Hay Girl Hay brings together riders, entrepreneurs, creators, and changemakers to share the experiences in and out of the barn, that shaped who they are.
What Horses Teach About Leadership | Dr Lauren Lemoine
From Horseback Riding to Leadership | Emotional Intelligence & Life Lessons from Horses
🐴 What can horses teach us about leadership, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and success?
In this episode of Hay Girl Hay, we explore the powerful connection between horseback riding, personal growth, psychology, and leadership.
From early riding experiences at Cascade Stables with Barbe Smith and competing on the U.S. World Cup team to studying at William Woods University and becoming Chief of Psychology at the VA, our guest shares how a lifelong passion for horses helped shape an extraordinary professional journey.
We dive into the surprising similarities between working with horses and leading people, including the importance of emotional awareness, communication, confidence, trust, and staying present under pressure.
Can horses really teach us to become better leaders? How does mindfulness in the saddle translate to the workplace? And why do the lessons we learn from horses stay with us long after we leave the barn?
🎙️ In This Episode:
🐎 Growing up riding at Cascade Stables and unforgettable Mardi Gras horse stories
🏆 Lessons from competing on the U.S. World Cup equestrian team
🎓 How William Woods University and equitation shaped a career in psychology
💼 Leading a team of 40 and embracing servant leadership
🧠 The connection between horses, emotional intelligence, and mindfulness
🤝 How reading a horse relates to reading people and leading teams
❤️ Rediscovering a passion for horseback riding later in life
Whether you're an equestrian, entrepreneur, business leader, or someone passionate about personal development, this conversation reveals why the lessons learned in the saddle can last a lifetime.
19 Oct 2026
From Horse Trainer's Daughter to University President | Dr. Sarah Bryson Wisdom
What does growing up as a horse trainer's daughter teach you about becoming a university president?
Meet Dr. Sarah Bryson Wisdom, the newly inaugurated president of William Woods University, whose journey from the equestrian world to higher education leadership is anything but ordinary.
In this episode of Hay Girl Hay, we explore how her roots in the horse industry helped shape her path, what it means to lead a university with a rich equestrian history, and her vision for the future of William Woods.
From the importance of community and mentorship to the unique opportunities available through William Woods University's equestrian program, this conversation goes beyond horses to explore leadership, education, and finding your purpose.
Whether you're a William Woods alum, an equestrian, a student, or someone who believes the lessons learned in the barn extend far beyond the arena, this episode is for you.
Subscribe to Hay Girl Hay for more conversations with people whose lives and careers have been shaped by horses.
#HayGirlHay #WilliamWoodsUniversity #EquestrianLife #WomenInLeadership #EquestrianEducation
Takeaways
Education is an investment
Community fosters growth
Chapters
00:00 From Barn to Presidency: Sarah's Journey
06:01 Vision for William Woods University
11:47 The Role of Technology in Education
17:49 Equestrian Program and Future Plans
24:00 Community and Alumni Engagement
30:06 Advice for Prospective Students
5 Oct 2026
From The Barn To The Closing Table
What do horses and real estate have in common? More than you might think.
Ashley and Cheryl sit down with New Orleans real estate agent Sarah T. Aucoin to talk about how her equestrian background shaped the work ethic, discipline, and confidence behind her success. Sarah shares how relationships, networking, visibility, and a strong personal brand helped build her business—and why showing up consistently can open doors you never expected.
From the barn to the closing table, this one is all about working hard, building connections, and loving what you do.
21 Sept 2026
She Built the Business,
Then Became a World Champion | Sara Spaulding
She built the business. Then became a World Champion. 🏆🐴
In this episode of Hay Girl Hay, we sit down with Sara Spaulding — entrepreneur, sales leader, coach, and lifelong horse girl.
Sara has spent years building businesses, leading teams, and helping women think bigger about what’s possible in their careers and their lives. But after 22 years away from the show ring, she decided to return to American Saddlebreds — and recently accomplished something pretty incredible: becoming a World Champion.
We talk about business, ambition, confidence, leadership, and what it takes to step back into something you love after decades away.
Sara’s story is a reminder that success doesn’t have to mean choosing one version of yourself over another. You can build the business, chase the big goals, and still make room for the things that have always made you feel most like yourself.
Because sometimes the next chapter isn’t about starting over — it’s about coming back to who you’ve always been. 🐴
11 Sept 2026
From the Barn to the Boardroom | Jackie Ware
🐴 You’re Never Going to Feel Ready — with Jackie Ware, CEO of Pegasus Residential
“You’re never going to feel ready.”
That’s the advice Jackie Ware shared with us, and it’s one of those truths that sticks. There’s no perfect time, no perfect moment, and no guarantee that you’ll feel completely prepared. Sometimes, you just have to make the decision and go.
In this episode of Hay Girl, Hay The Podcast, we sit down with our very first guest, Jackie Ware, CEO of Pegasus Residential, to talk about the lessons that shaped her journey—from the barn to the boardroom.
We dive into leadership, taking chances, building a career, trusting yourself before you feel ready, and the mindset it takes to keep moving forward.
🎧 Saddle up and join us for a conversation about horses, business, life, and what happens when you stop waiting for the “right” time and start betting on yourself.
Hay Girl, Hay — where lessons from the barn meet life and business.
29 Jul 2026
It may be a little rough, but what first ride isn't?
Welcome to Episode 1 of Hay Girl Hay The Podcast. We appreciate you being here. It may be a little rough, but what first ride isn’t? Together lets break in the podcast and meet your hosts. Get to know the women behind the mic - and what this show's really about. Our horse-to-business origin stories, and why we started this show!
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