S2 #12 The Mental Load of the Motherload: Making Equestrian Parenthood Work (Imperfectly) | Chat with Sarah Elebert, Equitas COO
What happens when you try to raise children and horses at the same time - while holding onto your identity, your ambition and your sanity?!
In this episode of the Equestrian Mums Club podcast, Katie sits down with Sarah Elebert, COO of woman-centred media brand Equitas to talk honestly about mental health, vulnerability, guilt and the pressure to be “coping” — especially in equestrian life, where strength is often worn like armour.
This is a conversation about showing up imperfectly… and why that might actually be leadership.
💛 This episode is for you if…
You’ve ever cried in the car between the yard and nursery drop-off
You feel like you’re doing neither motherhood nor horses “properly”
You miss the rider you were before children
You carry quiet guilt about missed rides, messy kitchens or unanswered messages
You scroll other riders’ lives and wonder how they make it look so seamless
You’re exhausted — but still deeply in love with your horses
If that’s you… you’re not behind. You’re human.
📸 Sarah (pictured) breastfeeding her youngest of three, Shay, whilst at a weekend Dressage fixture.
In this conversation, we explore:
Why vulnerability is strength (not weakness)
The mental load of juggling horses, children and careers
Letting go of perfection - online and off
The guilt triangle: riding guilt, parenting guilt, ambition guilt
Protecting your headspace when everything feels noisy
How expectations naturally evolve through different seasons of motherhood
“Controlling the controllables” when life feels chaotic
Why community beats comparison every time
Sarah (pictured) is known online for her relatable and deeply moving social content - often themed around horses and motherhood. Pictured here with her daughters, Bree and Paige, Sarah shows her followers how expectations within equestrian parenthood must change to allow you to prioritise your mental health.
🐴 EMC Tack Hacks from this episode
Because we are nothing if not practical!
Sarah shares a few brilliantly simple, real-life hacks for making yard life with small children more manageable:
Bluetooth monitors for safe yard-to-house transitions
The humble “pouffe” (yes really) as a breastfeeding essential
Saying “yes” to help — even when it bruises your independence
They’re small adjustments — but sometimes small adjustments are what keep the wheels turning.
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome to the juggle: horses, motherhood & mental health
00:18 – Sarah’s story and her work with Equitas
02:16 – Why perfection (especially online) is a trap
07:20 – The fear of not looking like you’re “coping”
08:35 – Managing guilt in riding and parenting
10:09 – The power of the morning check-in
14:23 – Why mental health conversations in equestrian sport matter
18:31 – Sharing your story without losing yourself
24:23 – Comparison culture in horse & mum life
28:30 – Making it work on small yards and limited time
35:33 – Tack Hacks for life with babies at the yard
45:01 – Flexible planning when routines fall apart
56:58 – What new equestrian mums really need to hear
62:14 – Controlling the controllables
65:18 – Final thoughts: grace, community and showing up anyway
Who is Sarah Elebert?
Mother of three, based in County Meath, Ireland
Co-Founder & COO, Equitas
Irish Event/Dressage rider
HSI Level 2 Coach
Multiple business owner
Author of The Equestrian Motherload - a guide to juggling kids and horses, with tips and hacks from equestrian mothers worldwide.
Psst! If you enjoyed this episode, you might also want to check out the following:
Our previous episode with Equitas CMO, Muireann Toole O’Brennan
The Equitas website
The Equestrian Motherload e-book, written by Sarah Elebert
Sarah’s website
‘The Ride Back’ - a new initiative created by the Equestrian Mums Club
Raising Horses & Humans Together
At EMC, we believe you don’t have to choose between being a present parent and a passionate horsewoman.
It won’t always look tidy.
It won’t always look balanced.
But it can still be meaningful.
If this episode resonated, share it with another equestrian mum who needs the reminder that she’s doing enough.