About the Show
Description: There’s a whole lot of stuff happening in the horse world and someone’s got to keep you up to date. Welcome to Happy Hour, brought to you by the Heels Down Spark, the only daily equestrian newsletter. Who is winning what? And what weird rules are you probably going to violate at your next horse show? What does your favorite rider really think about white breeches? Grab a drink and listen in. Cheers!
Published: Once a month
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Our Episodes

Heels Down Magazine presents the Heels Down Happy Hour podcast. There’s a whole lot of stuff happening in the horse world, and someone’s got to keep you up to date. Who’s winning what? What weird rules are you probably going to violate at your next horse show? What does your favorite rider really think about white breeches? Don’t worry, that’s what we’re here for. Grab a drink. Welcome to Happy Hour.
The countdown is on my friends. It’s going to be an action-packed Best Weekend All Year in 2025, thanks to very big five-stars: the Kentucky Three Day Event and the Kentucky Invitational. We’re talking to the riders hoping to conquer some of the biggest eventing and show jumping tracks in America this month. Thanks for tuning in.
Guests and Links Episode 135:
- Host: Justine Griffin, Award Winning Journalist with Down Magazine
- Host: Jessica Payne, International Event Rider for Payne Equestrian
- Host: Ellie Woznica Owner/Trainer of Double Barrel Creek
- Guest: Will Coleman
- Guest: Alex Granato
- Guest: Mary Bess Davis
- Featured Image: Traverse City Horse Shows
- Drink Recipe:Velvet and Vice from Cast & Crew
- Link:Kentucky 5* entry list
- Link:Kentucky Invitational 5* entry list
- Link:Favorite things to do in Lexington
- Product Review:SynChill Pure
- Subscribe:The Brief | Heels Down Spark | Donate | Our Patreon
- Join our Facebook Group: Search for “Heels Down Happy Hour Podcast Lounge“
- This episode is presented by:SynNutra (Livello® Sleep), Traverse City Horse Shows, The Vertical from Ecogold (Coupon code: “happyhour” 15% off through April 25) and listeners like you! Thank you to our sponsors!

Your Hosts

Justine Griffin
Justine Griffin is an award-winning journalist who has written about everything from horses to high-profile CEOs to her ovaries. (She donated her eggs once.) Two things she loves the most? Whippet puppies and cheese. Justine is a lifelong lover of Thoroughbreds and is a native Floridian.
Follow Justine on Instagram!

Ellie Woznica
Ellie Woznica happily lives on a mountain in northern Pennsylvania in her horses’ front yard. She works from home as a graphic designer, manure mucker, and zoo keeper, but only gets paid for one of those gigs. Ellie grew up showing hunter/jumpers (and still does) but in college, she learned to ride western and fell in love with reining and reined cow horse. Outside of horses, Ellie loves to knit, whittle, and write! Her boyfriend says she has too many hobbies.
Follow Ellie on Instagram!

Jessica Payne
Jessica Payne is an international event rider who is rarely seen without her long-haired chihuahua under her arm. She was born in London, Ontario, but grew up in Franklin, Tenn., and graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Animal Science. She’s now a coach, a mom and one-half of Payne Equestrian, a full-service eventing, show jumping and dressage operation based in North Carolina with her Olympian husband, Doug. Jess once lost the tip of her pinky finger clipping her 5* horse, and husband Doug says she can “talk to anyone including a wall….and they will like it!”
Follow Jessica on Instagram!

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