Living The Red Life – "Horse Industry Trailblazers: What It Really Takes to Ride at the Highest Level"

Released: December 17, 2025
Host: Rudy Mawer (with Ray Gutierrez hosting the interview)
Guests: Kristen Harden & Zach Harden

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the inside world of elite horse training and competition, featuring Kristen Harden—a powerhouse horse breeder, trainer, and mentor—and her son Zach, an accomplished young competitor and social media innovator. The discussion explores the physical, mental, and emotional demands of riding at the highest level, family legacy in equestrian sports, the role of social media in modernizing traditional industries, and what it truly means to sustain excellence and community in an exclusive world.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Harden Family’s Equestrian Lifestyle

• "We breed and train horses. That's our lifestyle... That's all we do all day, every day." – Kristen Harden (00:00, 01:32)
  The Hardens share their all-encompassing commitment to equestrian pursuits, with both daily horse care and competition forming their way of life.

• Family legacy & power:

  • Ray Gutierrez highlights Kristen's dual identity as a "woman in power and a legacy maker" (00:07, 02:56).
  • Zach, homeschooled to accommodate travel and training, calls his upbringing “weird but inspiring,” marked by a tight-knit, horse-centered social circle (06:16–07:52).

The Emotional Bond & Intelligence of Horses

• Horses are intelligent, empathetic, and have individual personalities, akin to elephants or dolphins.

  • "They're really smart and they never forget anybody or each other. I can sell a horse, and five years later, they see their sibling at an event... one of them, Winnie's at the other one—it's really cool." – Kristen Harden (02:39–02:56)

• Both Hardens stress that every horse is unique, and training requires adapting to each animal’s distinct temperament.

  • "They're all totally different, but they're all the same. But they're all different." – Kristen Harden (02:12)

Physical & Mental Demands of Elite Riding

• Skillset required:

  • Balance and core strength are non-negotiable ("You can't be afraid at all." – Kristen 00:44; 09:27).
  • "You can't really get fit for riding without riding." – Zach Harden (00:49; 09:37)
  • Depth perception, logical thinking, and calmness are essential, especially during competition jumps (09:47–10:28).

• Mental game:

  • "Most of it is mental... like any sport, a lot of it is mental." – Zach (11:10)
  • Kristen relies on riding alone for fitness after injuries, emphasizing the year-round, relentless physical engagement (11:31–11:39).

The Unique Challenges of Horse Matching & Training

• The process is about harmonizing rider and horse abilities—both must be closely matched to prevent confusion, risk, or injury.
  • "You can get a horse that's better than you... Or more. And then you try to catch up to the horse." – Kristen (11:52–12:03)
  • Proper training is likened to finding balance in any close relationship, requiring constant assessment and adjustment for seamless performance (12:32–13:49).

Protecting Animal Welfare and Ethical Sales

• Kristen ensures that horses aren’t sold solely based on money, emphasizing ethical matching.
  • "You can't let the money override what's morally and ethically correct." – Kristen Harden (14:43–14:51)
  • Horses sold to less suitable owners often return to professionals like the Hardens for retraining and recovery (14:56–15:18).

The Role and Evolution of Social Media in Equestrian Business

• Zach brings modernization through TikTok and Instagram, expanding outreach for business and building community.
  • "It helps the business... we have more connections with people." – Kristen Harden (15:27)
  • Zach shares the volatility of online platforms: "I'll have, like, a week where everything blows up and I have, like, you know, 40,000 views a video... and then it's a slow period" (21:28).
  • Followers can fluctuate without explanation—a shared modern reality (21:44).
  • They note the power of vulnerability: "If something bad happens and I talk about it, then it's like, they love that." – Kristen (22:15)

Accessibility, Elitism, and Community in the Horse World

• While often seen as elite, shows attract a wide spectrum of people from different backgrounds.

  • "Every walk of life is at the horse show. It's like a tiny world, so everybody does fit in there." – Kristen Harden (16:01)

• Having a horse can become a family’s shared passion, deepening bonds and lasting memories (17:11–17:23).

Daily Routines, Rituals, and Personal Growth

• Zach rides 10–13 horses a day, favoring routine and volume over superstition—but admits to wearing two "lucky" necklaces after a winning streak.

  • "I started winning when I had these necklaces on... So now I have them on, like, all the time." – Zach Harden (18:27)

• The thrill of competition is compared to F1 racing, with riders advancing through levels akin to motorsport (08:15–08:24).

The Future of Horses in a High-Tech World

• The Hardens are confident that equestrian sport will thrive alongside technology advances:
  • "I think people are still going to ride horses, if possible, for sure. ...Even the people that are in tech, that are the future, are getting horses." – Kristen Harden (20:07, 20:20)
  • Zach notes competitions are getting "bigger and more mainstream," with "more money going into the sport right now" (20:30).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "It doesn't matter who anybody is. It only matters the horse." – Kristen Harden (06:02)
  (On working with actress Kaley Cuoco’s horse, illustrating that status fades at the stable)

• "Horses are like people... probably smarter and more empathetic than people." – Ray Gutierrez and Kristen Harden (02:29–02:33)

• "If you do something wrong on a horse, you can just–" – Zach Harden (10:28)
  (On the real risks and unforgiving nature of equestrian sports)

• "You don't want your horse to get tired because then you have to make up the difference. It doesn't really work the other way." – Kristen Harden (13:07)

• "They love to sip that tea... Jerry Springer was right." – Ray Gutierrez (22:25)
  (On the lure of drama on social media)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–01:32: Introduction, the Harden lifestyle, and horse-centric family legacy
• 02:12–02:56: On horses’ unique personalities, memory, and emotional intelligence
• 03:13–06:02: Kristen’s story about working with Kaley Cuoco’s horse, status vs. horsemanship
• 06:16–07:52: Zach’s upbringing, small-town roots, and navigating modern pressures
• 08:15–10:28: The athletic, mental, and emotional demands of high-level riding
• 11:10–13:49: Matching horses and riders, the crucial role of coaching and mentorship
• 14:26–15:18: Ethical considerations in horse sales and business practices
• 15:27–16:08: How social media transforms and democratizes traditional equestrian work
• 17:11–17:23: The family-bonding power of horse ownership
• 18:17–19:06: Daily routines, luck, and rituals in competition
• 20:07–20:30: Horses in a high-tech, AI-driven future
• 21:10–22:43: Social media realities—the rewards, volatility, and audience engagement

Ways to Connect

• Zach Harden: TikTok & Instagram @zach_o.hardin
• Kristen Harden: Instagram @kristenharden

Tone & Final Reflections

The episode maintains a blend of warmth, candor, and expertise, revealing the unglamorous hard work, tight family bonds, and enduring emotional connections underpinning equestrian success. The Hardens demystify what it takes to ride and thrive at the highest level, while showing that true excellence rides on humility, ethics, and love for the animal.

"It's so part of the human journey to always have a horse." – Ray Gutierrez and Kristen Harden (20:12–20:14)