Major League Eventing Podcast

This week, Karen and Robby welcome back previous guest, Emily Hamel. Emily updates us on everything she has been up to since September 2019. She shares how she is living the dream year round in Aiken and everything she has going on there. Emily and her longtime partner Corvette aka Barry is hoping to make Eventing history by completing Pau and being the first horse and rider combination to finish all 6 Northern Hemisphere 5*'s...

Karen and guest co-host Margaret Rizzo-McKelvy from Mythic Landing Enterprises get to know Dr's Chad and Stephanie Davis. Chad and Stephanie run their equine vet clinic out of The Plains, VA as well as Virginia Equine Rehab and Performance Center and Be Safe Bracelets. We discuss Pre-Purchase exams, Soft Tissue Injuries and also how equine veterinarians have the highest suicide rate out of any profession. This interview has a ...

This week, Karen and Robby get to know 3* Eventer Jaclyn Burke. Jaclyn shares her story of growing up in Chicago and getting her first pony Apache, that was later deemed not suitable for pony club to meeting her future husband while playing kick ball in DC. Today, Jaclyn works full time and runs Burke Equestrian at her farm Hablyn Hills where she teaches, competes her up and coming horses and has her own Hablyn Hills Event Team. We...

This week, Karen and Robby get to know Maya Clarkson. Maya joins us after being crowned the 2025 Young Rider 3* Champion at the Maryland Horse Trials with her horse Maks Mojo C. Maya shares her story of growing up in California and riding at a lesson barn to then moving to Germany for a year to work and ride show jumpers. Once back in the US, Maya started riding with Shannon Lilley where she found Maks. Maya now has her own busines...

Karen and Robby get to know Japan's 3* rider, Kenta Hiranaga. Kenta is here in the US training with Boyd Martin. We hear all about what he is doing at Windurra and what his future goals are. We wish Kenta the best of luck getting to LA2028! 

To follow Kenta's journey:

https://www.instagram.com/kenta_usa_life_eventing/

Please support our sponsors:
https://cowboymagic.com/
https://manentailequine.com/
https://exhib...

This week, Karen and Robby get to know 3* Eventer Caitlin O'Roark. Caitlin shares her story of growing up in Virginia where her mom breeds sporthorses which led her, at a very young age meeting Lauren Nicholson. Caitlin eventually started taking lesson with Lauren and also David O' Connor. Today, Caitlin is know the head rider for Lauren where she competes some of Mrs. Mars' horses along with a couple of her own. We ...

Karen and Robby get to know West Coast 4* Eventer, Tommy Greengard. Tommy tells the story of coming from non-horsey parents and finding his way to taking lessons at a large lesson barn. Tommy now runs his business out of Chocolate Horse Farm in Pataluma, CA. Tommy also shares with us what happened to him at the Kentucky 4* when he learned the wrong Dressage test. We also found out that Tommy has a Corgi named Buzz and of course we ...

Karen and Robby meet Sara Schulman. Sara is an inspiration to the Amateur in the sport of Eventing. While she works a full time job, Sara is able to train and compete and was even able to place 2nd at the 2024 Maryland 3*L where she held the position from start to finish. Sara is now competing at the Advanced level and have plans to go all the way in the sport. It was so much fun getting to know Sara and we think you will enjoy her...

Karen and Robby meet 4* West Coast Eventer, Taren Hoffos. Taren shares her story of growing up in California where her family bought Copper Meadows and would hold events up to the 4*. Now Taren runs her business out of the family farm where she teaches lessons and hosts clinics. We had a great time getting to know Taren and we hope you do too!

PC: Alison Green for Shannon Brinkman Photo

To follow Taren's journey:

https://www.face...

Karen and Robby get to know Yves Sauvignon. Yves is native to France but moved to the West Coast to start Oakridge Training Stables in 1981. Since moving to the states, Yves has produced many top  names in the sport and was a Gold Medal YR coach. Yves talks about how he always knew he wanted to be a trainer and the schooling he went through in France. We hope you enjoy getting to know Yves as much as we did! 

Oakridge Training ...

Karen and Robby get to know West Coast 3* rider, Gabriella Ringer. Gabriella was just announced to the 2025 USEA Emerging Athlete Under 21 Program and she tells us all about the process and what's to come. She also tells us her story of growing up and riding at a Dude Ranch only to be upset when the only lesson barn around taught English. Thankfully, Gabriella found Eventing and along with her horse Get Wild placed 4th recentl...

Karen and Robby have a roundtable discussion with Alex Conrad, Bradley Champagne, Emma Yanek and Joe Bowersox about the do's and don'ts of becoming a working student. They share their experiences and Alex talks about what he learned from his time as a working student and uses today in his very successful business. Anyone thinking of becoming a working student should listen and hear all the great advice given!

PC: Ecogold

To...

This week, Karen and Robby get to know Eventer Katie Sisk. Katie lives in the Midwest where she runs her own veterinarian practice called Kaydence Sports Medicine and Rehab, competes at the 2* level and is a mom of twin 16 month old boys. Katie talks about how she is able to juggle everything with the help of her husband, family and friends. Katie also is in the process of breeding horses called Kaydence Sport Horses and hopefully ...

Karen and Robby catch up with another returning guest, 5* Eventer Sarah Kozumplik. The last time Sara was on the podcast was back in August 2019 and we had a lot of catching up to do! The last time Sara was on she was just working on helping develop a new Eventing facility in Florida, which turned out to be TerraNova. Sarah updates us on everything she has going on, plus her longtime partner Ruebens and the surgery that has helped ...

Karen and Robby welcome back 5* Eventer and FEI Level 3 Eventing Dressage judge Valerie Pride. Valerie was on the MLE podcast back on October 21, 2020 and we had a lot of catching up to do. Valerie most recently judged at the Maryland 5* and explains everything that the Ground Jury has to do - it's not just judging Dressage. She also has some exciting news that will take her on a European tour this fall to judge the European C...

Karen and Robby catch up with previous guest, 5* eventer Ariel Grald. Since the last time Ariel has been on the MLE podcast in 2019, she has placed 3rd at Luhmulen and placed 11th individually at the World Championships in Pratoni with her longtime partner Leamore Master Plan. In 2024 at the Kentucky 5*, Simon suffered an injury where he is now living the semi retired life and is fuzzy and chunky with hopes to slowly bring him back...

Karen and Robby catch up with the very busy Frankie Thieriot-Stutes. Frankie let's us know all that she has going on - from the Aiken Showcase, Kentucky 5*, Behind the Barn as well as her business Athletux. Frankie also talks about the importance of the Young Pro Program!

To learn more about Athletux and Frankie:

https://athletux.com/

https://www.instagram.com/athletux/?hl=en

Please support our sponsors:
https://cowb...

Karen and Robby welcome back 2x previous guest, Natalie Hummel. Natalie is a Transformational Life Coach and a Nervous System Practitioner. This week Natalie discusses the nervous system and how important it is to recognize when you are holding back due to fear of making mistakes or not being good enough. Natalie gives us some great advice on how to heal to be able to perform better. Natalie also gives us her prediction of the Eagl...

Karen and Robby get to know 3* Eventer, Ivie Cullen-Dean. Ivie shares her story of being from a non-horsey family to eventually getting her first horse and then making her way to the 3*. Ivie is a University of Kentucky graduate where she majored in Digital Communications with minor in Criminology and Sociology. Ivie even makes her prediction of who she thinks will win the Super Bowl since her team, the Buffalo Bills are out. We ho...