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We sit down with dressage judge and Mindset Equestrian founder Karen Fulcher to unpack the “20% rule,” plus-size rider stigma, and what horse welfare actually looks like in day-to-day training. We also get practical about inclusive riding clothing, building a functional seat, and walking into the show ring with a clearer understanding of how judging works.
• why the 20% rule gets applied unevenly and often weaponized
• focusing on tack fit, comfort, and signs of tension instead of optics
• plus-size equestrian clothing brands that are expanding sizing and listening to riders
• riding for function over silhouette, including when uneven stirrups make sense
• learning to be dynamic in the saddle and adapt to a moving, unbalanced horse
• asking “why” in lessons and advocating for yourself and your horse
• treating the horse as an individual partner and documenting what helps them stay below threshold
• what judges can and cannot do, and why tempo and fluidity matter so much
• how virtual coaching and video feedback help riders actually see their habits
• the unglamorous truth about making money in online equestrian business
You can sign up on my website for it, or you can message me about it.

https://www.mindsetequestrian.com/

Plus sized clothing reviews by Karen Fulcher

https://youtu.be/Tbmw8sReS4I?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/MbX8cLvlsig?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/fczNXTHFvRI?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/VyGdpHi5TKM?feature=shared

emmajenkinsondressage@gmail.com

https://youtube.com/@emmajenkinsondressage?si=Zt9ma9vtpMK2iZV7

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A brideless horse show sounds like an instant win for horse welfare, but the reality is messier and more interesting. We start with that headline making UK event and use it to ask a bigger question: is the show horse industry built in a way that rewards calm partnership, or does it quietly reward control no matter what’s on the horse’s head?

We talk about what we actually see when tack disappears: softer rounds, less wrestling, and spectators paying attention to behavior and communication. Then we dig into the uncomfortable side, including how “light” performances can be manufactured at home with harsh methods, and why equipment debates can distract from the real moral issue: training, pressure, and what we choose to reward. From there we get practical about safety in jumping, fairness across riders with different aids, and how judges and judging criteria shape the entire culture, especially in dressage.

We also widen the lens to the welfare realities around the show environment itself, from stressful stabling and heat to horses that simply do not enjoy traveling. And we get candid about lesson programs, the way shows become the only motivator for students, and the disconnect between professional horsemanship and consumer expectations. We close with a grounded look at starting young horses, breed maturity, conditioning, and why “exercise and training” does not have to mean riding in circles. If this conversation challenges you, share it with a horse friend, subscribe, and leave a review so more riders can rethink what good competition should look like.

Image of tack neck strap
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?

UK competition
https://youtu.be/t3ksAJgtc64?is=tffNVDNGqtcXFNwy

Bridleless Wyatt
http://offtrackthoroughbreds.com/2014/04/08/bridleless-wyatt-is-a-racetrack-wonder/

Brendan Wise Horse Radio Network podcast
https://youtu.be/SzFxEAtDO5w?is=e_lmz2X1bNnv01Ej

Unbridled Wings

https://youtu.be/WWZae7C4peg?is=OQyaH1FssvMdeU19

emmajenkinsondressage@gmail.com

https://youtube.com/@emmajenkinsondressage?si=Zt9ma9vtpMK2iZV7

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We talk with Vivian about her winter internship at Friesians of Majesty in Vermont and how a promised training opportunity turned into isolation, unsafe work, and constant pressure to push through. We compare her memories with Emma’s similar experience and pull out practical red flags young horse people and parents can use before committing to a barn.

• the farm’s public image versus day-to-day reality for interns
• recruitment hype and exaggerated praise used to hook eager riders
• isolation without transportation, limited phone service, and dorm-style housing
• unsafe horse handling “tests” and being put in danger early
• overcrowding signs, back pasture concerns, and uneven care
• sleigh rides in brutal weather and risk normalization
• injuries followed by blame and public shaming
• missing lessons, minimal riding, and training promises that never happen
• low stipends, late pay, and staff turnover
• how to research an internship and what parents should verify

https://vtdigger.org/2025/07/06/fourth-seizure-of-horses-from-townshend-farm-highlights-animal-welfare-systems-ongoing-gaps/

https://www.benningtonbanner.com/local-news/dozens-of-horses-seized-from-friesians-of-majesty-in-townshend/article_e74021b5-e197-4f4a-894e-612c4a5f5030.html

https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2024-09-26/legal-troubles-continue-for-townshend-horse-breeder

https://equiery.com/gentle-giants-draft-horse-rescue-takes-in-31-friesians-seized-in-vermont/

emmajenkinsondressage@gmail.com

https://youtube.com/@emmajenkinsondressage?si=Zt9ma9vtpMK2iZV7