Horse Person

This episode is presented by Kalio Equestrian Skincare, the title sponsor of our Middle-Aged Rider Series. High-performance skincare created specifically for riders and trusted by 5,000+ equestrians and counting. Use discount code HORSEPERSON15 for 15% off your order at www.kalioequestrian.com
At 52, Steph Bradley was an advanced dressage rider who suddenly found herself too frightened to canter her safe, familiar horse. She was also experiencing debilitating hip pain and had been told she would eventually need a hip replacement. Five years later, after recognizing the role hormonal changes may have been playing and finding the right support, she is riding at Grand Prix and her research suggests her experience is far from uncommon.
Steph is a British Equestrian Level 4 coach, master saddle fitter, dressage rider, coach developer, and researcher whose groundbreaking study examined how perimenopause and menopause affect female equestrians. More than 1,600 riders participated, revealing striking patterns in confidence, motivation, pain, anxiety, coaching, and women's ability to remain engaged in the sport they love.
In this episode, Steph helps us understand why a rider may suddenly feel as though she has "lost her nerve," why so many women quietly withdraw from lessons or stop riding altogether, and how coaches and communities can better support riders through midlife hormonal changes. Most importantly, this is a hopeful conversation about recognizing what may actually be happening before deciding that the rider you used to be is gone.
LEARN MORE ABOUT STEPH:
Steph Bradley at Freedom Saddlery
Follow Steph on Instagram
Read Steph Bradley and Claire Mills' published research: "Breaking the Silence: The Unexplored Impact of Perimenopause and Menopause Symptoms of Female Equestrians"
Read the Horse & Hound feature about Steph's research
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Dr. Louise Newson's books, including The Power of Hormones and The Definitive Guide to the Perimenopause and Menopause
Download Dr. Louise Newson's Balance app

This episode is sponsored by Kalio Equestrian Skincare. High performance skincare for riders, trusted by 5000+ riders and counting. www.kalioequestrian.com
Welcome to the first installment of our Middle-Aged Rider Series, where we're exploring how to ride better, feel better, and stay in the sport we love as our bodies, brains, and lives change.
We're kicking things off with sport psychologist Dr. Jenny Susser to unpack why riding can feel different in middle age. But before you click away, it's not all bad! There's actually a lot of good news, and we dive into it in this series. From changing perceptions of risk and confidence, to cognitive load, resilience, and working together with your brain and body, instead of against it. With the right understanding, the experience, perspective, and self-knowledge we gain with age may actually help us become better riders. Let's learn how. 
REFERENCE 1 - Pregnancy and the brain (email us for the pdf!)
REFERENCE 2 - After Menopause, the Rules Changed (email us for the pdf!) 

caroline@horsepersonpodcast.com to request the pdf versions of these 2 articles ^

This episode is sponsored by Hooves and Paws. Get 15% off by using this URL: www.hoovesandpaws.com/horseperson
With America's wild horses back in the national conversation, we're revisiting our conversation with Clare Staples, founder of Skydog Sanctuary and one of the country's most recognizable wild horse advocates. She discusses the deep spiritual connection she feels with horses, the challenges of running a sanctuary, and the importance of preserving wild horse families. Clare also touches on the legislative landscape affecting wild horses and her efforts to inspire change through storytelling and advocacy. The conversation feels especially timely as Clare's documentary Blue Zeus, narrated by Gerard Butler, reaches a new audience on Amazon Prime. Originally recorded in 2025, this episode offers an eye-opening look at what it means to protect not just wild horses themselves, but their families, freedom, and way of life.

Get 26% off a membership to ClipMyHorse.tv JUST in time to watch the FEI World Championships in Aachen! Go here (https://go.cmh.tv/horse-person/) and use code HPAACHEN26 for your discount.
We asked, you called in! 
How do horse people actually afford this sport? In this special anonymous episode, horse people from across the financial spectrum share what they earn, what their horses really cost, the sacrifices they make, & how money shapes their experience in the sport. Let's look at the financial realities, worries, and philosophies that horse people have - and the questions we're too nervous to ask out loud.

Get 26% off a membership to ClipMyHorse.tv JUST in time to watch the FEI World Championships in Aachen! Go here and use code HPAACHEN26 for your discount. 
If your horse feels heavy in the hand, struggles with transitions, trips, or just doesn't seem to move as freely as they should, the thoracic sling could be part of the answer. Veterinary physiotherapist Calli Charles (@vetphysiophyle) joins us to explain what the thoracic sling actually is, how it influences movement and performance, and how to recognize signs of dysfunction in your own horse. We also discuss the role of conformation, tack, rider position, and simple exercises you can use to help your horse move more comfortably and efficiently.