Shut Up and Ride

Egypt Equine Aid: ‘The Reality For Working Animals in Egypt

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussions of graphic injuries and animal suffering that some listeners may find upsetting. This week on Shut Up and Ride, we’re joined by the wonderful Jill Barton, founder of Egypt Equine Aid, for an episode that, quite frankly, left us a little bit speechless. Jill takes us behind the tourist photos and postcard views of the pyramids to talk about the reality facing many of the horses, donkeys, camels and working animals in Egypt — the injuries they see

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SIMON GRIEVE: The Burghley Debrief

Simon Grieve is back from Burghley — so it’s time for the full debrief. From a disappointing dressage test to yet another brilliant clear cross-country round, Simon talks us through the highs, the lows and what it really feels like to ride around one of the biggest five-star tracks in the world. We get into the pressure of Burghley, what went right, what didn’t, and how you pick yourself up when the weekend doesn’t quite start the way you hoped. And then, because this is Shut Up and Ride, the co

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From Mustangs to Badminton and the fun and tears in-between : Elisa Wallace

This week, Jenny and Ben are joined by five-star eventer, Mustang trainer and exceptional horsewoman Elisa Wallace — and wow, what an episode. From training Mustangs and building relationships with horses others might overlook, to competing at the very top of eventing, Elisa’s career has always put horsemanship at the heart of everything she does. But this conversation also goes somewhere much deeper. Elisa talks openly about her fall at the final fence at Badminton — and the brutal social-media

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Dolly, Bridleless & Going Completely Off the Rails

This one goes off the rails a bit… but, quite frankly, that’s what we do best. Think honest, unfiltered chat down the pub with your mates — horses, life, opinions, tangents and absolutely no idea where the conversation is going next. We start with the bridleless display at the Aachen Opening Ceremony. Seeing bridleless riding showcased on one of the biggest stages in equestrian sport feels significant — but is it? Is this a sign that attitudes really are changing in the horse world, and are we s

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Ben Asselin: What Makes a True Horseman?

What’s the difference between being a great rider and being a true horseman? This week, Canadian show jumper Ben Asselin joins Jenny, Simon and Ben to talk horsemanship, the lessons he’s learned competing at the highest level and why understanding the horse has to go far beyond what happens in the ring. Ben also takes us inside Spruce Meadows — the iconic venue founded by his grandparents, Ron and Marg Southern — and explains what makes it such a special place for horses, riders and fans of the

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Freddy Steele: From Stunts to Dressage & Unlocking the Horse’s Mind

This week Jenny and Ben are joined by the one and only Freddy Steele — Liberty Legend, stunt rider, horseman, performer and mindset coach. Freddy takes us behind the scenes of a life spent doing things with horses that most of us wouldn’t even dare attempt… from jaw-dropping stunts and live performances to dressage, liberty work and developing a true partnership with the horse. But there’s much more to Freddy than the spectacular stuff. We get into mindset, confidence, communication and training

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Processing Grief and Loss

This week’s episode is a difficult one. Simon and Jenny come together to reflect on the heartbreaking losses of Sophie and Kerry while eventing, two much-loved members of the eventing community. As friends, colleagues, and fellow equestrians, they share their personal thoughts, memories, and emotions while trying to process a tragedy that has been felt across the sport. This isn’t an episode with answers. It’s an honest conversation about grief, the close-knit nature of the eventing world, and t

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The Holy Grail of Tangents: From Monty Python to Rodeos and Bitless Riding

The gang's back together... and absolutely nothing is off limits. Ben, Simon and Jenny reunite for another laugh-out-loud episode of Shut Up and Ride, where the conversation takes more twists and turns than a jump-off. From nostalgic chats about those magazines, to the world of rodeo, the rise of bitless riding, and everything in between, it's another episode packed with honest opinions, plenty of laughs, and the kind of tangents only this trio can produce. Ben is back on top form, delivering so

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From Top-Level Sport to Grassroots Reality: A No-Holds-Barred Chat with Rosie Williams & Tina Wallace

What makes Eventing such a special sport? In this episode of Shut Up and Ride, we’re celebrating everything we love about Eventing — the horses, the riders, the challenges, the community, and the incredible journey from grassroots to the highest levels of competition. We’re joined by Rosie Williams, CEO of British Dressage, and grassroots rider and influencer Tina Wallace for a brilliant conversation about what makes Eventing so unique and where it might go next. We chat about new initiatives, i

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A New Era for Equestrian Sport? Inside the UK's First Bridleless Competition

What happens when you completely rethink what a competition can look like? This week on Shut Up and Ride, we’re diving into history as we chat with Mia Rodley, the founder of the UK's first ever bridleless competition at Merrist Wood in the UK. Simon is missing this one (he’s off on a hen do!), but stepping into the co-host seat is the wonderful, brilliant, and ever-handsome Ben Atkinson — and together we get into the story behind this groundbreaking event. Mia shares what it took to bring the c

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Mishaps and Whatsapp's

This week it’s just Jenny and Simon behind the mic — and Jenny is in FULL rant mode. From horsey frustrations to the things currently driving her up the wall, absolutely nobody is safe from the fire Meanwhile, Simon reflects on his recent stage success and what it’s been like stepping into the spotlight, before the pair dive into all the drama, excitement, and controversy surrounding the latest bridleless competition at Merrist Wood. Expect strong opinions, plenty of laughs, and the usual chaos

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Caleb Degen:' Negative reinforcement vs Positive reinforcement and so much more! '

Australian trainer and legend Caleb Degen joins the Podcast crew for what might be our most high-octane episode yet. We dive deep into liberty horsemanship, training philosophy, and the often misunderstood conversation around negative reinforcement vs positive reinforcement. Caleb shares stories from his life, his training journey, and what it takes to build real connection and trust with horses. From the Australian Outback Spectacular to eagles, dogs, helicopters and everything in between — thi

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The Unofficial Badminton Recap

This week on the Shut Up & Ride podcast, Simon, Ben, and Jenny unpack all the drama, chaos, and unforgettable moments from this year’s Badminton Horse Trials. From Simon questioning whether the grassroots course was secretly a five-star track, to Ben surviving his very first Badminton experience (while accidentally causing absolute mayhem on the cross-country course), there’s plenty of laughter and behind-the-scenes stories from one of the biggest events in the equestrian calendar. Jenny is back

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LIVE - Lakeside at Badminton 2026

Live from the lake at the legendary Badminton Horse Trials, the Shut Up and Ride Podcast team are back together for one of the funniest episodes yet — and this time, they’ve brought Olympic gold medallist Laura Collett along for the ride. With a HUGE crowd gathered lakeside, the gang dive into the madness, magic, and mayhem of one of the biggest weeks in eventing. Simon is in full competition mode as he takes on Badminton himself, while Ben experiences his very first 5* event — and quickly disco

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World Cup Wins & World Class Mistakes

This week on Shut Up and Ride, the gang is one man down as Ben swans off to rub shoulders (and apparently more) with Hollywood’s finest—but fear not, because Jenny and Simon more than pick up the slack. Jenny is in full storytelling mode, diving into the electric atmosphere of the World Cup and the emotional high of watching Becky Moody deliver a truly unforgettable performance. It’s goosebumps, tears, and top-tier sport… swiftly followed by one of the most hilariously awkward moments you’ll eve

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Charles Owen: "The truth can be really boring!"

The crew is back—and this time, they’re not holding anything back. In the latest episode of Shut Up and Ride, the full team reunites in the studio, joined by special guest Charles Owen, to dig into one of the biggest talking points in the industry right now: the recent factory closure that’s been surrounded by speculation, half-truths, and plenty of rumors. Together, they cut through the noise and get to the heart of what really happened. From insider perspectives to hard questions that others w

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“Is it a Horse or Is it a Dolphin?”

This week on Shut Up and Ride, Ben, Simon, and Jenny are all back in the saddle for an episode that goes everywhere… We dive headfirst into the latest chaos in the horse world —the good, the bad, and the downright baffling. Jenny brings her weekly rant (and no, it’s NOT about corgis this time…). Beagles have entered the chat, and honestly, they’re not safe. Meanwhile, we somehow end up discussing the Manosphere (yes, really) and Louis Theroux—because why not mix horses with existential documenta

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'It’s Not Just Logs in a Field' - Helen West

️Simon and Jenny sit down with brilliant course designer Helen West for a fascinating chat about life behind the scenes of cross-country course design. From working in a traditionally male-dominated world to the reality that designing a course is a bit more complicated than just sticking a few logs in a field, Helen shares what really goes into building tracks that challenge riders while keeping horses safe. We also talk about the fence involved in the tragic fall that claimed the life of rider

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An Australian Fireman Holding a Kitten?!

Yes. That’s the episode title. No, we won’t explain it here. In the latest episode of Shut Up and Ride, Simon and I answer your questions — from who we actually follow on Instagram, to how Simon somehow ended up being compared to… well… an Australian fireman holding a kitten. We also revisit Jenny's ski “career.” And by career, we mean a series of unfortunate sliding incidents that absolutely nobody asked for but everyone seems to enjoy. But in between the chaos, we take a moment to pause and pa

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Dr Louise Newson: “Eat Fruit and Pray?” No — Let’s Understand Hormones

This week on Shut Up and Ride, we’re joined by the incredible Dr Louise Newson, one of the UK’s leading voices on women’s hormone health. From PMDD to perimenopause, menopause and everything in between, Dr Newson breaks down what’s really happening in our bodies — and why so many women are still being dismissed, misdiagnosed, or left to struggle in silence. At one point, we discuss the kind of advice women are still being given — including being told to “eat fruit and pray.” Yes, really. And we