Equestrian Mums Club

This episode is a pause... and an invitation.
Recorded as a solo episode, this episode sees Katie reflecting honestly on why the Equestrian Mums Club exists, how it’s grown beyond (just!) a podcast, and what it’s becoming... for equestrian parents navigating horses, children, work, identity, and exhaustion.
It’s about the real stuff we don’t often say out loud. Whether that's the... mental load. The guilt. The joy. The feeling of being “between versions” of yourself.
We're visiting;
Why EMC was never about hosts, polish, or performance

The emotional reality of balancing horses and parenthood

The invisible labour behind community-led projects

Why honesty matters more than expertise

What EMC has achieved so far (often quietly)

Where the community could go next, and how YOU can be part of it

If EMC has ever made you feel seen, steadier, or less alone... maybe this episode explains why.
New here? It shows you exactly where you fit.
🎧 Press play. Stay awhile.
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Share the episode with someone who might need it

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Every listen, share, and quiet show of support helps keep EMC independent, accessible, and rooted in real experience.
Thank you for being here. We hope it continues to be a safe, fun and real space of resource for you 💙

You don’t always choose when life asks you to slow down... sometimes it taps you politely, sometimes it kicks the stable door in.
And this episode? It’s very much about listening when it does.
As we step into a new year at the Equestrian Mums Club, this catch-up is a gentle reset. A chat about family firsts, shifting priorities, and why taking a step back can sometimes be the most positive step forward. There’s laughter (because parenting without humour is a losing game), reflections on health hiccups that led to unexpected productivity, and the familiar juggle of work, horses, children and everything in between.
We talk about the quiet magic of the bond between a pony and their person, the joy found in small, ordinary moments, and why planning fun - not perfection - might be the real secret to surviving family life. It’s also a moment of honesty about change: how communities evolve, how seasons shift, and why the Equestrian Mums Club was always meant to be bigger than any one voice.
At its heart, this episode is about choosing joy where you can, protecting your wellbeing where it matters, and remembering that none of us are doing this alone; even when it feels that way.
If you’re listening from the yard, on the school run, or hiding somewhere quiet with a lukewarm cup of tea, we hope this episode feels like a friendly arm round the shoulder. We’re all just figuring it out as we go.
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💡 Top takeaways for this ride:
Family and fun aren’t distractions — they’re the point

New beginnings are about positivity, not pressure

Stepping back can be essential for mental health and wellbeing

The bond between a pony and their person is truly special

Laughter makes the juggle of motherhood lighter

Community support makes all the difference

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Want more from the herd?
🐴 Join us over on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, TikTok, LinkedIn & more - we’re everywhere @equestrianmumsclub!

You don’t know what you don’t know - until you do.
And this month, we learned that nothing says “happy birthday, friend” quite like a handwritten card that’s been delicately seasoned with dog backwash... Parenthood really is the gift that keeps on giving!
In our November catch up, we chat through the birthday bedlam, the Christmas gifts we've not started purchasing, and the ongoing experiment of raising kids, horses and puppies... a combination we’re convinced should come with its own survival guide.
But woven through the laughs is something softer. With the recent loss of Valegro and Uthopia this week, we found ourselves talking about the horses - and reins - that have slipped through our fingers in more recent times. The ones who carried us, changed us, held our confidence when we couldn’t, and left us trying to recreate that connection again and again. You don’t realise how much a horse becomes part of your life story until you’re suddenly riding the trail without them.
We also get into the joys (and utter bamboozlement) of saddle fitting, the highs and lows of winter pony adventures, and the general juggling act of being equestrian mums trying to keep everyone - and ourselves - vaguely pointing in the right direction.
If you’re listening from the yard, on the school run, or hiding in the boot room for five minutes of peace, we hope this episode brings you a laugh, a nod of recognition, and maybe even a bit of comfort. We’re all learning as we go.
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💡 Top takeaways for this ride:
Don't ever look up (or too closely at the ball pit contents) at a soft play...
You don’t know what you don’t know - but you learn by giving it a go!
You never stop chasing the feeling of that once-in-a-lifetime horse. And, that's ok. The next horse that finds you will be in your life for a reason.
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Want more from the herd? 🐴
Join us over on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, TikTok, LinkedIn & more - we’re everywhere @equestrianmumsclub!

Don’t forget to follow the podcast for more real-life, reins-in-hand chats from the Equestrian Mums Club.

Early parents. A "late" rider. Perfect timing for sharing the support system we all need.
In this episode, we (your hosts, Katie & Sophie) sit down with amateur eventers - and "salt-of-the-earth" soul-boosters - Gareth Eva & Lucy Strong.
Gareth came to riding only four years ago during a mental health crisis; discovering horses as a lifeline for managing ADHD and rebuilding confidence. Lucy, meanwhile, has been "quietly" steering the family ship since day one - although, it's not always been the perfect picture we all imagine.
Together, they’ve raised their babbling babies to teens, built their riding journeys from scratch, and shown up for their community in ways that make the equestrian world feel kinder, lighter and a whole lot more human.

We chat about:
🐴 Starting young on the parenting front, and late in the saddle
🧠 Gareth’s mental health journey and how horses help him live with ADHD
🎥 Gareth's time on Horse & Country's All Star Academy (…and the heart palpitations that followed!)
❤️ What real support looks like at shows, at home, and in the saddle
😂 Arguments in the lorry park... and why communication saves the day
🌱 Building confidence, community and joy from the ground up

Warm, witty and wonderfully real; this is the "Strong-er Tog-Eva" story you didn’t know you needed!
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💡 Top takeaways for this ride:
You can start riding (or start over) at any age, and it’s never too late to find your confidence.
Horses can be a genuine lifeline, offering grounding, routine and support for mental health and ADHD (or neurodivergence).
The right support system makes everything easier - from parenting to competing to simply enjoying your horse.
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Want more from the herd? 🐴
Join us over on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, TikTok, LinkedIn & more - we’re everywhere @equestrianmumsclub!

Don’t forget to follow the podcast for more real-life, reins-in-hand chats from the Equestrian Mums Club.

Ho-ho-hold your horses... it’s our Christmas Gift Guide episode! 🎁🐴
Your loving hosts (Katie and Sophie) take the reins on festive shopping, sharing our tried-and-tested gift ideas for kids, young riders, horse lovers, and the unsung heroes who keep every equestrian mum going.
This episode canters through practical picks, pony-approved treats, thoughtful gestures, and budget-friendly gems, all peppered with personal stories, barn banter and the kind of puns that would make Santa snort into his cocoa.
Tune in for a jolly, jingling ride through the world of equestrian gifting… and remember: the best gift of all is your presence (but a new browband never hurts). 😉

🎄 Want the full mini-mag PDF with links, discounts and our partner picks?
Head to the Equestrian Mums Club website to download the complete Christmas Gift Guide and grab your exclusive codes!
(Psssst! Don't forget to sign up for the email newsletter whilst you're at it... so you're the first to hear more on the January Giveaway Series!!)