Episode Summary: Riding Horses as a Professional
Podcast: The Centaur
Host: Camron Adibi
Guest: Alex Conrad — Professional eventer, founder of Conrad Equestrian
Release Date: October 27, 2025
Overview
In this episode, Camron Adibi interviews professional event rider Alex Conrad about his unconventional path into horse sport, the day-to-day realities of running a training barn, how he forges meaningful relationships with horses, and what motivates him to push toward the elite five-star level. The discussion is rich with insights for aspiring riders, horse lovers, and those curious about the challenges and rewards of working with horses professionally.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Alex's Journey: From Pre-Med Student to Professional Rider
- Background: Alex shares his initial plan to go to medical school and how he pivoted to pursue his passion for horses after finishing his undergrad at Boston University.
- Quote (Alex Conrad, 02:35):
“I decided that I was going to not apply to medical school and instead I was going to work in Pennsylvania for one of the top riders in the country. I was a working student for a while and one year turned into three years... I just kind of kept rolling with it.”
2. Foundational Influences & Community
- Early Training: Grew up riding at Buttonwood Stables (now Cedarwood) and working at Groton House Farm, learning under influential trainers like Ann Getel, Beth Perkins, and Ashley McVaugh.
- Quote (Alex Conrad, 05:50):
“I think the people who give you your foundation are so important. So I'm thankful to Kathy and Libby...and then Beth and Ashley, who really kind of got me my start in eventing.”
3. Building Horse Partnerships Without Ownership
- Unconventional Start: Did not own his own horse until age 24; relied on riding and building partnerships with borrowed or barn horses.
- First Heart-Horse Story: Max (“GHF Society Max”), a challenging but pivotal partner.
- Quote (Alex Conrad, 07:45):
“I actually didn't own my own horse until I was 24...I loved that horse more than anything...it’s just funny that I loved this sport so much, but the start was pretty rocky.”
4. Navigating a Female-Dominated Environment
- Adaptation: As one of the few male riders around, became comfortable relating to women of all ages, which socialized him uniquely—often joked about by his family.
- Quote (Alex Conrad, 10:43):
“At the barn he talks to probably like 30 to 70-year-old women all day...so he's very comfortable with his teachers.”
5. The Professional Routine: Structure, Teamwork, and Care
- Weekly Schedule: Detailed breakdown of a typical week—mix of dressage, show jumping, hacking, gallops, and rest/recovery (including unique pond walking for conditioning).
- Barn Life: Runs a 20-horse barn with a team—assistant, barn manager, and grooms—emphasizing collaboration.
- Quote (Alex Conrad, 12:56):
“We have got 20 horses in the barn...I have a great assistant rider, a barn manager, and a great support team.”
Memorable Care Practices
- Pond Work:
“On Sunday we have this cool...pond at the farm...we walk them in the pond for like half an hour...it’s good for their top line...strengthen everything without a lot of pounding.” (15:55)
6. Relationship to the Individual Horse
- Emotional Connection and Physical Attunement: Alex emphasizes active involvement in grooming and daily care, believing it fosters communication and early detection of health or mood changes.
- Quote (Alex Conrad, 16:17):
“I like to be the one actually grooming and tacking them up myself...you can just know how they’re doing and just get used to kind of who they are as people.”
“Riding is only 30% of it”
- Ongoing education in nutrition, shoeing, veterinary care, and psychology of each horse.
- Team culture around awareness, detail, and communication.
7. The Realities of Competing & Traveling
- Logistics: Transporting horses (shipping his horse Malibu Preacher nearly 40 hours cross-country for a four-star event), balancing the home-barn operation while away, daily check-ins with the team.
- Financial Pressures: Grants and clinics help subsidize competition expenses.
- Quote (Alex Conrad, 23:06):
"It's an extremely expensive sport. So this grant through the USDA for me to compete there was huge because I wouldn't have been able to do something like that without the grant."
8. Motivation, Setbacks, and Pushing Forward
- Personal Motivation: Driven by the childhood dream of riding at the highest level—now aiming for the “five-star” milestone.
- Overcoming Doubt:
“Even...throughout college, I almost went to college because I was like, there’s no way I’m going to be able to ride professionally. I’ve got to have another plan...” (26:13)
Sponsors and Next Steps
- Current Goal: To qualify and compete at the Kentucky Three-Day (five-star) and internationally.
- Quote (Alex Conrad, 27:45):
“Every day I get up and I’m kind of like, Alex, you’ve come this far. You gotta get to that five star...”
9. Horse Selection & Cross-Discipline Balance
- What Makes a Great Event Horse?: Looks for brave, naturally confident “cross-country machines” who love their job (“the wow factor”); believes you can build dressage/show-jumping talent but not innate grit.
- Quote (Alex Conrad, 30:20):
“Really just maybe nice movement, good natural jump ability, but then just that some kind of wow factor...it’s definitely kind of a gut feeling that I’ll have.”
Tactics for Weaknesses vs. Strengths
- Combination approach—develop the whole athlete, but grit is irreplaceable for high-level cross-country.
10. Ethical Retirement and Second Careers
- Knowing When to Step a Horse Down: Involves careful monitoring post-workouts; transition out of top-level competition is gradual, ideally into lower-level riding or trail partners with trusted up-and-comers.
- Quote (Alex Conrad, 40:57):
“If we ever get to a point where he’s having trouble physically holding up...then I’ll give him another step back...they might have different phases of their retirement so other people get to enjoy them.”
11. Mentorship and Giving Back
- Paying It Forward: Alex trains and gives competition opportunities to up-and-coming riders, emphasizing the value of community and legacy over individual accolades.
- Quote (Alex Conrad, 52:56):
“I sometimes feel like it can get very selfish doing this...so I try to always focus on what I can do for kind of the eventing community or for...riders that work with me...so that I kind of leave a mark on more than just my own career.”
12. Mental Game and Self-Mastery
- Physical and Mental Prep: Besides riding/running, Alex combats nerves by focusing on one fence at a time, staying present—a skill critical to syncing with the horse.
- Quote (Alex Conrad, 49:24):
“If I stay very much in the moment, that really helps me...as soon as I finish, I’m like, oh God, that was awesome. When’s the next one?”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Humility in Riding (Interviewer, 10:05):
“Horses teach us humility, period.”
-
On Teamwork (Interviewer, 21:43):
“If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”
-
On Horse Selection (Alex Conrad, 32:14):
“You’re looking for a horse that just loves the job...He might be quirky...but when you’re at minute nine of a cross country course, and he’s a tiny bit tired, he’s a real fighter.”
-
On Emotional Difficulty of Selling or Retiring Horses (Alex Conrad, 38:02):
"You’ll finish the course and say...I made him do it and I didn't love that feeling...I have sold horses that go on to do that and are dream horses for other people...When you know deep down it's in the best interest of the horse, you feel good about it."
Important Timestamps
- Alex’s Career Decision & Transition to Pro (02:35-04:27)
- Foundational Trainers and Early Barn Life (05:10-07:25)
- First Big Horse Partnership – Max (07:45-10:05)
- Being a Male Rider in a Female-Dominated Space (10:43-11:30)
- Weekly Barn/Training Structure (12:11-15:55)
- Hands-On Approach & Horse Relationships (16:17-21:43)
- Teamwork and Logistics of Competing Nationwide (23:06-25:48)
- Motivation & Five-Star Goal (26:13-29:14)
- What Makes a Top Event Horse (30:20-34:15)
- Ethical Horse Retirement (40:57-44:55)
- Mentorship and Community (45:34-48:47)
- Mental Preparation & Managing Nerves (49:24-52:02)
- Long-Term Goals and Giving Back (52:56-54:39)
Resources & Contact
- Website: alexconrad.com
- Instagram: @conradequestrian
- Farm/Clinics: conradequestrian.com
Episode Tone
Alex and Camron foster a supportive, honest, and thoughtful conversation. Alex’s humility, team focus, emotional connection with horses, and desire to mentor others bring a sense of both realism and inspiration to their exploration of professional equestrian life.
For newcomers and horse lovers, this episode offers not just a look behind the curtain, but a hopeful reminder: riding may be only 30% of horsemanship, but empathy, teamwork, and continual learning make up the heart of a sustainable, meaningful career.