The Trainer's Wife
The Trainer's Wife
Podcast Description
A podcast dedicated to celebrating the wives, and on occasion the husbands, of horse trainer’s in the western equine industry.
For 35 years I’ve watched talented, successful, brave, beautiful women pour themselves into their husbands careers.
These women not only manage and build his business, they manage and build their own as well, sometimes while trying to train and show horses themselves.
Whether they are cheering for him from the stands, the back gate, their computer screen at work, or the kids basketball game, they rarely miss one of his go’s at a show.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The show emphasizes themes of support, partnership, and personal growth, with episodes addressing topics such as the balance of supporting a spouse's equine career while maintaining one's own identity, coping strategies for relationship dynamics, and stories from women who manage their own equine ventures. Example episodes may feature personal experiences from wives navigating their roles during competitions.
A podcast dedicated to celebrating the wives, and on occasion the husbands, of horse trainer’s in the western equine industry.
For 35 years I’ve watched talented, successful, brave, beautiful women pour themselves into their husbands careers.
These women not only manage and build his business, they manage and build their own as well. This podcast is about exploring not only what these women bring to complex relationships, but how they continue to be strong, resilient and independent while not losing themselves or being swallowed by their husbands careers.
McKenzie Parkinson has spent most of her life in the horse industry.
She grew up in a horse-training family, started her career teaching middle school, and stepped away more than fifteen years ago when she became a mom.
Today, she's built an impressive career of her own as the Event and Sponsorship Manager for Kimes Ranch—and she absolutely loves what she does.
She's also married to accomplished horseman Shadd Parkinson, a multiple World Champion whose career spans several disciplines with collective earnings nearing $1 million.
Together, they've built a life that includes two careers, two kids, a horse-training business—and some seasons when all of it seems to need attention at exactly the same time.
McKenzie told me she believes you can have it all. You just can't have it all at once.
And I love where that takes our conversation.
We talk about the very different ways she and Shadd handle the chaos, what she's learned from his quiet, steady approach to life, and why not everything that feels urgent deserves our energy.
But underneath the careers, the horses, the wins and everything they're trying to fit into one life, McKenzie keeps coming back to what really matters:
The relationships we build along the way.
This is McKenzie Parkinson.
SHOW NOTES:
SHOW SPONSORS:
Finding Center Retreats / The Jennifer Journals
Hey everyone, and welcome to Season Two of The Trainer’s Wife.
If you’ve been here for a while, thank you for walking this journey with me — and if you’re new, I’m so glad you found us.
This is where I sit down with the wives of professional horse trainers in the Western equine industry to share their stories — not just in the arena, but in life.
We talk about how they show up for their families, their careers, their communities, and for other women.
This podcast is a place to celebrate strong, brave, beautiful women whose roots run deep — and whose impact reaches far beyond the show pen.
I’m so glad you’re here.
Disclaimer
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