Andrea Pfeiffer: A Lifetime of Shaping Riders, Horses, and Community

This episode of In Stride 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 episode is also sponsored by The Equestrian College Advisor. Navigate the college search with confidence and find the right fit for both academics and riding. Visit equestriancollegeadvisor.com to learn more and book a consultation.  In this episode of “In Stride,” Sinead is joined by BHS-certified eventing and dressage coach Andrea Pfeiffer.  Andrea Pfeiffer is a BHS-certified trainer with more than 30 years of experience developing horses and riders to their highest potential across both eventing and dressage. Based at Chocolate Horse Farms in Petaluma, CA, she coaches a wide range of riders whose success reflects her thoughtful, dedicated approach. Andrea is the winner of the 2022 Equus Award presented by the Sonoma County Horse Council and actively develops horses in partnership with top event rider Tommy Greengard. Beyond her work in sport, she serves as vice president for the Petaluma COTS Committee on the Shelterless and sits on the Board of Directors for Giant Steps Therapeutic Riding Center.  Andrea reflects on the many chapters of her life and the community she’s built within the horse world, including:  • How Chocolate Horse Farms began, the vision behind it, and how it’s evolved over the years  • Her work supporting the shelterless population in Petaluma through the COTS organization, and why that mission matters to her  • Her partnership with Tommy Greengard and the process of finding, developing, and producing top-quality horses together  • The training principles that guide her work today and how her approach has shifted over the past two decades  Join Andrea and Sinead for an inspiring conversation about purpose, partnership, and the impact one person can have in their community, both inside and outside the arena.    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 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. For Black Friday, use code FRIDAY35 to get 35% off your first month or your first year. 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.

This episode of In Stride is sponsored by The Equestrian College Advisor. Navigate the college search with confidence and find the right fit for both academics and riding. Visit equestriancollegeadvisor.com to learn more and book a consultation.  In this episode of “In Stride,” Sinead is joined by eventing legend Karen O’Connor.  Karen O’Connor is one of the most accomplished event riders in U.S. history, having represented the United States at five Olympic Games, three World Equestrian Games, and two Pan American Games. She helped secure team silver at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and team bronze at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and she earned both individual and team gold at the 2007 Pan American Games. Alongside her husband, Olympic event rider David O’Connor, she runs O’Connor Equestrian, a renowned training and coaching program based in The Plains, Virginia, and Ocala, Florida.  Karen reflects on her legendary eventing career and the role natural horsemanship has played in shaping successful horse-and-rider partnerships, including:  • How she fell in love with horses as a kid and the early experiences that laid the foundation for her life in the sport  • Her relationship with pressure on the world stage, especially within an Olympic team environment, and how she navigated those situations  • The community and family that grew from merging her business with David’s and building O’Connor Eventing together  • Why horsemanship must be a cornerstone of training, and how often these fundamentals are overlooked by many new riders today  Join Karen and Sinead as they dive into the realities behind one of the most influential eventing careers of all time and the timeless principles that continue to guide great riders and great horses. 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 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 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.

This episode briefly touches on suicide prevention and loss.This episode of In Stride is sponsored by The Equestrian College Advisor. Navigate the college search with confidence and find the right fit for both academics and riding. Visit equestriancollegeadvisor.com to learn more and book a consultation.  In this episode of “In Stride,” Sinead is joined by British 5* event rider Simon Grieve.   Simon Grieve is a British five-star event rider with nearly 100 national wins and 18 starts at the world’s top events, including Badminton, Burghley, and Pau. He runs Simon Grieve Eventing at Field Farm in Leicestershire, where he competes, trains horses, and coaches riders of all levels. Simon is also the co-host of The Shut Up and Ride Podcast, known for its honest, down-to-earth conversations about the realities of the sport. In addition to his competitive and coaching career, he serves as a mentor within the Performance Mentoring Programme, helping riders strengthen their skills, confidence, and mindset in and out of the saddle.  Simon reflects on his career and his growing role as a voice within the sport of eventing, including:  • How The Shut Up and Ride Podcast came to life and the dynamic between the hosts that makes their conversations both unfiltered and meaningful  • The mindset work he’s done as a rider, how it’s shaped his approach to competition, and the impact it’s had on his life outside the saddle  • What led him to build a presence on social media, how he balances authenticity with visibility, and the challenges of sharing openly in a public space  • How he manages the fear, doubts, and nerves that come with riding at the five-star level, and the tools he uses to stay grounded in high-pressure moments  Join Simon and Sinead as they explore the realities of competing at the top of the sport, the responsibility of being a public voice for eventing, and the importance of keeping the love of the horse at the heart of it all.  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 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 straightforward, expert advice on keeping your horse sound and thriving? Join the waitlist for Dr. Erica Lacher’s eight-part program, Horse Health Essentials, at RideIQElevate.com/horse-health.

This episode of In Stride is sponsored by The Equestrian College Advisor. Navigate the college search with confidence and find the right fit for both academics and riding. Visit equestriancollegeadvisor.com to learn more and book a consultation.  In this episode of “In Stride,” Sinead is joined by course designer and 5* event rider Daniel Clasing.   Daniel Clasing is an American event rider who began competing seriously at age 13 and earned early successes, including a team bronze medal at the 2002 NAYRC CCI* and a win at the 2002 Virginia CCI*. He rode his longtime upper-level partner Houston to double clear cross-country rounds at Rolex Kentucky Three‑Day Event in 2013 and 2014, finishing just outside the top twenty in each. In addition to his riding career, he holds a licensed “r” grade cross-country course designer credential. He and his wife, Kaitlin, run a full-service training and coaching business, Clasing Equestrian, located in Lovettsville, Virginia.  Daniel reflects on his career and shares his perspective on where the sport of eventing is headed, including:  • How his early exposure to horses sparked his passion and set him on the path toward a career in eventing  • The systems and philosophies he follows when starting and developing young horses  • Why thoughtful cross-country course design at the lower levels is essential for building the foundation horses and riders need to progress safely and confidently  • How cross-country questions have evolved over the years, and what those changes mean for the future  Join Daniel and Sinead as they look at where eventing has been, where it’s going, and how the sport can keep moving in the right direction. 

This episode of In Stride is sponsored by The Equestrian College Advisor. Navigate the college search with confidence and find the right fit for both academics and riding. Visit equestriancollegeadvisor.com to learn more and book a consultation.  In this episode of “In Stride,” Sinead is joined by top event rider Alyssa Phillips.  Alyssa Phillips is an American event rider based in Ocala, Florida, where she owns and operates her training and competition program. A product of the U.S. eventing development pathway and longtime student of Olympic-level rider Jennie Brannigan, Alyssa has produced multiple horses to the top of the sport. She earned a marquee career victory aboard her Holsteiner gelding Oskar at the 2021 Land Rover Kentucky CCI4*-S and was selected to represent the United States in multiple FEI Nations Cup competitions. In 2024, Alyssa was a member of the U.S. Nations Cup teams that earned second-place finishes at both CHIO Aachen and the Millstreet International CCIO4*-S, further establishing herself as one of the country’s most exciting rising stars in international eventing.   Alyssa reflects on her journey in high-performance eventing and the mindset that keeps her grounded, including:  • What she learned from stepping into the ride on a horse developed by another rider, and how she built trust, communication, and confidence in that partnership • The training philosophies and principles passed down from her mentors that shaped her approach to producing top event horses  • How she balances ambition with joy to keep the sport fun, sustainable, and in harmony with real life  • The thoughtful conditioning strategies she uses to build fitness and confidence for the toughest cross-country tracks  Join Alyssa and Sinead for an inspiring conversation with one of the sport’s most exciting young professionals about staying steady under pressure and thriving in the pursuit of excellence. 

This episode of In Stride is sponsored by The Equestrian College Advisor. Navigate the college search with confidence and find the right fit for both academics and riding. Visit equestriancollegeadvisor.com to learn more and book a consultation.  In this episode of “In Stride,” Sinead is joined by Grand Prix dressage rider Lehua Custer.  Lehua Custer is an accomplished dressage rider and trainer who grew up in Hawaii. A longtime student of Olympic medalist and Hall of Fame horsewoman Hilda Gurney, Lehua has produced and ridden multiple horses to the FEI levels. She is best known for developing Fortunato H2O, who went on to excel in international para-dressage with U.S. rider Roxanne Trunnell, contributing to a global team podium finish. Lehua also developed and competed the talented Dutch Warmblood gelding FJ Ramzes to the Grand Prix level, earning strong results in national and CDI competition. Early in her career, Lehua received the prestigious Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize Grant, which helped accelerate her rise in the high-performance ranks.   Lehua reflects on her career and the influential horses who shaped it, including:  • How training under Olympic medalist Hilda Gurney molded her foundation and mindset as a professional  • The journey of Fortunato H2O “Tuna,” from his early development to his rise as a top para-dressage horse with Roxanne Trunnell  • Her partnership with FJ Ramzes and the incredible opportunities that came from developing him to the Grand Prix level  • How prioritizing physical strength and fitness transformed not only her riding, but her confidence and clarity as a trainer  Join Lehua and Sinead for an inspiring conversation about grit, opportunity, and the power of believing in what’s possible when you fully commit to the process. 

This episode of In Stride is sponsored by The Equestrian College Advisor. Navigate the college search with confidence and find the right fit for both academics and riding. Visit equestriancollegeadvisor.com to learn more and book a consultation.  In this episode of “In Stride,” Sinead is joined by five-time Paralympian Rebecca Hart.  Rebecca Hart is a U.S. Paralympic dressage rider from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, now based in Wellington, Florida. Born with hereditary spastic paraplegia, a condition that causes progressive weakness and paralysis from the mid-back down, she has represented Team USA at five Paralympic Games: Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024. Riding Floratina, she earned individual gold medals in both the Championship and Freestyle tests in Paris and helped secure team gold for the U.S. She also won a team bronze medal at the Tokyo Games with her horse El Corona Texel.   Rebecca reflects on her journey as a para-dressage athlete and the obstacles she’s overcome along the way, including:  • How she first found horses, discovered dressage, and built her early foundation in the sport  • The challenges she’s faced throughout her career and the importance of advocating for herself along the way  • How horses helped her redefine her identity, from being labeled as disabled to seeing herself as an athlete  • The journey to Paris with Floratina and what it meant to achieve gold medals and feel she had truly “made it”  Join Rebecca and Sinead for a powerful conversation about resilience, self-belief, and the unwavering passion that drives success in and out of the arena.  

This episode of In Stride is sponsored by The Equestrian College Advisor. Navigate the college search with confidence and find the right fit for both academics and riding. Visit equestriancollegeadvisor.com to learn more and book a consultation.  In this episode of “In Stride,” Sinead is joined by horsemanship trainer Tristian Tucker.  Tristan Tucker grew up in Australia surrounded by horses, heavily influenced by his mother and grandfather. From a young age, he spent time alongside his mother in racing stables and progressed through pony club in novelty, jumping, and eventing disciplines. He first travelled to Europe in late 1999, where he met his lifelong mentor, Morten Thomsen. In 2011, he began competing internationally with his Grand Prix dressage horse, Grønskovlunds Marquis, and in 2012 relocated permanently to the Netherlands to further his career. In September 2015, he launched the TRT Method online training program with Dutch co-founder Conny Loonstra. The TRT Method is all about helping riders understand their horses rather than control them, trading feelings of expectation for appreciation to create more relaxed, confident partnerships. Today, from his own stable in Langenboom, Noord-Brabant, Tristan trains all levels of horses, teaches international competitors, and gives clinics around the world using his renowned TRT Method.   Tristan shares his journey and the experiences that led to the creation of his unique training approach, including:  • Growing up with horses and the influences that inspired the development of the TRT Method  • What the TRT Method is, how it works, and what makes his approach to training different from others  • How he connects his method to the world of high-performance competition  • His philosophy on teaching and guiding riders toward better communication with their horses  Join Tristan and Sinead for an insightful conversation about the TRT Method and how it helps riders build more relaxed, confident, and understanding partnerships with their horses. 

This episode of In Stride is sponsored by The Equestrian College Advisor. Navigate the college search with confidence and find the right fit for both academics and riding. Visit equestriancollegeadvisor.com to learn more and book a consultation.  In this episode of “In Stride,” Sinead is joined by Olympic event rider Stephen Bradley.  Stephen Bradley is a highly respected American eventer who, in 1993, won the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, becoming one of only two Americans ever to do so. He also won Canada’s Checkmate International CCI3* three years in a row. He is a two-time Pan American Games team gold medalist and in 1993 was named Equestrian Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Olympic Committee. Stephen also won the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in 1996 with Dr. Dolittle. He was named to the 1992 U.S. Olympic team and has been short-listed for four additional Olympic teams as well as three U.S. World Equestrian Games teams, making him a consistent presence at the top level of the sport for more than three decades.Stephen shares his perspective on how eventing has evolved and reflects on the highlights of his successful career, including: • The most significant changes he’s witnessed in the sport over the past decade  • The lessons he learned from competing at the highest level and from his various experiences along the way  • How he managed nerves and pressure in high-level competition  • His thoughts on the public perception of eventing today  Join Stephen and Sinead for an engaging conversation about the sport of eventing and the journey of a world-class competitor. 

This episode of In Stride is sponsored by The Equestrian College Advisor. Navigate the college search with confidence and find the right fit for both academics and riding. Visit equestriancollegeadvisor.com to learn more and book a consultation. In this episode of “In Stride,” Sinead is joined by para dressage coach and Grand Prix dressage rider Lisa Hellmer. Lisa is a USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medal dressage trainer who runs LCH Equestrian in Ocala, Florida. She is also a Silver USEF Para Dressage Coach and served as the Para Dressage Development Coach for Team USA in 2022 and 2023. In 2010, Lisa graduated summa cum laude from Johnson & Wales University with a bachelor’s degree in Equine Business Management and Riding. After graduation, she worked at The Hanoverian Verband in Germany, where she learned about the breed organization, started and trained young horses, and prepared them for inspections. It was during this time that she discovered her passion for training. Although she now specializes in dressage, Lisa’s foundation includes valuable experience in eventing and show jumping.  Lisa shares her journey in the horse world and how it led her to becoming a leader in para dressage, including: • What her role as the Para Dressage Development Coach entailed and how she continues to support the sport today • How her passion for dressage, and specifically para dressage, first began • The variety of jobs she’s held throughout her career and the lessons each one taught her • Why patience is essential and how giving horses time allows them to show what they’re truly capable of Join Lisa and Sinead for an inspiring conversation about her path in the equestrian world and her dedication to the sport of para dressage.