We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jill Regalado a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jill , thanks for joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

Horses have always been my passion and I have worked professionally in the equine industry for 15 years. I started grooming, then transitioned into managing hunter/jumper show horses as well as training. I moved to Charleston in 2017, to work full time for a private family farm. I met my husband shortly after moving here and in 2021 our first son was born. What a whirlwind parenthood is and I quickly learned no matter how much you plan, life always has a way of shifting. Working full time with horses demands responsibility because they are depending on you for their wellbeing. It is not a job you can do halfway. I was definitely hesitant to take the leap as a free lance hunter/jumper trainer and equine body clipper, but it was what was going to allow me to be the present mother I wanted to be and also continue my professional career. Four months after my son was born, with the support of my husband, I created Wanderlust Pony Services. A huge thing for me to figure out was my new identity- as a mom, a partner, an equestrian professional and now business owner. For me, the way I was going to find myself was by going all in on this business. Things definitely started slow, a couple horses here and there to body clip, but then the cold fall started to roll in and those fuzzy horses needed to be clipped for the fall horse shows. The more I was traveling to farms, the more people were getting to know me and I started to get more training customers as well. Most of my business is word of mouth through other professionals recommending me to other farms and customers. As I was getting going, trying to schedule new mom life-I was clipping horses after my son would go down for the night or strapping him in the baby carrier to come teach lessons with me- its truly a small family business and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Jill , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started riding horses as a kid in Ohio. Working with horses has taken me to horse shows up and down the east coast. All the way from South Florida to Vermont and everywhere in between. I have been lucky enough to work with some of the industry’s top professionals including Havens Schatt and Fred Commissaire, Michele Grubb, Sharn Wordley and Jeff Gogul. Working with the industry’s top riders also meant working with some of the top veterinarians in the country, which has really shaped me into the professional I am today. I am a freelance hunter/jumper trainer. I travel to customers to train them on their own horses/ponies. The great thing about horses is they always have something to teach us, so long as we are willing to listen. Horsemanship is the most important lesson I teach. Riders have to be knowledgeable of the responsibilities for taking care of their horse or pony. It is really important to me that horse and rider are prepared not only for short term goals but for long term success. I am proud and grateful for the horses and riders I get to work with. I have customers ranging in age from 5 years old to those in their 70’s, as well as green horses and almost retired ones. No matter the level of the horse and rider I am working with, the goal is always to be brave, be confident and keep your eyes up! I have a customer that I have seen grow from a timid just for fun rider to a competitive horse show exhibitor, who just qualified for her first year end championships. Not only has she grown as a rider, but her horsemanship knowledge has grown as well. She is more educated in fitness plan for her horse, vet care, even braiding and clipping her horse to be show ready. It has been incredibly rewarding for me be a part of that partnership.
I also offer equine body clipping. My clipping customers are very diverse-I clip dressage horses, hunter jumper horses, retired horses, mini horses and many cushingoid horses. Some horses I clip twice a year and some I clip every 4 weeks. I generate a lot of hair. I partner with Matter of Trust Clean Wave Program. They collect hair and recycle it into mats and booms for oil spills in the ocean. Wanderlust has donated over 100 gallons of hair! Living in a coastal community, it’s a great way to repurpose and recycle!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

My business had been going full speed for about a year and half when I had my second son in January 2023. The equine industry is physically demanding, and I do not make money unless I am physically active. With a new business, it was hard to take time off to give my mind and body time during the end of my pregnancy and postpartum. Would I loose customers because I couldn’t meet their needs? To be successful, you need to be brave enough to roll with the ups and downs, because there will be plenty of both! You also need to have those people in your corner when they days are long and tough to remind you of why your passion project started in the first place. My young family is my why, they are what drive me to be the best version of myself. I also believe that when you truly and genuinely set your intentions out into the universe, you attract what you really want most. I have been lucky enough to create a business that suits my needs and gain many great training and clipping customers who have loyally supported my growing family.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Most of my business has come about from word of mouth. I am a good communicator on scheduling appointments and making sure to give my customers notice if I will be late or need to change the timing. As a young mom I am fully aware that there are only so many hours in a day and timing is everything. I try my best not to waste anyone’s time. Especially in todays era, we always have our phones in our hands or at least in our pockets. It takes seconds to send a text. Even if I cannot help a customer, I try to find a way to lead them in a direction that would be helpful. Just because you can’t help this time, doesn’t mean that they won’t call you for the next time. NEVER GHOST A CUSTOMER!!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.wanderlustponyservices.com
• Instagram: @wanderlust_pony_services
• Facebook: Wanderlust Pony Services

Image Credits
@as_horse_show_photo