USEA Podcast #422: Your Questions Answered with Ariel Grald
You asked, and five-star eventer Ariel Grald answered! This week on the USEA Official Podcast, Grald sits down to tackle listener questions about the horses, experiences, and lessons that have shaped her career. Fresh off a win in the USEA Open Intermediate Championship at the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds with the exciting 8-year-old Obalix, Grald shares what makes the young horse so special and why his trip to the Kentucky Horse Park was carefully planned with an eye toward his future.
The conversation also takes a more personal turn as Grald reflects on the accident she suffered at Bromont in 2025 and the physical and mental challenges of returning to the saddle. She shares advice for young riders hoping to make a career in the sport, including why they should ride every horse they can and resist comparing their journey to someone else's, and offers insight into her individualized approach to producing horses and preparing them for competition.
Plus, Grald looks back on one of the proudest moments of her career at the 2022 World Championships with Leamore Master Plan and shares how the horse who took her around the globe is enjoying his well-earned retirement. From championship wins and career-defining horses to lucky habits, listener questions, and lessons learned along the way, get to know Ariel Grald beyond the results in this week's episode of the USEA Official Podcast.
Subscribe to the USEA Official Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PodBean, or Stitcher, or click below to listen in!
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