Winter can be one of the toughest times of the year — dark days, broken routines, and emotions that feel harder to ignore.

In this episode of Showjumping 101, Joanne Sloan Allen and Sameh El Dahan are joined by mindset coach Sandie Robertson and fitness expert Aamir Fit for an honest conversation about grief, mental resilience, community, and finding ways to move forward after loss. While this was recorded in January, which can be the most depressing month of the year, it's a reminder that grief and emotions are with us all year round and how we can cope with them.

This is a raw, open discussion about coping, connection, and why it’s okay to not be okay — plus how turning pain into purpose can help create positive change.

Welcome back to Showjumping 101 — the podcast hosted by Sam Forrest and presented by Joanne Sloan Allen and Sameh El Dahan, where we dig into the realities of life in high-performance showjumping.

As we head into a new season, it’s easy to talk about fresh starts and clean slates — but for many riders, last year’s injuries, falls, and setbacks don’t disappear just because the calendar changes.

In this episode, Joanne and Sameh are joined once again by mindset performance coach Sandie Robertson and fitness and nutrition coach Aamir Fit to tackle one of the biggest challenges in the sport: how to come back stronger — mentally and physically — after injury.

From riding defensively and fear in the ring, to trusting preparation, managing recovery, and knowing when to push and when to pause, this is an honest conversation about resilience, confidence, and why recovery is just as important as training.

Whether you’re returning from injury, carrying mental baggage, or simply trying to perform consistently in a sport where nothing is guaranteed, this episode offers practical tools and real-world insight from people who live it every day.

Welcome back to Showjumping 101 — the podcast hosted by Sam Forrest and presented by Joanne Sloan Allen and Sameh El Dahan.

As we head into a brand-new year, many riders are setting goals, chasing progress, and feeling that familiar pressure to start fast and do more. But is that always the right approach?

In this episode, Joanne and Sameh are joined by Sandie Robertson, the team’s official mindset performance coach, and Amir Fitt, official fitness and nutrition coach, for an honest and practical conversation about starting the season with clarity rather than chaos.

From setting realistic goals without pressure, to managing sleep, recovery, and mental wellbeing during the darker months and the intensity of indoor season, this episode is packed with advice riders can actually apply — whether you’re competing at the top level or balancing riding around everyday life.