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A Milestone Moment for the ILHA

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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 matters
00:02:10 Elizabeth’s announcement: Cinelle named new host
00:06:30 Why Life at Liberty needed its own voice
00:09:45 The origin of the ILHA and the long-term vision
00:13:40 Sustainability, leadership responsibility, and “what happens if I’m gone?”
00:18:20 The research phase: boards, term limits, and hard lessons learned
00:24:50 Why donor seats and popularity contests were intentionally avoided
00:31:10 How nominations and voting worked for board seats
00:37:40 Transparency, protecting feelings, and member trust
00:41:55 What excites Elizabeth most about the new board
00:45:30 What this milestone changes for members
00:49:10 Liberty as a legitimate discipline, why this matters beyond ILHA
00:54:20 Early board meetings and what’s already in motion
00:57:40 Clubs reopening and community growth
01:00:15 Elizabeth’s personal reflections and what’s next
01:02:00 Closing reflections on ownership, belonging, and the future

 

Summaries:

00:00:26 Opening context: why this episode matters
Cinelle 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 host
Elizabeth 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 voice
Elizabeth 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 vision
Elizabeth 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 questions
A 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 built
Elizabeth 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 boards
Elizabeth 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 worked
A 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 trust
Elizabeth 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 board
With 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 members
The conversation shifts to what members gain: influence, ownership, and a stronger voice in the association’s future.

00:49:10 Liberty as a legitimate discipline
Elizabeth explains how this milestone further establishes Liberty as a real, respected discipline governed by its community.

00:54:20 Early board meetings and next steps
Cinelle and Elizabeth discuss early board meetings, current priorities, and how members will start seeing changes roll out.

00:57:40 Clubs reopening and community growth
An 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 next
Elizabeth shares what this transition means for her personally and teases future creative projects and podcast conversations.

01:02:00 Closing reflections on ownership and belonging
The 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.