Stephanie Goodman: How Letting Go Opened the Door to a Four-Star Win

This Week on In Stride Sinead Halpin-Maynard welcomes Stephanie Goodman to explore a career built on saying yes to opportunity, knowing when to walk away, and why the long game rarely looks like a straight line.Meet the Guest: Stephanie Goodman Stephanie Goodman is a professional event rider and trainer based in Eagle, Idaho, who came up through Pony Club in Utah before training under Olympic gold medalist David O'Connor in Middleburg as a teenager. After years on the East Coast, she made the deliberate decision to step away from horses entirely, then rebuilt from scratch into the 30-to-40-horse operation she runs today. Most recently, she won the US Equestrian Open CCI4*-S at Aspen Farms aboard her Dutch Warmblood mare Elwenda DP, who has also won all three of her advanced-level completions.In This Episode, Sinead and Stephanie Discuss:How a 16-year-old from Utah ended up at Gatcombe Park training alongside Olympians and what happens when you just keep saying yesThe moment Stephanie and her husband Josh decided to leave horses entirely, move to a ski town in Idaho where they knew no one, and what finally pulled her backHow a spooky dressage mare and a late-night conversation at the Kentucky Horse Park became the unlikely catalyst for her first four-starBuilding a training operation from scratch in the West, and how splitting seasons between Idaho and Florida has sharpened both her riding and her coachingEpisode SponsorsConnaway & Associates The friendly and knowledgeable team at Connaway & Associates brings together more than 30 years of experience to offer a wide range of insurance services, including horse insurance, farm insurance, and liability insurance.Visit www.connaway.net or call 501-868-8084 to explore your options.Equine Emergency Vet Care Guide Created by equine veterinarian Dr. Erica Lacher, the Equine Emergency Vet Care Guide app helps horse owners recognize the signs of a true emergency, know when to call the vet, and understand what to do while help is on the way.Download from the App Store or Google Play at EquineEmergencyApp.comIn Stride Is Brought to You by Ride iQRide iQ helps everyday riders ride with more clarity, confidence, and purpose through on-demand audio lessons from world-class coaches.Members also get:Weekly live Q&As with equestrian expertsExclusive podcast episodesDressage test prep resourcesA supportive learning communityStart your free 14-day trial at Ride-iQ.com