In this episode of The Long Ride Home, Alex Husner sits down with her trainer, Andrea Harry, Owner of Meraki Farm, for a conversation about horsemanship, timing, and the journey that brought them together.

As a key part of Alex’s return to the saddle, Andrea shares more about her own journey in the American Saddlebred world and the road that led her to become a trainer. She reflects on her early start in the industry, the horses and experiences that shaped her, and what it has meant to build her own barn and community. 

The conversation also explores how her path came to intersect with Alex’s at this chapter of her return to the saddle. Together, they talk about young horses, returning amateurs, memorable wins, and the perspective Andrea brings to both the sport and the people within it.

In this episode:

00:33 - Alex welcomes her trainer, Andrea Harry of Meraki Farm

01:20 - How Andrea got her start in riding at Mercer Springs Farm

03:50 - What it looked like to start her own barn in 2019

05:23 - Building an all-women training barn and client community

09:12 - The story of Johnny Boy and the horse that changed everything

14:26 - Why returning amateurs are such an important part of Andrea’s program

16:15 - How Andrea matches riders with the right young horse and path forward

19:39 - What Alex and Andrea are watching for as Chapstick begins his show journey

20:44 - A fun but real conversation about bringing more visibility to the sport

21:53 - Why awareness remains one of the biggest challenges in the Saddlebred world

23:23 - Andrea’s perspective on participation, breeding, and the future of the industry

26:53 - What it means to find the right trainer, the right horse, and the right home barn

Connect with Andrea:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_ladyharry/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrea.wolkoff 

Connect with Meraki Farm:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merakifarmllc/ 

Follow us on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesaddlebredpodcast/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesaddlebredpodcast/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thesaddlebredpodcast 

#americansaddlebredpodcast #saddlebredindustry #equestrianlife

In the very first episode of The Long Ride Home, Alex Husner shares the deeply personal story behind her return to the American Saddlebred world after 26 years away.

From her final memory of walking out of Freedom Hall at 15 years old to the moment she realized it was finally time to come back, this episode is about far more than horses. It is about identity, timing, courage, and what happens when something that shaped you never fully lets you go.

Alex opens up about growing up in the Saddlebred industry, stepping away from the sport, and building a full life and career before finding her way back to the barn. She also shares how that return began to take shape, from researching barns and building a budget to finding her trainer, Andrea Harry of Meraki Farm, and ultimately purchasing her new young horse, Son of a Kiss, barn name Chapstick.

This episode also introduces the heart behind the podcast itself. The Long Ride Home is not only about Alex’s return to the saddle. It is about the people, stories, and future of the American Saddlebred industry. Through honest conversations with riders, trainers, breeders, and returning amateurs, the show aims to honor where people come from while exploring what still calls them forward.

Whether you have been part of this world for years, are finding your way back to it, or are simply curious about the people and passion behind it, this is where the journey begins.

In this episode, Alex shares:

0:33 - Alex reflects on the moment she left Louisville and why it stayed with her for 26 years

4:20 - The mindset shift that finally gave her the courage to return

5:05 - The emotional and practical realities of coming back to the sport as an adult

8:05 - How she found her trainer, Andrea Harry, and Meraki Farm

10:03 - The story behind finding Chapstick, her young five-gaited prospect

11:45 - What it’s like to relearn riding in a completely different season of life

17:45 - Why the Saddlebred industry needs more visibility and fresh interest

20:00 - The deeper purpose behind The Long Ride Home

Follow along as the journey continues

Episode 2 will feature a conversation with trainer Andrea about her path in the industry, her program, and what it means to run an all-women training barn in today’s Saddlebred world.

Follow us on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesaddlebredpodcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesaddlebredpodcast/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thesaddlebredpodcast

#americansaddlebredpodcast #saddlebredindustry #thelongridehomepodcast