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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

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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

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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

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In this episode of The Long Ride Home, Alex Husner sits down with her trainer, Andrea Harry, Owner of Meraki Farm, for a conversation about horsemanship, timing, and the journey that brought them together.

As a key part of Alex’s return to the saddle, Andrea shares more about her own journey in the American Saddlebred world and the road that led her to become a trainer. She reflects on her early start in the industry, the horses and experiences that shaped her, and what it has meant to build her own barn and community.

The conversation also explores how her path came to intersect with Alex’s at this chapter of her return to the saddle. Together, they talk about young horses, returning amateurs, memorable wins, and the perspective Andrea brings to both the sport and the people within it.

In this episode:

00:33 - Alex welcomes her trainer, Andrea Harry of Meraki Farm

01:20 - How Andrea got her start in riding at Mercer Springs Farm

03:50 - What it looked like to start her own barn in 2019

05:23 - Building an all-women training barn and client community

09:12 - The story of Johnny Boy and the horse that changed everything

14:26 - Why returning amateurs are such an important part of Andrea’s program

16:15 - How Andrea matches riders with the right young horse and path forward

19:39 - What Alex and Andrea are watching for as Chapstick begins his show journey

20:44 - A fun but real conversation about bringing more visibility to the sport

21:53 - Why awareness remains one of the biggest challenges in the Saddlebred world

23:23 - Andrea’s perspective on participation, breeding, and the future of the industry

26:53 - What it means to find the right trainer, the right horse, and the right home barn

Connect with Andrea:

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrea.wolkoff

Connect with Meraki Farm:

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

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

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In the very first episode of The Long Ride Home, Alex Husner shares the deeply personal story behind her return to the American Saddlebred world after 26 years away.

From her final memory of walking out of Freedom Hall at 15 years old to the moment she realized it was finally time to come back, this episode is about far more than horses. It is about identity, timing, courage, and what happens when something that shaped you never fully lets you go.

Alex opens up about growing up in the Saddlebred industry, stepping away from the sport, and building a full life and career before finding her way back to the barn. She also shares how that return began to take shape, from researching barns and building a budget to finding her trainer, Andrea Harry of Meraki Farm, and ultimately purchasing her new young horse, Son of a Kiss, barn name Chapstick.

This episode also introduces the heart behind the podcast itself. The Long Ride Home is not only about Alex’s return to the saddle. It is about the people, stories, and future of the American Saddlebred industry. Through honest conversations with riders, trainers, breeders, and returning amateurs, the show aims to honor where people come from while exploring what still calls them forward.

Whether you have been part of this world for years, are finding your way back to it, or are simply curious about the people and passion behind it, this is where the journey begins.

In this episode, Alex shares:

0:33 - Alex reflects on the moment she left Louisville and why it stayed with her for 26 years

4:20 - The mindset shift that finally gave her the courage to return

5:05 - The emotional and practical realities of coming back to the sport as an adult

8:05 - How she found her trainer, Andrea Harry, and Meraki Farm

10:03 - The story behind finding Chapstick, her young five-gaited prospect

11:45 - What it’s like to relearn riding in a completely different season of life

17:45 - Why the Saddlebred industry needs more visibility and fresh interest

20:00 - The deeper purpose behind The Long Ride Home

Follow along as the journey continues

Episode 2 will feature a conversation with trainer Andrea about her path in the industry, her program, and what it means to run an all-women training barn in today’s Saddlebred world.

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 #thelongridehomepodcast