Kelsey Epperson

This week’s Practical Horseman Podcast episode, sponsored by Tribute Equine Nutrition and Farnam, is with hunter/jumper trainer and rider Kelsey Epperson. We spoke with Kelsey in early May as she was gearing up for summer horse shows with her horses and clients. To give you a little more background on Kelsey, she started riding at a young age alongside her mom and competed on the local hunter circuit in Michigan. As a junior, Epperson decided she wanted to become a professional trainer. She made the leap after getting her college degree, and today she works with Heather Irvine at Hillside Farm in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Some of Kelsey’s notable achievements are winning the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby with Didgereedoo VDL at the 2021 Winter Equestrian Festival and being the reserve champion in the $10,000 WCHR Developing Professional Challenge with More Fun at the 2025 Capital Challenge Horse Show. In our discussion, Kelsey talks about what she enjoys about the hunter and jumper disciplines, her training philosophy, how she handles show nerves and more. About This Episode’s Sponsors, Tribute Equine Nutrition and Farnam Tribute Equine Nutrition If you’re serious about your horse’s performance, nutrition matters—and not all feed programs are created equal. At Tribute Equine Nutrition, their team only makes changes when research shows they can truly improve horse health—supporting gut health, efficient nutrient use, and overall performance. That’s why Tribute Equine Nutrition is upgrading every formula in their lineup, building on improvements made to their best-sellers and rolling those advancements out across 2026. As updated products reach shelves, riders might even find something extra… golden tickets hidden in select bags, worth up to a year’s supply of feed for one horse. For those not sure where to start, Tribute’s team will create a free, personalized feeding plan—and new customers receive their first bag shipped free, with no purchase required. Visit TributeEquineNutrition.com and click “Get a Feed Plan” to get started. Farnam This episode is brought to you by Farnam, celebrating 80 years of trusted equine care, and Endure Gold Killer Fly & Mosquito Control, a new fly spray for horses. When your horse needs to stay focused, it helps to take flies out of the equation. Endure Gold uses brand-new, EPA-approved ingredients never before seen in equine care to annihilate flies, ticks, and mosquitoes. This advanced formula delivers fast knockdown and up to 14 days of fly protection you can trust. Discover fly protection with Endure Gold from Farnam.