Balancing it all , life, horses and family - meet Katie Taliana

At the request of our listeners, it's time for a change of seats on Between the Flags! This time, Prue Barrett takes over the interviewer’s chair and puts co-host Fiona Hughes in the hot seat. From Pony Club beginnings to a long career in eventing, riding, coaching and mentoring, Fi shares some of the experiences, people and lessons that have shaped her journey — with plenty of laughs and a few dog stories along the way. Fi talks about what her recent Equestrian NSW Coach Award means to her, why she decided to study coaching, and how a passion for learning continues to influence the way she works with riders. She and Prue explore what makes a great coach, why confidence and curiosity matter just as much as riding skills, and the importance of creating a supportive community where riders can learn and grow together. Fi also shares the thinking behind the NSW Star Squad and its role in helping riders bridge the gap between grassroots participation and high-performance eventing. It's a conversation about horses, coaching, the people who make a difference, and the experiences that shape a life in the sport — with the added bonus of hearing what happens when Prue gets to ask the questions.

Sammi Birch has spent nearly 30 years chasing the biggest prizes in eventing - but the Olympic start she still wants is what keeps her coming back for more. She opens up about the horses, the heartbreak, the stubbornness, and the wild journey that took her from the Hunter Valley to five Olympic reserve selections and some of the sport’s toughest tracks. Prue and Fi go right back to the start with one of Australia’s most accomplished eventers, from show ponies and dressage to the formative mentors who shaped her career, from the NSW Equestrian Centre, Prue and Craig Barrett and her dad Lyndon. Sammi shares what made horses like Hunter Red, Frederick Hunter, and the formidable Hunter Valley 11 so special, and why some of her best partnerships were also the quirkiest. Sammi also talks candidly about life at Little Park Farm in the Cotswolds with husband Ed, two children, a busy yard, Helen Tagg her head groom for an amazing 27 years, and a team that somehow always seems to have more horses than boxes. She explains why mentoring young Australian riders means so much to her, what it takes to stay at the top of international eventing, and why she’s more excited than ever about the next generation of horses coming through. This episode gives you a real look at what it takes to keep building toward Badminton, Burghley, and Los Angeles. Essential listening if you love eventing, horse people, and the brilliant reality behind elite sport.

Some horses are special from the moment you sit on them. Others take years, a mountain of patience and a few spectacular moments of “well… that didn’t go to plan!” Christine Bates has produced some of Australian eventing’s best horses and she’s got the stories to prove that getting to the top is rarely a straight line. Christine joins Prue and Fi for a cracking chat about growing up in WA, heading east with Basil, producing horses for the highest level and the highs, lows, laughs and heartbreak that come with a life in eventing. There’s plenty about the horses, of course — including what made Adelaide Hill so special and why Christine has some pretty big plans But this conversation goes deeper too. Christine talks honestly about failure, tragedy, risk and the responsibility to make eventing safer, while still protecting the things that make us all completely addicted to it. It’s honest. It’s funny. It’s occasionally brutal. And it’s a brilliant reminder that behind every great horse is a whole lot of work, patience, resilience.

From a horse-mad kid growing up in suburban Melbourne to competing on the world stage, Sophia Hill’s journey is a story of horses, family, determination and elite eventing. In this episode we chat with Sophia about the horses that have shaped her career, including her incredible partnerships with Humble Glory (Huey) and Tulara Baltango (Tango), and what it takes to balance family life with the demands of competing at the highest level. Sophia takes us through her journey from her first FEI start to international competition across four countries, including Burghley, Maryland, Lexington and Aachen. We hear about the highs, the challenges, the travel, the pressure and the special partnerships that have taken her from Melbourne’s suburbs to the world stage — including her reserve-team role for the 2024 Paris Olympics and her standout performance at Aachen in 2026. And, of course, we couldn’t leave out that trademark achievement: finishing on her dressage score! An honest and fascinating insight into the life of an elite event rider and the horses, family and passion behind the journey.

Charlotte Andrews takes us behind the scenes of elite eventing to reveal what it really takes to prepare a horse and rider for championship competition. From Australian team camp in Belgium to Aachen, Adelaide and Paris, Charlotte shares the routines, pressure, timing and split-second decisions that can make all the difference. Because at the top level, a groom does far more than keep the horse looking immaculate. They know the horse, read the rider, anticipate what’s needed and create calm in the middle of the chaos. With stories from her career grooming for some of the sport’s top riders, practical advice for aspiring grooms, and plenty of humour along the way, Charlotte gives us a rare insight into the person helping keep both horse and rider at their very best.