Mark Russell & Family
Horse shows have always been as social as they are competitive—places where long days often end with a drink in hand. Post-show beers and cocktails are so deeply woven into the culture that many can hardly imagine the horse show experience without them. Yet what begins as casual camaraderie can, for some, quietly become something more complicated. While many enjoy a drink responsibly, others find themselves reaching for it more often than they realize, using alcohol to unwind, to connect, or simply to cope. For Mark Russell and Brice Howell—both with deep roots in the show horse industry—that pattern became all too familiar. Alcohol once felt like a natural part of the lifestyle, seamlessly stitched into celebrations, long workdays, and the very rhythm of showing. Over time, however, what began as social drinking evolved into something that threatened their health, strained their relationships, and clouded their sense of self. Today, both men are sober—and willing to speak openly about the choices that led them there.
A Culture That Normalizes Drinking Mark Russell grew up in Southeast Texas, showing “just about everything” as a youth through 4-H, open shows and AQHA competition before eventually becoming a trainer himself. Today, he and his wife, Emily, focus on ranch events, breed a small band of mares, and raise their children alongside their horses. Beyond his work at home, Mark serves as President of the Arkansas Quarter Horse Association, is an AQHA, APHA, NSBA, and NRCHA judge, and works as the Extension Horse Specialist for the University of Arkansas.
Brice & Sydney Howell
Like many in the industry, alcohol entered his life casually. “I wasn’t an everyday drinker, but more a multiple-days-aweek drinker toward the end,” Mark shares. “It started as casual, mostly social drinking. As time went on, it showed up as a way to celebrate a good day, numb a bad one, and everything in between.” Over time, alcohol worked its way into ordinary moments, offering an added sense of ease. “One of my favorite things back then was to drink a beer while I was working outside,” he says. “It made the mundane things in life more fun.” Brice Howell’s story follows a similar arc. He grew up showing as a youth before relinquishing his non-pro card in the early
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