EquiRatings Eventing Podcast

Ownership in eventing rarely follows a straight line. For Alex Wakeley, it has been shaped by family history, a first tentative run at BE80, and a young grey bought quietly after the Rio Olympics who would go on to win at Le Lion d'Angers. In this episode of Through the Owners' Eyes, Nicole Brown sits down with Alex, owner of Cristal Fontaine and Chairman of the Event Horse Owners Association, to talk about what ownership really looks like. From the highs of a six-year-old World Championship title with Kitty King to the realities of injury management, long seasons, and knowing when a horse owes you nothing more, Alex reflects on the full ownership journey.  Highlights From first event nerves to owning a Le Lion d'Angers six-year-old World Champion Buying young, trusting instinct, and choosing the right rider The realities of injuries, longevity, and horse welfare at the top level Syndicates, access, and bringing younger owners into the sport The role of the Event Horse Owners Association, from hospitality to advocacy Guest Alex Wakeley, event horse owner, Chairman of the Event Horse Owners Association For more information on the Event Horse Owners Association, including membership, owner hospitality at events, and grassroots initiatives, visit the Event Horse Owners Association. This episode is powered by EquiRatings Horse Sales,the data-driven way to find your next superstar. From performance metrics to potential and price, EquiRatings helps take the guesswork out of buying and selling horses. Find out more here. EquiRatings Eventing Podcast: Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

We've set the scene at Bruce's Field. Now it's time to turn to the field itself. Nicole Brown is joined by Frankie Thieriot-Stutes, Annie Bishop and Diarmuid Byrne to break down the contenders for the $100,000 LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services. And the numbers matter here. Winners almost always come from the top three after dressage. No one has ever won with a rail down. And if you're leading after show jumping, history says you are very hard to catch. So who fits that profile in 2026? This is your full preview before the action begins in Aiken. Highlights What the data says about the winning formula Why show jumping could be the decisive phase Which horses are built for this tight, electric atmosphere How the $100,000 prize fund changes the mindset Full podium predictions from the team Guests Frankie Thieriot-Stutes  Annie Bishop  Diarmuid Byrne  EquiRatings Eventing Podcast Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook. 🎟️ Be there when it happens. Tickets on sale now.

The season starts here. The $100,000 LiftMaster Grand Prix Eventing Showcase presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services returns to Bruce's Field, and with it comes one of the most unique tests on the calendar. This episode is a behind-the-scenes preview of how it all comes together. Course designer Jay Hambly and Event Director Joanie Morris explain how the track is built, how the format is structured, and how Bruce's Field transforms into a spectator-driven production that feels closer to a championship arena than a traditional cross country field. Highlights How the Showcase format works and why it is different from a standard advanced Jay Hambly on designing within Mark Phillips' blueprint and making the time influential Key features to watch, including the Bridge, the Brushes and new track adjustments Joanie Morris on building a two-day event that blends top-level sport with packed crowds Why the $100,000 prize fund raises the stakes at the very start of the season Guests Jay Hambly – Cross Country Course Designer Joanie Morris – Event Director EquiRatings Eventing Podcast Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook. 🎟️ Be there when it happens. Tickets on sale now.

What happens when you look beyond the feed room door? Across three episodes, this series takes listeners inside Connolly's Red Mills. From the grain stores of rural Ireland to world championship warm-ups, it follows the journey of a brand built on one idea: better performance through better nutrition. In this episode, top riders including Tom Rowland, Kirsty Chabert, Alex Bragg, Aoife Clark and Sam Watson step inside the mill to see the process for themselves. They talk about clean sport, confidence in testing, the scale of the operation, and what it means to stand behind the product you feed your horses every day. There are surprises along the way, yes, including camel feed, but the consistent theme is attention to detail and a culture built around solving problems for horse performance. From grassroots riders to five-star champions, the message is the same. Quality matters. Trust matters. And the details count. Highlights Inside the Red Mills story, from 1908 to today Riders reflect on clean sport and laboratory testing How nutrition impacts performance at every level The scale of a global operation rooted in rural Ireland Sam Watson on performance, marginal gains and long-term partnership Why attention to detail keeps coming up in every conversation Guests Tom Rowland – British international event rider and producer of horses through the levels. Cameron Beer – British event rider and coach producing horses and riders through the grassroots and performance pathways. Kirsty Chabert – Five-star British event rider with experience producing horses from youngstock to championship level. Alex Bragg – International event rider known for producing competitive horses through to five-star. Aoife Clark – Irish Olympian and five-star event rider based in the heart of horse country. Sam Watson – Irish Olympian, performance analyst and co-founder of EquiRatings. Gareth Connolly – Director of Connolly's Red Mills and fourth-generation member of the Connolly family. Connolly's Red Mills are offering 15% off Foran Equine products to Eventing Podcast listeners! Use the code EquiRatingsPodcast15 to receive your discount. View the full collection here. Note this does not apply to the already discounted Pre-Fuel & Refuel combo packs. If you have any other questions regarding feeding click here to ask the Connolly's RED MILLS experts.

It starts with a seed. It ends with a bag. Every stage in between matters. In Chapter 2 of the documentary series, Nicole Brown steps inside Connolly's Red Mills to follow the full journey from raw ingredient to finished feed. From seed plants and grain stores to laboratories and production lines, this episode shows how consistency is built long before a product ever leaves the mill. The people behind each stage explain what their roles really mean. Grain is grown with trusted local farmers, tested on arrival, analysed again before release, and tracked through a system designed to remove uncertainty. Technology supports it, but detail drives it. If something does not meet the standard, it does not move forward. The scale is global. The operation is local. And everything still comes back to the same place where the story began. Highlights From seed selection to harvest, how the raw materials are sourced The intake process that tests every delivery of grain Inside the lab screening for nutrients, contaminants and prohibited substances Technology that supports consistency across every batch The logistics behind supplying more than 80 countries worldwide Why full in-house production remains central to the philosophy Guests Gareth Connolly – CEO of Connolly's Red Mills and fifth-generation family member Martin Bolger – Seed Plant Manager at Connolly's Red Mills Mike Shields – Chief Technical Officer overseeing quality and compliance Paul Connolly – Project and Systems Engineer John Connolly – Chief Operating Officer responsible for operations and logistics Jane Davis – Head of Marketing at Connolly's Red Mills Connolly's Red Mills are offering 15% off Foran Equine products to Eventing Podcast listeners! Use the code EquiRatingsPodcast15 to receive your discount. View the full collection here. Note this does not apply to the already discounted Pre-Fuel & Refuel combo packs. If you have any other questions regarding feeding click here to ask the Connolly's RED MILLS experts.

What does it take to build a global equine brand from a small village in rural Ireland? In Chapter 1 of this three-part documentary series, Nicole Brown sits down with CEO Gareth Connolly at the heart of Connolly's Red Mills in Goresbridge, County Kilkenny. From a bakery in 1908 to a world leader in equine nutrition, this is the story of how a family business evolved through innovation, adversity and a relentless focus on performance. Gareth traces the journey from canal trade routes and grain monopolies to the chance conversation with Paddy Mullins that changed Irish racing history. There are sliding doors moments along the way. Two world wars. Foot and mouth. A devastating fire. Covid lockdowns. And through it all, each generation stepping up as caretakers rather than owners. At its core, the philosophy remains simple. Put the animal first. Never compromise. And make sure what's on the bag is in the bag. This is where the Red Mills story begins. Highlights The 1908 origins of Connolly's Red Mills How a bakery became a national feed manufacturer The Paddy Mullins moment that shaped Irish racing Innovation through adversity, from war to Covid Why every product is still manufactured in County Kilkenny The meaning behind "no compromise" nutrition Guest Gareth Connolly – CEO of Connolly's Red Mills and fifth-generation member of the Connolly family. Connolly's Red Mills are offering 15% off Foran Equine products to Eventing Podcast listeners! Use the code EquiRatingsPodcast15 to receive your discount. View the full collection here. Note this does not apply to the already discounted Pre-Fuel & Refuel combo packs. If you have any other questions regarding feeding click here to ask the Connolly's RED MILLS experts.

A new season. A new host. A fresh start. Cameron Beer steps in to lead the 2026 Grassroots Show, bringing his experience as a British eventing coach and self-confessed grassroots enthusiast to a series built around practical tools for real riders.  In the first episode of the year, Cameron is joined by fellow coach and five-star rider Jo Rimmer to tackle one of the most important parts of eventing that often gets overlooked - planning. From setting honest long-term goals to working backwards from key events, they discuss how to structure a season, how to cope when plans change, and why developing your own "system" is the foundation of consistent performance. And this season, you are part of it. At the end of every episode, Cameron will set a weekly training task for listeners to try at home. This week's jumping exercise focuses on rhythm and control through a simple three-cavaletti line. Try it, post it, and tag your efforts using #GrassrootsChallenge so the team can follow along. Highlights How to plan a season by working backwards from your goal Tactical vs technical skills and how to identify your weaknesses What "sticking to your system" really means in competition Managing nerves and building mental resilience This week's jumping training challenge Guests Cameron Beer – British event rider and coach focused on developing riders through the grassroots levels Jo Rimmer – Five-star event rider and one of British Eventing's lead regional coaches Presented by Foran Equine, part of the Connolly's RED MILLS family. Listen to our last Grassroots Show with Lucy Robinson and Jesse Maye here. EquiRatings Eventing Podcast: Follow the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast for more data-led insight, top-tier guests, and everything you need to keep up with the 2025 season on Instagram and Facebook. Don't miss The Red Mills Rider Bursary 2026 — a chance for two amateur riders to receive a year of performance support from the Red Mills team. Head to redmillshorse.com/become-the-2026-red-mills-rider/ for details and to apply.

Valentine's Day on the Eventing Podcast means one thing. Power couples, a quiz, and very little mercy. We've teamed up with the USEA Podcast for the annual Valentine's Special as eventing couples Ryan and Lillian Wood, and Sam and Brayden Lissington go head to head across general knowledge, eventing trivia, and the questions that really matter, how well they actually know each other. With flags flying for Australia, the USA, Britain, and New Zealand, expectations are low, rules are flexible, and bragging rights are firmly on the line. For the latest in U.S. eventing—competition highlights, rider interviews, expert insights, and more—follow the USEA and subscribe to the USEA podcast channel to stay up to date! EquiRatings Eventing PodcastDon't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

After a career defined by volume, grit and longevity, Izzy Taylor sits down to reflect on evolution, perspective and what still drives her heading into 2026. She talks openly about stepping back from being "Busy Izzy", reframing success, and learning when change is not a threat but a necessity. Izzy reflects on injury, recovery and mindset, the realities of motherhood at the top of the sport, and how experience reshapes the way she trains, competes and builds a team. There's a close look at the horses shaping her season, led by Barrington Alice, and why heart, brain and trust still underpin everything she believes about eventing. Highlights Reframing ambition and stepping away from being "Busy Izzy" Injury, recovery and the mental side of coming back Motherhood, longevity and evolving priorities at the top level Barrington Alice, Bramham and shaping a 2026 campaign Why heart and brain still matter more than raw talent Guest Izzy Taylor – British five-star event rider, championship team member, and one of the sport's most experienced producers of elite event horses. Sponsors: Connolly's Red Mills are offering 15% off Foran Equine products to Eventing Podcast listeners! Use the code EquiRatingsPodcast15 to receive your discount. View the full collection here. Note this does not apply to the already discounted Pre-Fuel & Refuel combo packs. If you have any other questions regarding feeding click here to ask the Connolly's RED MILLS experts. EquiRatings Eventing Podcast: Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

The first big preview show of 2026 is here, and it's all about the US horses you might not be talking about yet. Nicole is joined by Annie Bishop and Diarmuid Byrne to dig into the four-star pipeline, the age profiles that matter, and the combinations quietly putting their hands up as LA edges closer. From familiar names with depth in their strings to genuinely under-the-radar horses flagged by the data, this is a season-setting conversation about where US eventing is heading and why now is the moment to start paying attention. How Paris Proved the Power of Data in Eventing: Lessons for LA 2028: https://news.equiratings.com/stories/how-paris-proved-the-power-of-data-in-eventing-lessons-for-la-2028  Highlights Why four-star is the proving ground for future championship horses The age groups that historically point toward Olympic success Under-the-radar US combinations with standout data profiles East Coast and West Coast storylines worth following How the US Equestrian Open is changing the way fans track form Guests Diarmuid Byrne, EquiRatings co-founder Annie Bishop, producer and US eventing specialist EquiRatings Eventing Podcast: Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

The Eventing Podcast inbox has been overflowing, and since we couldn't get to them all during the last episode, here's a full listener-powered question episode for you. From season plans and LA 2028 predictions to Badminton memories, German dominance, and the rising stars reshaping 2026, nothing is off-limits. It's opinions, insight, and a few unfiltered tangents from the people who see every side of the sport. Highlights What 2026 could mean for the world number one battle Who the team are backing for LA (and why the case isn't straightforward) Early-season plans for Rocket, Goldman, and the horses coming through The British vs German storyline heading into Aachen Worlds Rising nations, U25 strength and the next generation of medal contenders The big events they'd actually choose to spectate this year Plus a few listener curveballs… from profile pictures to strange foods Guests Diarm Byrne, co-founder of EquiRatings and data analyst for elite sport Sam Watson, five-time senior championship rider for Ireland Spike Milligan, FEI team vet with decades of championship experience Hosted by Nicole Brown EquiRatings Eventing Podcast: Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

The A-Team is back and somehow January already feels long. Between Diarm's medical misadventures, Spike's family odyssey to Cape Town and Sam getting ID'd at 40, it's a suitably unhinged reunion… before we finally get to the sport. From why flag penalties moved from 15 to nine, to what really separates a championship horse from a five-star horse, to Ireland's new high-performance era under Sam Griffiths, it's a state-of-play start to 2026 with perhaps more questions than answers... Listeners sent in plenty of those questions, so this is Part One - the Q&A show follows next! Guests Nicole Brown (Host) Sam Watson, five-star rider and EquiRatings co-founder Diarm Byrne, EquiRatings co-founder Spike Milligan, FEI team vet with decades of championship experience EquiRatings Eventing Podcast: Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

On today's episode of When Nicole Met, supported by Bedmax, we sit down with five-star rider and producer Kate Rocher-Smith to unravel a career built as much in the sales yard as in the start box. From a first Badminton to eight- and nine-year-olds at Aston le Walls and a stable full of rising prospects, Kate explains how Dassett Eventing has become one of the sport's most influential pipelines for top horses and top riders. Highlights Badminton 2025 and the first-five-star learning curve How Dassett Eventing reshaped the sales + production model The traits that matter most in young horses today Why team culture drives performance and longevity Ones to watch for 2026 and the next generation Guests Kate Rocher-Smith, five-star rider and founder of Dassett Eventing Hosted by Nicole Brown This show is kindly supported by Bedmax, purpose-made, natural horse bedding designed to protect respiratory health, support hooves, and provide a clean, comfortable stable environment.

On today's Connolly's Red Mills Special, we've got a brilliant double act: former European Champion Tina Cook and one of the most exciting young names coming through, her daughter Izzy. With the 2026 season in sight, we look back on a year that included Boekelo, Young Rider medals and a first full run at four-star, and ahead to under-25 Worlds, Bramham ambitions and the next crop of homebreds coming through the yard. From the call that cost an individual medal at Strzegom to the seven-year-olds they both hope to take to Le Lion, the Cooks open the door on what's to come. Highlights Four-star lessons, Boekelo and the Young Rider Europeans Team orders, pressure and delivering under championship conditions Under-25 Worlds: why the pathway matters and how riders get selected Breeding, bloodlines and the next generation of Cook horses Horses to follow in 2026: Mexican Law, Moony and the seven-year-olds Guests Tina Cook - Former European Champion & Red Mills Ambassador Isabelle Cook - U21/Young Rider medalist & Red Mills Ambassador Presented in partnership with Connelly's Red Mills Sponsors: Connolly's Red Mills are offering 15% off Foran Equine products to Eventing Podcast listeners! Use the code EquiRatingsPodcast15 to receive your discount. View the full collection here. Note this does not apply to the already discounted Pre-Fuel & Refuel combo packs. If you have any other questions regarding feeding click here to ask the Connolly's RED MILLS experts.

Welcome back to the Eventing Podcast. We have teamed up with the USEA and for this New Year special, we're taking on one of the biggest conversations in equestrian sport: social license. What it is, why it matters, and how every one of us plays a role in the future of eventing. Olympic champion, five-star winner, USEF Chief of Sport, and USEA EA21 Director of Coaching David O'Connor joins the show to unpack trust, education, safety, and responsibility, and how the sport can evolve while keeping its core values at the center. For the latest in U.S. eventing, competition highlights, rider interviews, expert insights, and more, follow the USEA and subscribe to the USEA podcast channel to stay up to date! EquiRatings Eventing PodcastDon't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.  

Andy Heffernan steps into the stable and we go well beyond course plans and CV lines — from winter escapes and family life to AI fence drawings, Olympic dream seats, and why Bramham still means everything to him.  HIGHLIGHTS Why winter never really slows him down Using AI to turn fences into drawings The advice from Andrew Nicholson that shaped his career Why Bramham is still his favourite event Olympic finals, jump racing, and skiing envy "More tolerant than I used to be" - summing himself up in a few words GUEST Andy Heffernan - international course designer, coach, and rider To find out more about Strawmax bedding and how it could work in your yard, head to: https://www.strawmax.co.uk  EquiRatings Eventing Podcast Follow the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast for more data-led insight, top-tier guests, and everything you need to keep up with the 2026 season on Instagram and Facebook.

Today on When Nicole Met, supported by Bedmax, we meet someone whose life has touched every corner of eventing. From growing up in a family steeped in eventing history to carving out her own path in advertising, creative production and now commentary and podcasting, Annie Bishop talks storytelling, sport, and why fresh voices matter. She also gives an inside look at the US Equestrian Open podcast, working alongside riders across dressage, jumping and eventing, and how the Open format is helping develop combinations and build fans in the lead-up to LA. Highlights Parents who rode at Olympic and World Championship level Advertising, production and crisis comms, and what eventing can learn Commentary, data and storytelling as gateways to the sport The rise of the US Equestrian Open and why the series matters Representation, female voices and growing US commentary talent Hopes for 2026 and building new fans for equestrian sport Guest Annie Bishop – Producer, commentator and host of the US Equestrian Open Podcast. Part of the EquiRatings team, working across eventing, jumping and dressage. This show is kindly supported by Bedmax, purpose-made, natural horse bedding designed to protect respiratory health, support hooves, and provide a clean, comfortable stable environment.

After closing out 2025 as world number seven, Sam Lissington sits down to unpack the season that changed everything and the road ahead. She reflects on the pride of consistency across Luhmühlen, Burghley, Blenheim and Strzegom, the satisfaction of finally showing what long-term horses like Sooty can do, and the analytical approach behind improving weaknesses and speed through the winter. Sam also tackles the tougher side of the year: Badminton heartbreak, late injuries to key horses and rebuilding horsepower for 2026–27. Plus, an inside look at Lucas Stone's rise and what data, instinct and market context really mean when buying for championships. Highlights World number seven and a year built on consistency Sooty's Luhmühlen podium and Billy Alberto at Burghley Injuries, resilience and refocusing for 2026 Lucas Stone, New York and future championship horsepower Guest Sam Lissington – International event rider for New Zealand and 2025 world number seven. Team Lissington Open Farm Day 2026 Team Lissington is opening it's doors on the 18th Jan! Bring a friend and watch some Winter horsey action with mulled wine and nibbles 🍷🐴 They will run through training priorities, plans for the year ahead and a no-strings-attached overview of the various ownership opportunities and models in eventing. Please RSVP for catering purposes ➡️ link in Sam's bio Want to find out more about EquiRatings Horse Sales? Visit the website here.

In this Red Mills Feed Room episode, Spike is joined by Louise Jones from Red Mills to tackle one of the most misunderstood topics in horse nutrition: protein. Does protein really make horses hot? Can you underfeed it without realising? Is soya actually a problem, or just another internet myth? From muscle development and rehab to allergies, topline and performance, this is a straight-talking myth-busting conversation that separates fact from long-held stable lore. Highlights: Why protein is so often blamed for excitability What actually happens when horses are under-fed protein The truth about soya, fertility and inflammation Protein requirements for young horses and horses in rehab Why supplements can't replace a balanced diet Practical, evidence-based and refreshingly clear, this one is for anyone who's ever second-guessed their feeding program. With thanks to Red Mills for their continued support of the Feed Room series. 📲 Stay Connected This episode is brought to you by Connolly's Red Mills. For expert advice, forage analysis, and feeding support, visit redmills.com or connect with their nutrition team directly. Proud partners of the podcast, Red Mills are here to help you feed your horse with confidence.

On today's When Nicole Met show, supported by Bedmax, we are joined by someone who has become one of eventing's most recognisable personalities and a firm favourite with so many. Adam Short takes us from the heart of Newcastle, where ten riding lessons at Stepney Bank Stables changed the course of his life, right through to grooming at Olympic level. He reflects on the years learning under the incomparable Jackie Potts, the leap to Tom McEwen's team and the reality of managing horses and riders through the pressure of major championships. Adam also shares the emotion behind Dublin's journey to Paris, the power of riding schools to transform young lives and why the eventing community means so much to him.  Highlights How Stepney Bank Stables shaped Adam's childhood and future Lessons from Fox-Pitt Eventing and working closely with Jackie Potts Moving to Tom McEwen's yard and settling into championship life The pride and emotion behind Dublin's performance in Paris Why community, opportunity and access matter Guests Adam Short - Head groom to Olympic medallist Tom McEwen. Adam has groomed at the world's biggest stages and is a passionate advocate for Stepney Bank Stables. This show is kindly supported by Bedmax, purpose-made, natural horse bedding designed to protect respiratory health, support hooves, and provide a clean, comfortable stable environment.