Mental Health & Identity in the Equine Industry with Katie Staib: Liberated Equestrian Podcast, #008

In this deeply insightful episode, I have the privilege of sitting down with young rider and entrepreneur, Katie Staib, co-founder with her sister Shelby, of the Equine Professionals Club as a centralized web platform for the equine industry to improve its means of connection and communication.

In this episode, Katie shares her personal journey through the highs and lows of competitive riding and learning to prioritize her well-being. She brings a fresh and inspiring perspective on how her faith and supportive relationships have informed her career aspirations.

Katie offers a perspective from the vantage point of being in the equestrian community for the last 10 years, starting as a young competitor in the hunter/jumper world before transitioning to dressage. As a former working student, volunteer, and founder/manager of the annual Decades of Dressage Show for the Lehigh Valley Dressage Association, Katie recognizes aspects of the industry that can contribute to and result in burnout as well as a mental health crisis.

Presently pursuing a Business Project Management degree while competing on the Liberty Hunt Seat Equestrian Team, Katie has received multiple awards and scholarships to attend educational dressage trips and events, such as The Dressage Foundation’s Young Rider Dream Program in Wellington, Florida as well as the USDF Convention in Houston, Texas. These experiences have been influential in shaping her plans for the future and current endeavors. She believes it is time for the equestrian community to grow past its current media limitations and revolutionize the industry for the better.

We discuss:

The pressure of performance and the cost of identity loss in the equestrian sport.
The power of taking a step back to reconnect with your core values and God.
What you value at your core – if that were to be taken away, what is left?
The importance of setting boundaries to protect both horsemanship and “humanship.”
Why it’s okay to pause your horse life—and how grace plays a role in returning.
How the Equine Professionals Club is transforming connections across the industry.

This episode is filled with encouragement for equestrians who feel burned out, unseen, or unsure of their next step. As Katie says, “At your core, you are a child of God. It’s not about what you do—it’s about who you are and the relationships you nurture.”