My guest for the episode is Jessie Dowling. She is an endurance rider who just completed the Tevis Cup last month and the Mongol Derby last year. Both of these events are some of the toughest horse races in the world. Given that, you might expect that Jessie has been at this for a very long time. However, this is a relatively new endeavor for her, as you will hear in this podcast. She basically says “I’m just a girl who loves horses.”
What I found really interesting in speaking with Jessie was how she made the shift from running her cheesemaking business to attempting these grueling races. This conversation is full of nuggets of wisdom. At the core, she values being present as one of the most important ways she shows up in the world. You will notice how she breaks things down into smaller steps. It never seems as if she is tackling a huge thing, but instead, she focuses on each step. She also has deeply cultivated her resilience and physical strength, which I find inspiring, because it shows that endurance isn’t an inborn trait - it’s a skill that can be built.
Here’s Jessie’s biography:
Jessie Dowling founded and ran an award winning sheep and goat dairy and farmstead creamery named Fuzzy Udder Creamery and made cheese from sheep, goat and cow's milk for 13 years in Midcoast Maine. After 17 years in the dairy industry she decided to make a huge change and pursue her true passion, endurance riding, training horses, and helping others connect with horses. She sold her cheese business at the end of May and decided to celebrate by riding in the 2024 Tevis Cup. Jessie also trained with Stevie Delahunt leading up to riding and completing the 2023 Mongol Derby
In the end, Jessie is making life choices that support her in living the life she loves. We could all use a little more of that.
I hope you enjoy this podcast with Jessie Dowling.
Topics
- Jessie Dowling's Background and Transition to Endurance Riding
- Learning to Be Present with Animals
- Building Resilience and Physical Strength
- The Impact of the Mongol Derby on Jessie's Life
- Preparing for the Mongol Derby
- Navigating the Mongol Derby
- Overcoming Challenges in the Mongol Derby
- The Importance of Community and Support
- Reflecting on the Mongol Derby Experience
Contact Info
Email: jessiedowling@gmail.com