This week’s Practical Horseman Podcast, sponsored by SmartPak, is with international show jumper Laura Chapot. She spoke with us in mid-September after the Devon Fall Classic, following a busy summer competing along the East Coast.

Laura comes from a prolific equestrian family. Her late father Frank Chapot was a six-time Olympian and longtime U.S. Jumping Team chef d’equipe. Her mother Mary Chapot is a two-time Olympian, and her sister Wendy is an active competitor as well. Gem Twist, a successful U.S. show jumping horse in the 1980s and 1990s, was bred and trained by Frank Chapot and ridden by Greg Best and Leslie Howard before being ridden by Laura later in his career.

Laura is skilled equestrian in her own right. She was on several U.S. Nations Cup teams and helped earn team bronze at the 2007 Pan American Games with Little Big Man. Over the summer, Laura won the $75,000 Richard M. Feldman Grand Prix with Chandon Blue at the Lake Placid Horse Shows in New York.

In this episode, Laura talks about what it was like growing up in her equestrian family, her competition routine and training philosophy.

This week's Practical Horseman Podcast is sponsored by SmartPak. Even the best cared for horse can colic, but you don't have to go through it alone. With ColiCare by SmartPak, your horse gets daily comprehensive hindgut support and you get up to $15,000 in colic surgery reimbursement. Give your horse the best care available and receive your own peace of mind in return. Choose ColiCare and enroll now by calling 1-800-461-8898 or visiting SmartPak.com/ColiCare.