About the Show
Description: There’s a whole lot of stuff happening in the horse world and someone’s got to keep you up to date. Welcome to Happy Hour, brought to you by the Heels Down Spark, the only daily equestrian newsletter. Who is winning what? And what weird rules are you probably going to violate at your next horse show? What does your favorite rider really think about white breeches? Grab a drink and listen in. Cheers!
Published: Once a month
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Our Episodes

Heels Down Magazine presents the Heels Down Happy Hour podcast. There’s a whole lot of stuff happening in the horse world, and someone’s got to keep you up to date. Who’s winning what? What weird rules are you probably going to violate at your next horse show? What does your favorite rider really think about white breeches? Don’t worry, that’s what we’re here for. Grab a drink. Welcome to Happy Hour.
Dreaming of the spring horse show season? Us too. This week, we’re sharing our favorite DIY tips to make training tools you can easily use in your home arena. Thanks for tuning in.
Guests and Links Episode 133:
- Host: Justine Griffin, Award Winning Journalist with Down Magazine
- Host: Jessica Payne, International Event Rider for Payne Equestrian
- Host: Ellie Woznica Owner/Trainer of Double Barrel Creek
- Guest: Derek Braun, Split Rock Horse Shows
- Guest: Danielle Burgess, Founder of Instagrooms
- Featured Image: Traverse City Horse Shows
- Drink Recipe: Le French
- Link:Pony conformation class drama
- Link:Laura Kraut in the show jumping hall of fame
- Product Review: DIY Training Tools for Your Arena
- Subscribe:The Brief | Heels Down Spark | Donate | Our Patreon
- Join our Facebook Group: Search for “Heels Down Happy Hour Podcast Lounge“
- This episode is presented by: Traverse City Horse Shows and listeners like you! Thank you to our sponsors!

Your Hosts

Justine Griffin
Justine Griffin is an award-winning journalist who has written about everything from horses to high-profile CEOs to her ovaries. (She donated her eggs once.) Two things she loves the most? Whippet puppies and cheese. Justine is a lifelong lover of Thoroughbreds and is a native Floridian.
Follow Justine on Instagram!

Ellie Woznica
Ellie Woznica happily lives on a mountain in northern Pennsylvania in her horses’ front yard. She works from home as a graphic designer, manure mucker, and zoo keeper, but only gets paid for one of those gigs. Ellie grew up showing hunter/jumpers (and still does) but in college, she learned to ride western and fell in love with reining and reined cow horse. Outside of horses, Ellie loves to knit, whittle, and write! Her boyfriend says she has too many hobbies.
Follow Ellie on Instagram!

Jessica Payne
Jessica Payne is an international event rider who is rarely seen without her long-haired chihuahua under her arm. She was born in London, Ontario, but grew up in Franklin, Tenn., and graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Animal Science. She’s now a coach, a mom and one-half of Payne Equestrian, a full-service eventing, show jumping and dressage operation based in North Carolina with her Olympian husband, Doug. Jess once lost the tip of her pinky finger clipping her 5* horse, and husband Doug says she can “talk to anyone including a wall….and they will like it!”
Follow Jessica on Instagram!

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