Two Point Perspective

Elizabeth Vagnoni

Two Point Perspective brings together two riders from very different eras of the sport: Elizabeth “Lizzo,” a former 1970s junior rider now actively navigating today’s modern, high-pressure show world, and Reynolds, a millennial adult amateur, new mother, and equine insurance agent who grew up doing the hands-on work and now sees firsthand how the system has changed. Together, they explore the conversations riders are actually having — and the ones most people avoid. Tradition and technology. Horsemanship and convenience. Trainer dynamics. Accessibility. Show costs. Social media pressure. Generational shifts in riding culture. And what it really takes to stay engaged in a sport shaped by history and sharpened by its audience. Real talk from real riders — grounded in one sport and a shared passion.

  1. 4d ago

    Where Does All the Money Go?

    The U.S. horse industry has an economic impact of about $177 billion. So why does it still feel so expensive just to participate? This week, Elizabeth and Reynolds follow the money — from horse-show bills and USEF fees to tack stores, prize money, media, real estate and the outside investors who increasingly see opportunity in the horse industry. They look at what Dover Saddlery’s collapse says about equestrian retail, why Greenhawk chose only some of its former locations, and what companies like CVC and McCourt Global may see that traditional horse businesses haven’t figured out yet. They also compare the enormous prize money already available in some western disciplines with what riders see in the hunter/jumper world, and ask whether ventures like Premier Jumping League can bring new money into the sport from spectators, sponsors and media instead of relying on the same riders and owners to keep paying more. Because everybody may have a perfectly good reason for what they’re charging. But the rider or owner is still the one paying all of it.

  2. Sep 24

    What Is Equitation Worth Now?

    Equitation has always been about learning to ride well. But today it can also mean major finals, college opportunities, specialized horses — and maybe even prize money. This week, Katherine Schmidt Butler joins Elizabeth and Reynolds for a conversation that started with USHJA’s recent discussion about prize money in equitation and quickly became something much bigger. Katherine came through Heritage Farm as a working student before riding for the University of South Carolina, where she became the all-time NCEA career wins leader with 101 wins, was part of the 2015 national championship team, and later became the first NCEA athlete to have her jersey retired. Reynolds brings a different college-riding experience. She rode IHSA at Randolph College and won the 2014 IHSA National Championship in Novice Equitation on the Flat. Together, they talk about what equitation is actually supposed to teach, why riding unfamiliar horses matters, how much money it can take to build a college résumé, and what happens when talented riders don’t all have the same financial opportunities. Katherine also reacts to the 2026 Division I recruiting numbers — an average of 21 shows, roughly 200 classes and nine horses shown — and talks candidly about horse longevity, working-student opportunities, access, and why she doesn’t believe prize money fixes the larger cost problem. And eventually it comes back to something much simpler: whether you’re headed for the Maclay, a college team, or an Adult Amateur class, you still have to learn how to ride the horse you’re on. One sport. Shared passion. Two perspectives.

  3. Sep 17

    Trainer, Coach, or Online Fix?

    It doesn’t take much to get an adult amateur’s attention. Miss a distance. Struggle with your position. Have one frustrating lesson. Suddenly your feed is full of people who seem to know exactly what’s wrong — and, conveniently, have something to sell you. In this episode, we talk about why those messages work, the difference between useful outside expertise and another layer of “coaching,” and whether trainer, instructor and coach are really separate jobs in the programs we know. We get into video critiques, remote lessons, riding homework, physical limitations that may need expertise beyond your trainer, and why sometimes a different explanation really can make something click. The question isn’t whether online information can be useful. It can. The harder question is what you’re actually buying — a useful exercise, a fresh set of eyes, or an entirely different training system — and how that fits with the horse, rider and program you already have.

  4. Sep 10

    What Does This Horse Actually Need?

    We have more ways to care for horses than ever before — bodywork, therapeutic equipment, joint maintenance, supplements, better diagnostics and more. And much of it genuinely helps. But once something helps, it can quickly become part of the routine. Then the question changes from “Could this help?” to “Is this something we do for all the horses?” This week, Elizabeth and Reynolds talk about modern horse care, what previous generations may have missed, why competition horses are treated more like athletes, and how easy it is for owners to become hyperaware of every small change. Steve Guerdat’s approach to footing, turnout and letting horses be horses adds another piece to the conversation. The question isn’t whether we should do less. It’s whether we know why we’re doing something for the horse in front of us.

  5. Sep 3

    Who Finds the Horse Now?

    Horse shopping used to begin with somebody who knew somebody. Your trainer knew a seller. A friend knew a horse. A professional made a call. And plenty of horses changed hands without ever being publicly advertised. That network still matters. But it’s no longer the only way into the market. This week, Elizabeth and Reynolds are joined by Madi Saunders of Elite Equine Marketplace to talk about what changes when amateurs have access to the search themselves. Can technology make the search easier without replacing professional judgment? What happens when your trainer doesn’t know the seller? Does opening up the marketplace create more opportunity—or simply more horses to sort through? And then there’s the question that gets especially interesting: If you find the horse yourself, but your trainer handles the calls, evaluation, trial and PPE, who actually found the horse—and does that change the conversation about commission? Technology may be changing how we get to the horse. Buying the right one is still another matter entirely. One sport. Shared passion. Two perspectives. Links referenced in this episode: eliteequinemarketplace.com Companies mentioned in this episode: Elite Equine MarketplaceCatch Ride

  6. Aug 27

    Why Are You Still Taking Riding Lessons?

    Why are you still taking lessons? It's a question Elizabeth's mother asks all the time—and from outside the horse world, it makes perfect sense. If you've been riding for years, shouldn't you know how to do it by now? Except horses don't really work that way. In this episode, Elizabeth and Reynolds talk about what changes as riders gain experience: learning a new horse, hearing the same idea explained differently, figuring out what a trainer can see from the ground that you can't feel from the saddle, and realizing that two good trainers may approach the same problem differently. And for those of us who show hunters, there's another perspective waiting at the horse show: the judge. A better round for you and your horse doesn't necessarily mean a better score, and clearer judging standards don't eliminate the judgment involved in evaluating a hunter round. The conversation comes back to a simple reason experienced riders can keep taking lessons for decades: There's always something else to learn—and you still can't see yourself ride. Until next week—let's ride.

  7. Aug 20

    When the Numbers Don’t Work

    Having horses has always been expensive. But what happens when what you want to do and what you can realistically afford stop lining up? Elizabeth and Reynolds come at that question from very different places — and at very different stages of life. For Elizabeth, a conversation about how long she could continue showing at her current level followed her straight into the ring and affected the way she rode. For Reynolds, changing family priorities mean rethinking a horse life that was made possible for years with her mother's help. They also talk about the culture of “more” — more shows, more mileage, more training — and what happens when the ideal path toward your goals doesn't fit the life or budget you actually have. Is the answer to show less? Do more yourself? Change your goals? Find another way to pay for what you want? Or is the better conversation simply: This is what I can do. How good can we get within that reality? And perhaps the hardest question of all: At what point does “I can pay this bill” stop meaning “I can actually afford it”?

  8. Aug 13

    The Horse World Only Has Two Degrees of Separation

    The horse world spans barns, states, countries, and generations—but somehow, everyone seems to be only one connection away. In Episode 34, Elizabeth and Reynolds trade stories of unexpected overlaps: childhood horses, former trainers, old friends, new careers, and a photograph from 50 years ago appearing in a barn aisle. They consider how these relationships build trust, preserve knowledge, and create community—and how the same network can make the sport difficult to enter and slow to change. Because when we join a barn or buy a horse, we aren’t just making one new connection. We’re entering a network that existed long before we arrived.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Two Point Perspective brings together two riders from very different eras of the sport: Elizabeth “Lizzo,” a former 1970s junior rider now actively navigating today’s modern, high-pressure show world, and Reynolds, a millennial adult amateur, new mother, and equine insurance agent who grew up doing the hands-on work and now sees firsthand how the system has changed. Together, they explore the conversations riders are actually having — and the ones most people avoid. Tradition and technology. Horsemanship and convenience. Trainer dynamics. Accessibility. Show costs. Social media pressure. Generational shifts in riding culture. And what it really takes to stay engaged in a sport shaped by history and sharpened by its audience. Real talk from real riders — grounded in one sport and a shared passion.

Information

  • Creator
    Elizabeth Vagnoni
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    41
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Two Point Perspective
  • Show Website
    Two Point Perspective

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