Stable Riding (Not Falling): a Must-Hear Barn Banter Episode

Are you one of the countless folks out there who love listening to podcasts? As an old-school blogger, most comfortable with the written word, I forget audio! I need to share updates more frequently on the equestrian podcast Barn Banter by Horse Illustrated that my friend Holly and I record monthly. We’ve have had several amazing horse folks on the show recently:

Episode 32 with David O’Connor (Olympian and Chef of Sport for USEF)
Episode 31 with Tik Maynard (two-time Road to the Horse Winner and author —read my review of Tik’s book In the Middle Are the Horsemen here)
Episode 27 Monty Roberts (friend/horse trainer of the late Queen Elizabeth and cowboy known for The Man Who Listens to Horses)

The other day in the barn aisle, my sister said, “I listened to your latest podcast—it’s really good.” I thanked her and listened again to what I remembered as a fun conversation with Solange Ellis, whose mission it is to help riders learn how to have a more stable seat. We recorded a few days before I left for the 100th Chincoteague Pony Swim (working on an epic blog post on that one), so my brain was in Pony Penning Week mode, and I was on the road for a couple of weeks, so I forgot how good it was until Linda reminded me!

A Stable Riding Position with Solange Ellis

While reliving Solange’s episode I thought, I hope my riding friends and their friends listen to this one. Holly. Solange and I had frank conversations about rider body shapes and horse body shapes and that the ideal, classic position most of us learn and attempt to emulate might not work for our build <GASP!>

Our conversation applies to ALL riders regardless of discipline, body type or age. You should definitely give it a listen! Just click on the non-centered-and-driving-me-crazy image below and it will take you to the episode so you can learn more. 🙂

Barn Banter – Episode 34

Solange also talked about her riding lab in Ohio and her DIY makeover which transformed a large structure on her farm to a specialized facility where Mongol Derby riders and riders of all backgrounds (and injury histories and new knees and hips, etc.) train with her. I found out Solange will be at Equine Affaire in Massachusetts this November. I plan to visit her at her Stable Riding booth (I’ll be there to speak about Marguerite Henry and Misty of Chincoteague and recap the 100th Pony Penning Week) and have her do a stability test. (Fingers crossed I don’t get jostled around. lol)

And in case you’re curious about what my “recording studio” looks like, here’s a snap from the Riverside platform that we use to bring Barn Banter to life. Notice I’ve got Misty of Chincoteague and my heart horse DC looking over my shoulder! Thanks for reading and tally ho!

Susan Friedland, Barn Banter co-host in Riverside podcast program