Hi Reader, Today's episode with David Reichert, founder of UDJC (United Dressage and Jumping Club), includes a few hot takes. Exhibit A: within the first two minutes he told me Pony Finals was a waste of time and money. 😳 So, this is one you'll love to listen to. David grew up in Germany’s equestrian system and has some VERY strong opinions about the way kids are being developed in the U.S. horse world. Specifically: Why he thinks horse shows often reward expensive horses instead of good...
23 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, A few weeks ago, I shared with you that we were heading to our first rated show of the season as a qualifier for Pony Finals. We made it there unscathed, aside from a very stressful wasp incident in the car on the way there (think: teenager driving, my sitting shotgun, 2 teens in the back, one of whom is VERY afraid of flying, stinging insects AND a wasp in the car). Chloe and her friends and the horses settled in nicely on Wednesday, competed well on Thursday and Friday and...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, You know that moment at a horse show when your kid is finally done with their rounds (4 hours after you thought they'd be done) and they suddenly disappear? Not to the barn.Not to find and hug and thank you. 🤣 But straight to the food truck to split chicken quesadillas and fries with their friends like it’s the best meal they’ve ever had? Yeah. That one. This week on the podcast, I’m getting very real about horse shows - the different types, the 'lingo', and how I approach them...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, About a year ago, Chloe said something that stopped me in my tracks: Maybe I won’t go to college… everyone I know quits riding when they go. Ma'am. I feel like there are endless ways to solve this problem without NOT going to college. Rest assured, she's moved well away from this thought process and, while you're reading this, we're likely touring Virginia Tech and learning about their accounting program AND riding team. See...two things can be true at the same time, sweet child o'...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, What if one of the most important things you could do as a horse mom had nothing to do with buying the right tack, planning your show season, or finding the perfect horse? If I’m being honest, the moments that have saved me the most in this sport have all involved other people. 👉 The mom who talked me through the rounds that looked like the Kentucky Derby (with jumps). 👉 The one who explained how horse shows work.👉 The people who showed up when things didn’t go as planned (and...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, You know that moment at a horse show when you’re standing at the ring, coffee (or mimosa) in hand, pacing back and forth until your kid's round is over (oh...is that just me??) and possibly doing the math of the show in your head? Yeah. Same. This week on the podcast, I sat down with Kelly Gannon, adult amateur and volunteer for the Central Virginia Show Jumping Association (CVSJA) to understand what actually goes into running a local horse show. Spoiler: ribbons DO NOT cost 25¢...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, By the time this hits your inbox, we’ll be about 11 days deep into 20-degree weather here in Virginia. Schools closed. Roads iced over. Water buckets frozen solid. A whole situation. I had an interview planned for this week, but honestly? It didn’t feel as helpful as talking about what’s getting us through this stretch of winter barn life. In today’s episode of Broke Horse Moms, I’m sharing: The clothes that are actually working at the barn Why gas station hot chocolate has become...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, In today’s episode of the podcast, I share how we made the decision to buy a horse, a pony, actually, and how we KNEW we were ready-ish. This isn’t a checklist that ends with 'you should definitely buy a horse' because GOOD LAWD, no one needs more pressure for this large of a decision. It’s an honest look at the emotional, financial, and practical signs that matter most, especially for us non-horsey horse moms. If you’re somewhere between Oh, hell no! (because that's where I...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Before the braids, before the entries, before the 'Oh hell, what's the bill??' moment, there’s planning. Chloe and I just recorded a new episode of the Broke Horse Moms podcast where we sit down together and walk through how we’re planning our 2026 show season. This is not the highlight-reel - literally, the first thing she says is 'I hate you.' 🤣 We talk about: Looking at what worked (and didn’t) in 2025 Chloe's goals for 2026 - both on the horse and off Choosing shows with...
5 months ago • 1 min read