Horse People Interviews: Katelyn Woodburn

Introducing: Katelyn Woodburn
Founder of Street & Saddle

Not every horse story starts in a barn.

Some begin with a feeling — a quiet, persistent pull toward horses, even without a clear way in.

Katelyn Woodburn knows that feeling well.

As the founder and designer behind Street & Saddle, a Vancouver-based brand creating timeless, small-batch garments inspired by equestrian heritage, she has built her work around that in-between space — where love for horses exists, even when access doesn’t.

Since 2015, she’s been creating with a deep respect for craftsmanship, sustainability, and tradition, while expanding what “horse girl” can look like today.

We asked Katelyn our five questions.

Here’s what she shared.

1. What is your first horse memory?

"The feeling of how soft his muzzle was, and that special sweet grass smell horses have in the summer... I’ve loved horses ever since."

When she was a toddler, Katelyn’s family took a camping trip to Jedediah Island — a quiet stretch of land off the coast of British Columbia. There, on a recently abandoned farm, lived a few sheep and one older, semi-feral horse known for being less than friendly.

Everyone had been warned to stay away.

But while her parents’ backs were turned, she ran straight up to him — reaching out and grabbing his nostrils the way only small children do.

And the horse, with that quiet patience horses so often reserve for kids, let her.

The memory itself is hazy now — something pieced together from years of retelling. But what has stayed with her is the feeling and the certainty that followed.

She’s loved horses ever since.

2. How does being involved in the horse community inspire you in your day-to-day life?

“Horses are like a glue that binds people who love them.”

For Katelyn, that connection goes beyond the barn — it’s something she’s carried into her work with Street & Saddle.

What began as a design practice rooted in craftsmanship and equestrian heritage has also become a way of opening the door wider — creating an entry point into the horse world for people who have always felt drawn to it, but never quite found their place.

Because there are so many people who grew up completely obsessed with horses, but never had the opportunity to ride.

And that can feel isolating.

But in her eyes, loving horses is enough.

If you love them, you’re already part of it.

3. How do you make time for horses alongside a busy life or career?

Before starting Street & Saddle, Katelyn spent years as a coach and working student in the eventing and hunter/jumper world.

At first, she thought she could do both — keep riding WHILE building a business.

But she quickly realized something had to give...

Just as becoming a skilled horse person requires hours at the barn, becoming a designer and tailor demands the same kind of dedication — long stretches of time, repetition, and focus.

So she stepped away from riding for a while.

But her advice is simple: start wherever you can.

When she was ready, she reached out to her old coach and said, “I just miss it so much — can I come sweep and clean tack?”

Her story isn’t unusual. Many riders drift away in their twenties — pulled by school, work, finances, or life simply getting bigger. And coming back later can feel intimidating.

Instead, she was welcomed back into lessons.

And once the initial soreness faded and the rust shook off, it felt familiar again.

Like she had never really left.

4. What would your ultimate horse-inspired holiday look like?

For Katelyn, it's already happened.

While visiting Paris, her husband surprised her with a trail ride through Versailles — something she had once offhandedly described as a fairytale experience after watching the Olympic equestrian events.

The ride took them through long, open grassy avenues originally designed for horseback hunting centuries ago.

Expansive. Quiet. Dreamlike.

And exactly what she had imagined.

5. What’s the one essential you always keep in your ring bag or barn bag?

Her answer comes with a story.

After high school, while working as a student for an upper-level event rider in Europe, Katelyn found herself responsible for packing the ring bag at competitions.

The rider was sponsored by a sports drink company — which meant one thing:

Every flavour had to come along.

Six bottles of sports drink, packed alongside the usual essentials, just in case.

It felt excessive. A little ridiculous. And completely unforgettable.

Katelyn’s story is a reminder that there isn’t just one way into the horse world.

Sometimes it starts in a field.

Sometimes it pauses for years.

Sometimes it finds its way back through something entirely unexpected — like a sewing machine, a brand, or a quiet longing that never really leaves.

Katelyn’s connection to horses carries through everything she creates.

Her latest Spring collection for Street & Saddle — Gold Rush — draws on that same sense of adventure: rushing rivers, open skies, long days in the saddle, and the quiet pull of exploration.

Explore the collection here: Street & Saddle Spring Collection

Designed with durable, thoughtfully crafted fabrics and subtle feminine details, the pieces feel just as at home at the barn as they do beyond it.

Our personal favourite piece: the Year of the Horse Barn Jacket.

WE HERE AT THE HORSE PEOPLE CO. ARE HONOURED TO SHARE KATELYN’S STORY AND TO CONTINUE THIS SERIES WITH SOMEONE WHO SO FULLY EMBODIES WHAT IT MEANS TO FIND YOUR PLACE IN THE HORSE WORLD — AND TO OPEN THAT DOOR FOR OTHERS.

Horse People Interviews was created to spotlight the individuals behind the barns, brands, and backcountry rides — the ones whose lives have been shaped by mud, mentorship, community, and an unwavering love for the horse.