Major League Eventing Podcast

This week, Robby chats with Addie Rinehart. Addie was announced back in April for her third year in the row to the EA21 program. Addie shares what the Eventing scene is like in Minnesota and how she is able to attend the University of Tampa in Florida and keep training and competing her horse Corona Life. Addie is just recently coming back from her big win at the Bromont CCI2*L. We hope you enjoy getting to know Addie as much as we did.

To follow Addie's journey:

https://www.instagram.com/addierineharteventing/

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This week, Robby gets to know 5* Eventer Madeline Backus. Madeline comes to us from her farm in Colorado. Madeline shares her story of growing up with horses since her mom was an Eventer turned Grad Prix Dressage rider. In 2017, she competed her first 5* with her horse P.S. Arianna and then was granted the Wilton Fair Grant and the Rebecca Broussard National Developing Rider Grant which allowed her to take two of her horses to England for 6 months. Madeline is now based in Colorado and recently received her USEA ECP Level I Eventing Instructor Certification. We hope you enjoy...

This week, Robby chats with Braden Speck. Braden is an amateur rider that just completed his first 5* in Kentucky. Braden shares his story of growing up learning how to ride a pony, and then finding his now 5* horse BSF Liam where the two finished 20th at the Defender Kentucky 5*. Braden is now planning to take a break from competing so he can focus on his studies at Vet School. We wish Braden nothing but the best in his new journey and look forward to seeing him competing again!

To follow Braden's journey:

https://www.instagram...

Robby chats it up with two members of the Auburn Eventing Team, Josie McVicar and Ashley Costello. Josie and Ashley discuss everything about being in college and being a part of their fun and exciting Eventing team. During this interview, they were gearing up for the Intercollegiate Championships in Aiken,SC. They also give some great advice on how to handle college and horses at the same time and we hope you all enjoy this fun interview!

Follow Auburn Eventing:

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This week, Robby get to know Human and Equine Sports Massage Therapist Angie Cooney. Angie shares her story of Eventing as a teenager and then becoming a working student for David and Karen O'Connor. Angie always dreamt of going to the Olympics but then realized competing at the top level was not her passion. It was years later, Angie did in fact go to the Olympics not as a rider but as the US Team Equine Sports Massage Therapist. Angie shares so many great stories and we hope you enjoy this interview as much as we did!

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This week, Robby chats it up with 3* rider Carlin Keefe. Carlin tells her story of growing up in a horsey family and making her way to the 3* level all while being a full time student at the University of Kentucky. Carlin shares how she has recently taken over the ride of Buck Davidson's 5* mount Carlevo and everything he has been teaching her. It was great getting to know Carlin and we hope you enjoy listening as well!

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Follow Carlin's journey:

https://www.instagram.com/carlin.eventing/

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This week, Robby gets to know Advanced Eventer Margo Goldfarb. Margo is coming to us from a lab since she is also a PhD student. Margo tells her story about how she started riding and about how her now Advanced horse Ridgetop Pirate was a birthday present when he was a 3 y/o. She also talks about how she is able to juggle being a PhD student and an Advanced rider at the same time. It was great getting to know and hear Margo's story and we hope that you enjoy it as much as we did!

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This week, Robby welcomes back returning guest Lizzie Hoff! Lizzie first joined the MLE podcast back in August of 2024 and returns as a member of the 2026 USEF Eventing Development 25 Athlete. Lizzie gives an update on everything that has happened in the past 2 years and her future plans. Thank you to our friends at Athletux for helping us reconnect with Lizzie!

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To follow Lizzie's journey:

https://www.instagram.com/lhoffeventing/

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This week, Robby chats it up with social media influencer and adult amateur Victoria Gibilretta. Victoria shares how she started riding just a few years ago and was bitten by the Eventing bug. Victoria chats about the struggle of working a full time job and trying to ride but loves every minute of it. We are sure you will enjoy this interview!

Follow Victoria's journey:

https://www.instagram.com/victorialynnequestrian/

https://www.victorialynnequestrian.com/

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This week, Robby welcomes the Optimum Time crew...Cherie, Jen and Carolyn. They talk about how to join in the fun with them and travel to all of the 5* around the world. Cherie started Optimum Time to make it easy and affordable for Eventing fans and Jen and Carolyn share their experiences with this amazing group. We hope you enjoy some of their stories and join them on their next adventure!

More information about Optimum Time:

https://optimum-time.com/

info@optimum-time.com

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580285342317

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This week, Robby catches up with Frankie Thieriot-Stutes and Sinead Halpin Maynard to discuss their new venture as US 5* Commentators. Both have competed at the 5* level and are now using their expertise as commentators for the sport. They share how some events are being done from the comfort of their homes in California and Florida and how it works. We love catching up with these two ladies and we hope you enjoy!

To follow Frankie and Sinead:

https://athletux.com/

https://www.instagram.com/copperline_equestrian/

Robby welcomes back MLE's first guest, John Nunn. John first came on the podcast back in September 2019 and shared his story of how he got into horses and then into the Eventing world. This time, John shares what is going on with Nunn Finer, different jobs within the equine industry and how tariffs are effecting the horse world. We think this is one interview you will not want to miss!

Nunn Finer:

https://nunnfiner.com/

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We apologize to our listeners for not putting out new episodes. There has been A LOT going on but we are BACK.....well kind of. You will hear in this update that Karen is stepping down from the interviews and will be more behind the scenes and out at events and of course being a Corginizer. Robby already has some great interviews lined up that we think you will enjoy. This episode will give you an update on everything going on from babies, events, Corgi racing and what's to come. Thank you to all of our listeners and if...

Karen and Robby get to know Kentucky based, 4* Eventer Kate Sands. Kate shares her story of growing up in Kentucky and convincing her Dad to purchase an OTTB as a "re-sell" project and naming him after Bourbon only to end up keeping him and taking him all the way to the Advanced/4* level. Kate and her husband, now have their own farm in Georgetown, KY and loving every minute of it. We had a great time getting to know Kate and hearing her story and we hope you do too!

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We're still pumping out interviews from the Mars Maryland 5*! This week we share interviews with Sydney Hagaman, Sophia Middlebrook, Allie Knowles, Arden Wildasin, Brooke Burchianti, Monica Spencer, Ryan Wood, Mary Bess Davis, Felix Vogg, Jonelle Price and Mia Farley. We will be back to our regular interviews in a week or two but in the meantime, we hope you enjoy these fun interviews.

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We had so many interviews from the MD5* high and plan on sharing them over the next couple weeks from the MD5* Radio which is provided by Taylor Harris Insurance Services during the Mars Maryland 5* at Fair Hill presented by Brown Advisory. This week is Dressage Day 2 and we talked to the Cross Country Course Designer Pierre le Goupil, Hayley Frielick, Maya Clarkson, Alyssa Phillips, Caitlin O'Roark, Maddie Tempkin, Colin Gaffney and Mike Pendelton. We are so excited to share these fun interviews with you and hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

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We are still on our MD5* high and plan on sharing our interviews over the next couple weeks from the MD5* Radio which is provided by Taylor Harris Insurance Services during the Mars Maryland 5* at Fair Hill presented by Brown Advisory. This week is Dressage Day 1 and we talked to Lainey Ashker, Jessica Phoenix, Tommy Greengard, Olivia Dutton, Shannon Lilley, Rory Frangos, Isabel Bosley, Lindsay Traisnel, Kiersten Miller and Anna Buffini. We are so excited to share these fun interviews with you and hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

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Karen and Robby welcome back Dr.'s Chad and Stephanie Davis for a round of Q&A. We had received many questions for them since their last time on the podcast that we had to have them back on to answer our listeners questions. We even get to have a fun round of somewhat Quick Fire Questions with their daughter Henley!

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Karen and Robby get to know 3* Eventer Liz Lund. Liz runs her business out of Copeland Farms where she grew up riding and then travels to Ocala, FL for the winter to base out of Copeland Farm South. Liz talks about the very large lesson program where she and several other instructors teach over 300 lessons a month. On top of all that, Liz has a small breeding program and has a few up-and-coming horses to be on the lookout for. If that wasn’t enough, Liz also has her own podcast with her friend Rachel called “Unstabled and Unbridled”. We hop...

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. Give it a listen and help cheer them on! To help Emily and Barry get to Pau, Emily has created a membership for fans to become...

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 lot of great information and we are hoping to have them back on again!

For more information:

https://davisequine.com/

https://www.virginiaequinerehab.com/<...

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 had such a fun time getting to know Jaclyn and we hope you do too!

Thank you to Margaret...

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 business in Middleburg, VA and trains with Lauren Nicholson. We hope you enjoy getting to know Maya as much...

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/

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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 hope you enjoy getting to know Caitlin as much as we did!

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Follow Caitlin's journey:

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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 try to get him to enter in this years Maryland Corgi Cup. We hope you enjoy getting to know Tommy...

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 story!

To follow Sara's journey:

https://www.instagram...

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!

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To follow Taren's journey:

https://www.facebook.com/THEventing

https://www.instagram.com/tarenhoffos/

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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 Stables:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057808293659

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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 recently at the Twin Rivers 3*. We hope you enjoy getting to know Gabriella as much as we did.

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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!

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To follow the rountable guests:

https://www.facebook.com/ConradEquestrian/

https://www.conradequestrian.com/

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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 in the next couple years we will see them out competing at the upper levels. Katie is a true inspiration and we hope...

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 her other upper lever horse Rock Phantom. And of course, we hear all about her new puppy Jude.  We hope y...

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 Championships at Blenhem, the 7 year old Championships at Cornbury and then Burghley. Valerie also competes and runs her business Blue Clover Eventing and...

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 to some sort of competing - maybe in the show jumping ring. Even with Simon sidelined, Ariel is busy with several top horses that...

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

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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 Eagles/Chiefs Super Bowl - will she be correct?

To learn more about Natalie:

https://nataliehummelcoaching.com/<...

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 hope you enjoy getting to know Ivie as much as we did.

To follow Ivie's journey:

https://www.facebook.com/ivie...

Karen and Robby get to know Eventer, Greylin Booth. Greylin is a West Coast Young Rider that is a senior in high school and was recently accepted to Stanford University. Greylin is also the 2024 USEA Prelim Junior Rider of the Year and a member of the Area 6 YR Silver Medal Team. Greylin grew up in the Equitation world and just a couple years ago switched to Eventing where she became hooked! Thank you to Frankie from Athletux for introducing us to Greylin.

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Karen and Robby get to know 3* Eventer, Ashley Trier. Ashley shares her story of being from a non-horsey family and tricking her mom into letting her ride a horse at a local Western barn. By 10 years old, she bought her first horse and then eventually found her 3* horse Maybelline Covergirl. Ashley know runs her business out of Virginia and winter in Ocala, Fl. We had a lot of fun getting to know Ashley and we think you will too!

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To follow Ashley's journey:
https://www.ashleytriereventing.com/
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