Broke Horse Moms

Chloe forgot her course. Then she fell off in the show ring. Then she got right back on, while I stood at the rail wondering why we weren't packing up the trailer.This is my horse mom version of the "Let Them" mantra. It isn't the stop-controlling-everything version. It's the one where we let our kids muck stalls, wrap legs badly, clip off part of a horse's tail (sorry, Billy), ride the quirky ones, fall off, cry, and see just how big this horse world is.I'm also covering how to open these doors (hint: ask) and how to afford them when shows are already eating the budget.Plus, Broke Horse Moms is officially one year old! If this show has helped you at all, a review on your podcast player would mean the world. Tell me what you want to hear next.LinksThanks to our sponsors!Big Dee's Tack & Vet Supply: https://www.bigdweb.com (use code BHM10)Broke Horse Moms LinksWebsite: https://brokehorsemoms.comNewsletter: https://brokehorsemoms.com/newsletterInstagram: https://instagram.com/brokehorsemomsFacebook: https://facebook.com/brokehorsemomsVoice notes: https://speakpipe.com/bhmResources MentionedThe Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins: https://www.melrobbins.comUnited States Pony Clubs: https://www.ponyclub.orgEp 19: Are We Raising Riders or Buying Ribbons: https://brokehorsemoms.com/united-dressage-jumping-club-david-reichert/

Grace Speckman tracked every single dollar she spent leasing a horse and still ended up $14,000 in the hole after four months. She's a certified financial planner. If it can catch her off guard, it can absolutely catch the rest of us. In this one, we get into the costs nobody warns you about (looking at you, saddle fitting), how to budget for a sport that thrives on surprise expenses, and the uncomfortable math Grace does on what it costs us long-term to keep saying yes to horses right now. I walked away from this conversation with an actual plan instead of just crossed fingers, and I think you will too.Thanks to our sponsors!Thanks to Big Dee's Tack & Vet Supply https://www.bigdweb.com/ for their continued support of Broke Horse Moms. Use code BHM10 to receive an additional 10% off your order.Grace's LinksThe Thoughtful Equestrian's Guide to Protect, Grow, and Pass on WealthInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dollarsandhorsesense/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GraceSpeckmanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-speckman/Broke Horse Moms LinksWebsite: https://brokehorsemoms.com/Newsletter: https://www.brokehorsemoms.com/newsletterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokehorsemomsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/brokehorsemomsLeave me a voice note about a question you'd like answered: https://speakpipe.com/bhmResources MentionedYNAB (You Need A Budget) budgeting app

We all know the feeling: standing at the rail, trying not to visibly panic, while our kid looks completely calm in the saddle. Turns out that might not be as harmless as it feels.This week I’m talking with Courtenay Baber, a licensed professional counselor, lifelong rider, and founder of Gray Horse Counseling, about the mental side of riding for our kids, and for us. We get into why kids’ self-talk turns into a hamster wheel so fast, what to actually say (and not say) before a big ride, and a simple grounding trick Courtenay uses at the in-gate herself.I also get honest about a moment heading into Pony Finals this year when I realized I was putting pressure on my daughter without meaning to and what changed once I named it.This episode is sponsored by Courtenay and Gray Horse Counseling.If this one hits home, hit subscribe so you don’t miss what’s coming next and if you’ve got two minutes, a quick rating helps other horse moms find the show.Thanks to our sponsors!This episode is sponsored by Courtenay Baber and Gray Horse Counseling, Courtenay’s own practice.Thanks to Big Dee's Tack & Vet Supply https://www.bigdweb.com/ for their continued support of Broke Horse Moms. Use code BHM10 to receive an additional 10% off your order.Broke Horse Moms LinksWebsite: https://brokehorsemoms.com/Newsletter: https://www.brokehorsemoms.com/newsletterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokehorsemomsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/brokehorsemomsLeave me a voice note about a question you'd like answered: https://speakpipe.com/bhmMentioned in this episode:Sponsored by Big Dee’s Tack & Vet SupplyThis episode is sponsored by Big Dee’s Tack & Vet Supply, a trusted source for tack, riding apparel, horse care products, barn essentials, and all the random things horse moms somehow end up needing at the last minute. Shop online at bigdweb.com.

Before Pony Finals, I thought we knew horse shows. We had rated shows under our belt. We'd qualified for a national championship. I had even made an entire episode about what first-timers need to know. Then we got to Kentucky, and I realized this was a completely different world.In this episode, I'm walking you through all the myths I believed going into Pony Finals and what I now know to be true after watching Chloe and her pony Phoebe place 13th out of 97 in their division.I thought we packed everything we needed. We didn't, and I ended up buying a broom, ulcer guard, and hoof packing within the first hour of being there. I thought it would just be a bigger version of the horse shows we already knew. It wasn't, not even close, from the scoring format to the size of the crowd to the pressure of every single round counting. I thought once we got there, it would all make sense. It didn't, and I had to track down someone in person just to understand how a winner was even determined.I also talk about the moment I realized grooms aren't just for people who don't want to do the work themselves, why we will never again call this trip a family vacation, and the question I'm still sitting with: is a show like this worth it if your kid and pony aren't fully ready for it?If your kid is headed to Pony Finals one day, if you're moving from schooling shows to rated shows, or if you just recently learned what a lead change is, this episode is for you.Key TakeawaysPack more than you think you need. A bridle bag, garment bag, extra hooks, ulcer guard, and hoof packing all turned out to be essential, not extra.Pony Finals is not just a bigger version of a rated show. The scoring format, crowd size, and pressure of every round make it a different experience entirely.Ask questions early. Even experienced horse show families can find the scoring and format confusing, so don't assume it'll make sense once you arrive.Grooms aren't just for big-budget barns. Having a dedicated person to help with the horse freed up everyone else to focus on their actual job.Don't plan this as a vacation. Between prep, riding, and recovery, there's very little time or energy left for sightseeing.Readiness matters more than the invitation. Whether a show like this feels "worth it" often comes down to whether your rider and horse are truly prepared for that level of competition.ResourcesThanks to our presenting sponsor, Big Dee's Tack & Vet Supply: https://www.bigdweb.com/ Use code BHM10 for an additional 10% off your order.Broke Horse MomsWebsite: https://brokehorsemoms.com/Newsletter: https://www.brokehorsemoms.com/newsletterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokehorsemomsThe Swag Barn: https://www.brokehorsemoms.com/swagbarn Use code BHM10 for 10% off your order.Special thanks to Steve Woodward, founder of The Podcasting Editor, for giving you all the best listening experience!

Nobody told me that gradually, week by week, I would stop being the center of Chloe's horse life. A few weeks ago she got her driver's license, and almost overnight, everything about my role at the barn changed. She drives herself to lessons now. She works there without me. She signs up for her own shows. I knew it would change my schedule, but I didn't realize how much it would change my job.In this episode, I'm talking through the moment this really hit me, the milestones I didn't recognize until I looked back, and why I think every horse mom eventually faces some version of this, whether it's a license or something else entirely. If you've ever felt your role at the barn quietly shifting under you, this one's for you, friend.https://www.instagram.com/brokehorsemoms/Join our virtual barn family: brokehorsemoms.com/newsletterThanks to our sponsor Big Dee's Tack and Vet Supply - Use code BHM10 at checkout for an additional 10% off your order.Special thanks to our podcast editor, Steve Woodward. If you're thinking about starting a podcast, find him at podcastingeditor.com.