Karen and Robby welcome Irish Advanced Eventer, Michael Nolan. Michael shares his story of growing up in Ireland not wanting to ride horses. He ended up joining Pony Club, showing ponies in the jumpers and then riding steeplechase race horses. Later, he met Robin Walker and came to the US where he eventually met his wife McKena. Michael and McKena started Nolan Sporthorses where they take in young horses for training and give lessons. Michael also gave his predicted Kentucky 5* winner...

This week on the Major League Eventing Podcast, Karen and Robby sit down and talk about all that MLE has been up to and what to look forward to. We get asked all the time about giving everyone an update and we finally got around to doing it! Stay tuned for an exciting year which will be mentioned....hint - it has to do with Corgis and the Baltimore Ravens. We also are very close to  million downloads and can't thank you, our listeners and of course our sponsors for everything. Please support...

Karen and Robby get to know 4* Eventer, Alexa Thompson. Alexa shares her story of growing up in Texas and then getting to ride with Mike Huber. Later, Alexa decided to go to University of Kentucky to become a nurse while running a 100 acre farm that her parents bought for her. Alexa talks about how she struggled working nights as an ICU nurse and competing at the upper levels. After 3 years of nursing, she decided to become a full time rider. Alexa still runs her Clear View Farm in Lexington,...

Karen and Robby welcome back 3* Eventer, Olivia Miller! Olivia was part of the Young Adult Rider Roundtable back in July 2022 and she has recently launched her new website. Olivia shares her story of coming from a non-horsey family and going to pony camp in Washington State then joining a Vaulting team. After 3 years of Vaulting, Olivia decided she wanted to ride and later became a Working Student for Tamie Smith and then Sharon White. Now, Olivia is a Working Student for Woods Baughman and...

Karen and Robby get to know 4* Eventer, Samantha Tinney. Samantha grew up in Dallas, TX playing soccer most of her life and decided to take a riding lesson at the age of 14. Two years later she was competing at the YR Championships and hasn't looked back since. After a bad fall, she then spent time with the O'Connor's where Karen helped Samantha get back to competing. Samantha is a talented young professional with a bright future ahead! To follow Samantha's...

Karen and Robby get to know Young Professional, Annabelle Nieman. Annabelle shares her story of growing up in Arizona and is currently running her new business taking in horses to train in Tuscon, AZ. She also shares what it's like to train and compete in Area 10 - even in the 100 degree heat and dealing with rattlesnakes! We had a great time getting to know Annabelle that we plan on having her back on. We hope you enjoy as much as we did! A BIG thank you to Frankie Thieriot-Stutes and...

Karen and Robby get to know Advanced rider, Dani Sussman. Dani shares her story of growing up in Colorado with Arabians, Eventing a Mustang and becoming an "A" graduate Pony Clubber. Nowadays, Dani runs Aspire Eventing in Colorado and spends her winters in Ocala, Fl. Dani also received a USEA ECP Grant to go for her Level 4. Just recently, Dani and her little, pocket-rocket, 15.2 hand horse Jos Bravio competed in the Aiken Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase and were fun to watch. We hope you enjoy...

Karen and Robby catch up with previous guest Chris Talley! Chris was episode #6 back in May 2018 and since then, so much has happened. Chris became a 5* rider, set out on his own and now is located in Ocala, FL and has several exciting up and coming horses. It's always a pleasure catching up with Chris and we hope you enjoy! To follow Chris' journey: https://www.facebook.com/CRTEquestrian https://www.instagram.com/c_talley75/?hl=en Please support our...

Last week we heard the sad news of the passing of Courageous Comet. In his honor, we thought it would be fun to re-launch the interview with Becky Holder. Plus, it's always fun to hear Rob too! Karen & Rob get to know Olympian Becky Holder.  Becky shares her story from the early years to Olympic adventures and her busy training business today.  Check it out and share with your friends!! Please support our...

Karen and Robby get to know the newly minted Advanced rider, Maddie Hale. Maddie shares her story of growing up in California doing Equitation and Jumpers and then met Lauren Billys who convinced Maddie to try Eventing. Maddie eventually moved to the East Coast and is now a member of the 2024 USEF Eventing 25 and most recently completed her first Advanced to finish in the top 5! PC: Shannon Brinkman Follow Maddie's journey: https://www.instagram.com/mah.eventing/?hl=en Please support our...

Karen and Robby get to know former 5* rider, Lellie Ward. Lellie shares her amazing stories of all of the top riders she grew up being around, from Tadd Coffin and Torrence Watkins to William Steinkraus - just to name a few. We also learn that her grandfather, who was a jockey missed getting on the Titanic due to celebrating a but too much in Ireland after a big win. Lellie is now "livin' the good life" in Wyoming at her Paradise West Ranch training horses, coaching riders and helping on a...

Karen and Robby get to know 4*/Advanced rider, Brooke Burchianti. Brooke talks about growing up in a horsey family, participating in Tetrathlon and then going to Ireland with Kim Severson to find her current horse Cooley Space Grey (Astro). Brooke graduated college with a degree in Sports Management which helps her run her business in Washington, PA. We hope you enjoy getting to know Brooke as much as we did! PC: Erin Gilmore Photography To follow Brooke's...

Karen and Robby get to know 3* Eventer, Michael Willham. Michael shares his story of growing up in North Eastern Ohio where he eventually found his horse of a lifetime, Fernhill Cayenne who took him up to the 3* level in just a couple years. With having a much needed demand and positive feedback on his instruction, Michael started an online equestrian masterclass called Equine Academy. At Equine Academy, riders can watch videos and learn about anything from studs to riding exercises and...

Karen and Robby get to know Canadian Eventer, Bradley Champagne. Brad is a previous guest from episode #25 with the Windurra Crew. Brad shares his story of growing up in Canada and spending a winter in Ocala, Fl with Karl Slezak. Brad eventually became a rider for Boyd Martin and found his calling of breaking and training the young horses and getting them to the YEH Championships.  Brad has gone to Ireland for the 2nd year in a row and brought back a couple nice horses through the Excel Star...

Karen and Robby get to know Eventer, Olivia Coolidge. Olivia shares her story of growing up with horses and working with Julie Woffert. She also shares the story of deciding that horses were for her and leaving home to be a working student for Boyd Martin , then for Andrew McConnon. Olivia now wears many hats from being an assistant rider for Doug and Jessica Payne, bartending and running her own business. To follow Olivia's...

Karen and Robby get to know Upper Level Eventer, Alex Conrad. Alex shares his story of how he fell in love with horses at a friends house, to taking lessons, going to Boston University as a Pre-Med student to becoming a working student for Ryan Wood and then starting his own successful Eventing business. Alex shares his inspirational story of how he handled riding and going to college full time and made both work! He even shares his fun story of how he and his horse Malibu Preacher went...

Karen and Robby get to know 4* Eventer, Maddie Temkin. Maddie shares her story of growing up in California and riding many naughty ponies that eventually taught her to become the rider she is today. Maddie and her family recently moved to Lexington, Kentucky to run their Eventing program. Maddie also shares how she catch rode a horse that eventually became her Advanced horse. Since then, Maddie has found her recent horse that has taken her to the next level as well as a couple young horses -...

Karen and Robby get to know Greg Shelton! Greg is the mastermind behind the Poplar Hall Parade of Horses & Christmas Market in Historic Chesapeake City, MD. The Parade will be held Saturday, December 9th at 10:00am and is a great time for the entire family to enjoy. Greg also tells us how he grew up on a farm and why he started his YouTube series Historic Living Modern World. We also hear about his filming of the Maryland Equestrian Life series. To learn more about the Parade of Horses...

We get so many requests for an interview with Karen O'Connor and realized not many know that we already interviewed her. We decided to re-release this amazing interview with one of our sports legends.  Karen shares amazing stories about Queen Elizabeth, Jack LeGoff, Willam Micklem, Derek & Bea Di Grazia, among other amazing people. Karen shared how she was bullied as a child rider by her peers in school and how she was passed over by Jack LeGoff to be on the training list as a young rider...

Karen and Robby get to know Young Rider, Ben Noonan. Ben shares his story of growing up in St. Louis, Missouri as a non-horsey family and his Dad buying his Mom a 3 y/o Quarter Horse as a surprise. Ben started riding and got into Western Mounted Shooting and then found a local Eventing barn. From there, Ben met Karen O'Connor and the rest is history. Since then, Ben has been the 2020 USEA Young Rider of the Year and most recently named to the 2023 Eventing Emerging Athlete Program. We wish...

We are winding down our interviews from the Mars Maryland 5* at Fair Hill Presented by Brown Advisory. Our team, Laura Adriaanse and Hannah Keegan were out and about getting interviews. Here what Piggy March had to say after she tackled the 5* cross country as well as Ian Stark's reaction to how riders are riding it. They also sit in on the press conferences after the 5* cross country and after the winners are crowned for the 3*L and 5*L. We will be back to our regular interviews next...

Karen and Robby got to be a part of the MD 5* Radio at the Mars Maryland 5* at Fair Hill Presented by Brown Advisory and interview riders about their weekend and their thoughts on the Ian Stark cross country track. We talk planes with Doug Payne and Maryland Blue Crabs with Piggy March. We hope you enjoy as much as we did! Please support our...

This week Karen is joined by guest co-host, Kim Chick. Kim, along with her husband own Fair Hill Saddlery. Karen and Kim talk to returning guest, Sydney Solomon. Sydney gives us an update of what she's been up to and everything she is doing to prepare for the Maryland 5*. To learn more about Sydney and to follow her journey: https://www.facebook.com/solomoneventing/ https://www.instagram.com/sesolomon24/?hl=en About the Maryland 5* and to purchase...

This week Karen is joined by guest co-host, Kim Chick. Kim, along with her husband own Fair Hill Saddlery. Karen and Kim talk to Jeff Newman and Joanie Morris about the upcoming Mars Maryland 5* at Fair Hill Presented by Brown Advisory which will take place October 19-22, 2023. Jeff and Joanie talk about some exciting new things happening this year such has the Horse Hall of Fame and Shetland Pony Racing. As well as some returning favorites like the Beer, Wine & Spirits Expo, Maryland...