Send a Message

In this episode of The Long Ride Home, Alex reconnects with fellow Saddlebred rider and amateur exhibitor Dr. Amanda O’Keefe for a thoughtful conversation about horses, confidence, trainer trust, and the lessons that come from a lifetime in the sport.

Alex and Amanda used to ride together at Cricket Hill, and their conversation brings a shared history to the surface, from the influence of their mothers to the memories, horses, and people that shaped their early years in the Saddlebred world.

They discuss how riding changes with age and experience, how confidence is built through preparation, and why trusting the right trainer can make all the difference in a rider’s journey. Amanda also shares stories from the show ring, including catch-riding at Louisville, learning from challenging horses, and the mental strategies she uses to stay focused under pressure.

Throughout the episode, Amanda offers a grounded look at what it means to keep growing as a rider. From choosing the right horse to navigating the ring with intention, she reflects on the lessons that come from years of showing, learning, and staying connected to the people and horses that make the Saddlebred world so meaningful.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 - Alex reconnects with Dr. Amanda O’Keefe

03:40 - Shared history, family ties, and memories from Cricket Hill

09:32 - Managing pressure and staying out of your own head

10:04 - Amanda’s unforgettable catch ride with Prima Ballerina at Louisville

13:17 - Setting goals you can actually control in the show ring

17:03 - Confidence, gratitude, and the horses that challenge you

21:02 - Warming up in the dark and learning to trust the ride

23:10 - Choosing the right horse and trusting your trainers

30:22 - How every season of riding asks something different of you

42:33 - The difference between learning to ride and learning to show

43:23 - How Amanda studies the ring before she shows

46:50 - “Check the back door” and other show ring strategy lessons

56:12 - Practice rides, routines, and preparing mentally before showing

Connect with Dr. Amanda:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amanda.o.keefe.297241/

Follow us on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesaddlebredpodcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesaddlebredpodcast/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thesaddlebredpodcast

#americansaddlebredpodcast #saddlebredindustry #equestrianlife

Send a Message

In this episode of The Long Ride Home, Alex Husner is joined by Jack Latorre, Founder and CEO of Equibody Fitness, for a conversation about rider fitness, body awareness, and what it really takes to come back to the saddle with strength and confidence.

As Alex continues her return to riding after 26 years away, she has quickly realized that remembering how to ride is only part of the journey. The body changes. Tension shows up in new places. Strength, mobility, and stability matter in ways that can directly affect the horse underneath you.

Jack shares his own path into horses, from starting lessons with his mom to competing in dressage and eventually discovering that his own body was becoming the limitation in his riding. That realization led him to build Equibody Fitness, a fitness program designed specifically for riders who want to improve how they move, feel, and communicate in the saddle.

Together, Alex and Jack talk about why saddle time alone is not always enough, how targeted training outside the barn can support better riding, and why rebuilding the rider’s body can be one of the most important parts of starting again.

In this episode, Alex and Jack discuss:

01:23 - Jack’s introduction to horses and his path through the dressage world

10:22 - How a Grand Prix goal exposed the limits of Jack’s own mobility and tension

14:49 - The difference between general fitness and training with a rider-specific goal

15:44 - Why strength, mobility, suppleness, and body awareness all matter in the saddle

16:19 - How a rider’s tension can affect the horse’s movement and responsiveness

17:58 - Why returning riders often need to rebuild more than just confidence

18:55 - How Equibody approaches rider fitness through movement assessments, video feedback, and personalized coaching

22:23 - What Alex has noticed in her own body since returning to riding

22:53 - Why the messy parts of the journey still matter

Connect with Jack:

Website: https://www.equibodyfitness.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jack.latorre.18/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jack.equibody.fitness/

Follow us on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesaddlebredpodcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesaddlebredpodcast/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thesaddlebredpodcast

#americansaddlebredpodcast #saddlebredindustry #equestrianlife

Send a Message

In this episode of The Long Ride Home, Alex Husner sits down with Emma Hudelson, author of Sky Watch, for a conversation about horses, writing, and the lasting pull of the American Saddlebred.

Emma shares how her fascination with Sky Watch deepened after seeing footage of the legendary horse at the American Saddlebred Museum, and how that moment led her into years of research, interviews, and writing. What began as a search to better understand one of the breed’s most iconic horses became something more personal: a reflection on her own return to riding and the memories, questions, and emotions that came with it.

Together, Alex and Emma talk about the story behind Sky Watch, the generosity of horsemen like Mitch Clark and Don Harris, and the challenge of writing about a figure whose legacy still looms large in the Saddlebred world. They also explore Emma’s journey back into the saddle as an adult, from lesson programs and first horses to motherhood, loss, and finding her place in the sport again.

This episode is both a look at Saddlebred history and a conversation about what it means to come back to something that shaped you. It’s about the horses who stay with us, the stories that ask to be written, and the long road back to the saddle.

In this episode, Alex and Emma discuss:

03:35 - How Sky Watch came to life

07:04 - Why Sky Watch remains such a powerful figure in Saddlebred history

15:52 - Emma’s return to riding as an adult

21:39 - The emotional reality of horse ownership, rehoming, and loss

26:57 - Relearning how to ride and what the body remembers

29:49 - Balancing riding, writing, and motherhood

34:16 - Finding her next horse and stepping into a new chapter

38:12 - Thoughts on the future and visibility of the Saddlebred industry

Connect with Emma:

Website: https://www.emmahudelson.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/efhudelson/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/efhudelson

Follow us on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesaddlebredpodcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesaddlebredpodcast/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thesaddlebredpodcast

#americansaddlebredpodcast #saddlebredindustry #equestrianlife