In Stride

This Week on In Stride   
Sinead Halpin-Maynard is joined by Irish event rider and sport horse sales professional Lee Maher to talk about finding his own path in the horse world and building a successful sales program.

Meet the Guest: Lee Maher 
Lee Maher is an Irish event rider and co-founder of EquiSales International. He has competed through the upper levels of eventing, including a top-10 finish in a CCI2*-L and a 7th-place result in a CCI2*-S at Mill Spring International Horse Park in 2025. While Lee brings extensive competition experience to his work, his true specialty lies in sport horse sales, where he focuses on giving horses a solid foundation and matching them with riders who are the right long-term fit. He works alongside his husband, Chris Talley, and they split their time between Ocala, FL and Charlottesville, VA.  

In This Episode, Lee and Sinead Discuss:   
• Taking the leap from Ireland to the U.S. and building a career without a traditional background 
• The principles behind his sales program and why honesty and fit matter more than fast results 
• What it’s like building a business with your spouse and navigating work, life, and time off 
• Putting horse welfare first while managing expectations in sales and competition 

Episode Sponsor

EquiHealth App Keep your horse’s training, health records, and goals organized in one place.
-  Visit https://www.equihealth.net/ to learn more.

In Stride Is Brought to You by Ride iQ

Ride iQ helps everyday riders ride with more clarity, confidence, and purpose through on-demand audio lessons from world-class coaches.

Members also get:
- Weekly live Q&As with equestrian experts
- Exclusive podcast episodes
- Dressage test prep resources - A supportive learning community

Start your free 14-day trial at Ride-iQ.com 

Looking for More? Want straightforward, expert advice on keeping your horse sound and thriving?  Dr. Erica Lacher’s Horse Health Essentials eight-part program is available now.
-  Save 35% with code POD35 at RideIQElevate.com/horse-health.

Ask An Expert is your go-to podcast for practical, real-world advice from top equestrian professionals. 
-  Listen anywhere: https://pod.link/1776969830

This episode of Equestrian Mastermind is sponsored by VetCS. VetCS is an equine veterinarian–founded company creating science-backed hemp products for everything from joint support to calming solutions for stressful situations. Their clean, consistent formulas are made by horse people who truly understand horses. Visit https://vetcs.com/pages/in-stride to purchase and use code InStride20 for 20% off.   

This is Season 3, Episode 3 of Equestrian Mastermind, featuring world-class riders Phillip Dutton, Tik Maynard, Will Coleman, and Michael Pollard, guided by transformational life coach Natalie Hummel. 

In this episode, the group dives into what becomes possible when there’s enough capacity to access a true flow state. They explore how an optimally regulated nervous system allows flow, and what may be blocking it from getting there.

Throughout the episode, they discuss: 
• moments when performance felt effortless, and times when everything felt forced and the flow state disappeared
• What blocks the nervous system from finding presence and peak performance
• A process for returning to presence and peak performance when it feels out of reach

Join Natalie, Tik, Michael, Phillip, and Will for a candid conversation on flow, presence, and peak performance under pressure.  

Equestrian Mastermind  is brought to you by Ride iQ.    

Ride iQ helps everyday riders ride with more clarity, confidence, and purpose through on-demand audio lessons from world-class coaches. Members also get weekly live Q&As with equestrian experts, exclusive podcast episodes, dressage test playbooks, and supportive community conversations that make learning feel fun and doable.    

If you want to give it a try, you can learn more and start your free 14-day trial at ⁠Ride-iQ.com⁠⁠.    

Want to hear more from Natalie Hummel? Through her ⁠Limitless Academy⁠, Natalie offers an 11-month journey designed to help riders reset, rewire, and rise into their full potential by combining nervous system science with elite-level performance coaching. Follow Natalie on social media ⁠@nataliehummelcoaching

Want straightforward, expert advice on keeping your horse sound and thriving? Dr. Erica Lacher’s eight-part program, Horse Health Essentials, is now available, and you can use code POD35 for 35% off. Learn more at RideIQElevate.com/horse-health.    

Ask An Expert is your go-to podcast for practical, real-world advice from top equestrian professionals. From improving your riding to mastering everyday horse care, our experts break it all down. Listen wherever you get your podcasts: https://pod.link/1776969830

This Week on In Stride   
Sinead is joined by horsemanship trainer Chelsea Canedy to talk about finding purpose, connection, and fulfillment in the horse world.  

Meet the Guest: Chelsea Canedy 
Chelsea Canedy is known for blending traditional training methods with natural horsemanship, including groundwork, liberty work, and R+ training. Her background in social service and meditation practice informs her practical, relationship-focused approach to improving performance with horses and riders. She is the author of Finding Purpose, has created several Equestrian Masterclasses with Noëlle Floyd, and is a sought-after podcast guest, clinician, and presenter at festivals and expos across the country. Chelsea is based in Wales, Maine, at Unexpected Farm, and spends her winters in Ocala, Florida.  

In This Episode, Chelsea and Sinead Discuss:   
• Letting go of a single goal and allowing space to explore other paths in the industry 
• How blending liberty work, dressage, and jumping creates deeper understanding and connection 
• Why teaching a horse “tricks” can improve confidence, relaxation, and postural control 
• What horses need from people right now, and why slowing down and seeing them as individuals matters 

Episode Sponsors

VetCS
VetCS is an equine veterinarian–founded company creating science-backed hemp products for joint support, calming, and overall wellness.
-  Visit https://vetcs.com/pages/in-stride and use code InStride20 for 20% off. 

EquiHealth App
Keep your horse’s training, health records, and goals organized in one place.
-  Visit https://www.equihealth.net/ to learn more.

The Equestrian College Advisor
Navigate the college search with confidence and find the right fit for academics and riding.
-  Learn more at equestriancollegeadvisor.com 

In Stride Is Brought to You by Ride iQ

Ride iQ helps everyday riders ride with more clarity, confidence, and purpose through on-demand audio lessons from world-class coaches.

Members also get:
- Weekly live Q&As with equestrian experts
- Exclusive podcast episodes
- Dressage test prep resources
- A supportive learning community

Start your free 14-day trial at Ride-iQ.com 

Looking for More? Want straightforward, expert advice on keeping your horse sound and thriving?  Dr. Erica Lacher’s Horse Health Essentials eight-part program is available now.
-  Save 35% with code POD35 at RideIQElevate.com/horse-health.

Ask An Expert is your go-to podcast for practical, real-world advice from top equestrian professionals. 
-  Listen anywhere: https://pod.link/1776969830

This Week on In Stride   
Sinead is joined by amateur event rider and small animal veterinarian Katie Malensek to talk about her impressive career in and out of the saddle, and how she manages to do it all.  

Meet the Guest: Katie Malensek 
Katie Malensek is an amateur event rider and small animal veterinarian based in Port Orange, Florida. Originally from Burlington, Ontario, she has competed at the 4* level and represented Canada on the FEI Eventing Nations Cup team in Belgium in 2023, riding Landjaeger. At the Nations Cup, she finished clear with only time faults in the CCIO4*. In addition to her Nations Cup appearance, Katie has competed in other FEI events, including CCI3-L and CCI2-L competitions in Myakka City, Florida, riding horses she has developed through the levels herself.    

In This Episode, Katie and Sinead Discuss:   
• Katie’s perspective on the sport as an amateur and what that status means to her 
• How she returned to horses after stepping away for graduate school, and what drew her back to the sport 
• Her experience competing on a Nations Cup team and how she balanced work, training, and international competition 
• Why it’s important for riders to speak up when changes are needed to prioritize horse safety and welfare 

Episode Sponsors

VetCS
VetCS is an equine veterinarian–founded company creating science-backed hemp products for joint support, calming, and overall wellness.
-  Visit https://vetcs.com/pages/in-stride and use code InStride20 for 20% off. 

🎁VetCS Giveaway
VetCS is running a giveaway for In Stride listeners! The giveaway package includes one tube of Hemp Extract Paste, one container of Hemp Extract Powder, and one bag of Calming Muffins from VetCS. The total value of the bundle is $290 and can be shipped anywhere in the U.S.
-  Enter here: https://form.typeform.com/to/wil4LQqs 

EquiHealth App
Keep your horse’s training, health records, and goals organized in one place.
-  Visit https://www.equihealth.net/ to learn more.

The Equestrian College Advisor
Navigate the college search with confidence and find the right fit for academics and riding.
-  Learn more at equestriancollegeadvisor.com 

In Stride Is Brought to You by Ride iQ

Ride iQ helps everyday riders ride with more clarity, confidence, and purpose through on-demand audio lessons from world-class coaches.

Members also get:
- Weekly live Q&As with equestrian experts
- Exclusive podcast episodes
- Dressage test prep resources
- A supportive learning community

Start your free 14-day trial at Ride-iQ.com Looking for More?

Want straightforward, expert advice on keeping your horse sound and thriving?  Dr. Erica Lacher’s Horse Health Essentials eight-part program is available now.
-  Save 35% with code POD35 at RideIQElevate.com/horse-health.

Ask An Expert is your go-to podcast for practical, real-world advice from top equestrian professionals. 
-  Listen anywhere: https://pod.link/1776969830

This episode of Equestrian Mastermind is sponsored by VetCS. VetCS is an equine veterinarian–founded company creating science-backed hemp products for everything from joint support to calming solutions for stressful situations. Their clean, consistent formulas are made by horse people who truly understand horses. Visit https://vetcs.com/pages/in-stride to purchase and use code InStride20 for 20% off.   

This is Season 3, Episode 2 of Equestrian Mastermind, featuring world-class riders Phillip Dutton, Tik Maynard, Will Coleman, and Michael Pollard, guided by transformational life coach Natalie Hummel. 

In this episode, the group explores how fear and pressure show up in high-stakes moments, and how that relates to success and failure. They share how each of them navigates those situations and close with a visualization exercise guided by Natalie.

Throughout the episode, they discuss: 
• Whether they are competitors who hate to lose or love to win, and what truly motivates them to compete
• The importance of operating from confidence and presence, and being willing to take risks 
• How learning to sit with fear and pressure, rather than fight it, can prevent those feelings from taking control 

Join Natalie, Tik, Michael, Phillip, and Will for a candid conversation on fear, pressure, and how to move forward without letting either hold you back.   

Equestrian Mastermind  is brought to you by Ride iQ.    

Ride iQ helps everyday riders ride with more clarity, confidence, and purpose through on-demand audio lessons from world-class coaches. Members also get weekly live Q&As with equestrian experts, exclusive podcast episodes, dressage test playbooks, and supportive community conversations that make learning feel fun and doable.    

If you want to give it a try, you can learn more and start your free 14-day trial at Ride-iQ.com⁠.    

Want to hear more from Natalie Hummel? Through her Limitless Academy, Natalie offers an 11-month journey designed to help riders reset, rewire, and rise into their full potential by combining nervous system science with elite-level performance coaching. Follow Natalie on social media @nataliehummelcoaching 

Want straightforward, expert advice on keeping your horse sound and thriving? Dr. Erica Lacher’s eight-part program, Horse Health Essentials, is now available, and you can use code POD35 for 35% off. Learn more at RideIQElevate.com/horse-health.    

Ask An Expert is your go-to podcast for practical, real-world advice from top equestrian professionals. From improving your riding to mastering everyday horse care, our experts break it all down. Listen wherever you get your podcasts: https://pod.link/1776969830