“It’s a great little taste of what it’s like to use the engine of the horse.”

Heather Wallace and Natalie Keller Reinert catch up on the realities of riding horses in fall weather, horse training, and the realities of building a creative career.

They chat about everything that moves, from horse behavior in changing weather to the behind-the-scenes work of getting books into the world. They also share a few personal wins, including riding progress, new covers, and meaningful reader feedback.

Key topics

• Heather Wallace and Natalie Keller Reinert compare notes on how horses change with the weather, especially when fall air makes them feel lighter, more forward, and easier to collect.
• They discuss the difference between a horse being hot because of weather versus being hot because of tension or frustration—and why that distinction matters for riding and safety.
• Natalie shares that she has started cantering on purpose again, and Heather describes similar progress with Ferrous as both riders work back toward fitness and confidence.
• The conversation gets into how smart, anticipatory horses need variety in training, with repetitive exercises often making them bored or too clever for their own good.
• Heather explains how IEA riding shaped her as a rider because it forced her to adapt quickly to different horses, and how that experience still influences her confidence and horsemanship.
• They talk about the value of riding school horses and unfamiliar horses as a way to improve, and Natalie considers getting back into that format next year.
• They discuss reader support, reviews, and the emotional boost of hearing that a book or podcast episode mattered to someone.
• Natalie shares frustrations about Goodreads reviews and the idea of a book “breaking containment”—reaching readers who expected something else and judge it unfairly.
• Heather and Natalie reflect on writing for specific audiences, including younger readers, horse girls, and cozy romance readers who want comfort and familiarity.
• They wrap up with updates on Equine Affaire, new paperback editions, upcoming releases, and the importance of bookstores and libraries for horse books.

Links:

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