Two Point Perspective brings together two riders from very different eras of the sport: Elizabeth “Lizzo,” a former 1970s junior rider now actively navigating today’s modern, high-pressure show world, and Reynolds, a millennial adult amateur, new mother, and equine insurance agent who grew up doing the hands-on work and now sees firsthand how the system has changed.
Together, they explore the conversations riders are actually having — and the ones most people avoid. Tradition and technology. Horsemanship and convenience. Trainer dynamics. Accessibility. Show costs. Social media pressure. Generational shifts in riding culture. And what it really takes to stay engaged in a sport shaped by history and sharpened by its audience.
Real talk from real riders — grounded in one sport and a shared passion.
One difficult ride can follow you into the next. Sometimes you know exactly what scared you. Other times, riding starts to feel different, and you’re not sure why.
Licensed professional counselor and horsewoman Anne Moss of When the Ride Changes joins Elizabeth Vagnoni and Reynolds Martin to discuss riding anxiety, the pressures riders carry into the barn, and how counseling and mental skills work can complement each other.
Reynolds shares how a fall at Pennsylvania National changed her confidence at trot jumps—something she previously felt comfortable doing. Anne discusses her approach to counseling, introduces EMDR, and explains why working with someone who “speaks horse” can make it easier to begin the conversation.
We also talk about:
Expectations heading into finals and indoors.
When parental encouragement can feel like pressure.
What to say—and when to give someone space—after a disappointing round.
Privacy and working with a counselor in a small horse community.
Connect with Anne:
When the Ride Changes (https://whentheridechanges.com)
Subscribe to Two Point Perspective for more conversations with Elizabeth and Reynolds.
This conversation is for general information, not individual mental health advice. Treatment needs and results vary.
1 Oct 2026
Where Does All the Money Go?
The U.S. horse industry has an economic impact of about $177 billion.
So why does it still feel so expensive just to participate?
This week, Elizabeth and Reynolds follow the money — from horse-show bills and USEF fees to tack stores, prize money, media, real estate and the outside investors who increasingly see opportunity in the horse industry.
They look at what Dover Saddlery’s collapse says about equestrian retail, why Greenhawk chose only some of its former locations, and what companies like CVC and McCourt Global may see that traditional horse businesses haven’t figured out yet.
They also compare the enormous prize money already available in some western disciplines with what riders see in the hunter/jumper world, and ask whether ventures like Premier Jumping League can bring new money into the sport from spectators, sponsors and media instead of relying on the same riders and owners to keep paying more.
Because everybody may have a perfectly good reason for what they’re charging.
But the rider or owner is still the one paying all of it.
24 Sept 2026
What Is Equitation Worth Now?
Equitation has always been about learning to ride well. But today it can also mean major finals, college opportunities, specialized horses — and maybe even prize money.
This week, Katherine Schmidt Butler joins Elizabeth and Reynolds for a conversation that started with USHJA’s recent discussion about prize money in equitation and quickly became something much bigger.
Katherine came through Heritage Farm as a working student before riding for the University of South Carolina, where she became the all-time NCEA career wins leader with 101 wins, was part of the 2015 national championship team, and later became the first NCEA athlete to have her jersey retired.
Reynolds brings a different college-riding experience. She rode IHSA at Randolph College and won the 2014 IHSA National Championship in Novice Equitation on the Flat.
Together, they talk about what equitation is actually supposed to teach, why riding unfamiliar horses matters, how much money it can take to build a college résumé, and what happens when talented riders don’t all have the same financial opportunities.
Katherine also reacts to the 2026 Division I recruiting numbers — an average of 21 shows, roughly 200 classes and nine horses shown — and talks candidly about horse longevity, working-student opportunities, access, and why she doesn’t believe prize money fixes the larger cost problem.
And eventually it comes back to something much simpler: whether you’re headed for the Maclay, a college team, or an Adult Amateur class, you still have to learn how to ride the horse you’re on.
One sport. Shared passion. Two perspectives.
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