Welcome back to Showjumping 101 — the podcast hosted by Sam Forrest and presented by Joanne Sloan Allen and Sameh El Dahan, where we dig into the realities of life in high-performance showjumping.

As we head into a new season, it’s easy to talk about fresh starts and clean slates — but for many riders, last year’s injuries, falls, and setbacks don’t disappear just because the calendar changes.

In this episode, Joanne and Sameh are joined once again by mindset performance coach Sandie Robertson and fitness and nutrition coach Aamir Fit to tackle one of the biggest challenges in the sport: how to come back stronger — mentally and physically — after injury.

From riding defensively and fear in the ring, to trusting preparation, managing recovery, and knowing when to push and when to pause, this is an honest conversation about resilience, confidence, and why recovery is just as important as training.

Whether you’re returning from injury, carrying mental baggage, or simply trying to perform consistently in a sport where nothing is guaranteed, this episode offers practical tools and real-world insight from people who live it every day.

Welcome back to Showjumping 101 — the podcast hosted by Sam Forrest and presented by Joanne Sloan Allen and Sameh El Dahan.

As we head into a brand-new year, many riders are setting goals, chasing progress, and feeling that familiar pressure to start fast and do more. But is that always the right approach?

In this episode, Joanne and Sameh are joined by Sandie Robertson, the team’s official mindset performance coach, and Amir Fitt, official fitness and nutrition coach, for an honest and practical conversation about starting the season with clarity rather than chaos.

From setting realistic goals without pressure, to managing sleep, recovery, and mental wellbeing during the darker months and the intensity of indoor season, this episode is packed with advice riders can actually apply — whether you’re competing at the top level or balancing riding around everyday life.

In this special episode of Showjumping 101, host Sam Forrest is joined by Joanne Sloan-Allen and Sameh El Dahan from Sycamore Stables to talk about the very first Breeders United Auction, taking place 21–23 November at www.sycamore.auction.

We’re joined by some of the breeders and producers behind this exciting collection — LFS Stables, Attaché Stables, and Elamo Stables — to hear their stories, breeding philosophies, and what makes their young horses stand out. From confident, kind-natured mares to talented 4- and 5-year-olds with international potential, this episode offers a genuine insight into the people, bloodlines and values shaping the next generation of showjumpers.

🎧 Listen now and explore the full collection at www.sycamore.auction
📅 Auction runs 21–23 November 2025
📲 Follow @SycamoreStables

Summary

In this episode, Sam Forrest interviews Joanne and Sameh about the upcoming Sycamore Breeders United auction, highlighting the unique features of the auction, the diverse offerings of horses, and the importance of bloodlines and production methods. They discuss the personal touch and transparency in the sales process, as well as their future plans for the auction.

• The Sycamore Breeders United auction will run from November 21st to 23rd.
• The auction offers a unique opportunity to buy horses directly from breeders.
• There will be a mix of horses available, catering to different levels of riders.
• The auction includes an embryo for the first time, adding a unique element.
• Horses are produced with care, ensuring they are not overexposed or overworked.
• The bloodlines of the horses are carefully selected for quality and performance.
• Transparency is key, with full vetting and background information provided for each horse.
• The auction aims to connect buyers with horses that have been raised with personal attention.
• The platform will be live a few weeks before the auction, allowing for previews.
• The auction is designed to be a personal experience, with detailed histories of the horses.

• 00:00 Introduction to the Sycamore Breeders United Auction
• 02:44 Unique Features of the Auction
• 05:25 Diverse Horse Offerings and Breeding Insights
• 07:51 Highlighting Special Horses in the Auction
• 10:29 The Importance of Bloodlines and Production Methods
• 13:08 Personal Touch and Transparency in Sales
• 15:54 Future Plans and Auction Logistics

In this episode of Show Jumping 101, hosts Joanne Sloane Allen and Sameh El Dahan engage with Marcus Swail, a leading veterinarian in the equine industry, to demystify the complexities surrounding pre-purchase vettings. The conversation covers the nature of vettings as risk assessments rather than pass/fail evaluations, the importance of interpreting clinical findings and imaging, and the evolving trends in equine health assessments. The discussion emphasizes the need for buyers and sellers to manage their expectations and understand the context of veterinary findings, particularly in relation to a horse's competition history and suitability for intended use.

Nutrition is one of the most important—and most confusing—parts of horse care. Today, we’re cutting through the noise with expert insight from Laura Gosden, Nutrition Advisor at Spillers, to help you understand what your horse really needs, when, and why.”

“Whether you’re managing one pony or a full team of performance horses, feeding right makes all the difference. In this episode, we’re joined by Spillers’ Laura Gosden to explore everything from balancers and forage to hydration, travel feeding, and seasonal changes.”

“From fizzy ponies to tired top-level jumpers, nutrition plays a role in behaviour, condition, and performance. This week on Show Jumping 101, we get into the practical side of equine feeding with Laura Gosden from Spillers—no fads, just facts.

In this episode of Show Jumping 101, hosts Sameh El Dahan and Joanne Sloan Allen sit down with Sandra Hughes from SUCCEED, the equine digestive health specialists trusted by riders worldwide.

They explore why gut health is the foundation of performance, behaviour, and overall well-being—and how digestive discomfort can quietly undermine even the best training programmes.

From breeding and foal development to managing ulcers, preventing bad habits, and supporting horses through travel and competition, this is a deep dive into what’s really going on inside your horse—and how to support it.

Whether you’re managing elite sport horses or weekend warriors, this episode is full of practical advice you can apply immediately.

Today’s episode takes a different kind of deep dive – we’re talking about something every horse rider needs, but not everyone gets right: nutrition.

We’re welcoming back Aamir Fit, who you may remember from our episode on rider fitness – this time, we’re tackling rider fuel, from what you eat before a competition, to how nutrition impacts energy, focus, and performance in and out of the ring.

And we’re also joined by Joanne’s daughter, Tabitha Allen – not only a showjumping rider herself, but also a biochemistry student, bringing a great perspective on how what we eat truly affects how we feel and perform.

Together, we discuss everything from meal planning on the road, coping with food intolerances, and avoiding energy crashes, to why riders so often prioritise their horses’ nutrition over their own – and how that needs to change.

It’s a seriously practical, honest, and eye-opening conversation – so whether you’re riding at the top level or just trying to eat better around a hectic yard schedule, this one’s for you.