#57 - How Madeleine Bunbury Turned a Horse Painting Obsession Into a Career and more!!
Intro:Madeleine Bunbury knew what she wanted early on, and it wasn’t what anyone else expected. After bombing her high school exams and getting kicked out, she found her way to a classical art school in Florence where she trained to paint portraits, then as soon as she could started painting horses instead. In this episode, we talk about how she went from couch-surfing in exchange for paintings to traveling the world with a homemade easel and a dream.She paints every horse from life, often life-size, and always with the same goal: to capture something deeper than a photo ever could.Key topics we discussed in 5 bullet points:The very non-linear path from failed science student to classically-trained artist living out of a suitcase and painting horses for a living.What “site size” painting means and why she never paints from photographs, only from horses standing right next to the canvas.The heartbreak and hilarity of trying to get high-strung sport horses to stand still for hours in the blazing sun.Her mission to document the 18 native British horse breeds before they disappear, starting with a life-size Suffolk Punch on a three-meter canvas.Building the dream: her plans for a studio barn where horses walk in one side and come out the other as art, surrounded by velvet drapes, Persian rugs, and dramatic lighting.Subscribe to the Horse People Podcast for more cross-discipline content. And if you want to follow Madeleine’s adventures across the world, give her a follow: @bunbury_equine_artWant to learn more about her exhibition in Virginia, here's the link: National Sporting Library and Museum
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#56 - The Rulebook, the Racetrack, and the Real Work with Lisa Lazarus, CEO of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority
Intro:Lisa Lazarus is the CEO of the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA). From NFL negotiations to equestrian rulebooks in Switzerland, Lisa’s career has taken her across sports, continents, and now into the heart of American horse racing reform. We talk about what it means to rebuild trust in an industry that’s often under fire, how to change deeply embedded cultures without losing the soul of the sport, and what it actually takes to reduce fatalities by 37 percent in just three years.Follow @horsepeoplepodcast for more cross-discipline content and stories.Key topics we discussed in 5 bullet points:Lisa’s winding career path from international sports law to leading HISAThe real metrics behind reducing equine fatalities and why transparency mattersThe cultural shift underway in horse racing and why trust is the hardest partBalancing federal oversight with racetrack realities across the U.S.Why bringing younger generations into the sport is non-negotiableSubscribe to Horse People Podcast wherever you listen so you don’t miss the conversations that matter to the future of our industry. And if you’ve got a friend who works at a track, send them this episode.Follow Lisa and HISA updates on their website: https://hisaus.org/
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#55 - How Sheryl Sick Went from Craigslist Horses to USPA Circuit Governor
This one’s with Sheryl Sick, the Pacific Northwest Circuit Governor for the USPA and someone I’ve always looked up to in polo. She’s got a tech sales career that funds her weekends chasing the white ball and a story that includes everything from working at a seafood cannery in Alaska to hauling her own horses 10 hours into Canada. She’s proof you can build your own way into this sport, and she’s generous about how she did it.Key topics we got into:How she found polo in college and sold her graduation bike to chase the sportThe grooming gig that earned her custom boots and a foot in the doorManaging a full-time tech job, a polo circuit, and a herd of horses without losing her mindHer thoughts on growing the game, getting more kids and women in, and why arena polo’s a gateway drugThe five Ps - preparation prevents piss poor performance.Hit that subscribe button if you haven’t already. And if you’ve been thinking about getting back into riding or finally trying polo, take Sheryl’s advice and just start showing up.Follow Sheryl on [Instagram]Find more about the role at USPA [here]
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#54 - How Jutta Putz Turned Horse Obsession into a Global Branding Career
This episode is so good. I sat down with Jutta Putz, a branding consultant and strategist who's carved out a niche helping equestrian businesses and startups go global. From growing up in a tiny Austrian town to building her career in Kentucky’s Thoroughbred heartland, Jutta’s story is one of persistence, clarity, and a deep love for horses. We talk about how she turned that passion into a career, and how you can too.Key topics we discussed in 5 bullet points:Why branding is more than just logos, and how clarity can make or break your horse businessThe moment Jutta realized the Thoroughbred world was missing a huge opportunity in visibilityHow wearable tech and AI are reshaping equine health and what’s coming by 2030Personal branding for jockeys and equestrian professionals: what it really meansHow to turn your equestrian side hustle into a full-time job with real strategy and intentionBonus:Jutta moved from Austria to Kentucky after mailing out applications to 20 horse farms and receiving a life-changing internship from one hand-written letter.Connect with Jutta on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jutta-putz/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juttaputz/?hl=enWebsite: https://jpbrandplus.com/Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. If you’re building something in the horse world or thinking about it, send this episode to someone who needs to hear it.
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#53 - Mongol Derby veterinary power couple Tim and Kate tell steppe stories, talk pigeons, and a side hustle stud-farm
On this episode of the podcast, I have the distinct pleasure to sit down with UK stud veterinarians Kate and Tim, the husband-and-wife duo who kept horses (and wayward riders) in one piece during the 2024 Mongol Derby. We swap memories about wild ponies, mystery meat stew, and the not so surprise reveal that Tim moonlights as a racing-pigeon enthusiast and advocate. Plus, we track their jump from globe-trotting vet work to running their own breeding farm in Newmarket.Key topics we discussed:How Kate talked Tim onto a flight to Mongolia and what shocked them most on arrival.The unfiltered day-to-day of a Derby vet: twelve-hour shifts, storm chasing, and handing out time penalties with a smile.Food culture on the step, including the infamous offal bowl and why Skittles sometimes save lives.Life after the Derby: setting up a thoroughbred breeding business, balancing farm chores with late-night foal checks, and Tim’s first polo lesson.Racing pigeons explained by a guy who owns fifty of them and still finds time to check heart rates on horses.Follow along Tim and Kate's journey:Facebook:@burden_lee_equine_ltd@burden_lee_equine_ltdLike what you heard? Hit subscribe so you never miss a barn-floor conversation; if this episode made you crave adventure, consider supporting the Mongolian charities that keep the Derby running strong.
A podcast diving into the stories behind some of the world's everyday equestrians. Horse People weaves a narrative journey about entrepreneurs, professionals, and riders alike, and the stories about the lives they’ve built.
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