The Plaidcast
The Plaidcast is a weekly equestrian podcast hosted by Piper Klemm, PhD, publisher of The Plaid Horse magazine. Guests include Olympic riders, top hunter/jumper and equitation riders, trainers, horse show managers and industry insiders, plus in-depth conversations on topics such as horsemanship, collegiate riding, the state of our sport and horse show how to’s for riders at every level. One episode each month is devoted to the mental side of riding with nationally recognized mental skills coach and author Tonya Johnston (Inside Your Ride).
The Plaidcast
Tonya Johnston's Inside Your Ride with Paul Haefner & Parker Peacock by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
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Tonya Johnston, Mental Skills Coach speaks with Paul Haefner, licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Riding Far, LLC, as well as top junior competitor Parker Peacock. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.
- Host: Tonya Johnston, Visit her Website, Facebook and buy her book Inside Your Ride
- Guest: Paul Haefner, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Riding Far, LLC, with over 35 years of experience. He works with equestrians to sharpen mental focus, build confidence, and improve emotional regulation, transforming both performance and the rider–horse relationships. Through his work with Riding Far, Paul is committed to collaborative integration of modern psychology, equine science, biomechanics, and horsemanship. He helps riders better understand themselves, their horses, and how to create meaningful change. Together, the Riding Far team provides education, mentorship, and guidance that support both riders and instructors, fostering lasting success and well-being for horse and human alike.
- Guest: Parker Peacock is a top junior competitor in all three rings who started her riding career at her home farm “Peacock Acres” that her mom Ashley owns. She then rode with Victoria Colvin for eight years before joining the team at Ashland Farms. Some of Parker’s top accomplishments include 2026 winner of the WEC Premier Equitation Cup Championship, reserve champion at the 2025 Maclay and USEF Medal Finals, as well as winner of the Wilson Dennehy Award and Kip Rosenthal Award. All of those accolades were aboard Montverdi, owned by Ken and Emily Smith, with whom she started partnering with last year - which was also his first year in the equitation. Parker was also grand champion in the 2025 3’6" USEF Junior Hunter Finals aboard Verified in their first show together. In the fall she will go on to ride for the team at Auburn University.
- Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
- Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
- Sponsors: Equine Affaire, Zoetis and Sentinel
- Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast in Person live event!
theplaidhorse.com
Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.
At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.
Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.
We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.
Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!