Liberated Equestrian

What’s life really like behind the scenes of a horse rescue—and how does it impact both horses and people?In this episode of the Liberated Equestrian Podcast, I sit down with Leigha Schrader, horse trainer and business professional at Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR). Leigha specializes in liberty horsemanship, colt starting, and trick training, while also competing on the hunter/jumper circuit.Together we explore: ✨ The realities of rescue work—trust, healing, grief, burnout, and resilience ✨ How liberty horsemanship is about connection, not just freedom ✨ The balance of caring for horses while tending to your own mental health ✨ Why presence and compassion are at the heart of horsemanshipWhether you’re an equestrian or simply navigating life’s challenges, this conversation will encourage you to honor your heart, set healthy boundaries, and discover hope through connection.For show notes and helpful links, head over to the blog at Stableminded.

I'm thrilled to introduce you to Sandy Hart-Long, President and owner of FICS, a business that has been advising clients on arena construction, footing, and maintenance for over 20 years. Sandy’s experience ranges from working with backyard enthusiasts to Olympic champions.We delve into Sandy’s journey into the equestrian world, which started with her love for ponies as a little girl and evolved into her current unique business, primarily consulting and building arena footings. She shares how her father started the company over 30 years ago, initially focusing on fly spray systems before branching into arena services. As a former history major and teacher, Sandy found her true calling in helping equestrians achieve optimal footing, often bridging the communication gap between riders and contractors.Sandy emphasizes that good footing isn't about being fancy or expensive; it's about being safe and consistent. This episode, however, isn't simply about discussing the importance of arena footing maintenance because Sandy's work is truly a metaphor for the journey of transformation. Sandy describes the importance of "understanding that every arena is unique, and how a horse's happiness and performance are directly impacted by the quality of their footing" -- this is truly about so much more than material and construction.Finding your footing, so to speak, echoes my own experiences as a therapist, as I look for foundational issues affecting a client's mindset. Sandy diagnoses and addresses underlying problems in arenas to ensure a harmonious experience for horse and rider. And in my line of work, whether as a therapist or coach, I'm focused on exploring the underlying problems of the heart, mind, body, and soul that are contributing to a client's presenting symptoms so that we can collaboratively define a strategy for healing and growth. She also shares valuable lessons on navigating client relationships, building conviction in her expertise, and how her newer passion for surfing has provided a metaphor for embracing life’s challenges and uncertainties. This episode is packed with relatable wisdom for any horsewoman navigating her career and personal journey, with the bonus of discovering how to best support a horse's performance by paying attention to the footing.Helpful LinksFICS with Sandy Hart-LongStableminded Counseling Stableminded Coaching for EquestriansLiberated Equestrian Membership

Have you ever wondered what life might look like after burnout—when healing from trauma finally takes hold in ways you never expected?In this episode of The Liberated Equestrian Podcast, I’m sharing my personal story of moving from burnout to breakthrough to reclaim my life. I reflect on how undiagnosed ADHD, unresolved trauma, and chronic stress quietly fueled the end of my previous ministry—something I only recognize now that I've moved into this season of stabilizing and thriving.But as I've moved into deeper healing, exploring the impact of the traumatic experiences that shaped my view of self, others, and God, I've discovered that "being who others wanted me to be" was part of my survival strategy. It was a way to find belonging, believing that I would finally feel safe. Instead, "being all things to all people" resulted in internal turmoil that only exacerbated my burnout. Can you relate?Continue reading on the blog at Stableminded.us.Helpful LinksTrauma-Informed Horsemanship & Humanship, Liberated Equestrian Podcast, Episode 002Bust Out of Burnout to Reclaim Your LifeGet the Busting Out of Burnout WorkbookMeet the New You: A 21-Day Plan for Embracing Fresh Attitudes and Focused Habits for Real Life ChangeConcordia StablesNatural LifemanshipMaybe It is Time to QuitStableminded Counseling Stableminded Coaching for EquestriansLiberated Equestrian Membership

In this episode of The Liberated Equestrian Podcast, I’m reflecting on a visit to Charles Town Races that opened my eyes to just how much early experiences shape both horses and humans. Watching young Thoroughbreds prepare to race helped me see my own horse, Kodiak Jack, in a new light—and gave me a deeper understanding of why certain behaviors still show up, even years later.I talk about how our past—whether it’s a horse’s time on the track or our own experiences with anxiety or fear—creates patterns that can only be changed through safety, connection, and consistent, small steps. It’s the heart of what I teach in Finding Calm and wrote about in Meet the New You: transformation isn’t instant—it’s a series of faithful decisions strung together over time.These principles of transformation -- for horses and humans -- are what I hope this episode leaves you pondering for yourself. Isn't it time to dig deep into the transforming work your heart, soul, mind, and body are begging you for? Yes, this episode is an invitation to lean into the small, faithful steps that lead to lasting transformation.GIVEAWAYEnter the giveaway celebration!Helpful LinksRemarkable Kodiak Jack SeriesMeet the New You Finding Calm: Helping Riders Navigate through Fear & AnxietyStableminded Counseling Stableminded Coaching for EquestriansLiberated Equestrian Membership

In this episode of The Liberated Equestrian Podcast, I’m joined by lifelong equestrian and entrepreneur Chelsea DiPeppe, the founder of URGO Beauty, for an inspiring conversation about the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, the tension between tradition and innovation in the hunter/jumper world, and why putting your horse’s comfort—and your own well-being—should never be compromised.Chelsea stepped into the entrepreneurial arena driven by her desire to solve her problem in finding a product that she could use on her sensitive, acne-prone skin, and that could keep up with her life. With the creative support of her family, URGO Beauty was born.Chelsea’s commitment to “do better” is not only about skincare. She carries the same passion into her commitment to the horse’s well-being, challenging outdated traditions in the show world, and choosing a new competitive path to honor her horse’s needs first and foremost.This is an episode for everyone who’s ever asked: “What if I could do it differently?” Whether you’re dreaming of starting your own business, redefining success in the ring, or simply trying to care for yourself while caring for your horse, you’ll walk away encouraged and empowered.For complete show notes and links, visit to Stableminded.us.

As someone who cares deeply about horses, community, and mental wellness, this episode of the Liberated Equestrian Podcast bridges all three.Kareem Rosser is a national polo champion, author of two deeply moving memoirs—Crossing the Line and When You're Ready— and Executive VP of Work to Ride, a nonprofit community-based prevention program that aids under-resourced urban youth through constructive activities centered on horsemanship, equine sports, and education in Philadelphia's Fairmont Park.Growing up in the “Bottom,” a tough neighborhood in West Philadelphia, Kareem and his brothers discovered Work to Ride by chance, and soon the barn became a lifeline. From that unlikely beginning, Kareem, his younger brother, and their friend went on to form the first all-African American high school polo team to win a national championship in 2011.While this is quite a story, what propelled me to invite Kareem to the podcast is his honesty about the emotional weight he carried off the field, including a life marred by poverty, violence, abandonment, and loss. Kareem discovered that what he thought were asthma attacks that began after the traumatic death of his best friend in his early childhood were panic attacks. Entering therapy in his twenties to deal with the overwhelming grief following a freak riding accident suffered by his then-girlfriend, Lee Lee Jones, in which she sustained a traumatic brain injury that forever changed the trajectory of their relationship (details of the accident are not described in the episode), he began to untangle the years of unspoken early childhood trauma to find healing, hope, and stability.Kareem’s story is about grief, grit, and the courage to face what’s been buried for far too long. We talk about the impact of adverse childhood experiences, how to heal from grief and loss, masculinity and mental health, and developing resiliency skills. Kareem speaks about the toll of being a high achiever without time to breathe, let alone process, and how therapy helped him slowly unravel and reweave his life.This conversation hits the heart hard, but is also filled with hope.Kareem emerged from the Bottom and is paying it forward. Through Work to Ride, co-founding the Philadelphia Polo Classic, serving on the board at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, and the Lee Lee Jones Patient Assistance Fund, Kareem is now giving back in powerful, purpose-driven ways.In what ways might Kareem's story inspire and challenge you to stabilize and thrive so that you can live the life you were made for in this world that very much needs your story, your influence, too?Head over to the blog at Stableminded.us to share your thoughts and find all the links!