#106 The Courage to Start Again with Maddie Houser

00:00:01: In this episode, we're talking with Maddie Hauser of The Blonde in the Bay.

00:00:06: My biggest piece of advice would be stick to what your version of success is and if that makes you happy and brings you peace and fulfillment.

00:00:17: it doesn't matter What anyone else says even If people have the best of intentions And want to see You like or believe That you should Be doing something different than what?

00:00:28: Stay true to your heart and stay true

00:00:30: yourself.

00:00:31: Your version of success is all that matters at the end of the day, And it doesn't matter what a person next to you is doing.

00:00:37: The person in front of you Is doing All That Matters.

00:00:40: If You Feel Fulfilled Riding Your Quarter Horse And Training Them As Best They Can Be Then You've Already Won.

00:00:50: Welcome To The Equestrian Connection Podcast From WeHorse.

00:00:54: My Name's Danielle Kroll.

00:00:55: I'm Your Host.

00:00:56: Maddie Hauser is a USDF bronze and silver medalist, And since twenty-twenty one has been focused on helping shed light On the versatility of The Quarter Horse.

00:01:06: And their place in the dressage ring.

00:01:09: Mattie's Instagram account, The Blonde In The Bay showcases her training progressions ,the ups & downs Of horse and farm ownership Equestrian fashion and more.

00:01:18: This is our third podcast interview with Maddie because we enjoy our conversations so much.

00:01:23: And this one is no different, We're chatting about rebuilding confidence and redefining success.

00:01:29: So let's dive in.

00:01:31: Maddie welcome back to the wee horse podcast.

00:01:34: It's hard to believe if this is their third episode together But I just love doing them with you so much.

00:01:39: I mean,

00:01:42: I'm honored.

00:01:43: Sitting down and talking with you is always like a therapy session so i am ready for our third time as the charm!

00:01:50: Awesome awesome well... The last time we recorded it was the end of twenty-twenty three start of twenty four And kind of interestingly It was a topic about goals and goal setting where it was around a lot of things thrown at you the year twenty-twenty three and it was kind like let's get back on track.

00:02:16: And then, of course, we had more thing thrown out to in twenty-four or twenty-five.

00:02:23: Yeah right yeah It just been...it has just been a lot.

00:02:26: so I would love kick us off with The Topic Of Success.

00:02:35: Maybe your version of success now looks different from what it was previously, or maybe with the industry tells us.

00:02:43: It should look like.

00:02:44: so I'd love to know What does Success Look Like for you today?

00:02:48: Well first and foremost i have always been a goal oriented writer.

00:02:53: my whole entire life I have set a goal and work towards it.

00:02:58: And when you grow up in that competitive mindset, put the goal almost on a pedestal and think, if I just achieve this then i will be x

00:03:11: y n c.

00:03:12: And so you start to chase that feeling?

00:03:15: I'm not ashamed of anyone who has those high performance dressage bowls because they're still part your identity.

00:03:28: I feel like my identity for so long had been wrapped up in, Like i want to be an FEI rider and get my silver medal!

00:03:34: And do all of these things that... I wanna say it kind of clouded the perspective on what it actually means to be a dressage rider.

00:03:47: Not if there's anything wrong with that because sometimes we do get caught-up In our hopes dreams & desires.

00:03:54: but its important to remember why you're doing this in the first place.

00:03:59: And sometimes I lost sight of that.

00:04:02: and so when i started with The Quarter Horses, and Leah was retired...I was still a little bit stuck in that mentality of like okay do the same thing with my quarter horse!

00:04:13: And I'm going to be that person who takes my Western Pleasure.

00:04:16: reject all the way y'know?

00:04:18: To the Pre-State George That's My Goal.

00:04:20: Not There Is Anything Wrong With That.

00:04:22: Then the wheels start falling off the bus..the worst goes lame.

00:04:26: Obviously, we've already talked about that in our last episode.

00:04:31: That horse retires you move into blue my husband's horse and You set all these goals again like okay Like We're gonna start again And were going to get him to third level.

00:04:40: And that will just make me feel I did it and accomplished It and fulfilled this prophecy that i have sent for myself.

00:04:48: Then the Horse Collex goes through All of that.

00:04:51: then we lose him Unfortunately, but fortunately it puts you in a position where you have to sit with your emotions and your feelings.

00:05:01: And you have ample time to reprioritize and shift your perspective because you're not writing.

00:05:09: In those months the year after losing blue I missed riding more than anything.

00:05:15: obviously It's...I've been doing for thirty years now The routine of getting up going into the barn.

00:05:20: Riding.

00:05:21: that is who i am to my core as a person.

00:05:26: When that goes away, you realize real fast... Wait a second!

00:05:31: This isn't my timeline.

00:05:32: this is not my time line.

00:05:34: I am at the mercy of my horses and everything can be going.

00:05:38: because now it was really my first experience like rider in blue My First Experience Really with dreams and goals And what Not?

00:05:46: Ending Abruptly Beyond My Control.

00:05:48: Leah Was My Choice To Retire After an incredible career with her.

00:05:53: So that was really my first time in those experiences where the dream got kind of ripped out from underneath me and I didn't have a choice, so like i said you have a lot of time on your hands to go deep inside yourself And That's when You start asking The question Of What Does Success Really Mean For Me?

00:06:13: Does success mean going to a show, pulling a seventy percent and having that appellate.

00:06:19: That's amazing!

00:06:20: And that is in great form of success.

00:06:22: or does it mean just riding?

00:06:24: Making sure my horse is sounded stays alive and stays

00:06:27: healthy.".

00:06:29: It wasn't until really I started opening myself up to finding another horse.

00:06:33: obviously now we have Paloma where i went into very much like.

00:06:38: you know what...I just want enjoy my horse because no day.

00:06:43: But like, I mean you know what i'm trying to say?

00:06:47: Like today is not a given.

00:06:50: Tomorrow's

00:06:50: not a. give in it as minute by minute how we should live and just be grateful that were alive or healthy.

00:06:58: our horses are sound so that really was kind of flip.

00:07:03: the switch for me was success at one point.

00:07:06: looked all this.

00:07:07: All these accolades.

00:07:08: now success is enjoying my horse Equals realizing that I'm on the same timeline.

00:07:18: Like, i'm On The Horse's Timeline and not My Timeline.

00:07:21: so if I personally Never go to another Dressage show again?

00:07:27: I'm totally okay with That.

00:07:29: If I never get To be a FEI rider you know Again I'm Okay With That because it's Not my decision at the end of the day.

00:07:38: Does that make sense or is it just like a long-winded explanation?

00:07:44: No, It makes total sense.

00:07:46: and coming from the perspective of someone who also had a horse That you know Had to retire I mean she was eight when i retired her which Is wild To think about but it Was beyond My control And really starting.

00:08:02: Look At Like.

00:08:03: well

00:08:04: What is important here?

00:08:07: You know, like it's my relationship with my horse and the health of this horse more important?

00:08:13: or Is this like you know version of success of achievement Of you know accolade.

00:08:21: More important so its yeah It's such an important conversation.

00:08:27: The interesting thing is, last week or the week before I actually recorded with Anna Baffini and we were talking about a very similar topic.

00:08:36: With the idea of you know Anna's recent decision to step away from professionally riding in those sorts things We're just...I find at least..we are starting the world in general of people looking at, do I really want to grind and this nine-to-five that i absolutely hate?

00:08:58: Or would I prefer maybe doing something slightly different.

00:09:02: Enjoy

00:09:02: my life!

00:09:03: All those things were just noticing a shift across... everywhere, basically.

00:09:09: Exactly!

00:09:11: And I find a lot of times when we're chasing somebody else's version of success or our own outdated version of successful it can feel like were falling behind.

00:09:22: and i'd love to kinda speak that little bit about this idea that you know...a lot adult amateurs feeling they are falling behind them They aren't doing enough That they need.

00:09:32: compare themselves with someone else story When have no idea what is going on within And with yourself

00:09:38: being

00:09:39: so publicly known on social media, is there anything that you can sort of speak from that perspective?

00:09:47: Well and I'm talking to myself here.

00:09:50: The second you start comparing yourself.

00:09:52: other people just get off your phone because like you said You have no idea what somebody's going through behind the scenes.

00:10:00: they are choosing to share their good moments online.

00:10:03: No shame to them because we all do it.

00:10:06: We don't want to talk about the hard and ugly, sad depressing vulnerable.

00:10:12: that's hard for us open up.

00:10:14: you're literally putting your heart

00:10:15: out for strangers

00:10:16: to critique you and criticize.

00:10:19: I feel very blessed with my community.

00:10:21: they allow me this space.

00:10:24: is what they expect from me.

00:10:25: comfortable in doing.

00:10:27: but comparison I sometimes get online to this day, and i'm like wow everyone's six year olds are cantering around international quality horses.

00:10:38: And my quarter horse won't even canter today but the next day she gives me an amazing left-lead canner departs.

00:10:45: so we're always going to be hard on ourselves of course!

00:10:50: We're always gonna be.

00:10:50: well wish I was doing more...I wish That's when I think it goes back to the first question, is like at the end of day what does your version have success?

00:11:01: What has your version of happiness look like?

00:11:03: because somebody else that is riding in a national quality F.E.I.

00:11:07: six-year old...that IS their version of Happiness.

00:11:10: but they're not telling you as if that six year old probably was going around with legs flying everywhere and having trouble steering.

00:11:18: But nobody will put this online.

00:11:22: I think it's that having that inner confidence in yourself to kind of put your foot down and say, no this is what i want.

00:11:29: To do.

00:11:30: And I appreciate people's outside opinions.

00:11:33: I had a lot Of them like are you sure?

00:11:34: You Want another quarter horse?

00:11:35: You need This!

00:11:36: You Need That!

00:11:37: You need THIS!

00:11:37: And I knew In my heart...that's not What I want right now..I just want to have

00:11:43: fun!!

00:11:43: I WANT TO TRAIN MY HORSE TO DO DRESSAGE BUT THEN I WANNA PUT HER IN THE TRADELER AND GO HAVE FUN WITH MY HUSBAND while he's roping and right around a push-up steer is like, that's my life

00:11:54: now.

00:11:54: So being real with yourself in the moments where you start to feel that comparison creepin', You have to be so quick!

00:12:03: To be like hey uh wait a second.

00:12:06: My version of happiness looks different than theirs And my version of success looks different then theirs.

00:12:11: That what makes the equestrian community I think so vibrant And so awesome is there's not a one size fits all way to be successful in dressage and team roping, the jumpers.

00:12:26: It looks different for everyone.

00:12:29: sometimes social media can feel like an echo chamber especially I think at the Dressage world or maybe other communities but it teaches us better.

00:12:44: but there's so many people that are just on their average course and they're the backbone of this sport.

00:12:51: There is

00:12:52: nothing wrong with having an average force, showing at your local schooling shows I mean competed in multiple CDIs.

00:13:00: I've gone to Dressage Finals in Kentucky have gone over ten regional championships And you know what?

00:13:09: Yeah, and nobody was there.

00:13:14: And it was so much fun and It was stress-free.

00:13:18: Nobody cried everybody got like great remarks and then we were home by lunch.

00:13:23: Like So if it's all it is all new often?

00:13:27: It's all relative.

00:13:28: yeah, yeah absolutely.

00:13:30: and Maddie one of the things I love so much Is how real you are online like it just feels like you know.

00:13:37: Sometimes it only just feels like I'm doing a face time with you.

00:13:40: It's one of your reels, and we're having our conversation or catching up on your life!

00:13:47: One thing that you talk about in your new mayor Paloma is... Maybe not with Paloma specifically but now speaking more as you bring her along the concept of being nervous.

00:14:02: And i love when you bring that up much because it's never spoken about and It impacts probably ninety-five percent of us.

00:14:14: I say, Us Because i'm in there too And I would love to know if it was hard for you To share that publicly especially after years like You said Of the USDF identity?

00:14:26: All those things.

00:14:27: Then come around and Say hey sometimes Im a little nervous bringing this young horse along.

00:14:32: Well how could you not be?

00:14:34: because Young horses are?

00:14:36: there's a lot of moments where it's not so much fun.

00:14:38: And in the beginning, I think I went into Paloma who I bought as a five year old to really hadn't done anything in her life which is a little bit of a blessing and occurs um...and thinking like oh she's gonna come around on my way of thinking and its going be great because Ryder and Blue did!

00:14:55: So this isn't any different and i could have been more wrong.

00:15:00: In the begining It was pretty rough.

00:15:03: She reared up with me.

00:15:05: Okay, you know I worked very hard to bring my confidence back from a young rider and this is just not something that i want to sacrifice.

00:15:14: So getting help and putting her in training... And now she's been with us for years!

00:15:19: She's been in training for a year and we've come leaps-and-bounds thanks to my trainer and just consistency I think.

00:15:27: but confidence is so fragile.

00:15:32: It doesn't take much once you've already had it, like totally broken.

00:15:55: well-seasoned tools to handle the aftermath of what you're gonna ask for like if You're going to dig in and you're Gonna push through.

00:16:03: You better be prepared For What's gonna come?

00:16:06: What response are you're, gonna get from The horse?

00:16:09: then it's better To just find help back off because so you don't want to get hurt And your horse doesn't wanna Get hurt.

00:16:15: but the more that I've spoken about confidence online.

00:16:17: people will message me and Be like wow You're an FBI dressage writer, you struggle with confidence.

00:16:23: That really makes me feel seen and vulnerable.

00:16:26: I'm thinking to myself like...I love those messages.

00:16:29: they are so heartwarming.

00:16:30: but..you can ask any Olympian They probably have felt the same fear in this adult The same confidence rattling moments that we all had felt.

00:16:41: It's just again how nobody wants talk about it because its messy.

00:16:47: But i do think taking, mustering up the confidence to go from seasoned horses because that's pretty much all I've written in my life is once they're passed at like five year old six-year-old year.

00:17:02: That's... I mean Ryder came to me when he was nine Leah twelve and then blue as you know eighteen.

00:17:07: but for example Blue came to Barrett with a horrible rearing problem incredibly safe, and Barrett got him through that.

00:17:15: And then I luckily got in when he was Mr Perfect Angel!

00:17:20: So recalibrating my mind to...I can't approach Paloma like i did my past three horses.

00:17:27: she's going to take a next level of me and ask more of me?

00:17:31: That can rattle your confidence in a way but I think the best thing you could do is find good help And good support to hold your hand especially if you haven't done the young horse journey before because it's hard and It is humbling me, and I wish more people would talk about it Because i know just this week.

00:17:47: I was reaching out To my girlfriends and they were like oh no This is normal.

00:17:51: You are in that five to six year old year Like it's totally normal.

00:17:56: So I do wish there Was more of That conversation?

00:18:01: People like Me wouldn't feel so alone in that regard.

00:18:05: So again, like I said the confidence can be very tricky especially with a young horse but my biggest advice is just to go with your gut and what's comfortable for you.

00:18:19: if something doesn't feel good The worst thing you could do in this world would say no i have to prove myself.

00:18:27: I just think that's a good recipe for disaster.

00:18:33: And then you're going to be working ten times harder, so totally rebuild your confidence rather than accepting the fact these are where my abilities lie and maybe perhaps i'm going seek help through this tougher moments.

00:18:52: Absolutely!

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00:20:07: And I just thought that, you were speaking to something a little bit differently in that specific post.

00:20:12: It was...I think it was speaking about after you lost blue the courage to start again with another horse.

00:20:18: but it applies so much to all of it.

00:20:20: i mean if you have a bad day The Courage To Start Again The Next Day.

00:20:24: You Know Things Like That and its Just Such Good Words To Remember As An Equestrian Because Every Day Is A Different Day And Its Like You Focus On The Horse In Front Of You Not The Horse You Had Yesterday And it's

00:20:35: so hard.

00:20:36: I mean, literally yesterday and took me like ten minutes to try to get paloma in the canter.

00:20:42: we were just arguing with each other.

00:20:43: i almost started crying and i did it!

00:20:46: And then today It's Like I put my leg on her.

00:20:47: she goes right into The Canter and that's Just a young horse journey.

00:20:52: but We need To talk more about courage.

00:20:55: to start again.

00:20:56: you go through double whammy losing three horses In really less than A year.

00:21:04: Like there was a point where I'm like, I don't think that i can do this again.

00:21:09: If I am one more loss or heartache away from hanging up my boots and my helmet...I just cannot emotionally do this anymore.

00:21:19: but you're for me-my love of the horse!

00:21:24: This is everything to me.

00:21:26: I've worked my whole life so become better rider became a better horsewoman.

00:21:34: I'm not the type of person to give up.

00:21:35: Like, i'm NOT giving up and I knew that blue would NOT want THAT for me too because he was THE grittiest horse I think I've ever been around in my life.

00:21:43: um... And I just didn't-I DIDN'T THINK THAT THAT WAS A FAIR END FOR ME.

00:21:48: uh.. Me personally!

00:21:49: I didn't think that was a fair end to MY ABILITIES or what im capable.

00:21:54: ove in The Saddle and umm You know, there were definitely moments again in the beginning where it's hard to not have those emotions of like.

00:22:02: I miss blue as like Paloma is blowing sideways spooking.

00:22:05: Like you know.

00:22:06: but that's also not fair to put on her because she's a completely different horse.

00:22:11: so It's very emotional emotionally charged experience.

00:22:17: But then like everything, it works itself out and you start to see the separation between this is blue.

00:22:24: This is Ryder.

00:22:24: This Leah And this is Paloma in their all individual identities.

00:22:28: but if your starting again after horse loss After retirement Give yourself a pat on the back because It's so not easy To get your psyche right.

00:22:42: Get mental health where its needs to be brave enough That's horses.

00:22:48: And at the end of day, that's horses!

00:22:51: I mean you haven't been in this industry long enough.

00:22:53: if one hasn't died on you, collect on you gone lame on you had to be retired early like...that is unfortunately the name of a game and it's an expensive Name Of The Game.

00:23:04: but If You Have The Means & You Have Drive & Motivation Because You Love The Horse To Try Again i think you deserve A Huge Pat On The Back For That.

00:23:14: Yeah Absolutely.

00:23:16: I remember when i um purchased my gelding after i had to retire my mayor and it took me a really, really long time to get over the fear that something was going to happen You know, like everything that I went through with my marriage.

00:23:37: Yeah!

00:23:39: It was so hard of this on again off-again.

00:23:42: are you okay?

00:23:43: Aren't you ok?

00:23:45: let me bring in this person and then suddenly getting another horse thinking well it happened too over analyzing every step he took.

00:23:57: And it was just, and I realized like well this isn't fair to any of us you know?

00:24:03: It's not fair to me to be doing this myself...it is not fair for my gelding from being very critically analizing.

00:24:16: You're preaching to the choir!

00:24:20: But it's easier said than done, but is definitely one of those things to acknowledge.

00:24:26: It was so hard though It is so hard.

00:24:28: I mean to this day, i've had pee a year and I think I weekly zoom in on her hind end To make sure that she's even behind because with rider?

00:24:36: I spent a year.

00:24:37: Is he even behind?

00:24:38: like zooming it all my videos?

00:24:39: Is he Even behind?

00:24:40: isn't even behind you.

00:24:40: watch him on the lunch line And I mean if you look at any horse long enough they're all gonna be lame.

00:24:45: So it's like at some point You have to just take a step back and be like right now.

00:24:51: In this minute at one fifty two p.m She has sound But it's definitely you have.

00:24:57: I have a lot of PTSD because my mind, we call couple times this past year just from being a little dehydrated

00:25:06: and immediately

00:25:07: I go to she is going die It's over She's gonna die And My husband Is like You Have To Stop Doing That Because She's Dehydrated She Got Fluids.

00:25:16: Now She'S Fine.

00:25:17: Or stop Like when we bought Paloma, and I was talking to the vet that did my PPE.

00:25:22: Do whatever you have to do like break her legs off When You Go To Flexor.

00:25:26: We Have To Make Sure I Don't Care And He's Okay!

00:25:30: I'm gonna make sure she's down for you.

00:25:32: but he appreciated The fact That i told him what ive been through and said look I have trauma from this so do Whatever u can be as thorough As U Possibly Can.

00:25:43: So good team members obviously help, but I still to this day have to work on being like oh my god she just took a wonky step and it's okay.

00:25:51: She is also six in using her body for the first time and she tripped a little bit or she took a wrong set...she's fine.

00:25:59: so i totally can sympathize with you because It's an exercise in futility.

00:26:03: But somehow we still convince ourselves that chronically something is wrong with every single horse that we must

00:26:10: have.

00:26:11: Yeah, yeah absolutely

00:26:15: I feel like

00:26:15: i've been following you online since showing Leah blogging days.

00:26:19: um Like could wear a OG badge and one of the things that I always appreciated of it.

00:26:27: You know why?

00:26:28: I've always followed you because It does seem like you have consistently shared more than highlight reel And especially, you know in recent years probably the last I'll say five years.

00:26:42: You've really been showing up with a sense of vulnerability online and i would love to know for our listeners what that vulnerability has been able to do from like a community perspective.

00:26:55: maybe good may be bad but then also if there was a conscious thought when going to do anybody, myself or the online space any good if I just

00:27:08: say

00:27:09: everything's great when it's not because It creates that feeling.

00:27:12: That When other people watch at they think well shit you know?

00:27:15: Not Everything is Good with me.

00:27:17: what's wrong With Me?

00:27:18: Yes yes and there'S nothing Wrong with You.

00:27:22: Whoever Is Listening There's Nothing Wrong with you i Think i Just Felt Inspired To start opening up like that Because i was really hired in that you are a school master, then it's easy.

00:27:34: That you have made horse and therefore get on the button.

00:27:41: If I had a nickel for every time i'd heard of this career with Leah would be on a flight to Bora Bora right now because I just got so tired coming from people who hadn't even written You know anything by far that was trained upper level like the people That were in my life directly saying not behind My back about me.

00:28:03: I can tell you Like lia's leah had The buttons but that mare i. we bought her In twenty thirteen and i feel like our best year Together with twenty nineteen because We are finally getting on the page On the same page, and i Feel like she made Me a very effective rider And without Her.

00:28:18: I would Not have been able to go onto green Horses Brider blue and now Paloma.

00:28:24: I mean she gave me that experience And so That was my driving factor of like, I wanted to be the person to be like okay for those Of you that do have them a horse out there.

00:28:33: How is your line of three tempi's today?

00:28:35: Was it like complete shit?

00:28:36: because mine was um Couldn't even couldn't even ride a line of threes and not again.

00:28:43: just kind of like escalated into Like.

00:28:45: i started To find my niche.

00:28:47: i found My voice and i really tried too hold myself to that standard every day since those years with Leah and I, there of course are things you don't want to share online.

00:28:59: That they're personal to you in all your emotions.

00:29:02: but i think i've learned the craft being able verbalize what feels comfortable or safe and inevitably never get hate on any of my vulnerable posts Never!

00:29:17: Instagram picks up a reel and makes it go viral.

00:29:19: And then, you know somebody that doesn't even follow me.

00:29:21: That's typically where like the mean comments come from.

00:29:24: but The more people started messaging Me in commenting and being Like wow I can really relate to this.

00:29:30: i'm like okay?

00:29:31: Like.

00:29:31: i'm on To something here Because I Know for facts.

00:29:35: if you are a dressage rider, just as dedicated and equestrian in general.

00:29:41: You don't even have to ride!

00:29:42: You're going to have bad days with the horses um...and they are their own individual being.

00:29:48: We are our own individual beings.

00:29:51: They have emotions ,they have thoughts And it's not gonna be sunshine or rainbows every single day.

00:29:59: So like I said starting that Having that mentality with Leah on social media only opened doors into further going in to the quarter horses and training With that.

00:30:11: And like, of course I was gonna be honest with my community about rider because people would Be like wait a second You're not riding him anymore Like what's going?

00:30:20: On then i'm Not Gonna say like oh he went onto like A great home.

00:30:23: People are gonna be like well What happens like That's that's shady.

00:30:27: so not that I owe anyone an explanation But I Was looking at that.

00:30:32: How many people have to retire their eleven-year old horse because they found a bone spur in the left stifle?

00:30:39: There's gotta be more than just me that are retiring horses young, I mean case end points like what you went through.

00:30:47: And then going through blues... That was a rare case but he wasn't the only horse in the world who had to spend forty five days on ICU.

00:30:58: and being vulnerable has not only, I think given me a place to can like use my voice but it's giving you a huge opportunity to connect with others and talk people.

00:31:13: And listen to other peoples' stories.

00:31:15: Listen what people have say.

00:31:18: You know make the longer table pull up a chair let us have conversation because We're all in this together.

00:31:26: And, you know just because we constantly see the highlights and happiness doesn't mean that people aren't struggling but it does not mean that we suck either.

00:31:34: So if I can help one person One person In what i write If a person can leave my page thinking Wow!

00:31:44: I'm really like...I am on same boat with my young horse Or un-traditional breed or school master then I have done my job.

00:31:55: And that's always been the forefront of my platform.

00:31:57: and really, this center focus at The Blonde in the Bay is...I want people to leave my page feeling better about themselves than they did before they read my caption or messaged me or had a short conversation with me.

00:32:13: Absolutely!

00:32:22: It's true, like I said in a world that tells you to do it X Y and Z. Like now i've taken an ex-western pleasure horse who is not gifted for dosage had him almost schooling third level the ex roping horse at eighteen of brand new career Western pleasure half cowbred quarter horse and turning her into something else.

00:32:49: And of course, you know the horses.

00:32:51: they have to have a special talent I think to go all the way up the levels but there's no reason why any breed of horse can't do training first second maybe even third level.

00:33:01: so if i Can show people that it's totally possible then my work is complete.

00:33:09: Love it.

00:33:09: Let's talk about that for a second, the Blue Duck Memorial Fund.

00:33:13: I'd love to hear more for sure.

00:33:21: um so we I don't know which one to start first.

00:33:27: We'll go with the clinics because i started those before The Memorial Fund in twenty-twenty three.

00:33:35: a follower actually sent me the idea of hey have you ever considered a dressage clinic just four quarter horses?

00:33:42: Well no, I hadn't until that moment and that idea that that follower brought me...I knew immediately.

00:33:52: That is awesome, and I want to run with that.

00:33:54: So I threw together my first clinic for quarter horses in untraditional breeds stock breeds And the first year we had like eight rides per day.

00:34:05: Catherine Abrams as my clinician and she's a great FBI dressage rider and trainer out of Virginia She took her blue Her raining horse all the way from nothing To The Grand Prix.

00:34:18: so she had extensive experience.

00:34:21: un-traditional breeds, a lot of her students have un-traditional breeds too.

00:34:25: So when I reached out to her she was like hell yeah we had been friends from Instagram for a long time.

00:34:30: so let's do it!

00:34:32: It started really small and it was a great first clinic.

00:34:36: i learned about

00:34:38: how

00:34:38: to host events not for horse specific industry in our world.

00:34:46: then after that Okay, like I'm onto something here.

00:34:51: So last year in twenty-twenty four i changed the name to The Blueduck Memorial Dressage Clinic because felt like that would be such a special way to honor blue and it's hard to believe we're going on.

00:35:09: This year will be our fourth year, every year it continues to get bigger.

00:35:13: in fact this year were doing three years because I had such response last year...I mean its gonna have been three days!

00:35:19: I had do waitlist but we have riders who come from different parts of Texas Barrel Racers, Western Dressage Riders traditional dressage riders and everyone is on quarterwars Mustangs, draft crosses Arabians like different all different types of breeds.

00:35:39: And so that it's like So cool to see a continue to grow and To have an opportunity to offer an inclusive event outside the screen.

00:35:55: I think a really special thing because I personally think it's one thing to talk the talk, but its whole other things like walk-the-walk and be like well what are you doing?

00:36:06: Like your preaching all of this.

00:36:07: What are you truly doiing?

00:36:09: to bring people together And as i said pull up chair at longer table.

00:36:14: so that has been So rewarding for me.

00:36:17: I can't wait For this year, i think Im actually going to get To ride in one of my clinics.

00:36:21: um...I wrote the first Year with blue while rider was out but since then..i have not ridden In any of my clinic.

00:36:26: so i'm hoping to do that This year.

00:36:28: Um....with Paloma.

00:36:29: But we started The Bluetote Memorial Fund After We lost Blue last uh...we Started it Last Years It's-so we started Working on it right after he passed And Then we officially Launched it Last Year.

00:36:43: We just felt such an overwhelming response.

00:36:47: A dear friend of ours started to go fund me and unbeknownst us, that was probably one the nicest acts of kindness I've ever received in my entire life.

00:36:59: so many people rallied around blue and Barrett and I just felt very called after working with our local equine clinic to if they have a rare diagnosis or prolonged case, anything of that nature.

00:37:21: we can offer some financial assistance.

00:37:25: To help pay down people's invoices so they don't have to carry as much of the financial burden.

00:37:31: So that is also something really special.

00:37:34: They came out at Blues Pass Inc.

00:37:36: That are really excited to see grow in the future.

00:37:39: I love both of those things so much.

00:37:43: And like you said, speaking to the dressage clinic specifically... So needed because it's one thing as mentioned too talk-the-talk but to walk The Talk and bring people together To bring in a clinician who has been there done that before It is just so cool And so needed.

00:38:09: Yeah,

00:38:10: yeah because like I mean, I've written in my fair share of Drosage Clinics throughout my career and uh i just really wanted to kind of take a step out of that.

00:38:21: And I think that training the untraditional horses sometimes requires a little bit more craft and creativeness and ingenuity versus training something that maybe is more naturally gifted for the Drosagerie.

00:38:37: so And

00:38:39: I wanted a place where somebody could, I never wanted anyone to say like well I can't...I don't feel comfortable riding in that clinic because my horse X Y and Z. Like no!

00:38:53: That's what i didn't want to happen at whatsoever as someone who does ride a Porter Horse.

00:38:59: people to say, I'm going into that clinic because i know that.

00:39:02: I'm gonna get a lot out of it and nobody's gonna care that I'm riding my barely broke like barely broke busting or my quarter worse than is just now learning to go on the bit?

00:39:12: Because everyone can learn something even if you're just starting at your journey.

00:39:16: uh-I want... I just wanted that space of inclusivity where no one would feel not like embarrassed to be there.

00:39:24: cuz'i think that that could.

00:39:25: sometimes I'm not going to spend my money on that because it's not even worth, like no.

00:39:33: It's worth it and i'm just thankful that i've had the platform That has helped me Like be able To offer that to My local community.

00:39:44: Love it.

00:39:46: You guys have some new things in The works Personally professionally all of Things And i'd love to know what you're excited about.

00:39:53: right now

00:39:56: Let's see excited about the future of our young horses, like my husband's young horse.

00:40:07: He has a four-year old that is in training with his friend of ours and she is proving to be way cooler than we originally thought when bought her.

00:40:16: so I am really exited for Barrett on this journey.

00:40:21: he pretty much sacrificed blue.

00:40:23: it gave him.

00:40:28: you know, I find myself as i'm saying that my subconscious is saying well don't get too excited because it's the wheels could go off of us but thats like where I have to remind myself.

00:40:39: um no its okay to be excited about Paloma and It's OK To Have Those Aspirations And Be Okay.

00:40:46: I think we have two special young horses on our hands.

00:40:51: I hope that God willing, they stay sound and they say healthy.

00:40:58: And we're able to accomplish some cool things whether thats in the Dursage Arena or just trail riding around.

00:41:06: Well, we are

00:41:07: all very excited to continue following along with everybody's journeys yourself your husbands the horses you new firm All of the things.

00:41:15: Very excited to follow along Maddie.

00:41:17: We have four rapid fire questions.

00:41:19: We ask Oliver podcast guests already.

00:41:27: The first one is do you have a motto or favorite saying?

00:41:32: Okay, so I'm changing my answer because I know given the same Eleanor Roosevelt quote two times.

00:41:36: But recently heard a sound bite from a podcast that Becky Moody did.

00:41:42: and Becky Mooty is international Grand Prix dressage writer-I believe team Great Britain won bronze in Paris So she's an Olympic medalist but said something really stuck with me when talking about Forces, obviously.

00:42:00: Somebody asked her.

00:42:01: what did she say?

00:42:02: She said that Her biggest pet peeve is when people blame the horse.

00:42:06: Oh he's being lazy.

00:42:08: oh He's being this.

00:42:09: he's been bad.

00:42:09: She said That it just a big no.

00:42:11: and then her next words were horses go how we tell them to go And not like.

00:42:18: stuck with me because I think we're sometimes it's real easy to be like, well he is being.

00:42:23: or she's been spooky.

00:42:25: Or She's being you know and then Like You can take yourself out say Well but what am i doing?

00:42:29: What Am I Doing To Help Them Build Confidence?

00:42:33: How Can I Be Cleared For Them?

00:42:34: How Could I Communicate Better?

00:42:36: And So When She Said Horses Go how We Tell them To go It Was Like Duh But You Just Needed Someone To Literally Put It In at terminology, and I just think that is such a good line anyone can use in any single discipline.

00:42:51: So Good!

00:42:53: The second one who has been the most influential person on your equestrian journey?

00:42:57: I think i'm going to stick with same answer.

00:42:59: definitely throughout my life-my mom and long time mentor trainer Ava Oldenbrook.

00:43:07: And then of course since my husband.

00:43:11: Um, you know in the last eight years he's really influenced me too and healthy ways to be like.

00:43:16: You don't have to be such a perfectionist.

00:43:19: You can- And He still to this day reminds Me hey we bought Paloma for you To Have Fun remember?

00:43:29: spiral.

00:43:30: and when I start to get a little bit too perfectionist, perfectionisty in my writing.

00:43:36: So i'm very blessed that I have those three.

00:43:39: And then of course like my trainer now Christina Lutsinger she's been true blessing In My Life the last year.

00:43:49: our friendship has really grown because Of That.

00:43:51: but her words and Her encouragement her willingness to not only learn the dressage, but also show me a brand new way of approaching Paloma and training.

00:44:05: And helping me refine my aids—and she's a barrel racer!

00:44:08: But I have learned so much from her... So i just feel really lucky to have those four people guide me and influence me in this journey especially now that i'm in The Young Horse Chapter.

00:44:22: So funny —my husband will come back from golfing And he'll be like, well this went wrong and that went wrong.

00:44:27: And I always say we will remember you do it for fun!

00:44:31: Yes!

00:44:32: And he's gonna say take

00:44:34: your own advice

00:44:35: thinking crap.

00:44:38: Exactly exactly.

00:44:39: We have the same kind of dialogue but Okay, in the moment it's a little bit hard but yes I am doing this for fun.

00:44:46: It is supposed to be fun!

00:44:48: I have an adult amateur and i just

00:44:49: want to have fun.

00:44:50: Yes yeah absolutely The next one.

00:44:53: if you could give a question into one piece of advice what would it be?

00:44:57: Going back to our first question...I think my biggest piece of advise Stick to what your version of success is.

00:45:06: And if that makes you happy and brings you peace, fulfillment it doesn't matter with anyone else's says even people have the best intentions want see like or believe should be doing something different than just stay true to yourself because Lord knows I did as to where I am right now in my riding journey.

00:45:34: Your success is all that matters at the end of the day, like your version of success is All That Matters At The End Of The Day and it doesn't matter what a person next To You Is Doing or the person in front of you is doing... All It Matters Is If You Feel Fulfilled Riding Your Quarter Horse And Training Them So As Best They Can Be Then You've Already Won!

00:45:57: That advice can apply to all areas of life as well.

00:46:00: Yeah, it's so good.

00:46:01: Exactly!

00:46:04: Last one please complete the sentence.

00:46:06: for me horses are

00:46:09: my peace.

00:46:11: Horses and I would add on to that and horses keep being grounded when the world feels out-of-my control.

00:46:20: yeah absolutely

00:46:24: Maddie,

00:46:24: where can people find you?

00:46:25: How can they connect with you.

00:46:26: We're going to put everything in the show notes.

00:46:29: Awesome!

00:46:30: Just

00:46:30: do an Instagram

00:46:31: at The Blonde In The Bay within Undersport.

00:46:33: That's me.

00:46:34: that is a best way of finding me.

00:46:36: Perfect.

00:46:36: we are gonna put it into the show note.

00:46:37: so if your listening and want check out what Maddie is doing here.

00:46:41: all references made be sure to scroll down.

00:46:45: click on this link.

00:46:47: Thank you so much for joining me again.

00:46:50: As always, it's been a pleasure and I just love chatting with you.

00:46:54: Likewise thank you for wanting to come back!

00:47:12: You can find us on Instagram at WeHorse underscore USA, and check out our free seven-day trial on wehorse.com where you access over one hundred seventy five courses with top trainers from around the world in a variety of topics and disciplines.

00:47:29: until next time be kind to yourself your horses and others.