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Life at LIBERTYAuthor: The International Liberty Horse Association
This podcast is dedicated to all things Liberty. It explores the relationship that's possible between horses and humans when each has the freedom to choose. It celebrates Liberty horses both famous and unknown and the lives of the people who love them. And it was created for those that ask What is Liberty and those who dare to ask 'Whats possible through Liberty?. Life at Liberty will leave you inspired, intrigued and eager to connect with horses on a deeper level. Language: en Genres: Education, How To, Kids & Family, Pets & Animals Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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A Milestone Moment for the ILHA
Friday, 9 January, 2026
If you listen to Life at Liberty, we need your help. We've put together a short survey. It’s for listeners only. Click this link to complete is under 3 minutes: Life at Liberty Podcast Survey In this episode of Life at Liberty, host Cinelle Claassens sits down with Dr. Elizabeth James, founder of the International Liberty Horse Association (ILHA), for a milestone conversation about where the association is headed next. Elizabeth announces Cinelle as the new official host of the podcast and shares the heart behind the transition. Together, they unpack why the ILHA established its first Board of Directors, what the process looked like behind the scenes, and how members played a direct role through nominations and voting. Elizabeth explains the balance between elected and appointed seats, the intention to avoid “popularity politics,” and what this shift means for the future of the ILHA and Liberty as a legitimate discipline. The episode closes with an invitation for members to stay engaged, share what they want to hear next, and step into a greater sense of ownership within the community. Highlights: Elizabeth James announces Cinelle as the new official host of Life at Liberty Why the ILHA established its first-ever Board of Directors The behind-the-scenes research that went into building the board structure How nominations and member voting actually worked Why the ILHA avoided popularity politics and donor-driven seats What this transition means for ILHA members and the future of Liberty Elizabeth reflects on leadership, sustainability, and letting go A teaser for upcoming projects and future podcast conversations Key Moments: 00:00:26 Opening context: why this episode matters00:02:10 Elizabeth’s announcement: Cinelle named new host00:06:30 Why Life at Liberty needed its own voice00:09:45 The origin of the ILHA and the long-term vision00:13:40 Sustainability, leadership responsibility, and “what happens if I’m gone?”00:18:20 The research phase: boards, term limits, and hard lessons learned00:24:50 Why donor seats and popularity contests were intentionally avoided00:31:10 How nominations and voting worked for board seats00:37:40 Transparency, protecting feelings, and member trust00:41:55 What excites Elizabeth most about the new board00:45:30 What this milestone changes for members00:49:10 Liberty as a legitimate discipline, why this matters beyond ILHA00:54:20 Early board meetings and what’s already in motion00:57:40 Clubs reopening and community growth01:00:15 Elizabeth’s personal reflections and what’s next01:02:00 Closing reflections on ownership, belonging, and the future Summaries: 00:00:26 Opening context: why this episode mattersCinelle sets the tone for a milestone episode, explaining that this moment has been years in the making and quietly shapes where the ILHA is headed next. 00:02:10 Elizabeth’s announcement: Cinelle named new hostElizabeth announces Cinelle as the new official host of Life at Liberty, sharing why the podcast needed a dedicated voice and how this transition reflects the original vision of telling the community’s stories. 00:06:30 Why Life at Liberty needed its own voiceElizabeth reflects on the evolution of the podcast and why separating the association from the storytelling side was always part of the plan. 00:09:45 The origin of the ILHA and the long-term visionElizabeth revisits why the ILHA was founded in the first place: to legitimize Liberty as a discipline and give people a place to grow, compete, and belong. 00:13:40 Sustainability, leadership responsibility, and hard questionsA candid discussion about sustainability, leadership pressure, and the realization that the association couldn’t rely on one person long-term. 00:18:20 The research phase: how the board structure was builtElizabeth explains the eight-month research process, including calls to other associations and the challenges of finding real answers about governance. 00:24:50 Avoiding popularity politics and donor-driven boardsElizabeth shares what she learned about boards that don’t work—and why the ILHA intentionally chose a different path. 00:31:10 How nominations and voting actually workedA clear breakdown of how members nominated candidates, how voting was structured, and why each member received two votes. 00:37:40 Transparency, fairness, and protecting community trustElizabeth talks about the balance between transparency and care, and why protecting members’ dignity mattered throughout the process. 00:41:55 What excites Elizabeth about the boardWith the board now in place, Elizabeth reflects on new energy, fresh perspectives, and the excitement of stepping back and watching others lead. 00:45:30 What this milestone changes for membersThe conversation shifts to what members gain: influence, ownership, and a stronger voice in the association’s future. 00:49:10 Liberty as a legitimate disciplineElizabeth explains how this milestone further establishes Liberty as a real, respected discipline governed by its community. 00:54:20 Early board meetings and next stepsCinelle and Elizabeth discuss early board meetings, current priorities, and how members will start seeing changes roll out. 00:57:40 Clubs reopening and community growthAn update on clubs reopening, new communities forming, and why local connection remains at the heart of the ILHA. 01:00:15 Personal reflection and what’s nextElizabeth shares what this transition means for her personally and teases future creative projects and podcast conversations. 01:02:00 Closing reflections on ownership and belongingThe episode closes with a reminder that the ILHA exists to celebrate members at every stage of their Liberty journey, and that this milestone belongs to the whole community.
