The Plaid Horse April 2022 Wellness Issue by The Plaid Horse

NORTH AMERICA’S HORSE SHOW MAGAZINE • PUBLISHED SINCE 2003 • APRIL 2022 FEATURING: Equine Elixirs • French Horse Exports • Questionnaire: Courtney Levine • It Happens

Equestrians of Color Photo Project: Maya Aryal, Chloe Bates, & Leesan Kwok • Five Strides with Mr. Wonderful

The Wellness Issue

COVER STORY

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THE PLAID HORSE

April 2022

PHOTO: SARA SHIER PHOTOGRAPHY

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APRIL PLAID HORSE

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

The American Equestrian School: Open for Enrollment Piper Klemm, Ph.D.

SPOTLIGHT

Crackdown: Equine Elixirs’ Hoof Supplement

SPOTLIGHT

French Horse Experts Tyler Bui

THE PLAID HORSE

Questionnaire: Courtney Levine Equestrians of Color Photography Project: Chloe Bates, Maya Aral, and Leesan Kwok

BOOK EXCERPT

The Year of The Horses

April 2022

VOICES

When the Long Road is the Only Road Rennie Dyball

INITIATIVE

Courtney Maum

Tyler Bui

RIDERS

Jill Brammer Photography, Purple Horse Designs, and Alaina Hower Photography

COVER

America Cryo: Next-Level Equine Therapy

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

How to Request Feedback from the Judge

HORSES

5 Strides with Mr. Wonderful Via his rider Caitlin Buckley

PHOTO GALLERY

Pin Oak Charity Horse Show Andrew Ryback Photography

RIDERS

It Happens! With Laena Romond, Molly Ashe Cawley, and Tim Maddrix

2022

PHOTO BY

KATIE COOK Subzero therapy uses pressurized CO2 to target very specific areas such as joints, including the hock, stifle, pastern, and fetlock, resulting in optimized range of motion and reduced pain.

April 2022

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THE PLAID HORSE

April 2022

including interactive in-person seminars with industry experts. ICL Academy is an affiliate partner of the internationally renowned IB World School Group, The Dwight School. A 150-year tradition of academic excellence combined with the Institute for Civic Leadership’s lauded character and service leadership program makes quality academics accessible for serious junior equestrians, bringing the classroom to the horse show. The innovative program matches elite academics with elite equestrian instruction. Traci and Carleton Brooks bring their decades of experience producing top horses and riders to the American Equestrian School. The Brooks’ Balmoral Farm is one of the winningest equestrian programs in North America, consistently producing national champions. Carleton is an inductee of the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame, the USHJA Hall of Fame, and winner of overall 2020 USEF Horse of the Year with Pritchard Hill. With the Brooks’ expertise, the AES program offers a dual-focus education unlike any other.

FROM TOP: Piper riding Sundae #sundaethebesthorse in Agoura Hills, CA; Saying “until next time” to Reuben Sandwich at Sue Pietrzak’s beautiful farm in Coachella, CA; Piper with husband Adam Hill at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Annual Meeting in San Diego

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SPOTLIGHT

ALL ABOUT C RACKDOWN The newest, all natural creation from Equine Elixirs has taken the hoof supplement market by storm IN DEVELOPING the hoof supplement Crackdown, Equine Elixirs’ founder Elizabeth Ehrlich collaborated with top farriers, veterinarians, and trainers to evaluate the most common hoof related issues and how to formulate a supplement that successfully addresses them. “The most common hoof issues are hooves that don’t grow, poor quality hoof growth, hooves that are too brittle or too soft, weak walls and those that are prone to quarter cracks, and general

hoof sensitivity,” says Ehrlich. “Some hoof issues are the result of environmental factors, like tropical weather where the ground is too wet, or dry weather where the ground is too hard, while other issues can be genetic or even related to diet.” Ehrlich was confident that she could create a whole food-based supplement to tackle the dietary component of the equation. “What horses need for quality hoof growth is sulfur, methionine, and arginine,

which are naturally occurring in many whole foods,” she says. These sulfur-bearing nutrients are key to circulation in the vascular network of the hoof, and development of strong keratinous tissue. “Most hoof supplements overly focus on biotin, which horses already derive by fermentation of forage in the hindgut, and almost always have enough of for daily requirements,” adds Ehrlich. While Crackdown does contain some biotin, Ehrlich emphasizes the research

“We struggled to get this horse’s feet to grow any sole despite trying several avenues. After less than six months on Crackdown, his sole depth doubled and hoof quality was substantially improved. Crackdown is a staple product that I recommend to clients for overall hoof health, as well as specific cases where horses have difficulty growing sole and hoof wall.” —LEAH PATIPA, DVM, PADDOCK EQUINE VETERINARY SERVICES

THE PLAID HORSE

April 2022

BEFORE CRACKDOWN

PHOTOS: COURTESY EQUINE ELIXIRS

6 MONTHS AFTER CRACKDOWN

April 2022

THE PLAID HORSE

SPOTLIGHT

“Because our horses show a lot, some of them would develop compromised feet with shelling or cracking. Shortly after starting Crackdown, we noticed a substantial improvement in the integrity of their hooves. Even our farriers noticed the improvement in the quality and rate of hoof growth. The horses love the palatability of the product, and there is never any left in the feed bucket. We are so excited to be able to use this all-natural product on our horses.” —DANNY ROBERTSHAW AND RON DANTA DANNY AND RON’S RESCUE

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highlighting the importance of sulfur, arginine, and methionine, which are the key nutrients for increasing the rate and quality of hoof growth, as well as overall hoof strength. Unlike heavily-processed pelleted and powdered supplements, Crackdown’s whole food ingredients are not only more effectively absorbed, but horses love eating it. And while hoof growth is notoriously slow, Crackdown starts increasing the rate and quality of growth within the first shoeing cycle, and farriers across the country have been astonished by the results. The same goes for vets and owners (see testimonials). If you haven’t already started your horse on Crackdown, now is the time to meet your blacksmith’s new best friend.

THE PLAID HORSE

April 2022

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SPOTLIGHT

FRENCH HORSE EXPORTS

THE PLAID HORSE

April 2022

PHOTOS, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: SARA SHIER PHOTOGRAPHY; STORIES TOLD BY FILM; THE BOOK LLC; RINGSIDE MEDIA

Bridging the gap between the European and American horse markets WORDS: TYLER

BUI

MANY DRE AM of importing their own horse from Europe,

but for some, the process may seem too complicated and difficult to even begin. Katherine McMahon and Alizé Jeandon of French Horse Exports have developed a bridge to connect American riders with their dream horses in France, streamlining the process from start to finish.

In 2013, McMahon and Jeandon began their journey as business partners, and today, French Horse Exports has flourished to become a full-service, multi-faceted business ranging from importing and exporting to a complete horse tour in France. McMahon and Jeandon met while riding at the same facility, and together with their individual expertise they have created a business like no other. The French horse market focuses almost solely on jumpers. McMahon is a U.S. citizen who grew up riding in Alaska, attended Lake Erie College in Painesville, OH, and moved to Europe after completing her education. She found herself riding, training, and showing young horses in France, and quickly noticed how the equitation and hunters were almost nonexistent. CLOCKWISE FROM FAR UPPER LEFT:

Amanda Ambrose riding Award Semilly, trained by Nicole Dicorti Bush; Stephen Pellet of Meadow Hill Farm on Bonamour, owned by Cici Criste; Darian Smith purchased Aymar as a 4-year-old, the pair won a 2018 Zone championship, and they ultimately moved up to the High Child/Adult jumpers and qualifying for Devon 2019; Balios, owned and ridden by Jessica Doyle

After seeing how the French struggled to sell certain horses who did not have the speed or scope to perform at a top jumper level, McMahon ended up introducing trainers Benjamin Grandjacques and Haras du Loup to the hunter world. Eventually, she helped them sell a beautiful hunter to Nicole Dicorti Bush in the United States, who had attended Lake Erie College with McMahon. She developed a relationship with Jeandon shortly after that sale, and they realized how their business interests aligned seamlessly. Jeandon, a French native, had already developed extensive breeding, riding, and training connections in the country, and had hopes to sell horses to the Russian market. McMahon, as a U.S. native, knew the American market and saw the potential in selling horses to the U.S. And thus began French Horse Exports—the two women worked to establish themselves with French breeders and the French horse market, and started building their clientele in the U.S. “The French market is male-dominated. We struggled so hard in the first year trying to make a name for ourselves, but we nailed a couple of really big clients on

the coast,” says McMahon. “Melissa Rudershausen Strawser bought two horses from us early on in our first year, and when we went to visit her in Ocala, she introduced us to Daniel Geitner. Once we had Daniel come over [to France], it snowballed into people finally trusting us.” “We would go and sit at the young horse shows and talk to people. Little by little, they knew us. Alizé did one article in a French magazine and then they did another interview and another couple articles. With that publicity in France, people got to know her, and we kind of exploded,” says McMahon. “Alizé has built her network in France, and I’ve built my network with clients in the U.S,

“Everything in France is like an art, and breeding is an art for them too.” —KATHERINE MCMAHON

so that’s worked really well. More or less, we don’t really have to go and find horses anymore, people just come to us.” The first two years of business were trial and error for the pair. McMahon and Jeandon spent time teaching the French what Americans look for, not only in a horse, but in a trial setting as well. They held clinics with breeders, complete with Powerpoints about the ideal equitation and hunter horse and how horses should be prepped for a trial.

April 2022

THE PLAID HORSE

SPOTLIGHT

Today, their process is seamless from start to finish, beginning with a client’s flight over to France and ending with their newly purchased horse leaving quarantine in the U.S. While the experience is customized to fit each client’s specific needs, there are three main services that French Horse Exports offers: buying unseen, a horse tour, and importing.

BUYING UNSEEN For purchasing a horse unseen, a client will reach out and describe the horse they are looking for. McMahon and Jeandon will send them back videos and descriptions of horses, and wait for feedback from the client. “We will make videos of whatever they want. Sometimes we do videos of the horse getting in a trailer or even the horse in the paddock. Basically, we try to make them feel comfortable through the whole process,” she says. “We leave it open to the client to tell us what they want, and then once we nail it down, we start the vetting process.” “For a vetting, we’ll do the blood work and then if that’s good, we’ll start the X-rays. The vettings are also much more affordable in France,” says McMahon. “We then film all of the lameness [checks] that we do, as that makes people feel more comfortable. We’re really open to working with the client on that part.” If the vetting is successful, the client then gets help with the payment process and language translation if need be. Once the payment is completed, the shipping process begins. “We are a one stop shop and our commission includes export/import organization. In France, we just have to do the bloodwork and the paperwork. The horse will then fly out of Amsterdam. Once they arrive in the U.S., they have to go to USDA quarantine for three days regardless of their sex. Every horse has to go through quarantine at the USDA, and

THE PLAID HORSE

April 2022

Melissa Strawser (Ruderhausen) on Darwin de Mars. Strawser has purchased 16 horses from French Horse Exports, winning multiple Grand Prix and classes at Devon on those mounts

they retest them for Piroplasmosis. If it’s a mare or stallion, they then have to go to CEM quarantine, where they are tested for Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM).” After the horse has completed quarantine, they are sent to their owner. Another option they offer is keeping a client’s horse in France for training until they are ready to be exported to the U.S. “We have people who want to buy horses but don’t want to pay the cost in the States, so we keep their horses in training here. They’ll buy threeyear-olds or four-year-olds, we put the horses in training with us, and they get exported when they’re ready,” she says. “We also sell them for clients, so we have people buy horses, put them

in training, and then we’ll market them for sale. Sometimes someone will buy them in France so the person makes out without ever importing the horse.”

HORSE TOURS OF SALE HORSES For a client looking to come to France to try horses themselves, the Horse Tour allows them to not only try horses, but to enjoy and tour the country. “When we have new clients, we really try to make them feel comfortable about coming. We put a horse tour together— if they need help with accommodations like booking their hotel, we help them out as much or as little as they need. Some people are really comfortable traveling abroad, some people are not. Alizé takes them around, and we try to ride as

PHOTO: ANDREW RYBACK PHOTOGRAPHY

“Being female-owned makes a really big difference...I think we are empathetic and understanding, we’re really focused on making clients feel comfortable.” —KATHERINE McMAHON

Owner and rider Samantha Meyer on Challenge d’Elixir Z, trained by Courtney McGlothern of Noble Jumpers

many horses in one spot as possible.” Oftentimes, they will take their clients to historic farms, restaurants, famous landmarks, or popular tourist attractions if they’re in the vicinity. After finding the right horse, they will begin the vetting and payment process, and eventually export the horse to its new owner in the U.S. “Since June when the international border opened back up, we’ve had so many new clients come over which has been awesome. It’s not necessarily selling the horse as much as it is showing them how it works in France, the quality and the differences of the horses, and the experience,” says McMahon. The word that clients use most often to describe the business is honesty,

PHOTO: S.G. PHOTOGRAPHICS

and McMahon and Jeandon pride themselves on that. Their one goal is to find their clients the ideal horse, and they believe the entire process should be completely transparent. “Clients feel really comfortable buying from us. I think the actual process of buying a horse from Europe is sometimes really scary, but I think once they do it, they feel really good about it,” she says. “Something I think that’s really important to point out is that the horses aren’t the same as American-trained horses. It’s important to imagine the horse after three months of training in the U.S. The horses, they’re not prepped in France. You might have a horse that’s a little bit hot and it’s probably because

it’s never been lunged—it probably had not been ridden the day before. The true horse is shown during the trial because it isn’t prepped.” The benefits of importing a horse from Europe are extensive, but McMahon emphasizes two things: quality and price. “You’re going to get more bang for your buck. Even with the import costs, you’re paying a lot less money for such high quality. Selle Francais—they’re always going to jump, they’re always trying their hardest,” says McMahon. “You don’t have to drill into them all the time. They’re just naturally smarter and willing. The repeated results show that they’re just such quality jumpers.” While French Horse Exports is unique in itself, the quality of service and the dedication to their clients makes the business stand out even more. McMahon and Jeandon offer so much more than just a business exchange. “Being female-owned makes a really big difference. We’re not going to push clients into something that they’re uncomfortable with. As women, I think we are empathetic and understanding, we’re really focused on making clients feel comfortable,” she says. “What sets us apart is how honest and transparent we are through the entire process.” With McMahon’s U.S. home base, one of her favorite parts about her job is being able to reconnect with her clients to see their success. “I really like going to the horse shows, I love the horses that we’ve sold. I love getting updates. It’s so exciting to see where these horses have gone and what jobs they have now,” says McMahon. “I’m a people person, I love dealing with people. So that I have the ability to meet so many different people and so many different types of riders. Also getting to teach people about France—not only the country, but showing them how important breeding is in France is huge too. Everything in France is like an art, and breeding is an art for them too.”

April 2022

THE PLAID HORSE

April 2022

COVER

Next-Level Equine Therapy

AMERICA CRYO Transforming recovery and rehabilitation for both equines and humans WORDS: TYLER

BUI

PHOTOS:

KATIE COOK

NJURY PREVENTION, recovery, and rehabilitation are crucial to the health and performance of show horses. As a professional Grand Prix rider, Florian Moreno found himself looking for the right support to help his horses, and cryotherapy was his answer. After seeing the benefits and abilities of cryotherapy firsthand (the technique utilizes freezing temperatures to promote healing) firsthand, he established America Cryo. America Cryo offers a range of products and devices that aid in rehabilitation and recovery while providing preventative care. Pairing the top medical devices with cutting edge science, America Cryo products can make an immediate difference in the performance and health of show horses. April 2022

“... it’s good for healing, pain relief, and swelling. It’s a very versatile product that can be used in many situations.” —FLORIAN MORENO

THE PLAID HORSE

COVER

Moreno grew up in France and began riding at the age of four, and eventually established a career as a professional rider. He competed at the Grand Prix level for years, where he was first introduced to the science of cryotherapy. “I found out about cryotherapy from my veterinarian. At the time, I had a horse rehabilitating from an injury and it really helped to shorten the recovery time,” says Moreno. After shifting his career from riding and competing to buying and selling horses in France, he decided to make the move to the U.S., where he met his wife, Ali Leopold Moreno. Together, they own Leopold Farms based out of Calabasas, CA. “I ride and sell horses with my wife, so I’m still very connected to the horse world,” he says. “But at the same time, I started my medical device company, where we manufacture and develop medical devices for humans and equines.” Moreno’s first step to developing America Cryo was to reach out to the company that manufactured the first cryotherapy device that he had used back in France. He began distributing their products, and then started manufacturing accessories and selling them. Today, he owns America Cryo, and his products are manufactured in the U.S. When he first began selling, Moreno was surprised to learn that cryotherapy was not well known in the U.S. but had been on the market for almost 20 years in Europe. However, after being in business for almost eight years, it is now a

SUBZERO EQUINE CRYOTHERAPY

“In a cryotherapy chamber, you are just surrounded by the cold, but with localized cryotherapy we apply pressure to get deeper into the tissue.” —FLORIAN MORENO

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April 2022

common practice for humans and horses in the states. While America Cryo offers more than just cryotherapy, their Subzero Equine Cryotherapy device is their most popular among equine treatments. Subzero therapy uses pressurized CO2 to target specific areas on the body and provides pain relief and faster injury recovery for both humans and equines.

SUBZERO EQUINE CRYOTHERAPY “With the device, you can treat any area of the body. You are not limited to certain areas like if you were to use an ice pack,” says Moreno. “The treatment time is very fast, it’s 30 seconds to one minute per area. The outcome outlasts, by far, any other type of cold treatment. It’s better than an ice bath, it’s better than ice packs, because it blows carbon dioxide at -110 degrees Farenheit on the body. By doing so, we lower the skin temperature from

89 degrees to 34 degrees within a few seconds, and this creates a thermal shock.” “When you create a thermal shock in the body, you get a neurovegetative response, which is going to immediately create an analgesic effect, a muscle relaxant effect, and then in long-term effects, it will create a vasomotor and an anti-inflammatory effect. So it’s good for healing, pain relief, and swelling. It’s a very versatile product that can be used in many situations.” A popular form of cryotherapy for humans is performed in a chamber, however, this provides a lesser effect. The Subzero Equine Cryotherapy offers localized cryotherapy, which is targeted and more effective. “In a cryotherapy chamber, you are just surrounded by the cold, but with localized cryotherapy we apply pressure to get deeper into the tissue than the chamber is able to,” says Moreno. “The

COLD COMPRESSION THERAPY

“The cold compression is a practical device in the sense that it is FEI allowed. You only need water and ice, and it allows you to treat the tendons and ligaments on the front and hind legs as well as the hocks.” —FLORIAN MORENO localized cryotherapy is more therapeutic, while the full-body cryotherapy in a chamber is more wellness-oriented.” With the device being handheld, you can use it on any part of your body or your horse’s body, but there are certain areas that Moreno recommends for optimal performance and recovery. “Using the Subzero Equine Therapy device on a horse’s back helps flush out the lactic acid, relaxes the muscles,

relieves pain, and de-stresses the fiber on the back,” he says. “This is also the only device where you can get the hooves this cold, because we can treat the feet from the navicular bone, the coronary band, the hoof wall, and the sole so you can attack the foot from four different angles to remove inflammation and pain. It’s helpful to take the sting away from jumping too often or too high. What people often do for preventative treatment is to treat the suspensory, as this is one of the main causes of lameness in sport horses. [Using Subzero Equine Therapy] preventatively after competition will help remove inflammation and help the ligaments recover faster.” The device itself is very easy to use, and America Cryo offers one-hour training sessions. It is handheld, portable, and versatile.

COLD COMPRESSION THERAPY America Cryo’s Cold Compression Therapy is another option that pairs compression with the concept of cryotherapy. “The cold compression is a practical device in the sense that it is FEI allowed. You only need water and ice, and it allows you to treat the tendons and ligaments on the front and hind legs as well as the hocks,” says Moreno. “The device regulates the flow of water to reach the targeted temperature. It’s very portable, it’s very easy to use. The problem with ice boots is that you do not control the temperature. So the advantage of our cold compression is that the temperature is regulated the entire time through sensors on the device so we know the temperature provided on the skin. We also add the sequential compression to help with drainage and helps the cold compression get deeper into the tissue.”

EQUINE SHOCKWAVE The Equine Shockwave is a device that is especially helpful for injuries, as it targets and speeds up recovery. “The equine shockwave is a radial shockwave which makes it easier to handle, more affordable, more portable, and lower maintenance. It provides great outcomes for joint issues, soft tissue injuries, and pain. We create a shockwave using an electromagnetic diffuser that will accelerate a pin inside the handle that creates the wave. There are different types of tips to control how deep and how focal or radial we want the shockwave to be. It’s good to be used for maintenance and prevention with a low amount of shock, or it can be used for injury treatment with a higher amount of shock and energy.”

LASER THERAPY America Cryo offers three different laser therapy products that are all class IV superpulse. Each laser has the ability to also operate as class IIIB to provide a smaller amount of power. When you beam a laser wave, you can either do it continuously or pulsed. When you are able to pulse at a very high frequency, it is called superpulse. Studies have shown that a pulsed wave has a better and deeper interaction on the cells vs continuous, and this is why the brand’s lasers offer the superpulse option. “We have a 10 watt with two wavelengths, we have a 20 watt with three wavelengths, and we have a 45 watt with four wavelengths,” says Moreno. “The more power you have, the shorter the treatment time is going to be. The more

April 2022

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TKTKTKTKT COVER

EQUINE SHOCKWAVE

“It provides great outcomes for joint issues, soft tissue injuries, and pain.” wavelengths you have, the more cells you can improve. The 650 is really good for superficial wound healing and skin issues, as it accelerates the healing of surface tissue and promotes cell growth. The 980 is mostly used for analgesic [purposes], as it works on the thermoreceptors and activates gait control mechanism. The 810 is good for ATP production, increasing hemoglobin oxygenation.”

EQUINE INFRASOUND: G5 EQUITEC One product that is distributed by the company but not manufactured by them is the Equine Infrasound: G5 Equitec, which is FEI allowed. “The Equitec is a circulatory vibration device. It’s very helpful to prepare before a class, or with a different setup it’s very good for recovery as well,” Moreno says. “It uses infrasound waves to treat specific areas and can reach down to the muscle and provide immediate results, and has therapeutic benefits.” While recovery and injury prevention are common practices in the care of our horses, it’s also important to take care of

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April 2022

our human bodies as well. The Subzero and Cold Compression devices are able to be used by both horse and human, providing not only medical benefits for humans but aesthetic benefits as well. “The subzero device was developed for orthopedic issues, pain relief, and anti-inflammatory recovery, but we found a few years ago that the technology also has aesthetic benefits as well, it can be used for facials, hair growth, and it

LASER THERAPY

“The more power you have, the shorter the treatment time is going to be. The more wavelengths you have, the more cells you can improve.”

can also be used for body sculpting by freezing fat.” With America Cryo, you are able to not only aid in recovery, but take preventative steps to avoid injury. These revolutionary products work to deliver the most targeted and effective therapy to make visible differences in the health and performance of both equines and humans. For more information, visit americacryo.com.

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PHOTOS © ANDREW RYBACK PHOTOGRAPHY, SHAWN MCMILLEN PHOTOGRAPHY, THE BOOK, MACKENZIE SHUMAN, & GRACE SALMON

Stonewall Farm • Text: 920-889-0028 S TO N E WA L L P O N I E S@YA H O O.C O M • I XO N I A , W I S C O N S I N

Congratulations to Our Over 150 Ponies Sold or Leased in 2021!

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR*

How to Request Feedback from the Judge This month, we heard from a reader happy to learn how to correspond with the judge at a horse show.

* Introducing a new column, Letters to the Editor, in which we share correspondence that we believe may help others. Do you have a story to share? We want to hear it! Email piper@theplaidhorse.com

THE PLAID HORSE

April 2022

Dear T PH,

I recently got back into riding after my junior career ended and I didn’t have the time or funds after college. I’m so fortunate to have the same horse—my 20-year-old Appendix, Mickey, who seems to be aging like a fine wine. Twelve years ago, we couldn’t make it through course without an eyebrow-raising, a bolt, or a spook. It seems the 10 years of being a pasture ornament treated him well. He’s now taken me from Modified Child to Modified Adult...we might even try the Adults at Pin Oak since he’s been doing so well! I did the last week of the Texas Winter Series and was excited and nervous for my first equitation on the flat class in over a decade. Back then, I could usually grab a top-five finish, but not this time. I was dead last! Most of us were confused, and so I reluctantly gathered up the courage to go to the announcer

to request the steward. She played messenger and confirmed my worst habit: “Reins were way too long and that is a pet peeve of mine so she went straight to the bottom.” I appreciated the honesty! Thanks for the tip. If it wasn’t for you, my brain would still be spinning on what error I made (Stirrup leather twisted? Didn’t like Quarter Horses? Wrong diagonal?). I started listening to The Plaidcast when my barnmate, Jessica, told me about it in January 2021. I’m only 50 episodes away from catching up to current. Hope to see y’all at the ring at Pin Oak! (TLDR: Thanks for educating me on how to request to speak to the judge. I didn’t know this was an option and I got great feedback. I’m excited to work on it and get a redo at Pin Oak.)

Annie Bean McHale

Spring Riding Horse Sale Online Auction April 22 - 25, 2022

CWHBA - Alberta Chapter Contact us for more details

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www. CanadianWarmbloodAuction .ca

Graphic Design by HawkStone Equestrian

RIDERS

Courtney Levine STATUS: AMATEUR • HOMETOWN: MIAMI, FL • TRAINERS: ALAN KOROTKIN AND SUSAN TUCCINARDI

As a horsewoman, I am most proud of my ability to be sympathetic as a rider to the needs of the horses I ride. It’s not always easy, there are moments where that can feel challenging, but I try really hard to pay attention to what the horse is telling me, how a horse might be interpreting or misinterpreting what I’m doing or asking, and how I can ask more effectively. • As a horsewoman, I would most like to improve on so many things. I’d really like to work on confidence and consistency over fences, something I think a lot of amateurs can identify with if their schedules interfere with time in the saddle, or if they’ve had to take breaks here and there. • I’d be lost without sunscreen in my tack trunk and hair ties in my ring bag. • I think the biggest misconception about our sport is that it is just a casual hobby or occasional outing for most of us. I think a lot of people outside the sport underestimate the time and energy that goes into riding, showing, and caring

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April 2022

for horses. • The part of riding I struggle most with is keeping my reins an appropriate length. Also remembering not to dwell too much on mistakes or bad rides. This can be a very emotional and humbling sport, it’s easy to beat yourself up if you’re in a slump or if something isn’t quite going your way. • The part of riding I’m best at is rewarding horses always. Pats for good behavior, for learning, and for getting things right. A softening of aids when they listen, reassuring and affirmative words. Even if it’s not the easiest or most productive ride, I will find a reason to give horses pats and affection regardless of how I’m feeling personally. MY MOTTO IS:

in life, and with horses, the answer to almost all questions is: go forward.

My best piece of advice for young riders is horsemanship first. That might seem obvious or trite, but I really believe that it is the most important component to maintaining longevity in the sport. In order to persevere in the long run in this sport, the common theme must always be your relationship to your horse. I am a firm believer that putting in the work at the barn, on the ground, paying attention to details with your horse ultimately makes you a much more effective and sophisticated rider in the ring. PHOTO: FOREVER PHOTO COMPANY (TOP)

I SOMETIMES WISH I HAD THE TIME TO LEARN:

how to perform equine massage therapy. I would love to be able to do some gentle body work on some of the horses that I ride.

I’m a sucker for a cute face, a horse with a kind eye, and a nugget face that you just want to squish. Honestly, I’m a sucker for most horses and they know it. They smell me and the treats coming. • On Mondays, you’ll find me catching up on emails and errands, and probably taking a nap. • I’m afraid of anything venomous. Also, tornadoes. • The horse person I most admire is Beezie Madden because not only is she one of the most decorated women in the history of the sport, she also is incredibly thoughtful about what is best for her horses. I love seeing how happy all of her retired horses are. Plus, she really is just so fast and efficient in every jump-off I’ve seen her in. She’s amazing.

Something I say ten times a day is…“Work smarter, not harder.” Or, “Wait, what did I walk in here for?” • One of my greatest show ring victories was…back when I was riding with Nona Garson several years ago, I ended up leasing a horse to show at WEF one weekend, and having only ridden it once before, we went into the ring and placed in the top 12 out of a pretty big field on our first day. It wasn’t necessarily my greatest ride or biggest win, but it really solidified some confidence in my ability to adapt to new horses and figure things out without overthinking. That in and of itself is a win for me. April 2022

THE PLAID HORSE

NORTH AMERICA’S HORSE SHOW MAGAZINE • PUBLISHED SINCE 2003

CONGRATULATES

KIERA NYGAARD & LATITUDE

Winners of The Plaid Horse Carousel Derby at West Palms Horse Shows 2022 PHOTO: LINDSEY LONG EQUINE PHOTOGRAPHY

THEPLAIDHORSE.COM • READ THE MAGAZINE ONLINE: ISSUU.COM/THEPLAIDHORSEMAG

NORTH AMERICA’S HORSE SHOW MAGAZINE • PUBLISHED SINCE 2003

CONGRATULATES

AVA MICHELSON & COMEBACK KID

Winners of The Plaid Horse Carousel Derby at West Palms Horse Shows 2022 PHOTO: LINDSEY LONG EQUINE PHOTOGRAPHY

THEPLAIDHORSE.COM • READ THE MAGAZINE ONLINE: ISSUU.COM/THEPLAIDHORSEMAG

INITIATIVE

THE EQUESTRIANS OF COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT

CHLOE BATES

THE PLAID HORSE

April 2022

MAYA ARAL

The Plaid Horse is proud to introduce some of the photo project’s featured equestrians to our readers in each issue

IN 2020, a group of photographers

came together to create the Equestrians of Color Photography Project, a weekly blog that promotes inclusion and amplifies the voices of equestrians of color ready to openly share their story with the community. Learn more at equestriansofcolor.com.

LEESAN KWOK

April 2022

THE PLAID HORSE

April 2022

INITIATIVE

THE EQUESTRIAN

MAYA ARYAL

THE PHOTOGRAPHER

JILL BRAMMER PHOTOGRAPHY

LEARN MORE equestriansofcolor.com/ maya-aryal

How did you get involved with horses? Since I was two years old, all I’ve ever talked about is horses. My mom tried to introduce me to just about every other hobby—soccer, ballet, swimming—but all I wanted to do was ride horses! I took my first lesson when I was almost three and I fell in love. Since then, riding has been the most important part of my life. As my riding has evolved from a hobby to a passion/future career, horses have taken on a new role in my life. While they have always brought me immense joy, now that I am riding and competing more seriously, horses have become more like teammates to me. I have come to rely on them and to constantly try to improve myself so that they can rely on me too. When on course, it’s up to both the horse and rider to perform, and I have learned the importance of working together with the horses to achieve a common goal. I think it’s important to recognize how much horses do for us riders, and to truly appreciate them for their kind and forgiving nature. What is your happiest or proudest moment as an equestrian? Rather than one specific moment, I am proud of my entire journey as an equestrian and all of the ups and downs that have brought me to where I am today. Starting out in a local lesson barn, I never would have imagined myself competing at some of the largest shows in the nation. I am proud of my commitment to horsemanship and the sport and I feel that my passion for horses is apparent in my riding and horsemanship. (I take complete care of my horses, even while competing at some of the largest and most competitive events in the nation.) Riding makes me happy, no matter what kind of day I’m having, and I am both proud and grateful to have the opportunity to ride such incredible horses every day.

SHARE YOUR STORY If you are an equestrian of color (16 years or older) interested in sharing your story through The Equestrians of Color Photography Project, you can connect with a local photographer ally via the project website equestriansofcolor.com.

April 2022

THE PLAID HORSE

INITIATIVE

THE EQUESTRIAN

CHLOE BATES THE PHOTOGRAPHER

PURPLE HORSE DESIGNS LEARN MORE equestriansofcolor.com/ chloe-bates

THE PLAID HORSE

How did you get into horses and what is your current relationship with them? Books and TV. I was obsessed with The Saddle Club, Heartland, Thoroughbred, The Ponysitters Club, the Hoofbeats series, Stabenfeldt International’s PONY books…the list goes on. None of my schools offered sports or extracurriculars, so when I was seven, my mom took me for my first riding lesson and I never stopped. I spent the majority of my childhood and teenage years learning as much as I could. In my senior year of college, I worked on a horse farm in South Africa as a trail guide and at a ranch in Wyoming as

April 2022

a wrangler. Now, I teach lessons at a local stable and work for my trainer. My goal is to continue learning everything possible to be a better horsewoman, as I hope to purchase my own horse soon. In what moment have you been most hurt or disappointed as an equestrian? I broke my back once! But in all seriousness, I almost hit a breaking point last year. I hadn’t been riding regularly for a while, and what little riding I was able to do just didn’t challenge me. I wasn’t clicking with the trainer or her horses and I was really struggling. I was feeling extremely isolated from the other folks at the barn and felt extremely burnt out from the news cycle and current events. I had been rejected from several horse-related professional opportunities for reasons that I

suspected were race-related, which was really upsetting to me because I want to continue in this sport and industry as much as possible. But I felt like there was just no room for me. There were no open doors, no closed doors, no seats at the tables. I wasn’t progressing in my riding, and it was all feeling really pointless. I felt like the blood, sweat, tears, energy, and money that I poured into my riding somehow wasn’t enough, and this was really painful for me because horses and riding are such a crucial part of my identity. I explained it to my therapist as, “I love horses but I can’t love them into loving me back.” My outlook has since changed overall, but I do still worry that I will never be able to be as involved with horses in the capacity that I want to be because of systemic reasons beyond my control.

April 2022

THE PLAID HORSE

April 2022

INITIATIVE

THE EQUESTRIAN

LEESAN KWOK

THE PHOTOGRAPHER

ALAINA HOWER PHOTOGRAPHY

LEARN MORE equestriansofcolor.com/ leesan-kwok

How do you describe yourself as an equestrian? Equitation traditionalist turned omnidisciplined adventurist who will try anything but endurance (nothing against endurance riders at all…in fact, I have a lot of respect for them. I just don’t know if my hips and knees can take the abuse!). My current identity is “polo player” because that is what I have access to at the moment. However, if given the opportunity, I believe I will sway to cross country rider or jumper really hard! What words of encouragement would you have for other equestrians of color or people of color considering becoming equestrians? There are people like you in the equestrian world; you are not alone. There are people who look like you, who have similar financial, social, and time constraints, who also love horses with all their hearts. There are people like you who feel guilty that they sometimes feel like horses are a burden because they have to work so hard to be in the horse world, but also appreciate the love and fulfillment that horses bring. The diversity problem in equestrian disciplines is not as severe as the media leads us to believe. Let me preface this by saying I live in a bubble that is the Bay Area and Silicon Valley. Riding is expensive in the Bay Area—even more so than the rest of the country. In the equestrian hotspots of Portola Valley and Woodside, you’d be hard-pressed to find lessons at a hunter-jumper barn for less than $100 for 45 minutes. However, because of the tech industry’s diverse workforce and high wages, the equestrian clientele here checks all the diversity boxes. There are people like you in the equestrian world. April 2022

THE PLAID HORSE

congratulates

Rennie Dyball & Joey

Venice Equestrian Tour VI 1st Place Low Child/Adult Hunter Classic Reserve Champion Low Child/Adult Hunter Reserve Champion USHJA 2'6" PHOTO: FOREVER PHOTO CO

KAT URBAN AND NICOLE MOTES • 410-456-4291 • WWW.URBANRIDGEFARM.COM

PHOTO GALLERY

West Palms Events LA February Horse Show LA EQUESTRIAN CENTER BURBANK, CA • FEB. 18-20, 2022

3 4

1 Lacora and Cameron Harrison 2 Fontanesse and Liz Corkett • 3 Sky Top and Kelly Jennings • 4 Askaban 22 and Jordyn Isom-McLewee, winners of the $5,000 Cupid’s Flight

THE PLAID HORSE

April 2022

Orion Farm Wishes...

B Beesstt ooff LLuucckk

to toall allcompetitions competitionsat atWEF WEF

5 Coconut RW and Jonathan Bradford 6 Friendships forged 7 Miss American Pi and Azalea Pompei 8 Calesco and Ireland Bloem PHOTOS:

LINDSEY LONG PHOTOGRAPHY

LLIINNDDAAEEVVAANNSS••KKIIM MFFEERRRROO 413-530-9685 413-530-9685••orionpny@aol.com orionpny@aol.com Massachusetts Massachusetts••Wellington, Wellington,Florida Florida

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BOOK EXCERPT

THE YEAR OF THE HORSES

A Memoir by Courtney Maum Reprinted with permission from Tin House

IT WAS AN E ARLY MORNING like any other at the upstate

polo club: Danny, Carlos, Victor, Leah, and I were readying the ponies for the gallop track. I was put on a horse I’d never ridden named Tequila, who, from the moment we left the stable, nerved and twitched beneath me with unbridled energy. I could feel her exuberance and restlessness through my tack as we danced out of the barn with the extra horses at our side. “I’ve got a runner,” I yelped, hoping that if I voiced my fear, I’d be better equipped to fight it. But true to form, none of the grooms acknowledged my doubts, because it would only coddle those doubts into becoming an actual problem. Victor had told me time and time again that he would never put me on a horse I couldn’t handle, and I reminded myself of that as we headed out to the

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track, repeating another mantra that my coach Alison was always yelling at me: “Believe, Courtney! Believe!” Believe and breathe, I thought. Don’t let her feel you’re anxious. But Tequila’s energy only mounted as we approached the racetrack. I was too embarrassed by a scenario in which we all had to turn back so that I could switch horses to try speaking up again. Inconveniencing my

friends was a greater mortification than having mounted an animal that was too much horse for me. But once we hit the track, I knew I was in trouble. Tequila’s head was high, her steps prancy. Her mouth pulled at the bit and her body surged. I managed to control her at the walk, but as our trot approached our fourth lap, when we habitually moved into the canter, she strained at the tack. We burst into a canter that soon became something else in the slow-but-fast-moving way you recall an accident. I can still feel my own reckonings with the quickening pace: This is fast, but is this too fast? Yes, it is too fast. We were racing by this point, Tequila, a high-goal polo pony, at a professional-grade gallop, faster than that, actually, because she had my panicked legs goading her on. Later, the grooms would tell me that I was clenching her

PHOTO: KENZIE ODEGAARD FIELDS

BOOK EXCERPT

“Believe and breathe, I thought. Don’t let her feel you’re anxious. But Tequila’s energy only mounted as we approached the racetrack.”

too tightly: when the going gets rough, that’s when you relax. This proved to be a challenge on the gallop track with three horses on a line. Around and around we went, the other barns’ grooms yelling out, “¡Más despacio!” as we whizzed by. “¡Tengo un problema!” I knew enough to answer. “I’m in trouble!” I called out to Danny when I overtook his string, as well. My team’s speed was worsening, not slackening. I had so many horses with me and we were going so fast: whatever accident befell me, it was going to be bad. I hadn’t known slow, predictive fear like that since I saw the tree our car was headed for during our pivotal crash, a fear nearing hysteria, a fear so belly-deep it almost made me laugh. If I fell at the speed that we were going at, I would be trampled, if not by my own ponies, then by one of the strings behind me. I tried to breathe but couldn’t. My body was ramrod-straight, my chest pitched forward (which only made those horses faster), my belly in my throat, all signals of distress that further freaked the horses. We were tearing up the gallop track, pushing by the other grooms, several of whom had come to a full stop to try and sort out what to do. Even though

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the nylon lead lines were cutting into my hands, I refused to drop the ropes. I couldn’t lose those horses—they could run off, panicked, toward the main road, injuring themselves or someone in a screeching car. I figured if we just kept circling the track, Tequila would eventually stop, wouldn’t she? But she was a trained polo mount, trained to go until she dropped—literally—to the ground; if I couldn’t stop her, she might not stop herself. We were going so fast my eyes were tearing, every pace for-ward a new launch down a roller coaster. My stomach felt as if it had been hollowed out and replaced by an eel that was sucking at me and electrocuting me at the same time. I looked down the far side of the arena where the entrance gate was, wondering if I couldn’t figure out a safe way to fall, when I saw that Carlos had halted his horses and was arranging all six of them in a line across the track, effectively creating a wall out of horseflesh. Tequila knew these horses, exercised every day with them. She wouldn’t recoil in terror, and there wasn’t a path forward—I couldn’t jump my string of horses over Carlos’s. We would have to stop. We did. I was choked up when we halted, from fear of course, but also from the realization that one of those grooms was going to lead me back to the barn, watch me put away the horses, and tell me that I could never ride with them again. My proud cover was blown—everyone on the track that day had seen what an amateur I was. But that wasn’t what happened. Victor had me ride the same string of horses behind him and Danny for a few laps at the canter. That was all he said: “Again. You get behind us and you do it again.” This approach to riding—the get-backin-the-saddle attitude—is something that separates horse enthusiasts from real horse people for me. It feels callous when it happens to you—my heart was racing, my pulse still in my throat as we picked

up that canter—but making me do the exercise over was a public act of forgiveness and inclusivity, a nod to the fact that we all lose control and make mistakes, sometimes. That what had happened was part of riding, that it wasn’t a big deal. That they let me keep riding with them, that was the big deal. “What happened, nothing happened,” Carlos said, shrugging, when I flouted our new rules and hugged him once we’d dismounted at the barn, thanking him for nothing less than the saving of my life. “No pasó nada,” he repeated, blushing. “You stayed on.” And I did stay on. I didn’t let the horses go. “You were going fast,” Danny laughed. “I would have let go of them. It’s because she had her grain.” He pointed to the bucket Tequila had been eating out of before I rode her. “It’s because you were gripping her,” said the less euphemistic Victor, who accompanied this statement with a grimace and fists curled. “You have to ... relax. Breathe, you let go a little. Don’t hold on to them so tight.” My rigidity and panic were a disappointment to us both. I wanted so terribly to break on through to the other side, to a place where I could become relaxed in the face of fear. I wanted to build up to a riding ability where the more unsettled my mount was, the calmer I became. Where I sat back instead of forward in tense moments, and breathed fluidly instead of holding on to breath. Victor—ever the intuitive when it mattered—could see that I was near tears. “You need to get better, and you’re not riding a donkey,” he said, reaching for a post-ride beer out of a cooler. “These horses have blood. You have to be more open.” He reached across the trash barrel that separated our chairs and touched two fingers to my heart. “You have to be more open here.” Excerpted from The Year of the Horses: A Memoir by Courtney Maum. ©2022 by Courtney Maum

VOICES

When the Long Road is the Only Road AS A KID IN the early nineties, there was nothing I loved

reading more than the free equestrian magazine stocked at my local tack shop. It was the only thing in there that I could always pick up outside of my birthday, holidays, and when I outgrew riding gear. Lying on my bedroom floor, I pored over those issues as if I were studying for a test, literally memorizing the names of my favorite ponies, horses, and riders. Riding for me didn’t look anything like it did in that magazine. I took lessons once or twice a week at most, and horse shows were the schooling variety. It was a big deal when they gave out rosettes instead of strip ribbons. Mostly, it was the jumping photos in the magazines that got me—a horse or pony’s perfect knees, the bascule through their body, the riders’ beautiful positions. That image of a partnership in action sent my heart and my imagination soaring. I couldn’t get enough of the the professional photos, fancy jumps, long ribbons, and

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silver plates. The silver plates put me over the top. But I stopped short of actually daydreaming that I’d get to show that way myself. Many of those photos celebrated accomplishments in Florida, where horse people in my area competed each winter. Somehow, on some level, I knew it was out of reach. Now, a quick reality check: I may have been a scrappy lesson kid by equestrian standards, but relative to the rest of the country—and the world—I came from a wealthy family. My younger brother and I wanted for nothing growing up in an idyllic suburb of Washington, D.C. But the horse world is not representative of this country, nor the world at large. You have to be very fortunate to compete

in this sport, particularly at a high level. Even at 12, that much was clear to me. As a teenager, and later a returning rider in my thirties, I watched my trainers and barn friends ship off to Florida every year. The older I got, that picture—oxers, palm trees, and fancy tricolors—seemed even less attainable. Instead, I dreamed of jumping perfect courses at home, or perhaps at a show within driving distance. I had no road to Florida. The change happened slowly. Over the first decade of my career as a writer, my salary supported a studio apartment in Manhattan and not much more. In my thirties, a move to Maryland made housing more affordable, but a large percentage of my income went

“Rarely in life does the impossible morph into something within reach, and dreams that you wouldn’t let yourself imagine actually come true.”

to full-time childcare for my young daughter. I took lessons, and lucked into a school horse who could take me to a handful of “A” shows in the tri-state area. I kept writing. I kept hustling. I was finally able to start saving. And saving, and saving some more. Halfleasing. Then, finally, the stars aligned. With a supportive and forward-thinking trainer, I got the chance to lease Joey, the barn unicorn, once he wrapped up a year in the Children’s Hunters. Rarely in life does the impossible morph into something within reach, and dreams that you wouldn’t let yourself imagine actually come true. So, it didn’t really sink in when Joey and I first

arrived in Florida for the Venice Equestrian Tour in February. An A-rated show circuit. Palm trees. Awards presentations. The pictures in those old magazines had come to life, even if it hadn’t hit me yet. Hacking Joey in the big grass field next to the Grand Prix ring, we cantered the long side as the ‘80s classic “Gloria” played on the speakers. Joey perked his ears when he heard it. I smiled so hard that my cheeks ached. Day to day and week to week, Joey and I improved in the show ring. At 41 years old, I finally had a horse with the potential to do quite well, so long as I did my job as his pilot. The trips when I truly had fun and enjoyed the process were

PHOTOS: FOREVER PHOTO CO (TOP); COURTESY RENNIE DYBALL

The author in 1995 (left) and at the Venice Equestrian Tour in 2022.

my biggest wins, no matter the ribbon color at the end. Fox Lea Farm in Venice has two hunter rings, and we mainly showed in the second ring, home to the smaller divisions. Until my barn’s final weekend in Venice. My Low Child/Adult Hunter division for week six of the circuit would be held in Hunter Ring 1, and the move felt huge to me. The jumps were still just 2’6,” but with

all the beautiful fill from the morning’s derby, they looked bigger and wider to me, nearly frying my nervous adult amateur brain. My trainer offered me a warmup trip, but I didn’t want my sweet partner to jump an unnecessary round. He doesn’t need to see the jumps first—the warmup would be exclusively for me. I wanted to overcome my nerves, so I went straight in for our first trip.

VOICES

Showing and exploring in Venice, FL, with Joey and barnmate Anne Foss (top right); a spot on the bookshelf (bottom right) for our classic prize

I made some mistakes on our first tour of the ring, but I came out feeling like the bravest, proudest version of myself for just going in and doing it. On our final Sunday in Venice, Joey and I brought in a second, fourth, and seventh from the day before. I didn’t give a single thought to tricolors. I’ve gotten to show more in the last year than in the entirety of my 15 years of riding, and if I’ve learned one thing, it’s that I do best when I walk into the show ring with no expectations. If anyone knows how to manufacture that feeling, I’m all ears. I can’t reproduce it on command, but on the days that it shows up, it’s magic. Joey and I trotted in for our first trip, but my usual mantras (count your rhythm... sit chilly if you don’t see anything...relax and have fun)

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faded into the background. I asked Joey to step into his left lead and I couldn’t think of anything but how absolutely grateful I was to be here. I was 12 again, riding the greatest horse at the whole show. In all of Florida. My best friend cantered along and I smiled more than I’ve ever smiled in the show ring before. I was here. I’d made it. Our first trip went well. I kept smiling through our second trip, small errors and all. The classic round was our best yet, ending with an eight-stride bending line. My last fence in Florida had stone wall-style standards and green fuzzy rails. We found a great jump in and I measured the eight...landing on cloud nine. An hour later, after stuffing Joey with carrots and cleaning my tack for the long trip home, a friend asked if I wanted to walk back to Hunter 1

to see if they had results. The division was wrapping up when we got there and the announcer came on to pin the first class. She called Joey’s name first. My friend playfully hit my arm and I squeezed my eyes shut. To have so much fun in the “scary” main hunter ring and actually win on top of it was the sweetest icing on the cake. It turned out we’d won the classic, too, and I spent my final minutes at the horse show before driving to the airport staging a shameless photo shoot in Joey’s stall with his long blue ribbon. At home the next day, I called my mom to tell her about how the horse show wrapped up. There were

two surprises late Sunday, I told her. When I landed in Baltimore, I turned on my phone to find a text from my trainer: Joey and I were reserve champion in our division. And we even won a prize to go with that long classic ribbon. A silver plate. But this is not a story about ribbons or prizes. It’s about how so much of this sport can feel impossible. Dreams get put aside for years, or decades, or get shelved all together. That lesson kid never would have believed she could get here, even 30 years later. Telling my mom how the show ended, I cried. The little girl reading the free magazines cheered.

PHOTOS: COURTESY RENNIE DYBALL

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What’s the best part about being in the show ring? I love being the center of attention, so it’s fun to have all eyes on me. I also love having my picture taken so I feel in my element with photographers around. Plus, I love getting all

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spiffed up and being doted on before and after I show!

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LAENA ROMOND

MOLLY ASHE CAWLEY

I was showing in a young jumper class at Old Salem several years ago, and I wanted to get in the ring a little early while the rider before me was finishing. When I got to the in-gate, my horse got a little shy and didn’t want to go in the ring, so I gave him a good kick. It worked! He cantered right in, immediately after bucking me off at the in-gate. He lapped the ring for a solid five minutes, and in the process, he left poor Julie Welles, who had gone before me, stranded in the middle of the ring on a six-yearold stallion while my horse ran literal circles around her. Thankfully someone finally caught him, but I did think to myself that maybe he’d go better the next day if we let him keep going for a while longer!”

There used to be a Kentucky World Cup Qualifier in the fall, and we used to always ship down just to do that Grand Prix. I walked the course at least 20 times because there was one line that was really bothering me—it was a combination, a four to a one stride, but there was another four to a one stride on the other side of the ring. Long story short, after shipping all the way to Kentucky just for that one class, I did the lines in the wrong order. I’m going around the course and they’re beeping at me because I was off course and I had no idea. Not many people can say that they have gone off course at a World Cup Qualifier.”

PHOTOS: SHAWN McMILLEN PHOTOGRAPHY; ANDREW RYBACK PHOTOGRAPHY; A&S

TIM MADDRIX They had the big derby in the hotel ring during week six at WEC. I was riding Shutterbug and it was the second time he stepped up to the big derbies and he was jumping lights-out in the schooling area. Probably the best he’s ever jumped. And I’m going in there like, we got this. They had a dotted line, and I didn’t really pay attention to the dotted line because I wasn’t going to tour the ring. I went in and I just did a circle by the in-gate, and the first jump was away from the in-gate. As I was doing my circle, I saw a bush. Cantered right around the bush. I saw the bush from ten strides away and was like, eh, I’ll sweep right around it, that’ll give me a good approach to the first jump. And I crossed the dotted line. Disqualified.

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BEAU WAS A big-bodied, large bay pony with two white socks and a snip. He was adorable to look at, and had a personality to match. Tally got him ready on the cross ties behind Mac, who had her own medium pony, Joey, on the next set of cross ties. “My mom got the video of my round at Pony Finals,” Mac told Tally as she pulled Joey’s half pad up under the pommel of her saddle. Tally smiled, recalling her friend’s nearly flawless trip around the enormous Walnut ring at the Kentucky Horse Park, culminating in an uncharacteristic rail at the very last jump. Tally was so impressed by Mac’s ability to laugh

THE PLAID HORSE

April 2022

it off and appreciate all the good that came from her round, rather than focus on the mistake at the end. “Ryan watched the video too, and he thinks I came back with my body a little early, which could be why Joey hit the back rail with a hind foot,” Mac continued, pulling her blonde hair down over her ears and securing it in a low ponytail. “Plus, Joey had to be a little tired by then. That ring is like a football field!” “It didn’t look like you came back early,” Tally told her, buckling the throat latch on Beau’s bridle. “I don’t remember doing it either, but Ryan says it can happen at the end of your trip, or when you’re excited—and I was definitely excited that we got around that course.” Mac rubbed Joey’s neck and he turned to face her. “No treats right now, buddy,” she told him, scratching his forehead. “Workout first!” The girls walked their ponies out of the boarder aisle and up the hill toward the outdoor ring, situated just outside the farm’s large indoor. Before Tally started going to horse shows off the property, she didn’t realize how lucky they were to have two indoor rings and a large outdoor ring. Plenty of riding facilities didn’t even have one indoor to use when it was raining or during the winter months. Ryan was sitting on a jump in the center of the outdoor ring when Tally and Mac arrived with the ponies. He explained to Tally that Beau had been a little off in his right hind for about a week— likely the result of too much fun in turnout with his buddies. The vet didn’t suspect it was anything serious, and she recommended that Ryan watch the pony under saddle

every couple of days and note the pony’s progress. “Take a nice long time walking around the ring, Tally,” Ryan said. “A full lap on a loose rein and then you can pick up some contact, okay? Walk around the jumps, make some circles, and get him moving off your leg and bending. But just at the walk. He’s been standing in his stall since all the horses came in this morning, so I want him really warm and loose before we trot.” Tally double-checked Beau’s girth, mounted up, and walked toward the long side of the ring on top of the hill, overlooking the paddocks. She glanced down at the empty turnout fields in the valley below and up the hill in the distance. She smiled as Beau let out a big breath. Tally loved when horses and ponies did that—a sign that they were feeling relaxed and content. Behind her, Tally heard Mac and Ryan talking about where they would show next, once Joey had another week or two off after Kentucky. As Tally and Beau completed their lap on a loose rein, Tally changed direction and began to slowly gather up her reins. Mac was standing atop the mounting block and Joey looked like his usual sweet self, almost half asleep since he hadn’t started to work yet. Mac put her left foot into the stirrup and Joey stepped away from the mounting block. That’s when they heard the crash. A truck had smashed through the fencing around the turnout fields, noisily snapping and splitting the wood. The ponies heard it, too. Tally felt Beau shoot forward underneath her, away from the sound of the crash. And out of the corner of her eye, she watched Joey leap sideways. Mac, with only her left foot in the stirrup, never had a chance to swing her right leg over. She hit the ground hard as Joey raced for the gate.

Pick up a book & READ! What readers are saying about SHOW STRIDES, BOOK 1 & 2: “I loved the messages the book portrayed about hard work, dedication and learning to handle disappointment. These concepts were woven in throughout a great story that had me reading from cover to cover. If there is a horse-crazy kid in your life, don’t think twice, buy it now!” —AMAZON REVIEWER ★★★★★

“CLEARLY WRITTEN BY PEOPLE WHO KNOW HORSES!” —AMAZON REVIEWER ★★★★★

“My 10-year-old daughter started reading this series over the summer and hasn’t put it down. She is able to identify with a lot of the characters in the books and is excited for the 3rd book of the series to be available.” —AMAZON REVIEWER ★★★★★

“Great listen for rides to horseshows and lessons. This book is for serious, young riders, written by serious riders! Read by the author, which is cool.” —AMAZON REVIEWER ★★★★★

ALL 3 BOOKS AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

(Kindle & Audible too!) Rider Keira Lancelle Bates reads SHOW STRIDES, BOOK 1: School Horses & Show Ponies.

Read all three!

A ARE YOU DES RI SHOW STER? D REA ading to

lf re o of yourse Email a phot @theplaidhorse.com ShowStrides with us online! or share esReader #ShowStrid

PHOTO: KRISTINE LANCELLE

info@andrewryback.com • www.andrewryback.com • (224) 318-5445

EDUCATION

WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE

Equestrian Studies College Courses Online This Summer

A Q&A with Plaid Horse publisher Piper Klemm HE PLAID HORSE publisher Professor Piper Klemm, Ph.D., is

offering her equestrian studies online courses for college credit again this summer. The courses run in June and July, and are being offered through Clarkson University: • Business and Bias in the Equestrian Industry • Grit, Toughness, and Contemporary Equestrian Coaching • English Riding: History, Culture, and Industry Evolution

Prof. Klemm earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley in 2012 and became publisher of The Plaid Horse in 2014. She has run her own pony-leasing business since 2011. In addition to teaching in grad school, she has been teaching university-level courses since 2018. Klemm is also the co-author of Show Strides, an equestrian middle grade novel series. Tianna Vestri, one of Klemm’s students last summer, said, “I am loving every book, article, lecture, podcast and more that we’re engaging with, and it’s really providing depth to my equestrian experiences and helping me make some great connections. I’m so glad I decided to take these three courses.” Want more info on the classes? Read on for more in our Q+A with the professor herself and visit www.theplaidhorse.com/college.

What made you decide to teach equestrian courses in the first place? I think our industry lacks a lot of structure on how to learn within it. Like most people in the horse business, I have learned much the hard way. Through these courses, we use traditional academic framework to approach the equestrian business and our own knowledge systemically, and using a building block approach.

Who would benefit from taking these courses?

The great thing about these courses is that everyone can take responsibility for their own learning and equestrian experience, and take away valuable knowledge and data. Riders as young as middle school to parents of riders and excited amateurs all benefit from the courses while adding a great mosaic of experiences to class discussion. The class size is small enough that we can focus on specific situations and tailor the material to be of the most interest to each individual class.

My child is horse-obsessed but college isn’t on our radar yet. Can I still enroll them? Can I enroll myself?

Absolutely! Young riders can earn college credit to transfer to the eventual college of their choice while learning about their sport, strengthening their connections, and enhancing their resume. We welcome parents as well!

I’m not majoring in anything equestrian-related. Is this course still for me?

Want more info? Visit theplaidhorse.com/college

THE PLAID HORSE

Yes! These courses are to expand your knowledge

April 2022

“The book impressed me so much that The Plaid Horse wanted to be a part of its new life with a new printing in order to get it into as many equestrians’ hands as possible. Geoff ’s work remains as strong and relevant as ever. As much as things have changed in our sport, so much about riding hunters, jumpers, and equitation has not. ‘Classic’ still wins in the show ring.” NOTE TO THE READER BY PIPER KLEMM, PHD

of the sport, yourself, and how to best manage hobbies, business and your approach to our sport. They are a great tool for all majors. They can be transferred per your college’s policies to use credit toward graduation or specific distribution requirement.

I’ve already graduated from college! How would I benefit from these courses? This sport is unique because it is a lifelong sport. Handling decision making, finances, emotions, and understanding the market forces can always be improved upon. This investment will benefit you for decades to come!

What sort of feedback did you get from students last summer on how they were able to implement what they learned into their lives with horses? Students were able to use decision-making processes to further their careers—including evaluating facility purchases, horse purchases, and investing further into our industry and using techniques learned in class. Klemm also co-hosts the #Plaidcast and runs various entrepreneurial projects. Her mission is to educate young equestrians in every facet of our industry, and to empower young women in particular to find their voice and story and share them. She shows in the amateur hunter divisions with her horse of a lifetime, MTM Sandwich.

Get your copy at theplaidhorse.com/teall

TAKE COLLEGE COURSES ONLINE with

Professor Piper Klemm, Ph.D. THREE COURSES:

Business and Bias in the Equestrian Industry Grit, Toughness, and Contemporary Equestrian Coaching English Riding: History, Culture, and Industry Evolution TWO SESSIONS:

June 1 - 30, 2022 July 5 - August 3, 2022 All 3 courses held in both sessions. Limited registration.

MORE INFORMATION AT:

theplaidhorse.com/college