Horse People Podcast

Hosted by Gideon Kotkowski

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Latest episode

Sep 2026

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EN-US

About the show

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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60 recent

September 23, 202656 min

#74 - Sean Jobin, 5* Grand Prix and Team Canada Showjumper talks shop and life as a pro

Sean Jobin is a Canadian show jumper competing up to the five-star Grand Prix level, and this year he wore the red coat for Team Canada, including at Spruce Meadows, the venue he grew up watching on CBC. He came into the sport through family (his mom groomed for show jumpers and his grandfather loved the sport), originally wanted to event, and turned pro at eighteen to focus on developing young horses and coaching. Sean is a thoughtful horseman who tracks every rail in a spreadsheet, plans his horses' seasons nine months out, and still gets giddy about winning his first five-star class in his first-ever trip through the Spruce Meadows clock tower. Key topics What makes a modern show jumper: carefulness, bravery, and the brain, and why Sean ranks a horse's love of the sport above raw scope (with a baseball scouting analogy to back it up) Why Europe's breeding and young horse pipeline gives it an edge, and how turning pro works in the sport Stride counting, when to add or leave out a stride, and Sean's reassurance that some top riders still don't count Arkouga's journey from inconsistent to Nations Cup Grand Prix winner, and a jump-by-jump breakdown of Sean's round in the Spruce Meadows Masters The "Moneyball" side of show jumping: tracking rails in Excel, six-week training cycles, and planning a horse's peak around a single event Seventy-five seconds. That's how long Sean gets in the ring after a year of planning, data tracking, and building trust with his horses. In this episode he walks through what it took to turn a horse he couldn't figure out into a Nations Cup winner, why he'd take the smart horse over the flashy one every time, and what it felt like to jump in the same ring as Steve Guerdat and McLain Ward wearing Canada's red coat. We also pull up his Spruce Meadows round and go fence by fence, including the wall that caught a lot of horses off guard. If you've ever watched show jumping and wondered what's actually happening between the jumps, this one's for you. @jobin_25

August 28, 20261 hr 14 min

#73 - Inside Santa Fe Hunt Fox Hunting Club with avid huntsman Steven Thomas

Steve Thomas is a retired oral and maxillofacial surgeon and now the honorary huntsman for the Santa Fe Hunt in Temecula. A Missouri farm kid who rode western and coon hunted with his grandfather, he found fox hunting by accident when a Kansas neighbor turned out to be a master who'd ridden across his property for thirty years. One ride in a pickup and he was hooked. Twenty-five years of staffing later he's chaired the MFHA's Hound Show and Performance Trial Committee, hunted hounds across the US, Canada, England, Ireland and New Zealand, and turns seventy next year still called young for the sport. This is his first season with Santa Fe Hounds. What we get into: How he fell into it: a Kansas neighbor, a pickup ride, and an instant hook. Why hounds come first: breeding to your country, biddability, and a summer teaching the puppies (Milo included) to come back to the horn. The misconceptions: no guns, not a blood sport, failed coyote control, all about the chase. Hound shows versus performance trials, and what a guest huntsman does at Belle Meade. Making Santa Fe Hounds a destination hunt, and keeping an aging sport alive. Steve has hunted on three continents, but the thing that lights him up is a puppy learning where his invisible line is. He explains why he'd pick hounds over horses every time, and how a sport most people never try is as addicting as golf. There's a story about losing count of the jumps in New Zealand, a mid-hunt reprimand, and a real walkthrough for anyone wondering how you actually start. Subscribe and follow Horse People for more cross-discipline content and stories!

August 19, 202646 min

#72 - Catching Up with Jim: Israel, Thoroughbreds, and Racing News

Jim Seilsopour, the most consistent guest of the pod, and resident fox hunter, just got back from three weeks in Israel, so this one starts on the beach at Caesarea and wanders everywhere from there.. We use all of that as a runway into thoroughbreds, off-track aftercare, the new racing league picking a fight with the Triple Crown, and what we want to build with Horse People next year. Five things we get into: The new team-based racing league, started by the former Liberty Media exec behind F1's resurgence, and why splitting the sport away from the Triple Crown could hurt everyone. Jim's Israel riding: Arabians that stayed sound over rock and road, four-hour beach rides in and out of the Mediterranean, Druze horsemen who could flat-out ride, and a 12-year-old phenom who reminded Jim of himself at that age. Off-track thoroughbreds getting second lives in the hunt field, and why we both think the thoroughbred is still the most capable horse alive even as modern eventing leans warmblood and dressage-heavy. Keeping horses at home versus boarding them, and the connection Jim says he never appreciated until he was feeding twice a day and catching the small things before they became big ones. Bloodlines, live and unscripted, as we pull up Subic Boy, a new thoroughbred of the Santa Fe hunt on Equibase and trace him back through Bernardini and Seattle Slew to Secretariat If you have ever wondered what happens to a racehorse after the track, whether a Silicon Valley playbook can be dropped onto a 150-year-old sport, or just what it feels like to gallop an Arabian along the coast where Herod built his city, this is the conversation. Two horse people talking the way horse people actually talk, following the thread wherever it goes, from a Maryland statehouse to a monastery on Mount Carmel to a cattle ranch where a horse that was running at Santa Anita three months ago is now chasing hounds. Follow the show: @horsepeoplepodcast Subscribe and follow Horse People for more cross-discipline content and stories.

July 2, 20261 hr 7 min

#71 - Beyond the Podcast: The Cross-Discipline Mission Begins

Jim Seilsopour joins Horse People as official co-host in this episode, marking the show's shift from a guest interview podcast into something bigger: a mission to attempt every discipline in the world. Jim is a lifelong horseman with deep roots in fox hunting as a member of Santa Fe Hounds, plus a background spanning polo, ranch work, and riding across the globe from Iran to Mongolia. He and Gideon have spent the last several months riding together, and this episode makes it official. The new format. More episodes a month, as many weekly catch-up between Gideon and Jim as possible, and a rotating focus on trying new disciplines with real coaches and guests, starting with cross country schooling. Cross-discipline riding builds better horsemen. Jim and Gideon trade stories from polo, fox hunting, and ranch work in Oregon and Iran, arguing that riding across disciplines, not mastering just one, is what separates a horseman from a rider. The Donna Brothers detour. Gideon recaps a call with the longtime NBC Sports Kentucky Derby analyst and former jockey, pulling a line that becomes a theme for the episode: the best stories come from getting people out of their head and into their heart. Wild stories from the saddle. Counting coup on feral dogs in Iran, getting bucked into a barbed wire fence in New Mexico, getting lifted clean out of the saddle by a champion Kazakh wrestler mid-gallop. What's coming next. One-day event combining dressage, show jumping, and cross country, a possible trip to Israel to ride with the Druze, and the idea of a Horse People "punch card" for trying every discipline. By the end, it's clear this isn't a rebrand so much as a reveal of what the show was always building toward. If you've ever wondered what it takes to actually try every discipline in the horse world, or just want two horsemen talking honestly about what makes this life worth it, start here.

June 2, 202655 min

#70 - From the Jocks Room to NBC: Donna Brothers on 40 Years in Racing

Donna Brothers didn't just grow up around horses, she grew up as the daughter of one of the first licensed female jockeys in the United States. From learning to ride before she could remember to becoming one of the winningest female jockeys of the late 80s and 90s, Donna's path was never a straight line. She spent eleven years in the saddle before trading in her silks for a microphone, joining NBC Sports in 2000 and covering everything from the Kentucky Derby to dressage at the World Equestrian Games. After 25 years as one of horse racing's most recognizable on-track voices, Donna called her final Preakness Stakes in 2025 and retired on her own terms. How Donna's mother became one of the first six licensed female jockeys in the US in 1968, and how a workers' comp calculation literally launched a family legacy The story behind her decision to retire: why she left at the top, and what it felt like to say "riders up" one last time on NBC The art of the post-race interview, how to keep a winning jockey in their heart instead of their head, and why she never writes out questions The Mind That Bird Kentucky Derby win, Calvin Burrell's raw emotion, and the Southwest New Mexico thread that connects Sunland Park to the Triple Crown What she thinks horse racing media gets right, what it gets wrong, and her honest advice on building a content-driven podcast Donna Brothers has been in the sport long enough to have ridden with Mike Smith as a kid in El Paso, interviewed Jose Ortiz seconds after he beat his own brother in a Kentucky Derby photo finish, and watched an entire generation of young women grow up wanting to do what she did. This conversation covers what 40 years in horse racing actually looks like from the inside, and why she's finally okay stepping out of the spotlight. @donnabrothers | Subscribe and follow Horse People for more cross-discipline content and stories.

April 21, 20261 hr 7 min

#69 - Randy Sarf: How Horse Racing Built an Ice Cream Business, a Media Network, and a Life

Randy Sarf is an entrepreneur, lifelong horse racing fan, and co-owner of LSU Stables. He's been going to the track since he was five years old, claimed his first horse at 18 with his bar mitzvah money, and has since built a portfolio that includes Hildebrandt's (a nearly 100-year-old ice cream company), and the Horse Whisperer Network, a media venture aimed at changing how fans experience horse racing. He's also the host of the Horse Whisperer and Sons Podcast alongside his sons Zack and Jordan. Key Topics Discussed: How Randy claimed his first horse at 18, kicked off a lifelong passion with a 50-to-1 stakes win with Quiet Ruler, and eventually went all in on ownership through LSU Stables after a health scare pushed him to rethink his career His bold argument that horse racing media needs to center jockeys as the athletes and stars of the sport, not horses or pedigrees, comparing jockeys like Irad Ortiz Jr. and Jose Ortiz to NBA players and ranking his top jockeys by "audibles" The story behind the Horse Whisperer Network and Randy's plan to compete with FanDuel, NYRA, and Fox by producing high-quality race day coverage only on the days people actually watch, with top-tier on-air talent How Randy sponsored jockey breeches across all three legs of the 2024 Triple Crown, turning a marketing bet into a Citi Field partnership with the New York Mets and a growth engine for Hildebrandt's What it takes to spot, buy, and develop a stakes-caliber horse like Farbridge, and the economics of horse ownership when you're guaranteed to lose money 80% of the time Why You Should Listen: Randy Sarf has been in horse racing longer than most people have been alive, and he's not shy about telling you exactly what's broken and how he'd fix it. From sneaking into the winner's circle as a kid to sponsoring his way across the Triple Crown and landing an ice cream deal at Citi Field, this conversation is part masterclass in racing entrepreneurship, part blueprint for what horse racing media could look like if someone with real skin in the game got behind the mic. Whether you're a seasoned bettor or you've never been to the track, Randy's energy and stories will make you want to go. Find Randy and the Horse Whisperer Podcast: @thehorsewhispererpodcast on Instagram | @randysarf on Instagram _______ Subscribe and follow Horse People for more cross-discipline content and stories.

March 10, 20261 hr 5 min

#68 - Orchid Bertelsen: Horses, Business, and Building an Audience

Orchid Bertelsen spent the last 20 years building a career that took her from a law firm in DC to the Gucci sales floor, through digital marketing at Nestle, and eventually into private equity, where she now helps beauty brands grow profitably. A first-generation Taiwanese American who grew up without a safety net, Orchid learned early that the path forward meant working harder than everyone else and getting close to the money. After 30 years away from horses, she recently returned to the saddle at a historic equestrian club 10 minutes from her home in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, and what started as a Christmas gift of six lessons has since taken over her entire personality. FIVE KEY INSIGHTS: Finding your way back: Orchid rode from 10 to 14, competed on the B circuit in Illinois and Wisconsin, then stepped away for nearly 30 years. Her return started with a walk past the Grosse Pointe Equestrian Center with her kid in a stroller and one question: "what if?" Horses as a forcing function for presence: Managing an oversensitive 17.3-hand horse named Bo has a way of demanding you show up fully. For someone always attached to her phone, barn time is the one place she's not. Building content with a system: Through Orchid in the Saddle, she applies her marketing background to create content for returning riders. Batch film on barn days, script with ChatGPT, edit ruthlessly in CapCut to 30 seconds or less, and let the data tell you what to make next. The gap the equestrian industry is missing: There's a disconnect between who brands design for and who's actually buying. From boot calf widths to men's sizing to grooming bags, the middle market for quality products made for real people at real price points is wide open. Immigrant grit and the cost of an obsession: All three voices in this conversation are first-generation Americans, and the thread connecting growing up without a safety net, building careers close to revenue, and developing a full-blown horse obsession is very real and very relatable. Orchid Bertelsen is proof that the horse world can pull you back in no matter how long you've been gone, and that returning to the barn at 43 with a half-lease, a TikTok account, and a marketing brain is its own kind of superpower. This conversation covers everything from building a content strategy on a barn budget to the very real gap in equestrian products for adult amateurs, and why the brands that figure that out first are going to win big. If you've ever thought about coming back to horses, or wondered whether your outside career could actually make you better in the saddle, this episode is for you. Follow Orchid: @orchidinthesaddle on TikTok and Instagram Subscribe and follow Horse People for more cross-discipline content and stories.

February 27, 20261 hr 8 min

#67 - Susan Friedland: Misty, Marguerite, and the Magic of a Great Horse Story

Susan Friedland is a former middle school English teacher turned equestrian author based outside Chicago, Illinois. She traded the classroom for the page and has since written four books, including her latest, Marguerite, Misty, and Me , a deep dive into the life of beloved children's author Marguerite Henry. A lifelong horse-obsessed kid who grew up borrowing horses in Wayne, Illinois, Susan eventually found her way to fox hunting, polo lessons, and the wild pony swim at Chincoteague Island, all while building a writing career that blends her love of horses, history, and storytelling. What we talked about: The real story behind Misty of Chincoteague : wild pony swims, saltwater cowboys, and the tiny Virginia island that inspired one of the most beloved horse books of all time How Marguerite Henry went from a city woman with no horse experience to the author of millions of copies across multiple languages, including a Newbery Medal winner What it actually takes to write a book about a beloved figure and why Susan says it's "not for the faint of heart" The hero's journey hiding inside every great horse story, and why that's probably why these books still hit the way they do Why traditional publishers keep passing on horse books, and why Susan (and the numbers) think they're wrong Susan's story is proof that the path to your dream career doesn't have to be a straight line. It can look like a fox hunting trail through the California hills, a trip to a Virginia island, and an attic full of letters written to a pony. If you've ever felt the pull of a horse book as a kid, this one will take you right back. Follow Susan on Instagram: @saddleseekshorses Subscribe and follow @horsepeoplepodcast for more cross-discipline content and stories.

February 24, 202638 min

#66 - Danielle Henson: From Churchill Downs to the USEF, Finding Corporate Work in the Horse World

This episode features Danielle Henson, Sport Communications Manager at the U.S. Equestrian Federation, equestrian, Louisville native, and the person behind one of the most genuinely useful newsletters in the horse industry: CLICK HERE She talks about what it actually takes to build a career in the horse world when you didn't grow up with industry connections, how social media in equestrian sport has transformed over the last decade, and why the best content always comes back to one thing — the horse. Key topics we discussed: Growing up 10 minutes from Churchill Downs and finding horses through 4-H and a little Arabian barn called Stonehurst Riding Club The LinkedIn newsletter she started to help people find jobs in the horse world — and how it helped someone land a role at USEF How social media has evolved from hashtags and Snapchat global stories to full video production departments Why horse-forward, emotional content outperforms everything else Her advice for breaking into the equestrian industry without a head start Social Media Links: LinkedIn: Danielle Henson (search + follow her newsletter while you're there) Horse People Podcast: Instagram: @horsepeoplepodcast Subscribe to Horse People for more cross discipline content and stories.

January 22, 20261 hr 2 min

#65 - Chloe Carabasi: From Polo to Hollywood Sets - An Equestrian Actor's Journey

This episode features Chloe Carabasi, a working actress, model, and social media creator who also happens to be an equestrian, former college polo player, and total horse nerd in the best way. Joining us as co-host is former guest Jim Seilsopour. Chloe shares her unique path from Pennsylvania hunter/jumper barns to doubling for Zendaya in major commercials, and talks about finding joy and community through horses, how equestrian skills have helped her stand out in Hollywood, and what it really takes to ride on camera at a full gallop in a ball gown. Key topics we discussed: How polo shaped Chloe’s equestrian journey from Pennsylvania to Texas to Los Angeles Balancing creative ambition with competitive riding (and the budget battles that come with it) The behind-the-scenes of doubling Zendaya in a high-stakes perfume commercial Why learning new disciplines makes you a better horseperson and actor Finding joy and play in a sport that often takes itself too seriously Social Media Links: Instagram: @chloecarabasi TikTok: @chloecarabasi Horse People Podcast: Instagram: @horsepeoplepodcast Subscribe to Horse People wherever you listen to podcasts. And if you liked Chloe’s episode, share it with a friend who thinks horses and Hollywood don’t mix. They’re wrong