S2 #13 Raising Riders: The Real Cost of Ponies & Why We Still Say YES | Chat with Laura Cadwallader
What does it really look like to raise a rider… when you’re not one yourself?
In this episode, we sit down with Laura Cadwallader - mum behind @at_home_with_ivy_and_ponies - to talk about the beautiful, chaotic, emotional reality of pony life with children. From babies on the boob whilst showing(!) to the tough decisions no parent wants to make, this is the unfiltered truth behind growing up in the horse world — and coming to it from a completely different angle.
Because raising children around horses isn’t just a hobby… it’s a lifestyle.
And sometimes, it’s one you didn’t expect to end up with!
In this conversation, we explore:
How riding becomes part of family life from the very beginning
The emotional reality of pony ownership (and letting go)
The financial juggle behind the scenes of “pony life”
Navigating risk, safety, and parental instinct
Feeling like an outsider... and finding your people
Why horses shape resilient, empathetic humans
The power of community when you’re figuring it out as you go
Laura (pictured) has built a huge following on their social media profiles - themed around documenting her daughters’ journeys. Pictured here with her daughters, Ivy & Dixie, Laura shows her followers how pony mum life really looks - warts and all.
Inside this episode:
Growing up horsey - but choosing a different route
Returning to the horse world through your children
The emotional weight behind pony decisions
The juggle of motherhood, money and muddy boots
That feeling of not quite fitting in… and finding your place anyway
Why horses give our children something nothing else quite can
⏱️ Timestamps
00:20 – Meet Laura
02:25 – Riding before they could walk
05:09 – A full-circle return to horses
08:12 – Managing life, money & horses
11:50 – Family roots and horse influence
15:55 – The real cost of pony ownership
17:05 – Tough decisions & emotional load
22:19 – Yard life with a newborn
24:17 – Feeling like an outsider
27:06 – Finding your community
30:08 – Balancing safety and fun
36:36 – When a coach isn’t the right fit
42:18 – Would she do it all again?
44:01 – Why pony life is never “just a phase”
Psst! If you enjoyed this episode, you might also want to check out the following:
Pony Club — building confidence, community and lifelong friendships
Instagram:@at_home_with_ivy_and_ponies