Today’s Practical Horseman Podcast, sponsored by Equinavia, is with eventer Kaylawna Smith-Cook. The daughter of top five-star eventer Tamie Smith, Kaylawna has become a successful eventing rider and trainer in her own right and currently has a promising string of up-and-coming eventing mounts who proved their talent at the Galway Downs International Horse Trials last spring.

While she continues to help run her mom’s sales program at Next Level Eventing in Temecula, California, the 29-year-old now owns and operates her own training program, K. Smith Equestrian, with around 22 horses and has cultivated solid partnerships with owners who are invested in the sport and the horses’ well-being.

Even with her eventing super-star mom, Kaylawna didn’t take riding too seriously growing up, but after high school she realized she wanted to take her eventing career seriously. Throughout her formative training days, she grew up under the tutelage of her mom, as well as Australian show jumper Scott Keach, eventers Gina Economou and Bec Braitling and dressage rider and trainer Niki Clarke. She completed her first CCI3*-L at Galway Downs in 2019 aboard her longtime eventing partner Passepartout or “Pasco” and went on to complete her first CCI4*-S in 2020 and her first CCI4*-L in 2021.

In her eventing program, Kaylawna is keenly focused on listening to her horses, learning what they’re telling her and applying that knowledge to bring her eventing mounts along at their own individual pace.

In today’s podcast, she talks about growing up under the tutelage of her mom and her other mentors, her current string of super-star horses, how she balances motherhood herself with such a demanding career and how she perseveres through the inherent ups and downs of the sport as she chases her goal to be a top U.S. eventer.

About This Episode’s Sponsor, Equinavia

Summer is full swing—and so is the new collection at Equinavia! From breeches to bridles, we outfit riders from head to toe, and horses from hoof to head, with everything you need to ride in comfort and confidence. Rooted in Scandinavian tradition, our gear blends timeless style with true functionality—so you can focus on what matters most: the ride. 

The ride begins at Equinavia.com. You can also follow Equinavia on Facebook and Instagram.

This week’s Practical Horseman Podcast, sponsored by Equinavia, is with hunter, equitation and jumper trainer and judge Archie Cox. He spoke with us in late April as he and his students prepare for upcoming shows. They are competing on both the West and East Coasts at The Oaks Capistrano Cup 1 & 2 and the Devon Horse Show.

To give you more background on Archie, he grew up competing along the East Coast as a junior rider. He earned numerous equitation ribbons, including at the USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final and ASPCA Maclay Finals. Archie went on to ride for the equestrian team at Drew University. He collected team and individual Intercollegiate Horse Show Association titles at the regional and national level.

After college, Archie moved to California in 1992 to work with top hunter/jumper trainer Karen Healey for several years. In December 2000, Archie opened his own business, Brookway Stables—named after his grandparents’ farm in Maine—at Middle Ranch in Lakeview Terrace, California. His students and horses in training have collected numerous champion titles at the country’s most prestigious shows.

In our discussion, Archie talks about what he enjoys about working with horses, one of his favorite training exercises and what he wants to see in the show ring as a judge.

About This Episode’s Sponsor, Equinavia

Spring is here—and so is the new collection at Equinavia!

From breeches to bridles, we outfit riders from head to toe, and horses from hoof to head, with everything you need to ride in comfort and confidence. 

Rooted in Scandinavian tradition, our gear blends timeless style with true functionality—so you can focus on what matters most: the ride. 

The ride begins at Equinavia.com. 

You can also follow Equinavia on Facebook and Instagram.

Alliston’s journey with horses began as a child riding in England to now representing the U.S. on the world stage. He has tallied numerous top international placings and CCI5*-L completions. He made his senior Nations Cup team debut at the 2022 Boekelo CCIO4*-NC-L in the Netherlands with Nemesis. Alliston returned to Boekelo the following year with Karma, and they finished as the top-U.S. combination in 14th place. James operates his training business, Alliston Equestrian, with his wife and fellow international eventer Helen Alliston in Castro Valley, California. 

Heading into the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, Alliston is ready to show the depth of his string of horses. He has Karma entered in the CCI5*-L, and Cora and Irish Pop in the CCI4*-S.

Below is an excerpt from a past Practical Horseman Podcast episode with James Alliston (Episode 101, released July 26, 2024). Alliston talks about what he enjoys about eventing, his horse Karma and his training philosophy. 

A Passion for Eventing

Q: What do you like about eventing and why do you feel like you gravitated towards it rather than a different discipline? 

JA: I love the all-around test of horsemanship and skills that eventing offers. I think you really need a wonderful partnership with the horse to do it. And there’s so much training that goes into it because there’s the three disciplines and the time spent working on the fitness with the horses. So, I just really like that part of it. I think there’s also many different sorts of horses that can succeed at the very highest level. You can take off-the-track Thoroughbreds. You can take horses that maybe aren’t necessarily superstar talents, and if they have the heart for it and the desire, they can be successful at the highest level.

Q: What do you think it is about horses and the sport that have kept you involved on this career path? 

JA: I think I’ve had some wonderful horses and I’ve been really, really fortunate. When I first came to America, the first horse I bought was from Bonnie Mosser. She got him off the racetrack and hadn’t done a show or anything, so he was relatively inexpensive. That horse was an amazing horse named Parker. He did so many five-stars. I was young and the horse was too, so we sort of learned together. He was just a brilliant, brilliant horse and so tough. He did season after season of advanced and five star and that really got me going. I had some really nice other horses—Jumbo’s Jake and Tivoli—when I was very young, so I think was really fortunate to get those good horses early.

You get a nice taste for the big competitions and that’s where you want to be and what you want do. Since then, I’ve just been lucky, but you need help. And I’ve been lucky with supporters and my clients here, who have enabled me financially to keep doing it.

Now as I get older, I’m trying to stay healthy and not fall off too much. It’s one of those sports where you get better with experience as long as you can stay healthy enough. So that’s the balance really where I’m at right now, but I’m really enjoying it. 

Karma’s Origin Story

Q: Tell me about your horse Karma.

JA: It’s a really cool story, actually. She was bred on the West Coast by the Crowley family. Katie Crowley is an Advanced rider out here from Oregon, but she trains with our friend Andrea Pfeiffer at Chocolate Horse Farm. Karma has some siblings that Katie rides at the Advanced Level, so Karma has a mother who’s been a good producer.

When Karma was young, Andrea phoned me and said, “We’ve got this horse and she’s going to be a little bit tricky. Maybe not so good for Katie because she freezes.” Karma would freeze in the ring. This was before she’d ever done a show or anything. You worry with those horses whether they’re going to throw themselves on the ground or do something strange.

Andrea sent Karma to me, and after a couple of weeks, we talked and I said, “I’ve got her going now. But now she wants to go 100 miles an hour around the arena. But she doesn’t freeze anymore. We got over one thing, but I sort of created another monster and I can’t really sell her for you.” Andrea knew how talented Karma was and what a good jumper she was, so she said, “Would you just want to have her and see what you can do with her? I’ll talk to Katie and her family, and hopefully we can just give the horse a chance. She’s obviously incredibly talented and see what happens.” It’s a good example of the eventing and the community how cool it is when everyone sort of gets together and helps each other.

That’s Karma’s story. She was a little difficult getting going on the flat, but she always been an incredible jumper. Now, I like to think the dressage is catching up and getting a little bit better, and the jumping is great. She’s so fast, so careful, so quick and all of that. I’m really excited for the future!

Alliston’s Training Philosophy

Q: How would you describe your training philosophy? 

JA: I tend to be quite slow and patient. I get a lot of my horses very, very young, and we break them and get them going. I’m all about building the partnership with the horses. I tend to not buy horses or get horses that have are already gone at a higher level. I’ve had most of my horses from their very first riding experiences, and then I go with them. I think that’s huge in in our sport, especially in the cross country—the partnership. To make them go and jump into the Head of the Lake [at Kentucky] or something like that they have to jump, I feel like you build that trust out hacking the first time when they are a three-year old. Does the horse go where you want him to go and does he trust you and believe in you? I think you generate that during the initial experiences. It sounds weird, but if they whip around out hacking, I really don’t like that for the cross country. If I can’t hack down the road, how am I going to jump that massive five-star fence away from the stables, you know?

Also, I rode for Gerd Reuter, a German dressage guy who worked closely with Will Coleman, and he always said, “Ride with love.” I love the horses. They’re all sort of my babies because I’ve had them most of them from a young age. So, we try to be patient, ride with love and see what happens. 

Q: Do you have a favorite training exercise? If so, why is it your favorite, and can you describe it? 

JA: I’ll chuck a few poles down in the arena set on bounce distances. It sounds very, very basic and easy, but the foundations of jumping and riding are coming in balance, having the horse where you can place him well at the jump and he’s rideable. And I think that translates to whatever level you’re doing, whether the horse is just learning how to jump or the horse is a five-star horse. Can you present the horse to a jump in a good way, in balance and at a speed appropriate for them to negotiate it? You don’t need to jump mountains to practice something simple as cantering a ground-pole exercise. You can really train your riding to be accurate and also train the horses to listen to you and be ridable. I normally have some poles on the ground in the ring anyway, and I’ll just pop through those quite a lot on all the horses.

Check out more Kentucky Three-Day Event coverage.

Thanks to Kent Nutrition Group and Blue Seal for our coverage of the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. It includes lead-up events, rider interviews, competition reports, horse spotlights, photos, videos and more.

Today’s Practical Horseman Podcast, sponsored by Sentinel Horse Feed, is with Tamie Smith. The five-star eventer always has a lot on her plate, but her current sights are set on the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event in Lexington, Kentucky, that kicks off later this month on April 24. This year, Tamie will be competing in the CCI4* competition aboard 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood Kynan, following their stellar performance at the Galway Downs International Horse Trials at the end of March.

We last talked to Tamie at the Maryland Five Star this past October after she’d announced that she would be retiring her longtime eventing partner, 19-year-old German Sport Horse gelding Mai Baum, from five-star competition.

About Tamie

Tamie and Mai Baum, or Lexus as he’s known around the barn, first partnered in 2015 and were members of the U.S. Eventing Team that won gold at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. During their CCI5*-L debut at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2021, the pair had a top-10 finish and were named as the reserve for the U.S. Eventing Team for the Tokyo Olympics later that year.

In 2023, Tamie and Mai Baum went on to a historic win in the Kentucky Three-Day five star competition as the first U.S. combination to win in 15 years and the first woman since 2011. When Tamie isn’t competing, you can find her running her training and sale horse program, Next Level Eventing, with her daughter and pro rider, Kaylawna Smith-Cook.

In today’s podcast, we talked to Tamie about her long and storied career with Mai Baum, how she decided it was time for him to step down from five-star competition and what the sassy gelding is up to these days. She also tells us about her current string of horses, including her Kentucky mount this year, her overall training philosophy and balancing motherhood (and grandmother-hood) with her eventing career. And after breaking gender barriers in the sport, Tamie also talks about the strides she’s seen women make in eventing as well as the challenges they still face.

For More:

• To read more about Tamie Smith and her successful eventing career, click here.
• Can’t get enough of eventing? We’re counting down to our favorite event of the year—2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. Click here for more of our coverage of this year’s event.

About This Podcast’s Sponsor, Sentinel Horse Feed

Purposefully formulated feeds for every horse’s needs. Sentinel Horse Feed knows there’s no horse like your horse. And nobody gets their quirks, emotions and unique personality better than you do. Just like you understand your horse inside and out, Sentinel’s expert nutritionists understand their individual dietary needs. With a wide selection of formulas, Sentinel Horse Feed has something for every life stage and activity level.

Their 100% extruded nugget formulas are packed with naturally wholesome ingredients, crafted for your horse’s whole-body well-being. Discover the difference of feed that’s purposefully made to perfectly fit your horse. Click here to learn more or find a retailer near you.

Thanks to Kent Nutrition Group and Blue Seal for our coverage of the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, including lead-up events, rider interviews, competition reports, horse spotlights, photos, videos and more!

This week’s Practical Horseman Podcast, sponsored by EQUESTRIAN+, is with Olympian and horse show organizer Ali Nilforushan. He spoke with us in mid-February as he and his team prepare for the 2025 competition season at the Temecula Valley National Horse Shows in Temecula, California, and The Oaks series in San Juan Capistrano, California.

To give you a little more background on Ali, he caught the horse bug at an early age. He rode his first horse at age 12 once he and his family immigrated to San Diego, California, from their home country of Iran. Ali was drawn to show jumping and worked his way up the ranks of the sport to achieve top international results. In 2000, he became the first Iranian equestrian to compete at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, qualifying for the individual final with Campione M. In 2006, he competed at the FEI Jumping World Cup Final in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with Cellist 2.

Ali retired from competition in 2017 after an illustrious riding career, shifting his focus full-time to producing world-class hunter/jumper horse shows on the West Coast. He created Nilforushan Equisport Events, a horse show management company, with his wife Francie Nilforushan. In December 2024, Equine Network acquired a controlling interest in the successful enterprise. As part of Equine Network’s Premier Equisport Group, Ali is at the helm of the Temecula Valley National Horse Shows and The Oaks, a revamped show series at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park.

In our discussion, Ali talks about how he found his passion in equestrian sport, what he enjoys about being a horse show organizer and what venue upgrades are being made for a top-notch show experience at The Oaks.

About This Episode’s Sponsor, EQUESTRIAN+

From short training tips to how-to videos and insider-access to private clinics and lessons, learn from top experts in the dressage, hunter, show jumping, equitation and eventing disciplines with EQUESTRIAN+. Watch exclusive interviews and lectures, slow-motion demonstrations and step-by-step tutorials taught by top-level pros and explore cross-discipline topics such as groundwork, rider fitness and stable management. Visit equestrianplus.com to sign up for a seven-day free trial with subscription. 

You can also follow EQUESTRIAN+ on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Editor’s note: Equine Network also owns Practical Horseman.

Today’s Practical Horseman Podcast, sponsored by EQUESTRIAN+, is with Cornelia Fletcher. The five-star eventer made a remarkable comeback at TerraNova’s The Event this past November. After being out of the competition field for a little over a year to give birth to her daughter, Sparrow, last June, the 26-year-old eventer and her plucky Oldenburg mare Daytona Beach 8 claimed the CCI4*-L win on a final score of 41.4.

The pair, who placed 15^th out of 17 horse-and-rider combinations during the dressage phase, delivered a powerhouse cross-country ride on Saturday to surge into second place overnight. One of only two pairs to jump double clear in show jumping, their sharp, accurate round cemented their victory in the CCI4*-L.

While Cornelia worked hard to maintain her physical and mental fitness for eventing during her pregnancy, she credits her close-knit support team and especially her husband—four-star eventer and grand-prix show jumper Jacob Fletcher—for her success at TerraNova and enabling her to make her post-Sparrow competition debut.

In today’s podcast, we chatted with Cornelia about her comeback victory at TerraNova, her incredible partnership Daytona Beach 8, her training philosophies and how she balances motherhood with the demanding sport of eventing.

About Cornelia Fletcher

Cornelia grew up in a non-equestrian family in Hamilton, Massachusetts, near the former USET headquarters and said she was born with the horse bug. After finally wearing her parents down as a horse-obsessed kid, they agreed to help her half-lease a pony at a local barn with a lot of eventing history. From her early days in the saddle, Cornelia had a hunch that eventing might be her sport as she always preferred to be out in the field instead of the arena.

In middle school, she started working with trainer Babette Lenna, who helped Cornelia find her perfect and longtime eventing partner in Sir Patico MH (“Hugo”). She and the loudly colored Zweibrücker gelding went on to train with renowned five-star eventer Sharon White and had a stellar career together (including an individual bronze at the 2017 North American Youth Championships, top finishes at the three- and four-star level and a European debut at Blenheim). They were on the cusp of tackling their first five star at the 2020 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, before it was canceled due to the COVID pandemic.

After spending a year training with Australian five-star rider Kevin McNab in Surrey, England, Cornelia and Daytona made their five-star debut at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in in 2022. Despite a 50th-place dressage score, the pair moved up the leaderboard after a clear, fast cross-country round and were one of only six double-clear show jumping rounds to end up finishing in 10^th. And they were the top-placed U.S. rider.

A few other notable highlights from Cornelia’s career include the 2023 Reserve Championship USEF/USEA Developing Horse Championship with DHI Qyaracolle Z, 2022 Houghton Hall CCIO4*-NC-S 2nd place team, more than fifteen top-5 FEI finishes, and she is a Five-time North American Youth Championships medalist. 

Cornelia and Jacob own and operate a small program in Ocala, Florida, that focuses on producing eventing and show-jumping horses.

About This Podcast’s Sponsor, EQUESTRIAN+

From short training tips to how-to videos and insider-access to private clinics and lessons, learn from top experts in the dressage, hunter, show jumping, equitation and eventing disciplines with EQUESTRIAN+. Watch exclusive interviews and lectures, slow motion demonstrations and step-by-step tutorials taught by top-level pros and explore cross-discipline topics such as groundwork, rider fitness and stable management. Visit equestrianplus.com to sign up for a 7-day free trial with subscription.  

This week’s Practical Horseman Podcast, sponsored by Purina, is with this week’s episode is with hunter/jumper trainer Julia Collins. She spoke with us in mid-November about two months after her facility in Asheville, North Carolina, was affected by Hurricane Helene.

To give you a little more background on Julia, she coached her students at A and C circuit shows for several years. Eight years ago, she shifted her focus to predominantly collegiate equestrian shows. Julia coaches Western Carolina University’s Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) team, growing the program from six to 25 riders. She also heads up the University of North Carolina Asheville IHSA team. At the 2024 IHSA National Championship, Julia served as the volunteer coordinator and received the Hunter Seat Coach Award. She has owned Over the River Farm in Asheville, North Carolina, for over 20 years. She teaches lessons and aspires to give her students great experiences in and out of the show ring.

In our discussion, Julia talks about how her farm was affected by Hurricane Helene. She shares how the horse community came together to aid those in need as well as disaster-preparedness tips.

About This Episode’s Sponsor, Purina

Confidently address your horse’s unique weight needs and help optimize their overall wellbeing with research-proven Purina Animal Nutrition feeds—designed by passionate equine nutritionists. Partner with Purina to nourish your horse to their optimal body condition. Explore weight management resources for your horse today at purinamills.com/feed-finder.

You can also follow @purinafeedgreatness on Instagram and @PurinaHorse on Facebook.

This week’s Practical Horseman Podcast, sponsored by Cosequin®, is with the Practical Horseman 2024 Trainer of the Year Leigh Berman, owner and head trainer of Two Bit Farm in Boyertown, Pennsylvania.

The Practical Horseman Trainer of the Year Program is designed to honor the unsung heroes of our sport—trainers who work tirelessly to improve the education of both their riders and horses. Entrants were nominated for the contest by individuals in the horse community. Out of all the trainers nominated, 10 finalists were selected, with one earning the title of Trainer of the Year.

About Leigh Berman

Leigh started her career as an Amateur, winning many awards aboard her off-the-track-Thoroughbred Catch 22. As a professional, she spent years showing and training at top-ranked horse shows in both hunters and jumpers. She even ended up on the cover of Practical Horseman magazine in 1995 and was featured in an article about her and Catch22 who she found at the New Holland Horse Auction.

As head trainer of Two Bit Farm, Leigh focuses on helping riders of all ages and skill levels develop genuine partnerships with their horses. She’s helped her students achieve success in the Junior Hunters and the Amateur Owner divisions—but more importantly she strives to instill confidence in her riders and encourages them to be their best selves in order to communicate with their equine partners.

Leigh’s talent is also apparent when she’s working with young horses or those with training challenges. She often imports unbroken horses from overseas to develop them into well-rounded show horses.

In her submission for the Practical Horseman Trainer of the Year, Leigh’s students noted her unbridled passion for helping them achieve their riding goals and enhancing the relationships they share with their horses—all while having a blast along the way.

Leigh also recognizes how much horses have to offer and pays that forward by supporting her local riding community and the Boyertown area in general. She hosts biannual derbies to provide high-level competition experiences for riders who might not be able to afford rated shows or have the time to travel to them. And she partnered with a local gym to introduce middle-school students to two of her horses to teach them about physical wellness and the beautiful partnerships we can share with these amazing animals.

In today’s podcast, we talked to Leigh about receiving the 2024 Practical Horseman Trainer of the Year title, how she sets up her students and horses for success and happiness in the saddle and why she feels it’s important to share horses with her local community.

About This Week’s Sponsor, Cosequin

COSEQUIN®, the #1 veterinarian-recommended joint health supplement brand, is excited to bring you, COSEQUIN® ASU Balance. This formula supports joint, immune, and digestive health. COSEQUIN® ASU Balance helps moderate the inflammatory responses that can cause immune and GI tract disturbances through the innovative inclusion of postbiotics and beta-glucans. The formula also includes the joint support COSEQUIN® is known for, with ingredients such as ASU, Hyaluronic Acid, and Boswellia serrata Extract. 

With over 30 years behind the COSEQUIN® name, you can rely on COSEQUIN® products when performance matters. To learn more, speak with your veterinarian or visit Cosequin.com.

This week’s Practical Horseman Podcast, sponsored by Purina, is with five-star eventer Lillian Heard Wood. She spoke with us in late October following her eighth-place finish at the Maryland 5 Star with her longtime partner LCC Barnaby.

To give you a little more background on Lillian, she has 16 CCI5* completions, including top-10 finishes at the Maryland 5 Star and top-20 finishes at the Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky CCI5*s. Originally from Poolesville, Maryland, Lillian developed a passion for eventing while competing in the United States Pony Clubs. She spent 10 years as a working student for Olympian Boyd Martin and five-star competitor Jan Byyny. Also, Lillian worked in Ireland and England in multiple international yards, most notably for Carol Gee of Fernhill Sport Horse Center. She runs her training business out of Lanefield Farm in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, alongside her husband and fellow five-star eventer, Ryan Wood.

In our discussion, Lillian talks about deciding to retire the 18-year-old LCC Barnaby from the five-star level, handling disappointment in the sport and celebrating personal successes.

About This Episode’s Sponsor, Purina

Confidently address your horse’s unique weight needs and help optimize their overall wellbeing with research-proven Purina Animal Nutrition feeds—designed by passionate equine nutritionists. Partner with Purina to nourish your horse to their optimal body condition. Explore weight management resources for your horse today at purinamills.com/feed-finder.

You can also follow @purinafeedgreatness on Instagram and @PurinaHorse on Facebook.

Welcome to the PHOD pod, the Practical Horseman Podcast‘s Minisode series where we share audio clips from our subscription video site, Equestrian Plus. At Equestrian Plus, you can enjoy over 5,000 videos and get insider access to exclusive interviews and lectures, slow-motion demonstrations, and step-by-step tutorials taught by top-level pros in the hunter jumper, equitation, eventing, and dressage disciplines.

On this week’s episode, dressage and event rider Chelsea Canedy leads a short, guided meditation to realign yourself before interacting with your horse. She helps get you to a place where you can find stillness and internal quiet and locate that gratitude for your horse and your time with him.

When you tune into the PHOD Pod, listen closely for a promo code for 15% off your Equestrian Plus subscription!

To sign up for Equestrian Plus, click here.

More on This Episode’s Sponsor, Cosequin®

COSEQUIN®, the #1 veterinarian-recommended joint health supplement brand, is excited to bring you, COSEQUIN® ASU Balance. This formula supports joint, immune, and digestive health. COSEQUIN® ASU Balance helps moderate the inflammatory responses that can cause immune and GI tract disturbances through the innovative inclusion of postbiotics and beta-glucans. The formula also includes the joint support COSEQUIN® is known for, with ingredients such as ASU, Hyaluronic Acid, and Boswellia serrata Extract. 

With over 30 years behind the COSEQUIN® name, you can rely on COSEQUIN® products when performance matters. To learn more, speak with your veterinarian or visit Cosequin.com.