Broke Horse Moms

This episode is all about your horse mom questions, the ones you’ve sent me in Instagram DMs and replies to the newsletter. I was going to do a show season recap, but your questions were too good not to tackle, even if I’m far from an expert.

First, I share a note from a listener who heard my conversation with Magda from Boujee Broke Mom about switching barns. Her line about the grass at the next barn being spray-painted green made me laugh out loud.

Then we get into the mailbag. A mom new...

Episode Summary

Moving to a new barn doesn’t end when the trailer pulls in. In this episode, I sit down with Magda Lubov, The Boujee Broke Mom, whose family moved barns in just three days. She gave notice on a Wednesday, and her horse was on the trailer that Saturday morning.

We talk about how she knew it was time to go, how she packed up so fast, what it took to settle her high-maintenance warmblood, and all the little things that work differently at a new barn. We also share the advice we’d gi...

My friend Micah Fae Thomas has ridden for 30 years, owned horses for 20, and coached professionally for five. She is also the person who marched me, Chloe, and my mother-in-law through the tack shop aisle saying "need it, skip it, get that at CVS." Her rule: if it's for you, save. If it's for the horse, spend.

In this episode, we get into:

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...

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...

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 t...

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...

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...

Episode Summary

When we qualified for Pony Jumper Finals, I quickly realized that the official information answered plenty of competition questions but almost none of my horse mom questions.

When should we arrive? Do we really need a golf cart? What happens when we pull into the Kentucky Horse Park? How do we know where to go? What should we pack that no one tells us about?

So I invited Laura Greenstreet, mom to Pony Jumper rider Cora Greenstreet and founder of the Pony Jumpers USA Facebook group, to answer the questions every...

Episode Summary

When my recent article in The Plaid Horse about how confusing the horse world can be for new families was published, one comment kept popping up:

"Just ask questions."

Great suggestion! The problem is, when you're new to horses, you don't know what questions to ask.

So in this episode, I'm sharing 10 simple questions that can save you time, money, frustration, and a whole lot of second-guessing. These aren't embarrassing beginner questions - they're conversation starters that will help you better understand the horse world and feel more confident...

When your child starts riding, you expect to make decisions about schedules, budgets, and maybe when they get their first pair of tall boots. What you don't expect is that before long you'll be making decisions about trainers, horse shows, safety, horses, and thousands of dollars in equipment for a sport you barely understand.

In this episode, I sit down with Jen Barker and Karen Tanner, hosts of The Scope Podcast, to tackle one of the biggest challenges horse moms face: figuring out who gets to make the big decisions.

We discuss everything from choosing...

You know what's weird? Attending a webinar to learn how to attend a horse show.

In this episode, I tackle what I believe is one of the biggest barriers to growing equestrian sports: understandability.

While conversations about accessibility often focus on cost, there's another challenge that doesn't get discussed nearly enough. Horse shows, divisions, memberships, qualifications, prize lists, entries, and billing can feel like a foreign language to families who didn't grow up in the horse world.

In this episode, I share:

If you’ve been anywhere near horse social media lately, you’ve probably seen the conversations around Dover Saddlery’s closures and liquidation sales. But what actually happened behind the scenes? And what does it reveal about the future of the equestrian industry?

In this episode, I’m joined by Orchid Bertelsen, writer of the Substack Back in the Saddle, to break down the Dover story from both an economic and rider perspective.

With a background in e-commerce, consumer marketing, and brand strategy, Orchid offers a fascinating look at why equestrian retail has struggled to evolve...

Are horse shows teaching kids to become better riders or just rewarding expensive horses and polished rounds?

In this episode, Angie sits down with David Reichert, founder of the United Dressage and Jumping Club (UDJC), to talk about the gaps he sees in the current U.S. equestrian system and why he created an alternative focused on horsemanship, rider development, affordability, and grit.

David shares his perspective on everything from hunter and jumper culture to dressage fundamentals, horse show costs, trainer influence, rider education, and why he believes kids should learn multiple disciplines instead of...

In this episode, I’m joined by my friend Ashley Winch to walk through what happened when our rated show at HITS Culpeper came to an abrupt end after a horse stabled in the same barn as us tested positive for Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) and developed Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM).

What followed was confusion, a lot of unanswered questions, and a mandatory quarantine that completely changed our plans, and honestly, our perspective.

We cover:

Horse show season is here and if you’re anything like me, it can feel like stepping into a completely different world.

In this episode, I’m breaking down everything I wish I had known before our first horse show, from the different types of shows to the very real costs (both expected and surprise) and how to navigate it all without losing your mind… or your bank account.

Whether you’re heading to your first schooling show or staring down your first rated show bill, I’m walking you through what horse show life actually l...

In this episode, I’m joined by Beth Sheely, head coach of the Virginia Tech Equestrian Team, to break down what collegiate club teams really look like and why they might be the best-kept secret for riders who want to continue in college.

We talk about everything from how these teams are structured and funded to what coaches are actually looking for, plus real, actionable ways to start exploring options for your rider.

We cover:

One of the biggest lessons many of us learn in the horse world is that you can’t navigate it alone.

In this episode, Angie shares why building a “horse mom village” is one of the most important things you can do—not just for your rider, but for your sanity as a parent trying to figure out a sport you didn’t grow up in.

From the horse mom bestie who helps you talk through barn drama, to the barn family who helps with logistics, to the horse dad who brings perspective when your nerves tak...

What exactly is a local show association and why does it matter?

In this episode, I’m joined by Kelly Gannon, adult amateur rider and volunteer of the Central Virginia Show Jumping Association (CVSJA), to talk about how local horse shows actually run, from costs and volunteers to why they’re critical for young riders and adult amateurs alike.

We cover:

If you’re a non-horsey horse mom trying to und...

Winter showed up loud this year with ice, school closures, frozen buckets, and barns that don’t care about the weather forecast.

In this episode, Angie shares what’s actually helping her family get through an extended stretch of freezing temperatures, from the clothes that make barn life bearable to the small comforts that keep everyone’s spirits intact.

This isn’t a sponsored gear roundup or a “do it perfectly” episode, it’s a real look at how Broke Horse Moms survive winter when the horses still need care, the kids still need encouragement, and you’re jus...

Buying a horse can feel like the most exciting and terrifying decision you’ll ever make as a horse mom. In this episode, Angie shares the real-life considerations that went into buying her daughter’s horse and the questions every family should ask before making the leap.

Whether you’re leasing, half-leasing, riding lesson horses, or just starting to wonder what’s next, this conversation is for moms navigating big decisions without a horse background or unlimited resources.

What We Cover in This Episode

Before the braids, before the entries, before the credit card panic...there’s planning...hopefully.

In this episode of Broke Horse Moms, Angie sits down with her daughter Chloe for an unfiltered planning conversation using the 2026 Broke Horse Moms Planning Workbook. Together, they reflect on 2025, set rider goals, set MOM goals, choose shows with intention, and define a couple of mom boundaries around time, money, and energy.

This isn’t a “perfect plan” episode. It’s a practical, honest look at how horse families can plan a season together, without turning it into pressure, guilt, or a contr...

Episode Summary

It’s that time of year — show season is winding down, leases are ending, and a LOT of families start wondering… Is it time to switch barns?

In this episode, Angie cracks open one of the spiciest topics in the horse world: when, why, and how to switch barns without burning every bridge in sight.

And yes — before hitting record, she even texted Chloe’s trainer to ask, “Should I even talk about this??” The trainer’s answer: “We can talk tonight… just keep it focused.”

So we did. And here it is.

In this episode of Broke Horse Moms, Angie sits down with Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse, co-author of the Show Strides series, and one of the most trusted voices in equestrian education.

Together, they break down two of the biggest topics in the horse world: affordability and accessibility.

It’s that time of year again — when the wish lists start rolling in and you realize your rider “needs” new breeches, a heated vest, and possibly an entire LeMieux set. Don’t worry, I’ve got you.

In this episode, I’m breaking down our 2025 Holiday Gift Guide EARLY so that you have a list of items to hand out and choose from yourself. From fun rider finds and practical mom must-haves to gifts that will make your trainer actually smile, this guide keeps it real, affordable-ish, and useful.

Plus, I’ll share a little mom math...

What happens when your kid’s dream of riding in college actually comes true? In this episode, Angie sits down with Elizabeth Howell, marketing and media expert, lifelong horse lover, and proud mom of an NCAA equestrian, to unpack what it really looks like when your family’s years of early mornings, long show days, and endless barn bills finally pay off.

Elizabeth shares her daughter Samantha’s journey from pony kid to Division I athlete, including how they navigated the financial reality of competitive riding, what it took to earn scholarship money, and what life is like o...

In this follow-up to our first episode on Leasing a Horse, Angie digs into what really matters once you’ve decided to lease - the agreement itself. Because when it comes to horse leasing, the details can make or break your experience.

Angie covers:

• What’s typically included in a lease (board, vet, farrier, feed, lessons, insurance)

• What you’re allowed to do, like showing, hauling, and off-property rides

• How lease pricing is structured and what’s negotiable

• The clauses to consider before signing on the dotted line (purchase price, substitut...

In this episode, Angie sits down with Jennifer Connor, co-founder of Riders Rent, to decode the often-confusing world of show apparel.

Whether you’re a first-time horse show mom staring down breeches, jodhpurs, and tall boots, or a seasoned rider wondering what’s tradition vs. what’s truly required, this episode will help you breathe easier.

Together, Angie and Jennifer cover:

What does it really mean to lease a horse and why do so many people recommend it?

In this episode of Broke Horse Moms, Angie kicks off our Barn Basics series with a crash course in horse leasing: the what, the why, and the different ways families approach this “horse renting” option before diving into ownership.

Angie covers:

In this first episode of Broke Horse Moms, I’m turning the mic on myself to share how we stumbled into this sport, what it’s meant for my family, and why this community matters so much.

From Chloe’s very first pony ride at the county fair, to her first falls (and my first ringside heart attacks), to finding Phoebe, the opinionated pony who changed everything, I’ll take you through the highs, the wipeouts, and the unexpected ways horses transformed not just Chloe, but me too.

This is the story behind Broke Horse Moms: th...

What happens when supporting your kid’s horse dreams sparks your own?

In this episode of Broke Horse Moms, Angie sits down with fellow horse mom (and rider!) Jen Nelson, co-founder of Armor Equestrian, to talk about carving out your own joy in the horse world, even when the sport starts as “just your kid’s thing.”

Jen shares:

Broke Horse Moms is the podcast for every horse-show-tired, muck-boot-wearing mama raising a kid in the equestrian world.

Hosted by Angie Trueblood, proud horse mom and member of the “I-thought-this-was-just-a-phase” club, we share the real talk, laughs, and lessons that help moms navigate barn life, horse shows, and big equestrian dreams, without losing our minds (or all our money).

From learning the lingo to surviving your first show season or even what comes next for your teen rider, we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re brand new or barn-seasoned, this is your place to connect...