Talk Horse

In the last of our live specials, Pippa and Tristan speak to the incredible Boyd Exell. Our first guest from the world of carriage driving and what a man to start with.
One of the most decorated four-in-hand carriage drivers in history, Boyd has been crowned World Champion seven times in combined driving and has won the FEI World Cup Driving Final an unprecedented 11 times, more than any other driver.

In a journey that took him from rural New South Wales to the very top of international carriage driving, Boyd reflects on how he first fell for the sport, the bold move to Europe that transformed his career, and the mindset required to stay at world-champion level for decades. He shares how he builds trust across a four-horse team, what continues to drive him after so many historic wins, and what goes through your mind when you drop the reins mid-race. Spoiler… he will not be doing that again.

We’ll be back with series three from 3 March. Keep sharing your stories, join us on social media, or drop us an email at [email protected].

See you soon for lots more Talk Horse.

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In this special episode, recorded live on stage at the London International Horse Show, Pippa Funnell and Tristan Phipps are joined by three members of one of the most iconic families in showjumping, the Whitakers.

John Whitaker is one of our most requested guests and you can see why. With a career spanning more than 40 years, he’s won everything there is to win, including three Olympic medals, five World Championship medals and thirteen European Championship medals. He chats about longevity at the top of the sport, the mindset required to keep improving, and how showjumping has evolved over the decades. Plus, what keeps him competing at 70 years old.

Helping make sense of the family tree are Donald Whitaker, a key contributor to Britain’s 2025 European team silver and historic Nations Cup victory, and Jack Whitaker, a top competitor at senior level in Nations Cups, World Cup classes and the Global Champions Tour.

If you’ve always wanted to know what Christmas is like for the Whitaker family, their tips for spooky horses, or what they eat for breakfast, this is the one for you.

Saddle up and let’s Talk Horse. 🐴
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In the first of these specials, recorded live at the London International Horse Show, Pippa and Tristan are joined by one of showjumping’s most respected figures and one of its most exciting rising talents, Norwegian showjumping father and son duo Geir Gulliksen and Johan Gulliksen, live on stage.

Geir, or Jimmy as he’s known to his friends, shares his knowledge after decades at the top of international showjumping, plus the unexpected pressure of relieving yourself at the Olympics.

Johan talks through his own path in the sport and the challenge of carving out an independent career, along with a near-death experience while under Pippa’s care.

Saddle up and let’s Talk Horse!

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We're feeling festive in the studio and we hope you are too! In the last episode before our Christmas break Pippa and Tristan are joined by one of the most successful and enduring figures in international showjumping, Laura Kraut. Representing the USA across multiple Olympics, Laura is a team gold medallist from Beijing 2008 and team silver medallist from Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024. This also marks a first for Talk Horse, with Laura joining remotely! It's the future.

Laura shares her early connection with horses, her route into elite showjumping and the key moments that told her she could compete at the very top. She reflects on her decision to base herself in Europe, how that shaped her career, and what she has learned from preparing for multiple Olympic Games across decades. The conversation also dives into horsemanship, longevity in the sport, motivation, and what still drives her to improve.

Plus, the hosts catch up on what is coming up at London International Horse Show, look ahead to this weeks live episodes and Tristan faces an end of year quiz that asks how much he has really learned about horses. Though our present to him is the questions were a bit too easy...

Have a wonderful Christmas break and we'll be back in 2026 to Talk more Horse with you!

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Get ready for a festive, feel-good episode of Talk Horse as Pippa Funnell and Tristan Phipps team up with Equine America and welcome long-time friend and industry powerhouse Lee Middleton. Lee’s journey takes us from navigating school with dyslexia to becoming a horse dentist, popularising innovative air safety jackets and eventually leading one of the biggest names in equine supplements. He shares the twists, the graft and the lessons that shaped his career, plus the products he rates most for horses, dogs and even humans.

For his exclusive giveaway, head to https://www.cortaflex.co.uk/talkhorse.

There’s plenty of seasonal cheer too, with a chaotic round of 12 Days of Horsemas, live show updates for London International, and the usual mix of stories, laughs and behind-the-scenes equestrian insight.

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