“Where Eventing Lives”
Welcome back to Go Eventing, the podcast where the heart, soul, and stories of the eventing world come to life. If you’ve ever dreamed of testing your limits, wanted an inside look at the Mongol Derby, or just need a dose of inspiration, this episode brings a rare perspective on what it means to truly partner with a horse — and with yourself — in the ultimate test of endurance. This conversation blends inspiration, humor, and heart, making it a must-listen for anyone who loves stories of resilience and camaraderie in the equestrian world.
🔎What’s Inside Episode 14?
In this episode of the Go Eventing Podcast, host Sally Spickard is joined by Michael Pollard, who shares his incredible adventure competing in the Mongol Derby, the world’s longest (and most grueling) horse race. From the logistical hurdles of traveling to Mongolia to the unique challenges of riding semi-wild horses across hundreds of miles, Michael reflects on the endurance, horsemanship, and grit required to take on such a test.
Michael also dives into the themes of teamwork, integrity, and faith — values that shaped both his experience in the Derby and his wider career in equestrian sports. He opens up about personal growth, balancing passion with profession, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the gratitude he feels for the unwavering support of his wife, Amber, and the wider equestrian community.
🔥 In This Episode, We Cover...
Sally and Michael discuss Team USA's recent success at the Nations Cup at Arville, with Lauren Nicholson and Larcot Z taking the individual gold. Michael lends his unique perspective as a team selector to the topic of team competition and the high level of talent being displayed on the European stage, and don't miss the end-of-season finales at both the Maryland 5 Star and Morven Park's US Equestrian Open Finale this October.
Use ticket code "EVENTINGNATION" for 5% off all GA or reserved seats at the Maryland 5 Star, October 16-19.
Sally recognizes the course builders and designers at events, and Michael gives a heartwarming thank you to his wife, Amber, for her frankly intimidating level of efficiency while he was gone in Mongolia.
Listener Courtney M. also shouts out Bec Braitling, Caroline & Luigi of Inavale Farm, Rosey Paulson, and Debbie Herron.
Submit your own Go Eventing Shout-outs at podcast@eventingnation.com!
Dive in to to Michael's captivating adventure across the Mongolian steppes and learn all about his prep, strategies, and how this experience changed him as a man, rider, and professional. He and Sally recap his most memorable moments, his newly-gained insights on the horses, culture, and environment, and the deep and personal relationships he quickly made among the other competitors. Michael notes that his eventing background gave him a much different advantage than many of his endurance-savvy co-racers, and further details the parallels he found to eventing along his journey.
[Chronicle of the Horse Article]
[Michael on the Jon & Rick Show]
[Michael on Noelle Floyd: Equestrian Voices]
Now that this bucket list item has been checked off for Michael, what's next? Before any of that, of course, he sings an ode to Whole Foods cake — truly the pinnacle of American luxury dessert. He and Sally play a rather amusing game of Two Truths and a Lie that honestly leaves us with more questions than answers...
Thank you to the following Instagram accounts for submitting your questions for Michael!
[Submit your question for our co-hosts here]
Next up: Sally will be running around at AEC this week — and stay tuned for our next episode live from Burghley!
🎧 Want to keep following along with eventing at its best?
Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the Go Eventing Podcast to help grow our community! Connect with us @goeventing, or you can reach us anytime at podcast@eventingnation.com.
📌 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Go Eventing wherever you get your podcasts!
#GoEventing #EventingNation #WhereEventingLives
