Equestrian Mums Club

What does it really look like to raise a rider?
In this episode, we sit down with Laura Cadwallader - the mum behind @at_home_with_ivy_and_ponies - to talk about the beautiful, chaotic, emotional reality of pony life with children. From babies on the boob whilst showing(!) to the tough decisions no parent wants to make, this is the unfiltered truth behind growing up in the horse world.
Because raising children around horses isn’t just a hobby… it’s a lifestyle. And one that asks a lot of us as parents - especially when you might not have caught the horse bug yourself!

In this episode, we cover:
How riding becomes part of family life from the very beginning

The emotional reality of pony ownership (and letting go)

The financial juggle behind the scenes of “pony life”

Navigating risk, safety, and parental instinct

Feeling like an outsider... and finding your people

Why horses shape resilient, empathetic humans

The power of community when you’re figuring it out as you go

If you’re in it, thinking about it, or watching it unfold… remember, you’re not alone.
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P.s. If this episode resonated, you can support EMC in a few simple ways:
Follow or rate the podcast

Share the episode with someone who might need it

Or support the project with a 'coffee', if you’re able... ☕

Every listen, share, and quiet show of support helps keep EMC independent, accessible, and rooted in real experience.
Thank you for being here. We hope that this continues to be a space of real resource, relatability and joy for you.

Ever feel like you're juggling horses, kids, and a mounting pile of guilt? Welcome to the wild ride of equestrian parenthood... with a sprinkle of honesty, humour, and a dash of chaos.
In this 'On the Buckle' submission, Katie shares her recent "horse-accident-turned-life-moment," proving that "being on the buckle" is less about relaxation and more about surviving with a smile.
In this episode, she talks...
The real meaning behind "on the buckle" (spoiler: it’s not about relaxing)
How a recent horse injury turned into an emotional rollercoaster (blood, guilt, and all)
The magic of acceptance... when life is splattered with surprises
Why giving 100% is a myth - and working out that’s okay

Resources & Links:
The EMC podcast with Sarah Elebert, Equitas
Equestrian Mums Club website - Share your stories and be part of the community

Connect with Katie:
⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn

And remember: Sometimes "on the buckle" just means hanging on tight and laughing (or trying to!!) through the chaos. You’re doing great - blood, sweat, tears, and all!

What does it really look like to juggle children, horses and your own headspace?
In this episode, Katie sits down with Sarah Elebert (COO of Equitas) for an honest conversation about mental health, guilt, ambition and the pressure to be “coping” in equestrian life.
This one’s for you if you’ve ever:
- Felt stretched between the yard and nursery drop-off
- Missed the rider you used to be
- Carried quiet guilt about not doing enough (in any area!)
- Wondered how everyone else makes it look seamless
We talk vulnerability, comparison, changing expectations, and the small “tack hacks” that make life with horses and little ones more manageable.
Because raising horses and humans together isn’t tidy... oh no! But... it is powerful.
If it resonates, share it with another equestrian mum who needs the reminder.
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P.s. If this episode resonated, you can support EMC in a few simple ways:
Follow or rate the podcast

Share the episode with someone who might need it

Or support the project with a ', if you’re able... ☕

Every listen, share, and quiet show of support helps keep EMC independent, accessible, and rooted in real experience.
Thank you for being here. We hope it continues to be a safe, fun and real space of resource for you 💙

This episode is a pause... and an invitation.
Recorded as a solo episode, this episode sees Katie reflecting honestly on why the Equestrian Mums Club exists, how it’s grown beyond (just!) a podcast, and what it’s becoming... for equestrian parents navigating horses, children, work, identity, and exhaustion.
It’s about the real stuff we don’t often say out loud. Whether that's the... mental load. The guilt. The joy. The feeling of being “between versions” of yourself.
We're visiting;
Why EMC was never about hosts, polish, or performance

The emotional reality of balancing horses and parenthood

The invisible labour behind community-led projects

Why honesty matters more than expertise

What EMC has achieved so far (often quietly)

Where the community could go next, and how YOU can be part of it

If EMC has ever made you feel seen, steadier, or less alone... maybe this episode explains why.
New here? It shows you exactly where you fit.
🎧 Press play. Stay awhile.
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P.s. If this episode resonated, you can support EMC in a few simple ways:
Follow or rate the podcast

Share the episode with someone who might need it

Or support the project with a 'Buy Me a Coffee donation', if you’re able... ☕

Every listen, share, and quiet show of support helps keep EMC independent, accessible, and rooted in real experience.
Thank you for being here. We hope it continues to be a safe, fun and real space of resource for you 💙

You don’t always choose when life asks you to slow down... sometimes it taps you politely, sometimes it kicks the stable door in.
And this episode? It’s very much about listening when it does.
As we step into a new year at the Equestrian Mums Club, this catch-up is a gentle reset. A chat about family firsts, shifting priorities, and why taking a step back can sometimes be the most positive step forward. There’s laughter (because parenting without humour is a losing game), reflections on health hiccups that led to unexpected productivity, and the familiar juggle of work, horses, children and everything in between.
We talk about the quiet magic of the bond between a pony and their person, the joy found in small, ordinary moments, and why planning fun - not perfection - might be the real secret to surviving family life. It’s also a moment of honesty about change: how communities evolve, how seasons shift, and why the Equestrian Mums Club was always meant to be bigger than any one voice.
At its heart, this episode is about choosing joy where you can, protecting your wellbeing where it matters, and remembering that none of us are doing this alone; even when it feels that way.
If you’re listening from the yard, on the school run, or hiding somewhere quiet with a lukewarm cup of tea, we hope this episode feels like a friendly arm round the shoulder. We’re all just figuring it out as we go.
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💡 Top takeaways for this ride:
Family and fun aren’t distractions — they’re the point

New beginnings are about positivity, not pressure

Stepping back can be essential for mental health and wellbeing

The bond between a pony and their person is truly special

Laughter makes the juggle of motherhood lighter

Community support makes all the difference

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Want more from the herd?
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