About this episode

This episode discusses the complexities of decision-making in the parent-trainer relationship in equestrian sports.

When your child starts riding, you expect to make decisions about schedules, budgets, and maybe when they get their first pair of tall boots. What you don't expect is that before long you'll be making decisions about trainers, horse shows, safety, horses, and thousands of dollars in equipment for a sport you barely understand. In this episode, I sit down with Jen Barker and Karen Tanner, hosts of The Scope Podcast, to tackle one of the biggest challenges horse moms face: figuring out who gets to make the big decisions. We discuss everything from choosing a trainer and evaluating barn safety to deciding when a rider is ready to move up divisions, return after a fall, start working at the barn, or take on greater responsibility in the sport. Jen brings the trainer perspective, while Karen shares insights from her experience as a horse mom with two riders. One theme comes up again and again throughout our conversation: trust. How do you build trust with a trainer when you're brand new to the horse world? When should you rely on their expertise? And when should you ask more questions? If you've ever wondered where your role as a parent ends and your trainer's role begins, this…

More episodes of Broke Horse Moms

• Pony Finals Tips From a Mom Who's Been There (Three Times) w/Laura Greenstreet · July 21, 2026 · 47 min
• 10 Questions Every Horse Mom Should Ask (Especially If You're New to The Sport) · July 7, 2026 · 24 min

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