I recently made a post about the equine Podcasts that can be downloaded over at Come Along for the Ride. Tracy Malone has kindly taken the time to answer some questions about this initiative.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
As much as possible with 4 children and organic gardens to tend to as well! I have 4 horses here at home so I’m lucky that I have them so close. I love to ride and would do so more often if time would allow it. My weekly riding lesson is the thing that keeps me grounded and on course.

What is it exactly that you do?
I have a podcast called Come Along for the Ride, a podcast for horse lovers everywhere. I am also in the start-up phase of my own business making natural, ethical and effective Insect Repellent, Itch Spray and a Healing Cream for itch, mud fever and cuts and scrapes.

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full time professional and earning a liveable income?
There are 2 ways to make money from podcasts. You either work hard to get high listener numbers and get sponsorship, or you have a product of your own to sell. I am living in bliss making my podcast, it allows me to follow a passion of mine and be completely indulgent in a topic that I love so much! It is also a part of a larger plan.

I am indulging a passion and at the same time building a personal brand, once my product is ready I will be leveraging the profile I have built to sell my own products. My grand plan is to run it as a partial social enterprise so watch this space!

As far as a full time liveable income, podcasting is a very long game that you have to play. To come into the market with a podcast only and to earn a liveable income within the first year would be very, very difficult. You need such high numbers to be able to command sponsorship money to cover living expenses, there are very few podcasters internationally who live off their podcast sponsors alone, and those people are getting millions of listens each episode. You really need a product to sell to make it financially viable in my opinion.

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
Anyone can start a podcast. You just have to upskill yourself which can all be done for free over YouTube or by listening to podcasts about podcasting. You can do all of it for free yourself, or you can pay someone to do it for you. It can be as simple, or as complicated as you like.

Favourite horse memory?
The moments when my horse and I are truly connected and working as one. My Spanish Mustang mare Gypsy, is on the cover of the podcast with me.  She is such an intelligent horse that, like all Spanish Mustangs, bonds firmly to one person.  And I am lucky enough to be her person. I can walk into the paddock and say “come and check this out with me” and she will happily leave the herd and come on a little adventure with me, she helps me move our pony around by walking behind him and keeps him moving as I lead him.

She will be started under saddle in the next year and I am so thrilled to be able to go on adventures with her. Now when she walks with me she falls into step with me naturally without me asking. These memories of her willingness to connect and build relationship make me smile every day.

Future goals?
To make the world a better place for horses with a great informative podcast with trainers who can show us a new way to be with our incredible horses. And also to develop and sell a product that is kind to horses.  As well as makes a positive difference in their life by giving them relief.  As well as the profits giving back to horses on a large scale.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
I feel so incredibly privileged to have access to the calibre of horse people I have on the podcast. I get a look into their life and the journey they have taken to get to where they are.  And I learn so much from every interview.

It would take me decades and thousands of dollars to get the kind of insights I get each week. I am so incredibly grateful each day to have the privilege to do this work. And the best part is: I thought of the idea, I upskilled myself and I created the exact podcast that I wanted. I have full creative influence over all the content and that is an incredible thing. It takes a lot of commitment and time, but I have a vision and the podcast and interviews fill me with so much joy and gives me focus.