In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Mrs. Cheryl Winters, the wife of renowned Natural Horsemanship Clinician and NRCHA Professional Richard Winters. Together, the two have built a thriving partnership both in marriage and in business over the past forty years, with Cheryl playing an essential role in shaping their shared success.

Cheryl is a remarkable example of the many hats a trainer’s wife must wear — serving as business administrator, videographer, production assistant, head cook at the bunkhouse, bed-and-breakfast operator, and, of course, devoted mother to two high-achieving children.

During our conversation, Cheryl shared heartfelt stories about the evolution of Richard’s career as well as that of their talented horse-trainer daughter. Her influence continues to be a cornerstone in the Winters family legacy, offering steady support and guidance wherever it’s needed most.

The Trainer’s Wife is a podcast dedicated to celebrating the wives, and on occasion the husbands, of horse trainer’s in the western equine industry. For 35 years I’ve watched talented, successful, brave, beautiful women pour themselves into their husbands careers.These women not only manage and build his business, they manage and build their own as well, sometimes while trying to train and show horses themselves. Whether they are cheering for him from the stands, the back gate, their computer screen at work, or the kids basketball game, they rarely miss one of his go’s at a show. And when he’s done they have the ultimate task of supporting him with empathy, love and acceptance. They have to find the right words to fit each run, learn how to respond and not react, know when and how to offer constructive criticism or just sit in the quiet and let it be. This podcast is about exploring not only what these women bring to complex relationships, but how they continue to be strong, resilient and independent while not losing themselves or being swallowed by their husbands careers.