're going across the pond to bring you a conversation with one of European eventing's (and EN's) most beloved riders, whose career is defined as much by emotional intelligence and patience as it is by podium finishes. The eventing world is built on partnerships with horses, family, teammates, and the sport itself. This episode explores all of it — the highs of an unexpected 5* win, the humbling reality of balancing a competitive career with motherhood, and what it takes to build something lasting in this sport, from a breeding program rooted in love to a legacy built on the belief that dreaming big is non-negotiable. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 🔎What’s Inside Season 2, Episode 4? Host Sally Spickard sits down with two-time Belgian Olympian Lara de Liedekerke-Meier for a multi-faceted conversation that spans the full arc of a life built around horses. Based at her family's breeding operation at Arville, Lara is as thoughtful a horsewoman as she is a competitor — someone who has balanced ambition and patience, personal goals and team responsibility, and a family life as one of two parents at the highest level of sport. From her emotional victory at Luhmühlen to her reflections on the state of eventing in Belgium, Lara brings the kind of perspective that can only come from decades in the industry and a genuine love for every horse in her barn, both past and present. 🔥In This Episode, We Cover... 00:53 - News & Notes: US Equestrian Open Qualifier Wins & Winning a Trip to Burghley Listen in to some exclusive interview clips following a triple US Equestrian Open Qualifier calendar combo. Sally speaks with Colleen Loach, who took her fourth consecutive win of the season on FE Golden Eye at the Event at TerraNova 4*-S. We check in with Tommy Greengard after his 1-2 punch win on Balladeer Kilbrickens Lad and second-place finish with That’s Me Z at the Galway Downs 4*-S. She also shares a call with Lucienne Bellissimo regarding her Stable View 4*-S win on Dyri, where they finished on their dressage score in an incredibly competitive class. Additionally, join us in congratulating Asia Sieve for winning the Five Star Eventing Tours Horse Hero Contest, from which she will receive a free all-inclusive trip to the Burghley Horse Trials! 21:48 - One Big Thing: Building Success d’Arville in Belgium Lara takes us behind the scenes of Arville's breeding program, one built on a deep and lasting emotional connection to her mares. She traces the role that intuition and patience have played in building a program filled with a lot of love and a little bit of luck, and reflects on the horses — including the pivotal Nooney Blue — who have shaped the trajectory of her career. The conversation takes a beautifully honest turn as Lara revisits her unexpected 5* win at Luhmühlen that left the eventing world without a dry eye in the house, letting us in on her rollercoaster of emotion, surprise, and what it meant to achieve something she hadn't dared to hope for. She and Sally dive into the challenge of managing expectations in a sport where so much is outside your control, and why striving to learn from failure is one of the most important skills a rider can develop. Lara speaks candidly about what motherhood has given her as a competitor: perspective, prioritization, and the reminder that her children love her for who she is, not what she wins. She reflects on the way horses mirror that same lesson with their own timeline, needs, and expectations, stressing that the best thing a rider can do is resist the urge to impose their goals where they simply don't fit. The episode also turns to the broader landscape of eventing in Belgium — one Lara believes has genuine potential, but strives on its behalf for more commitment, more training infrastructure, and more dreaming from its riders. She speaks with real investment about the next generation, the role of team dynamics in nurturing young talent, and how funding and training opportunities in Belgium compare to the sport's powerhouses like Great Britain. Her message to up-and-coming eventers is clear: ambition isn't optional — it's the foundation our sport is built on. [Read it on EN: FEI Releases Tribunal Decision + Statement from Tine Magnus (BEL) Following Positive Test at Paris Olympics] 01:39:23 - Finish Flags Follow along with Lara and Arville! Instagram: @laradeliedekerke @eventingarville Website: arville-sporthorses.com 🎧 Tune In to Eventing Everywhere with EN Head over to EventingNation.com to read all the latest from all levels of eventing across the globe. Connect with us @goeventing, or you can reach us anytime at [email protected]. 📌 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Go Eventing wherever you get your podcasts! Let's keep building this community together. #GoEventing #EventingNation #WhereEventingLives __________________________________________________________________________ The Go Eventing Podcast powered by Eventing Nation is your front-row seat to the heartbeat of eventing. From exclusive athlete interviews to behind-the-scenes insights, we bring you closer to the horses, riders, and stories that make our sport unforgettable. Our vision: Celebrate the stories of eventing while connecting fans, riders, and supporters worldwide. What makes us different: Rider-first conversations  Honest, unfiltered stories  🧑‍🤝‍🧑 A community-driven approach

“Where Eventing Lives” Welcome back to Go Eventing, the podcast where the heart, soul, and stories of the eventing world come to life. This week, we're pulling back the curtain on the side of the sport that competitors depend on, but rarely receive an inside look at. From the judge's booth to the horse inspection strip, the licensed officials who keep eventing running safely and fairly carry enormous responsibility, so we're shining the spotlight on someone who knows the ins and outs of this high-pressure world — as well as what it's like to be the one cantering down the centerline. Whether you're a seasoned competitor trying to crack the code on your dressage scores, an up-and-coming rider working through the levels, or simply a fan who's ever wondered what's happening inside the booth, this conversation is one you won't want to miss. __________________________________________________________________________ 🔎What’s Inside Season 2, Episode 3? Host Sally Spickard sits down with FEI judge, Olympian, and long-time eventing official Peter Gray for a zoomed-out conversation on what it takes to uphold the standards of our sport at the highest level. Peter brings a rare dual perspective, having competed at the top of the sport and now judging it as an official — making him uniquely positioned to speak to both the rider's experience and the judge's eye. From the nuances of progressive dressage scoring to the mental resilience required to make split-second decisions during cross country, Peter offers practical insight for riders at every level while pulling back the curtain on what officiating at the FEI level truly demands. 🔥In This Episode, We Cover... 00:25 - News & Notes: Maryland 5 Star update, Carolina International, & the Road to the Horse Sally talks through the recent cancellation of the 2026 Maryland 5 Star and what that means for the US and worldwide sport calendar for this year. The EN team had boots on the ground at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International CCI & HT, where West-coast queen Tamie Smith swept the board with wins in the CCI2*-S, 3*-S, and 4*-S, so listen in to an interview with Sally and the champion herself regarding her current horses and her plans out East. We also bring you an exclusive phone interview with Elisa Wallace following her second-place finish at the 2026 Road to the Horse World Championship -- where she may have left without an empty trailer! [Road to the Horse YouTube replays] [Full interview with Carolina International CCI1* winner Lee Maher (and Chris Talley)] [Full interview with Carolina International CCI 2*, 3*, & 4* winner Tamie Smith] 30:44 - One Big Thing: Rider, Judge, & Jury Life Peter leads us through the world of FEI officiating, both what it looks like from the inside and what it means for the competitors. He walks through the judging process at the FEI level, how horse inspections are conducted, what officials are truly evaluating during a ground jury assessment, and how technology is increasingly shaping the way dressage scores are recorded and reviewed. He shares practical, level-appropriate guidance rooted in the principles of progressive training and patient horse development, emphasizing that what earns scores at 5* is the same foundation being built at Beginner Novice. He and Sally explore how the evolution of eventing as a discipline has shifted both training philosophies and judging standards over time, and what role coaches and officials play in keeping that development on track. Peter also speaks candidly about the mental demands of officiating, the pressure of real-time decision-making during cross country, how officials process and manage uncertainty, and what it means to carry responsibility for the safety and fairness of the sport at its highest level — because in the end, it's all about the horse. [Listen in to Peter Grey on Ride iQ's In Stride Podcast] [USEF Licensed Officials requirements] 2:07:20 - Finish Flags Follow along with Peter Gray! Instagram: @peterscottgray 🎧 Tune In to Eventing Everywhere with EN Head over to EventingNation.com to read all the latest from all levels of eventing across the globe. Connect with us @goeventing, or you can reach us anytime at [email protected]. 📌 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Go Eventing wherever you get your podcasts! Let's keep building this community together. #GoEventing #EventingNation #WhereEventingLives __________________________________________________________________________ The Go Eventing Podcast powered by Eventing Nation is your front-row seat to the heartbeat of eventing. From exclusive athlete interviews to behind-the-scenes insights, we bring you closer to the horses, riders, and stories that make our sport unforgettable. Our vision: Celebrate the stories of eventing while connecting fans, riders, and supporters worldwide. What makes us different: Rider-first conversations  Honest, unfiltered stories  🧑‍🤝‍🧑 A community-driven approach

“Where Eventing Lives” Welcome back to Go Eventing, the podcast where the heart, soul, and stories of the eventing world come to life. This week, we're sitting down with someone who knows the sport from nearly every angle as a competitor, a dedicated FEI groom, and someone still navigating what comes next. Whether you're early in your equestrian career, mid-transition, or simply trying to find your footing in this ever-demanding industry, this conversation is for you. The eventing world is full of passion, but it isn't always easy to sustain. Join us as we dive into the real conversations our community needs to be having: about compensation, career paths, mental health, and what it means to build a life in the horse world that actually lasts. __________________________________________________________________________ 🔎What’s Inside Season 2, Episode 2? Host Sally Spickard sits down with top eventing groom Courtney Carson to talk about her journey from caring for Olympic athletes to a new chapter outside of the barn. As an Olympic-level FEI groom and program manager, equine insurance underwriter, Founding International Director and US Coordinator for the International Grooms Association, and a newly-appointed FEI Licensed Level 1 Steward, Courtney brings a multi-faceted perspective on what our industry asks of its people and what it owes them in return. This episode covers a special reunion between Courtney and longtime Doug Payne ride Vandiver, horse retirement, mental health, the importance of community, and how to make equestrian sport more accessible and sustainable for the next generation of professionals. 🔥In This Episode, We Cover... 01:03 - News & Notes: The Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase & Bouckaert Equestrian’s US Equestrian Open CCI4*-S Sally brings us all up to date on happenings from the $100,000 LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce's Field, including some exclusive interviews with our 2026 champion Phillip Dutton. We get an insight into the emotion behind his win due to Phillip's close relationship to the late Bruce Duchossois, and check in with other standout performances from Aiken, including Australia's own Sophia Hill. Sally also touches on Eventing Nation's presence at the event, where we partnered with Cherie Chauvin from Optimum Time Global Eventing Tourism to provide an educational "Win the Warmup" session with Silva Martin — a highlight that we hope to continue offering at future events!  The US' first CCI4*-S of the season also took place this past weekend in Bouckaert Equestrian HT International — the first 2026 qualifier for this year's  US Equestrian Open of Eventing. Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Connor ended the weekend with a victory, moving Caroline up the US Equestrian Open's Leaderboard to tie for first place in the current standings. 19:45 - One Big Thing: Career Paths and Transitions within the Equine Industry Courtney speaks openly about the identity that comes with being a groom and the emotional complexity of stepping away — even when it's the right move. Thanks to his incredible owners Debi & Kevin Crowley, Courtney was also recently granted the chance to reunite with Vandiver, her long-time charge under Doug Payne, giving some great insights on the reality of retiring horses and what their lives look like outside the competition ring. She and Sally also address some of the thorniest issues in the equestrian workforce, from wages and housing to building support systems to the lack of structured career pathways for those entering the industry, hoping that our listeners can leave this episode with an eye open for what our eventing community can do better.  🏆If you'd like to win a copy of World Class Grooming by top FEI grooms Cat Hill and Emma Ford, click here to sign up for our weekly email newsletter "Between the Flags" -- we'll be drawing one winner from our subscribers to be announced on our next episode on March 24th! [Click here to learn more about everything the International Grooms Association offers] [Learn about the USEA Grooms Program and their 2026 Educational Series] 1:41:09 - Finish Flags Courtney expresses her willingness to work with anyone navigating the equestrian industry to find mentors, provide resources, teach about the freelancing life, or point them in the right direction for their desired career path. Get in touch with Courtney! Instagram: @courtlee26 Email: [email protected] 🎧 Tune In to Eventing Everywhere with EN Head over to EventingNation.com to read all the latest from all levels of eventing across the globe. Connect with us @goeventing, or you can reach us anytime at [email protected]. 📌 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Go Eventing wherever you get your podcasts! Let's keep building this community together. #GoEventing #EventingNation #WhereEventingLives __________________________________________________________________________ The Go Eventing Podcast powered by Eventing Nation is your front-row seat to the heartbeat of eventing. From exclusive athlete interviews to behind-the-scenes insights, we bring you closer to the horses, riders, and stories that make our sport unforgettable. Our vision: Celebrate the stories of eventing while connecting fans, riders, and supporters worldwide. What makes us different: Rider-first conversations  Honest, unfiltered stories  🧑‍🤝‍🧑 A community-driven approach

“Where Eventing Lives” Welcome back to Season 2 of Go Eventing, the podcast where the heart, soul, and stories of the eventing world come to life. As the 2026 season kicks off, join us as we explore major developments shaping the sport — from the highly anticipated $100,000 LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase in Aiken to structural changes within US equestrian leadership and the ripple effects of Olympic funding. The start of a new season is always about possibility, and this episode captures that forward-looking energy! Whether you’re following high-performance competition, navigating your own partnership with a single upper-level horse, or curious about the evolving structure of the sport, this conversation explores how structural decisions at the top level filter down to everyday competitors. __________________________________________________________________________ 🔎What’s Inside Season 2, Episode 1? Host Sally Spickard sits down with 5* eventing icon Emily Hamel to dive into the realities of building a partnership with a single top-level horse, the patience required to develop trust over time, and what it means to manage expectations while pursuing competitive goals. After their recent completion at Les 5 Etoiles de Pau in October 2025, Emily and her 5* partner Corvett (known as Barry to his friends and fans) became the first North-American horse and rider pair to finish all six Northern Hemisphere CCI5* events — a huge achievement for not only their partnership, but eventing as a whole. With reflections on community, opportunity, and the vibrant equestrian hub of Aiken, this episode sets the tone for a season full of growth. 🔥In This Episode, We Cover... 02:38 - News & Notes: New FEI Leadership & Department Merge, Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field, and Billionaire US Olympian Funding Sally and Emily discuss the upcoming $100,000 LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase, considered the "season opener" in the heart of eventing country in Aiken, SC. Recent news highlights include Great Britain’s Molly Day joining the FEI as the Director of the newly-merged Eventing and Driving departments, vacating her former position of Event Director of EEI, a position subsequently succeeded by Vanessa Coleman, the former Competition Director for the Kentucky 5*. Sally and Emily also discuss an article highlighting billionaire Ross Stevens and the fund he created to provide $200,000 to every US Olympic and Paralympic Athlete over the next 6 years. [RSVP for the EN x Optimum Time 'Win the Warmup' Experience at Grand-Prix Eventing] [Watch the Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase live on ClipMyHorse.TV] 19:45 - One Big Thing: Barry & the One-Horse 5* Journey Emily guides the listeners through her journey from meeting Barry to completing their 10th CCI5* together, and what the path looks like when climbing the levels to 5* with just one horse. She touches on mistakes she's learned from and lessons she'll take into partnerships with her up-and-coming horses. Emily places a big emphasis on goals, stressing the importance of a strong partnership while making sure to approach each horse as an individual, without trying to force your goals where they may not fit. She and Sally laugh about Barry's character quirks that have brought him such a devoted fan base, and how Emily has had to adjust her mindset over the years to cater to Barry's rather particular needs. [Video of Barry going to his room all on his own] 54:32- Sponsor Segment: "Emily in Aiken" with Deirdre Vaillancourt Real Estate While Emily may have moved to Aiken rather recently, she now considers it her home. Her home base of Good Fortunes Farm was scouted out by EN's amazing sponsor Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt Real Estate. 59:49 - Equestrian Keyboard Warriors ft. Emily's Kentucky Infamy If you enjoy Jimmy Kimmel's "Celebrities Read Mean Tweets", you'll love Emily reading some of the more opinionated comments on EN's first million-view reel from the Kentucky Three-Day Event last year, featuring Emily's infamous recovery after a particularly enthusiastic jump by Barry in show jumping! While many comments applauded her impressive save, the keyboard warriors -- as always -- came out to make sure Emily was informed on how they would do it differently! 1:10:54 - Finish Flags We have a wealth of exciting cohosts planned for this season, including recent Maryland 5 Star winner Felix Vogg, Olympic medalist Kim Severson, FEI Dressage Judge Peter Gray, and Belgian Olympic eventer Lara de Liedekerke-Meier — just to name a few! Go Eventing will also be debuting a new format in some future episodes, designed to provide a deep-dive of important topics we think deserve a more focused discussion. Stay tuned for our first discussion focusing on safety and technological advances in Eventing coming your way soon. 🎧 Tune In to Eventing Everywhere with EN Head over to EventingNation.com to read all the latest from all levels of eventing across the globe. Connect with us @goeventing, or you can reach us anytime at [email protected]. 📌 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Go Eventing wherever you get your podcasts! Let's keep building this community together. #GoEventing #EventingNation #WhereEventingLives __________________________________________________________________________ The Go Eventing Podcast powered by Eventing Nation is your front-row seat to the heartbeat of eventing. From exclusive athlete interviews to behind-the-scenes insights, we bring you closer to the horses, riders, and stories that make our sport unforgettable. Our vision: Celebrate the stories of eventing while connecting fans, riders, and supporters worldwide. What makes us different: Rider-first conversations  Honest, unfiltered stories  🧑‍🤝‍🧑 A community-driven approach

“Where Eventing Lives” Welcome back to Go Eventing, the podcast where the heart, soul, and stories of the eventing world come to life. In our final episode for 2025, our conversation explores what it really takes to build a long-term career in the sport — from the early days of saying yes to every clinic, opportunity, and horse, to learning when to prioritize, delegate, and turn down offers. We also highlight the pressures of modern professional riding and how staying “all-in,” even while balancing family life, is both the hardest and the most rewarding part of the journey. This episode brings together the themes that defined our entire eventing year: growth, grit, relationships, and the evolving landscape of eventing. Whether you're a competitive rider, a dedicated amateur, or a fan of the sport, this episode offers thoughtful insights on what it takes to stay inspired, stay committed, and keep moving forward. It’s equal parts reflective and energizing, and a perfect close to Season 1. 🔎What’s Inside Episode 20? Host Sally Spickard finally settles in for a chat with long-awaited and highly-requested co-host, Olympian, and social media sensation Boyd Martin! We explore the evolution of his program, his recent successes, and how he navigates the nonstop demands of top-level eventing. They touch on his upcoming travel to Australia, the growth of Windurra as a premier training hub, and the ever-present challenge of balancing ambition, opportunity, and family life. With his Boyd signature charm matched by his close rapport with Sally, this finale is one you won't want to miss! 🔥 In This Episode, We Cover... 14:20 - News & Notes: Boyd's Big Season Finale Winner of the inaugural US Equestrian Open CCI4*-S Series as well as the Open's CCI4*-L Final at Morven Park, Boyd's end-of-season for 2025 has certainly made a lasting mark!  33:14 - One Big Thing: Boyd Martin — The Eventer & The Human Boyd shares his insight and candid thoughts on the realities of building a riding career — from choosing owners and syndicate partners to leveraging clinics and communication — and offers perspective on accessibility, social media, and the future of US eventing. Boyd also touches on what he’s learned about communicating clearly and treating people well so they stay in your corner for the long haul — traits that are vitally important when his career as an Olympian, his training center at Windurra, and personality as a social media icon for the sport all depend upon his success. [Click here to register for Natalie Hummel & Boyd Martin free Champion's Code webinar on November 20th] [Click here to listen in to our episode with Natalie Hummel on the Go Eventing Podcast!] 1:27:57 - You Ask, We Answer: Slim Shady, Metal Boyd, and Silva’s Not-So-Secret Crush Sally throws out a handful of listener questions rapid-fire at Boyd — everything from football plays to horror movie picks to haiku creation (or fundamental lack thereof). Has Silva's love for Felix Vogg been diminished after his champion's cut? Has he ever been stopped by the TSA for his metal skeleton? No holds barred here, so listen in to find out! 1:39:08 - Finish Flags It's the bittersweet finale of Season 1 here at the Go Eventing Podcast! We're humbled and honored you chose to ride along with us on the journey this year, and the entire team here at EN thanks you for your support and listenership. Stay tuned this winter for some occasional special episodes, but you'll find us back in full swing come spring for the debut of Season 2! With the close of this season of To Go Eventing Podcast, we'd love it if you could take a moment to fill out our listener survey. All questions are optional and the survey can be filled out anonymously. [Go Eventing Podcast Listener Survey] 🎧 It's the End of Season 1! What's Next? Head over to EventingNation.com to read all the latest from 5*s and eventing across the globe — and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the Go Eventing Podcast to help grow our community! Connect with us @goeventing, or you can reach us anytime at [email protected].  📌 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Go Eventing wherever you get your podcasts! Let's keep building this community together. #GoEventing #EventingNation #WhereEventingLives The Go Eventing Podcast powered by Eventing Nation is your front-row seat to the heartbeat of eventing. From exclusive athlete interviews to behind-the-scenes insights, we bring you closer to the horses, riders, and stories that make our sport unforgettable. Our vision: Celebrate the stories of eventing while connecting fans, riders, and supporters worldwide. What makes us different: Rider-first conversations  Honest, unfiltered stories  🧑‍🤝‍🧑 A community-driven approach

“Where Eventing Lives” Welcome back to Go Eventing, the podcast where the heart, soul, and stories of the eventing world come to life. As the eventing season winds down, this penultimate episode takes a deep look into what it truly means to compete and succeed at the highest level of the sport — offering a rare glimpse into the mindset and methodology of a 5* rider at the very top of the sport plans their seasons, balances horse development with competition schedules, and maintains excellence in an increasingly competitive global field.  If you're a technical nerd when it comes to the nitty-gritty of the eventing sport, or if you’ve ever wondered how 5* riders choose their partners, manage the pressures and politics of team competition, or adapt their training philosophies across their string of horses, this episode is for you. It’s a reminder that eventing is as much about mindset as it is about skill — and that even at the top, an athlete's success depends on trust, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to the horse. 🔎What’s Inside Episode 19? Host Sally Spickard sits down with World Number One Harry Meade, dissecting the art of producing and selecting horses for 5* competition, the strategic challenges of events like Pau, and the evolving landscape of international eventing. They dive deep into the sport’s direction, the future of horse production, and the enduring passion that keeps eventers pushing forward year after year. From the nuances of conditioning and fitness — a talent Harry is renowned for — to the balance between competition frequency and quality, this discussion offers both inspiration and education for riders and fans alike. Harry is first and foremost an eventing nerd at heart, and provides that methodical inside perspective while balancing a trust in the heart of elite eventing — a sport built on patience, precision, and partnership. How has he gotten such a talented string that he’s able to aim a healthy handful at each and every 5*? Bring your notepad and several pencils, because the answers are complex but fascinating. 🔥 In This Episode, We Cover... 01:55 - News & Notes: 2025's Final 5* at Pau A shakeup finish at Pau ends with Tim Price and Jarillo on top. This is our final 5* of 2025, so Harry and Sally immediately dive in to discuss the significance and intricacies of European 5*s. 13:48 - One Big Thing: 5* Entries and the Future The conversation centers on the idea of “horses for courses” — exploring Harry Meade’s philosophy on matching horses to the right level, and how that shapes his business model and long-term goals. He shares why his focus has always been on producing 5* horses rather than chasing championship teams, describing 5*s like Badminton and Burghley as the pinnacle of the sport he's always held dreams of, rather than the Olympics or European Championships. The conversation also dives into what makes an ideal event horse, how Harry maintains his horses' peak fitness, and what the recent decline in 5* entries might signal about the evolving landscape of eventing’s future. [Read Sally's article "Horses for Courses on MARS Maryland 5 Star Cross Country Day"] 1:09:54 - You Ask, We Answer: 5*s in Europe, XC Breakfasts, and KY3DE 2026 Sally aims the more thought-provoking and controversial questions at Harry, pressing for answers on his 5* choices and future aims for international competition. Also — do you eat breakfast on cross-country day or keep an empty stomach? Does Harry raid the riders' tent while waiting for his next ride, or wait it out till he's run all three courses? [Submit your question for our co-hosts here] 1:16:39 - Finish Flags Next up: Our most frequently-requested co-host will be joining us on November 18th for our Season 1 Finale of the Go Eventing Podcast — the one and only Boyd Martin! 🎧 Want to learn more about Harry's recent 5* success across the globe? Head over to EventingNation.com to read all the latest from 5*s and eventing across the globe — and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the Go Eventing Podcast to help grow our community! Connect with us @goeventing, or you can reach us anytime at [email protected].  📌 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Go Eventing wherever you get your podcasts! Let's make this our favorite tack room listen. #GoEventing #EventingNation #WhereEventingLives The Go Eventing Podcast powered by Eventing Nation is your front-row seat to the heartbeat of eventing. From exclusive athlete interviews to behind-the-scenes insights, we bring you closer to the horses, riders, and stories that make our sport unforgettable. Our vision: Celebrate the stories of eventing while connecting fans, riders, and supporters worldwide. What makes us different: Rider-first conversations  Honest, unfiltered stories  🧑‍🤝‍🧑 A community-driven approach

“Where Eventing Lives” Welcome back to Go Eventing, the podcast where the heart, soul, and stories of the eventing world come to life. This week, we're taking yet another virtual trip, this time to the beautiful country of Portugal, home of FEI eventer Francisco “Kiko” Stilwell to learn all about eventing in small country, the influence of Portuguese breeding programs, and Kiko’s incredible personal history.  This episode of The Go Eventing Podcast is brought to you with support from Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt Real Estate, your go-to source for Aiken property. Whether you're renting for the season or looking for a permanent base, Deirdre has just the ticket for you! Learn more at AikenSCProperties.com. 🔎What’s Inside Episode 18? This week, host Sally Spickard welcomes 4* rider, breeder, Portugal Eventing Association Vice President, Mata do Duque Event Committee Member, and Portuguese Olympic hopeful Francisco “Kiko” Stilwell – who does all of the above with a prosthetic leg. We’ve been wanting to chat up Kiko for awhile, as his backstory is nothing short of fascinating. Kiko hails from one of the smallest countries when it comes to eventing, and it’s a community that’s struggled to rebuild after the loss of a prominent rider and coach about a decade ago. Kiko has also experienced his share of adversity, dealing with a congenital spinal disease that caused deformations in his left foot, leaving him susceptible to bone infections and overwhelming pain. In 2020, he made the decision to have the lower portion of his left leg amputated to pursue his dreams and save himself from a lifetime on crutches. He and Sally also discuss the intricacies of breeding for eventing, emphasizing the importance of Thoroughbred bloodlines, finding the perfect balance for all three phases, and the need for a focus on amateur riders to sustain the sport world-wide. It’s a story you won’t want to miss out on. 🔥 In This Episode, We Cover... 2:38 - News & Notes: Felix Vogg Makes More History at Maryland, Boyd Martin's Double Win in the US Equestrian Open, & the Goresbridge Go For Gold Baby Horse Wishlist [EN’s Coverage of MARS Maryland 5 Star] [EN’s Coverage of the US Equestrian Open of Eventing] [EN’s Wishlist of Goresbridge ‘Go For Gold’ Horses] [Visit the Go For Gold Sale] [Because Maryland and the US Open certainly weren’t the only big competitions recently, catch up on all the things here] 12:59 - Go Eventing Shout-outs Sally and Kiko share some shout-outs from Eventing Nation and beyond. Submit your own Go Eventing Shout-outs at [email protected]! 17:17 - One Big Thing: Kiko Overcomes Life’s "Little Problems" The story behind Kiko’s decision to have part of his left leg amputated to save him from a life on crutches and off horses. Kiko shares the incredible story of his health history and his love for horses and competing in eventing, showing us all that it’s ok to live this life in the body you have.  The background of Kiko’s family, which is rich in equestrian history and boasts a successful sporthorse breeding program that has evolved with the identify of eventing and the horses it requires.  The state of eventing in Portugal. The community in Portugal is a close-knit one, and the sport shrank with the loss of well-respected rider and coach Franciscio Seabra in 2015 and the subsequent departure from the sport by his brother, Duarte. The sport has struggled to recover its numbers in the wake of the tragedy, understandably, and Kiko and his community are determined to keep the sport around in honor of those who came before. [Learn more about Portugal’s two-week eventing extravaganza, Mata do Duque] 1:13:41 - You Ask, We Answer: Random Questions and Kiko’s 'Man of the People' Approach to Answering Messages Kiko shares his desire to be accessible and transparent in his journey so that everybody can feel visible in their own bodies, and to that end he answers every message he receives from people wanting to connect. We find out his unread message count (if you haven’t already guessed it), what his bucket list events are, what the best thing to eat in Portugal is and more.  [Follow Kiko on Instagram here and hold him to his ‘answer every message’ promise!] [Submit your question for our co-hosts here] 1:18:14 - Finish Flags Next up: we only have two episodes left before the end of the season (say it ain't so)! Stay tuned in November for the final episodes of our first season featuring two recent World Number One riders: Harry Meade of Great Britain and US Equestrian Open Champion Boyd Martin! 🎧Listen Now and Join the Conversation! Got thoughts, questions, or feedback? Your voice is a part of our story – we want to hear from you! Find us on social media @goeventing or email us at [email protected].  📌 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Go Eventing wherever you get your podcasts! Let's keep building this community together. #GoEventing #EventingNation #WhereEventingLives The Go Eventing Podcast powered by Eventing Nation is your front-row seat to the heartbeat of eventing. From exclusive athlete interviews to behind-the-scenes insights, we bring you closer to the horses, riders, and stories that make our sport unforgettable. Our vision: Celebrate the stories of eventing while connecting fans, riders, and supporters worldwide. What makes us different: Rider-first conversations  Honest, unfiltered stories  🧑‍🤝‍🧑 A community-driven approach