The Trainer's Wife

The Trainer's Wife ~ Dema Paul ~ Episode, 39

Today’s guest is NRCHA Hall of Fame horsewoman Dema Paul. With nearly $700,000 in NRCHA earnings, multiple Futurity Championships, and a lifetime spent competing at the highest levels of the cow horse industry, Dema has earned her place among the most accomplished women in the sport. Raised in California by parents who knew little about horses, Dema taught herself by watching trainers from the grandstands, studying what worked, and then going home to try it herself. Long before online videos, clinics, and social media, she learned through observation, persistence, and an unwavering desire to improve. In this conversation, Dema shares stories from her early days showing horses, buying and selling horses as a young girl, finding success as a self-taught competitor, navigating marriage and business in the horse industry, and the lessons she learned over a lifetime spent doing what she loves. We also talk about retirement, knowing when it was time to step away from competition, financial realities in the horse business, and why letting go of yesterday's arguments may be one of the most important lessons of all. Please enjoy my conversation with NRCHA Hall of Fame horsewoman, Dema Paul. Show Notes: Dema Paul Clinics [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578994631558] Shortys Caboy Hattery [https://shortyshattery.com/] Finding Center Retreats [https://www.thejenniferjournals.com/finding-center-retreats/] 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.

The Trainer's Wife ~ Kim Lyon ~ Episode, 38

On this episode of The Trainer’s Wife, I’m sitting down with Kim Lyon. Professionally, Kim is a commercial real estate executive specializing in office and industrial properties, where she has built a successful career rooted in relationships, business development, and strategic leadership. In the western industry, Kim is married to AQHA, NRHA & NSBA professional horseman Bud Lyon, whose program has become one of the most recognizable names in ranch riding. Bud has earned more than $500,000 in NSBA earnings while setting records and earning Horse of the Year honors along the way. But as you'll hear in this conversation, Kim’s story extends far beyond being married to a successful trainer. We talk about growing up outside the traditional horse world, walking on to the Texas A&M Equestrian Team with little idea how much that single decision would change the course of her life, building confidence through challenge, learning business and sales from the ground up, and creating a life with intention along the way. This conversation is thoughtful, honest, funny in all the best ways, and full of insight about relationships, ambition, mentorship, and the people who shape us throughout our lives. Please welcome Kim Lyon. SHOW NOTES: Bud Lyon Performance Horses [https://budlyonperformancehorses.com/pages/team-blph] Newmark - Kim Lyon [https://www.nmrk.com/people/kim-lyon] 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.

The Trainer's Wife ~ Marilyn Peters ~ Episode, 37

Today’s conversation is one I will treasure for a very long time. This week, I had the privilege of sitting down with Marilyn Peters — horsewoman, trainer’s wife, NRCHA and AQHA judge, mother, horse trainer, and truly one of my personal heroes. At 76 years young, Marilyn is still riding horses, breeding mares, and continuing the life she and her husband Pete built together over decades in the horse industry here in Oklahoma. But this conversation became so much more than horse training. We talked about the early days of AQHA and cow horse culture… how west coast influence eventually met Oklahoma and Texas… life on a historic Oklahoma homestead now being surrounded by a rapidly growing city… and the kinds of relationships that become much bigger than business and go on to shape generations within our western horse industry, both here and abroad. We also spent time talking about their friendship with legendary western artist Orren Mixer — a friendship that quite literally left its mark on their home and on their lives. As I sat surrounded by original Mixer artwork and stories from a generation that helped shape this industry, I kept thinking: this is why these conversations matter. To preserve the history, the people, and the heritage of the western equine industry before those stories are gone. Marilyn carries the kind of wisdom that only comes from a lifetime of showing up, working hard, loving horses, loving family, and staying rooted through changing times. It is my honor to share her story. SHOW NOTES: BAR JP Quarter Horses [https://www.facebook.com/barjpqh] Episode Sponsors: Shorty's Caboy Hattery [https://shortyshattery.com] Finding Center Retreats [https://www.thejenniferjournals.com/finding-center-retreats/] Finding Center Brochure PDF [https://www.thejenniferjournals.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Finding-Center-Retreat-Package.pdf] The Jennifer Journals [https://www.thejenniferjournals.com/] 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.

The Trainer's Wife ~ Shorty's Caboy Hattery ~ Special Edition, Episode 36

This week’s episode is a little different — and really special to me. Over the last 35 years, today’s guest has helped shape the western equine industry - both literally & figuratively - one hat at a time through craftsmanship, consistency, relationships, and showing up for people. I’m incredibly thankful for partners like Shorty's Caboy Hattery, who believe in what I'm building through The Trainer’s Wife and Finding Center Retreats, and who continue to support women in the western industry. So today, I wanted to turn the microphone toward her story. Please welcome Shorty Koger to the show 🤍 SHOW NOTES: Shorty's Caboy Hattery [https://shortyshattery.com] Finding Center Retreats [https://www.thejenniferjournals.com] 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.

The Trainer's Wife ~ Kailey Gay ~ Episode, 35

One of the things I hear over and over from women in this industry is this: “We love this life… but it’s a lot.” It’s a lot to support it. To build around it. To raise kids in it. And to figure out who you are inside of it. Today’s conversation with Kailey Gay is one I think a lot of you are going to recognize yourselves in. Kailey and her husband, Jason, have built their life in the Western equine world—balancing his career in the show pen with everything that comes with raising kids, managing a household, and the day-to-day behind the scenes. We talk about family, career, moving away from where you started, and what it looks like to grow into this role—not just as a trainer’s wife, but as a woman building a life alongside it. If you’ve ever felt the weight and the beauty of this lifestyle at the same time… this one will feel familiar. SHOW NOTES: Jason Gay Training [https://jasongaycowhorses.com/index.html#/] AniCell Biotech [Info@anicellbiotech.com] Show Sponsor - Shorty's Caboy Hattery [https://shortyshattery.com] Finding Center Retreats [https://www.thejenniferjournals.com/finding-center-retreats/] 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.