The Pony Podcast

It's been a while since we've caught up hasn't it. I mean I know you hear a bit about our lives, episode to episode, but there's lots that doesn't get through, and not all of you have listened since we started the podcast. And we started the podcast a bloody long time ago now. Thinking how different our lives are is  a bit mad to be honest. As our lives are growing and morphing, we thought the podcast probably needed to too. Logically. So that's what this is. A quick catch up, and the low down.

We are joined by our absolute favourite person, Angela Jones, our very own resident Podcast Pet Vet, to talk all about Atypical Myopathy, what's a myopathy? Why is it not typical? Guess you'll have to listen won't you

This week we're joined by the effervescent Nandi Kegode, Kenyan Psychologist and honestly, visionary. We talk all about how keeping ponies in Kenya works, the challenges from the climate (and the wildlife), how competing works and how most people learn to ride. Nandi is current holder of the "Best Answer to What's One Thing You Couldn't Live Without" award

This week we're joined by the effervescent Nandi Kegode, Kenyan Psychologist and honestly, visionary. We talk all about how keeping ponies in Kenya works, the challenges from the climate (and the wildlife), how competing works and how most people learn to ride. Nandi is current holder of the "Best Answer to What's One Thing You Couldn't Live Without" award

Content Manager for the Longines Global Champions Tour (among others) and all round wonderful human being, Anna Hollis, talks to us all about her job, making content for multiple platforms, where she gets her ideas, and being at events taking place in some of the most beautiful locations in the world. Under the Eiffel Tower, anyone? THE ACTUAL CIRCUS MAXIMUS, ANYONE?

This week, Lucy from Gemini Genetics joins us on the podcast to talk all about cloning, how it works, why you'd do it, and how it's helping in so many areas right now. This was a big episode for our resident Biology Nerd but I think we kept it in check and didn't go too science heavy.... you guys be the judge

Our second episode in our Breed series we're looking at one of the most carefully bred animals in the world, for one singular aim. Getting the fastest horse possible. Listen to Simon Cooper from the original Thoroughbred Studbook, Weatherbys, talk about how the breed came to be and what its future looks like. 

You might have heard episodes on mindset before, but none like this. Laura Schrøter is an eventer on the BEF's Podium Potential Squad, yard owner and all round ray of sunshine with the absolute best outlook on life. She rides Piglet for Tess and as part of her team, we've seen first hand the optimism, dedication, patience and resilience she approaches every day, every opportunity and every challenge with, and wanted to learn more...

Today, Alex and Tess talk about the benefit of being employed by someone else (Tess) and self employed (Alex) when you've got a horse to worry about, it includes discussing the pros and cons of a non-horsey job compared to being with horses full time and how we make each option work for us.

Did you know that movement in a horse's lower jaw can affect how far the hind leg can come forward and engage? How about knowing that to fix David Beckham's knee trouble, they gave him a plate to put in his mouth? Intrigued yet?

Our very first World Equestrian Games GOLD MEDALIST and one that we were so so excited about. When we started thinking about what other sports we wanted to learn about, Vaulting was top of the list. Who better to learn from than a member of GB Vaulting's Royal Family

We ask our pet vet everything you ever wanted to know that we could think of about Equine Metabolic Syndrome. Signs and Symptoms, Outcomes and Causes. Poo Smoothies and The Dirtiest Joke Tess Has Ever Been Told (probably). 

In our new series spotlighting how different breeds of our furry friends came to be, we start with the biggest personalities of them all: Shetlands. Fun fact, the mp3 to this episode is named by their super fun nickname that Alex wouldn't let me say on air

For Coaching Week this week, we're revisiting our FIRST EVER EPISODE, with the incomparable Caroline Moore, from when we were BABIES back in 2019 and very exceptionally new to this whole recording lark. Have we changed? Have we improved? No. But as this episode shows, we were fire from the off. 

As this week is National Volunteering Week, we thought we'd give you a quick run down of our own volunteering experience in Riding for the Disabled and British Eventing/Pony Club, what you can gain from it, why we like it and what you can expect. We both absolutely love doing it, listen to find out why. For a handy blog on the subject, go to www.theponypodcast.com

PARALYMPICS RERELEASE

We take a step into the world of Para Dressage to try to get answers to all of our questions with more and more squads being announced for Tokyo 2020(1) by the day. Bert Sheffield is a para-dressage rider for Team Canada, and has represented them at World and Olympic level. Hear about how para dressage works, how to get into it and some sneaky Championship stories, just for us

Looking for a way to be involved in eventing without the crazy price tag? The Event Horse Owners Syndicate has made itself a solution for you (and Tess). A one off payment, weekly updates, and all the fun bits of horse ownership. Want to find out more?

Have you ever wondered whether horses in other countries are looked after the same way as yours? Well we had many many questions about our different perspectives and experiences, so decided to recruit a different viewpoint. The lovely Teal Shoop joins us all the way from Oregon USA to tell us all about keeping horses in the United States and clear up some questions for us. DO horses in Florida grow a winter coat?

In a new series for us, we ask our resident vet, Angela Jones, everything we ever wanted to know about strangles. It includes the phrases "haemorrhaging custard" and "the custard clap". You're welcome. 

Everything you guys wanted to know about rider fitness, from how much you need to how best to get it, which doesn't seem like a big range but there are plenty of pit stops along the way. If you're a competing rider, at whatever level, or just trying to make some progress, you NEED to listen to this