Online video for horse lovers? Tune in to HorseGirlTV (http://www.horsegirltv.com). Billed as the Internet’s premiere equine-based podcast, HorseGirlTV is informative and entertaining, offering five to eight-minute semi-monthly segments on topics ranging from grooming for an Olympic rider to physical training for equestrians.
Creator Angelea Kelly Walkup is a life-long equestrian with over a decade of experience in online communities and Internet technologies, just as at home with both bytes and bits.
The Southern Oregon University graduate began her start-up company in the Northwest, with initial episodes being filmed in Ashland, Central Point, Eagle Point, and Sams Valley, Oregon.
Angelea is the show’s host, writer, producer, and director—in addition to handling marketing, public relations, and Web development. Her husband, Joel Walkup, occasionally serves as cameraman. Jackhammer Moving Pictures (http://jackhammerfilms.com/) of Ashland does post-production digitizing.
While being in front of a camera is relatively new to Angelea, experience acting in community theater (1999) and repertory theater (2002) has helped. The possibility of a podcast came up in 2006 over lunch with Charley Lanusse, whose Starseed company developed the WebRing technology that was acquired by Geocities and then Yahoo! By September 2006 HorseGirlTV.com had been reserved and a limited liability company created by January 2007. HorseGirl TV launched its first podcast in May 2007. The first episode featured an interview with Tiffany Tyler, an Oregon rider who groomed for Anky van Grunsven. Episode 2 featured an interview with Penny Barreras, owner of Oregon’s Farwood Horse Park, a CEM facility. A more recent episode took a close look at FITS breeches (http://FITSriding.com), with Portland-area entrepreneur Sheryl Rudolph discussing the design of her revolutionary riding apparel.
In October of this year, Angelea headed to the East Coast along with her horse, Joewell, a Trakehner from Germany, who was among the top-10 hopefuls in line for the United States Team at the Athens Olympics in 2004. Angelea began riding horses at age five and entered her first 4H competition at age 10. She earned a United States Dressage Federal silver medal in 2004 and a gold medal in 2006. She has successfully shown through Grand Prix.
Angelea credits local Oregonian, Linda Jones with helping her gain a solid riding foundation, in addition to intensive training with Hilda Gurney and Washington dressage rider Gwen Blake. “I’ve been fortunate enough to clinic with Bettina Drummond, Anne Gribson, Jeff Ashton Moore, and Sabine Schut,” Angelea adds. “I value immensely my training philosophy conversations and time with my friend, Lara Schleining, as she has been a wealth of information on sports psychology and equine athlete development.”
HorseGirlTV combines Angelea’s love of horses with a passion for technology. And what a fun job it is! The November episode has her interviewing Carl Rafter, jump jockey, at the International Gold Cup. Mingling with the who’s who of the horse world while dining, sipping champagne, and watching world-class competition are just a few of the job perks.
“It is the best and toughest job I’ve ever had,” Angelea says. “I love horses and working with online technologies, so it is a perfect fit. One of the best aspects is how many interesting and diverse topics I get to learn about.”
While Angelea’s currently living in North Carolina, she hasn’t forgotten her Northwest roots. “We are in the developmental stages of a project near and dear to my heart that we would develop at home, in Oregon—partnering rescue horses with foster children, through educational horsemanship classes,” she says. “It will be a great way for us to give back—not only to the horse world, but the local Oregon community in general.”
To check out HorseGirlTV, go to www.horsegirltv.com. Podcasts (including archived, earlier episodes) are easy to access, even for the computer-challenged. The site also includes reader submissions; a HorseGirl (or Guy) of the month; news; a blog; and a new series of horse gear.
“The beauty of podcasts,” Angelea says, “is that you get to interact with your viewers through e-mail, forums, and chats. We’re getting good reviews from iTunes and getting e-mail from all over the country and the world.”
Ultimately, Angelea would like to expand to cable or satellite distribution. “We would be very happy to entertain an offer from Animal Planet or Discovery Channel,” she admits. “We would fit well as a segment between one show and another on Animal Planet.”
What’s ahead? More Western episodes, a trip to Europe including top interviews in Holland, Germany, Sweden, and Spain. Angelea also hopes to include episodes focusing on sport ponies, equestrian publishing, Breyerfest and fox hunting. Tune in to HorseGirlTV and follow her travels!
About Angelea Kelly Walkup
What Are You Passionate About?
Horses, internet technologies, and ways we can give back to both of them.
Who Would You Most Like to Interview?
There are so many people on this list! Some of the highlights are Karen O’Connor; Anky van Grunsven; Jean Bemelmans; Rafael Soto; Beasey Madden; Hilda Gurney; Pat Parelli.
What Would You Tell Most Horse Crazy Girls?
My motto, since university, has been “Live your dreams, as if they were, until they become!”
Does HorseGirlTV Target a Specific Audience/Age Range?
We do not have a specific age range and find that many of our viewers are mothers and daughters watching the show together. We also have a large following of horse guys, as well! :)
What’s Your Favorite HorseGirlTV Moment?
Shooting the riding scenes for Episode 4 in Ashland, Oregon with Lara. We were just playing around with tempi changes, passage, and piaffe but riding close side-by-side. The energy just kept building. By the end we were cantering tight corners in stride as our dressage boots rubbed and stirrup irons clanked.
Your Riding Goal:
To perform the Grand Prix musical freestyle. I have been editing and riding in my head for the past six years. To bring just one tear of pure joy to an audience member!