World Equestrian Center Magazine Volume IV 2022

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First of its kind. Still one of a kind.

After 30 years, Adequan® i.m. (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) is still the only FDA-Approved equine intramuscular PSGAG joint treatment available. And still the only one proven to:1, 2

Reduce inflammation

Restore synovial joint lubrication

Repair joint cartilage

Reverse the disease process

Adequan® i.m. actually treats degenerative joint disease, and not just the signs. Ask your veterinarian if Adequan® i.m. is the right choice for your horse. Learn more at adequan.com.

www.adequan.com

BRIEF SUMMARY: Prior to use please consult the product insert, a summary of which follows: CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. INDICATIONS: Adequan® i.m. is recommended for the intramuscular treatment of non-infectious degenerative and/or traumatic joint dysfunction and associated lameness of the carpal and hock joints in horses. CONTRAINDICATIONS: There are no known contraindications to the use of intramuscular Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan. WARNINGS: Do not use in horses intended for human consumption. Not for use in humans. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children. PRECAUTIONS: The safe use of Adequan® i.m. in horses used for breeding purposes, during pregnancy, or in lactating mares has not been evaluated. For customer care, or to obtain product information, visit www.adequan.com. To report an adverse event please contact American Regent, Inc. at 1-888-354-4857 or email pv@americanregent.com.

Please see Full Prescribing Information at www.adequan.com

1 Adequan® i.m. Package Insert, Rev 1/19.

2 Burba DJ, Collier MA, DeBault LE, Hanson-Painton O, Thompson HC, Holder CL: In vivo kinetic study on uptake and distribution of intramuscular tritium-labeled polysulfated glycosaminoglycan in equine body fluid compartments and articular cartilage in an osteochondral defect model. J Equine Vet Sci 1993; 13: 696-703.

All trademarks are the property of American Regent, Inc. © 2022, American Regent, Inc. PP-AI-US-0373 (v2.0) 05/2022

World Equestrian Center – Ocala

Transforms from Horse Show Venue to Noah's Ark to Shelter Hurricane Ian Evacuees by Candace FitzGerald

Scene at WEC Wilmington Spring/Summer Series

Scene at WEC Ocala Summer Series

Stable Spotlight featuring Conway Arabians by Ben Baugh

24 Hours in the Life of Laura Holoubek as told to L.A. Sokolowski

Junior Rider Focus featuring Ella Mauritzson as told to Kayla Ison

Dogs at WEC

Inspiration

A Horse Rescue Trainer's Journey to World Equestrian Center – Wilmington by Kara Pinato Scro

Chef's Corner

Creating Whimsy & Wonder at Miss Tilly's Lollipops: Behind the Plate with Pastry Chef Kari Howard by Lea Brayton

A Look Back at Roberts Arena 'The Showplace of the Midwest ' by Kayla Ison

W Welcome to WEC

elcome to the final issue of 2022! As we close out the year, we are grateful for the support of our wonderful exhibitors, guests and visitors who make up our WEC family. Through the collected stories in this issue, we are reminded to embrace our passions, set goals and work hard, but also to take time to enjoy the whimsical and wonderful in our everyday lives.

In this issue we celebrate our roots by taking a look back at the birth of Roberts Arena in Wilmington, Ohio, and hear from many exhibitors who experienced the growth of the Showplace of the Midwest. Our time capsule review delves into the history of the flagship facility that established our commitment to great horse showing and good fun for the whole family.

Our Jr. Rider Focus is on Ella Mauritzson, an up-andcoming jumper rider with big goals. A keen student of the sport, Mauritzson has been living and riding in Europe and soaking up key knowledge from an impressive roster of trainers.

Get to know Chef Kari Howard of Miss Tilly’s Lollipops. She lights up our Chef’s Corner with her sense of adventure and a dedication to creating the most fanciful and indulgent confections at the whimsical WEC-Ocala destination. An extraordinary woman who balances a lighthearted, playful energy with a quiet confidence, she brings strength as a leader to her tight knit team.

Our Stable Spotlight shines on Conway Arabians. Longtime Arabian breeders Lori and Peter moved their farm from Minnesota to Micanopy, Florida, and we check in with the Arabian breed stalwarts as they establish their farm and set down southern roots.

We hosted our friends from Days End Farm Horse Rescue at our World Equestrian Center summer horse shows in Ohio. Follow the adventures of

medium pony Ambassador Hadwin and Vinny the mini horse as they compete and perform, while raising awareness for their important mission.

The Tech Equestrian column takes a look at EquiTrace, a game-changing app-based equine health monitoring and tracking record that is helping to ensure a complete and compliant picture of your horse’s health record, no matter where they are at any given time.

In Equestrian Style, you’ll find our annual Holiday Gift Guide. Whether the people on your holiday list

have been naughty or nice, you’ll find a little bit of everything for the equestrian in your life or those that simply love the equestrian lifestyle.

We hope that this year brought you closer to finding your passions, to achieving your goals and dreams and to enjoying time with the ones you love.

Happy holidays!

God bless, The Roberts

Family

Quality. Class. Distinction ®

For Editorial: Candace FitzGerald | candace.fitzgerald@wec.net

For Advertising: Karla Campbell | karla.campbell@wec.net

Photo: Bethany P Photography

Photo: Maven Photo + Film

The idea to open up the facility to Hurricane Ian evacuees just comes from our core company values –we try to help people and animals whenever possible.

North Central Florida’s premier beverage distributor. Providing enjoyable products that enrich peoples lives.

DOING THE RIGHT THING. THE RIGHT WAY. ALL THE TIME.

by Candace FitzGerald Photos by Maven Photo + Film

In late September, as Hurricane Ian threatened Southwest Florida, horse owners began to contact World Equestrian Center – Ocala, inquiring about evacuation accommodations. They began reaching out directly to the horse show office on Friday, and within 24 hours, just by word of mouth, 3,000 stall reservations were taken from those fleeing in advance of the storm.

In addition to animals from the local Ocala and more regional Marion County, people traveled from South Florida and the coastal areas, and from as far away as Georgia, bringing their animals to safety at World Equestrian Center. The WEC – Ocala barns are constructed to withstand a Category 4 hurricane and each barn is climate-controlled with backup generators for water and AC.

By Monday afternoon, the facility resembled Noah’s Ark, with horses of all breeds, shapes and sizes, along with ponies, minis, police horses, birds, tortoises, donkeys and even a kangaroo taking up residence for the duration of the storm.

Hurricane Ian’s path was difficult to predict, so animal owners made personal decisions to evacuate from their farms. Ultimately, Ocala was spared from any major damage and we were grateful to have been able to help.

Photo by Rachel Sowinski

Series Series Scene at WEC

Photos by Winslow Photography

Summer Series Summer Series Summer Series Scene at WEC Ocala Ocala Ocala

by Andrew Ryback Photography

Photos

Certified Member of the American Society of Equine Appraisers Member of the International Society of Appraisers

IN THE LIFE of HOURS

as told to L.A. Sokolowski

Photo: Sammi B Rose Photography

If you ask her, Laura Holoubek will tell you she can’t wait for the next season of her favorite streaming series, “Yellowstone,” but in real life, it’s the horse world that is fortunate to have someone fighting ‘the good fight’ in its court rooms and board rooms.

Photo: Sammi B Rose Photography

Photo: Winslow Photography

partner at Dinsmore, one of Lexington, Kentucky’s most eminent stables of attorneys for the racing and sport horse industries, Laura is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in equine and gaming law. She is also an adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Kentucky (teaching Equine Law, of course) and general member of the International Masters of Gaming Law and the ABA’s Gaming Law Committee. Laura has served as Associate General Counsel for Magna Entertainment Corporation (now The Stronach Group), General Counsel to Gulfstream Park Racetrack, and the first female chair (for six years) of the University of Kentucky College of Law’s Annual National Equine Law Conference (now in its 37th year).

As a girl growing up in Ontario, Canada, Laura was bitten by the eventing bug, but after college, went into the hunter/jumper divisions and never looked back. Confessedly “between horses” at the moment, it has never stopped her from leveraging her passion and expertise into a formidable

asset while counseling clients – from owners, breeders and trainers to purchasers and sellers, racetracks, competitions and trade associations – through sport horse and Thoroughbred transactions and disputes.

But make no mistake. It’s not all courtroom drama. This is a rider who has learned, from good equitation, how to find balance straddling professional discretion and a keen sense of “joie de vie.”

“I told one of my law students that, about 15 years ago, I represented one of the actors from ‘The Sopranos,’ and he was exactly like his character. We were both horse people, so we spent the day at the sales and had a blast. Then, dinner at Dudley’s [a Lexington culinary staple for 40 years],” she grinned, “which is another story altogether!”

“

It’s not all courtroom drama. This is a rider who has learned, from good equitation, how to find balance straddling professional discretion and a keen sense of joie de vie."

Photos: Sammi B Rose Photography

Photos: Sammi B Rose Photography

Antarès Workshop

Pull up a chair and join in. There’s room at this table.

What time do you usually get up?

When Harry, our Goldendoodle, says so. Which is almost precisely 6:45am. He’s named after Harry Styles because they share the same birthday (February 1). I have teenage daughters…

Coffee? Breakfast?

100% coffee! Starbucks Grande Mocha. I used to be able to drink tons of it, but now, it cuts into my sleep if I’m still drinking it in the afternoon. I’m also a big fan of mega teas. They’re like low calorie, highly-caffeinated lemonade. Delicious. Not really a breakfast eater. Maybe a fried egg, but mostly, I don’t look at food before 10:30am.

What time do you get to the barn?

What’s usually the first thing you do when you get there?

I’m still mostly working from home. Six weeks ago, I tried to move back into my office just as renovations started on my floor! I couldn’t work through all the drilling and construction noise, so I’m back home. I’m between horses at the moment, but particularly, during the pandemic, it was awesome to be able to get to the barn at 7:30, 8:00 in the morning. Otherwise, I’d go after work.

Have any routines to start your day?

Have my coffee. Check my emails. Make a to-do list (that never works out)!

Lunchtime – eat or graze?

Lunch? What’s that? I tend to skip lunch and keep going. Sometimes, I’ll meet a client and we’ll do lunch and I’ll have a real meal, maybe at the sales or the horse show. Otherwise, I’ll eat at my desk so I can finish my day at a reasonable time.

Are you likely multitasking?

Yes! Calling it multitasking is being kind! I think this career attracts those with ADHD! I love to

plan out my week, then stuff comes up and it never goes the way I expected. But it is never boring. The horse world, even the legal side, is still fun.

How do you usually wrap up your day?

Returning clients’ calls, making a new list, pouring a glass of rosé. I’m a big fan of Whispering Angel, especially The Beach (a rebrand of the Château d’Esclans The Palm).

What time do you get home? Do you grab ‘n’ go or cook?

I love to cook if I have the time. I have a friend who is a chef and nutritionist, so I have learned a lot from her and I love to collect cookbooks. My favorite recipe is a version of chicken piccata with roasted herb potatoes and Parmesan cheese. And the perfect summer salad is fresh tomatoes and peaches, with burrata cheese (a creamier, softer texture than mozzarella), drizzled with a balsamic glaze and sea salt. Takes two minutes.

What do you do to ‘wind down’ at the end of the day?

Pre-rosé? When I have a horse… go to the barn. It’s absolute therapy and gets me grounded again. On non-horse nights, I work out, eat with my husband

and girls (when they are home, which is more and more rare!) or we go out, meet friends and catch up.

What’s on your nightstand these days?

I’m reading more. I just finished “An American Marriage,” by Tayari Jones, which describes being black in America and chronicles a super revealing look at society and how legal violations play out differently for different people. I found it, as well as another book I’m working my way through, “If In Doubt, Wash Your Hair: A Manual for Life,” by Anya Hindmarch, on Jennifer Gates’ reading lists. I’m kind of done with Netflix. I did love “Ozark” and the actress (Julia Garner) who played Ruth Langmore. Going right into watching her play Anna Delvey, in “Inventing Anna," was a little distracting. “Succession” has been a guilty pleasure. If you love the horse industry, you’ll love the vibe, the scenery and its strong female characters.

When do you call it a night?

Quality. Class. Distinction ®

“ I told one of my law students that, about 15 years ago, I represented one of the actors from The Sopranos, and he was exactly like his character. We were both horse people, so we spent the day at the sales and had a blast."

A perfect night is to read a little, then fall asleep by 10:30 or 11pm. I went to Europe recently (my daughter was doing a six-week program in Barcelona) and it completely upended my schedule, all in a good way. We flew into Nice and stayed in Cannes and Monaco, for the Global Champions Tour, then, from Monaco, drove to Sanremo, Italy (50 miles away) for two hours just so I could say I sat in a café in Italy and sampled local wine!

Photo: Winslow Photography

Growing up riding three-day (in Toronto, Canada), my whole life I did my own grooming and tacking up. But for a few years, while working full-time and before my daughter was in school, I was boarding at a show barn where – I’ve got to confess – there were grooms at the barn to have your horse tacked up and ready for you to ride when

Favorite

you got there. All I had to do was drive in after work and ride, which was pretty nice. My daughter got used to it, too! When she turned five, she got a pony we kept there. One day, she strolls into this immaculate, gorgeous stable and tells me well, this is where I will always ride, forever!

“ I think this career attracts those with ADHD! I love to plan out my week, then stuff comes up and it never goes the way I expected. But it is never boring. The horse world, even the legal side, is still fun."

Photo: Sammi B Rose Photography

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Ella MAURITZSON

Photo: Ella Mauritzson

Where did you grow up and how did you get into riding?

I grew up in Palm Springs, California, and in a small town outside of Stockholm, Sweden. Where we have our summer house in Sweden, there’s a small farm up the road and they had these two adorable ponies. I was infatuated with them. I wanted to ride badly, and eventually, the owners allowed me to ride them. I rode for the first time at 3 years old and that was that! I knew it was what I wanted to do.

Tell us about your horses.

Currently, I am riding my two horses, Kir Royale SCF and Ulysses Du Bourberg. Kir Royale (Kingsley) is 12 years old, I have had him for almost 3 years now. I bought him from Spy Coast Farm in Kentucky. Ulysses is 14, I bought him before the WEC fall weeks in 2021. That was my first show with him. He’s a very special horse. I bought him from Ali Leopold in California. I can’t wait to see how my future with him pans out.

What are your 2022 riding goals?

I am training with Neil Jones and his rider, Juan Carlos Garcia, so I will be going with them to some shows around the US, Mexico and Canada until August or September, when I take my horses to Europe to train with Henrik Von Eckermann for 6-8 months. I am just excited to spend the year getting to know Ulysses better, progressing with Kingsley and hopefully adding another horse to the team!

Do you wear any good luck charms or lucky equipment when you are showing?

What divisions do you show in?

Right now, I am showing in the medium juniors and hopefully moving up to the highs soon.

My horses have charms on their bridles from My Charmed Horse, I always have them on. When they’re braided, they also have two charms on their braids. as told to Kayla Ison

Photo: Winslow Photography Right photo: Ella Mauritzson Top right photo: Andrew Ryback Photography

Photo: Andrew Ryback Photography

Photo: Ella Mauritzson

Photo: Andrew Ryback Photography

What are some of your favorite accomplishments or riding achievements?

I jumped my first national prix on a horse I leased from Laura Crowl, Barclay B, and that was a really special experience for me. Barclay was an incredible horse and he played a huge role in my riding career as I knew he would always get me to the other side and have my back. Everything I did with Barclay was amazing, he is truly a super horse and gave me so many memories and experiences.

What are your favorite parts of a lesson or schooling session?

I enjoy lessons at home, I love improving on the flat. Flatwork is the staple of riding. I’m a believer that the more you do at home, the better you will ride in the show ring.

Who are some people who have influenced your riding?

I have looked up to Margie Engle my entire life and riding career. She is extraordinarily talented. I also really look up to Malin Baryard-Johnsson. As a Swedish rider, she has always been an inspiration to me.

What are your future career aspirations?

I don’t know what I want to do. In terms of horses, I am undecided if I want to become a pro or not, but time will tell.

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WEC

Photos: Winslow Photography

T h e

n C o l l e c t i o n

at WEC

Dogs at Ocala

Photos by Andrew Ryback Photography

Dogs at Wilmington

Photos by Winslow Photography

By

To onlookers, HH Hadwin, aka Hadwin, seems like his pony peers. The 13.2-hand pony cross gelding—who competed at World Equestrian Summer III Show Series held Aug. 10-14, 2022, in Wilmington, Ohio—is fit, his coat gleams, and he has a twinkle in his eye that is typical of many show ponies.

But Hadwin’s path to the show ring is far from typical. He was once likely destined for slaughter before his journey led him to Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR) in Woodbine, Maryland, where his now-owner, Leigha Schrader, works as the organization’s assistant trainer.

Kara Pinato Scro / Jump Media

Photo: Winslow Photography

A Fateful Partnership

A nine-year-old Hadwin arrived at DEFHR in November 2019 by way of the Maryland Equine Transition Service (METS), a statewide equine safety-net initiative that provides responsible alternatives for horses needing homes and assistance to owners who need help selecting the best transition for their horses. Though the details of Hadwin’s early life are murky, it’s believed he was in line for slaughter when a horse broker purchased him in hopes of making a buck. The broker sold Hadwin to a family in Maryland who was tricked into thinking he was child-safe. Quickly realizing Hadwin was not the beginner-friendly pony they anticipated, the family was relieved to find METS, which was absorbed by DEFHR in January 2022, to assist in finding a more fitting home. Due to his lack of training and experience, Hadwin proved difficult to rehome so METS tapped DEFHR to provide the pony with the training and skills he’d need to be adopted.

At DEFHR, Hadwin entered into a training program with Schrader who recognized that patience would be key for the gelding. “When I started working with Hadwin, he was terrified of people,” Schrader explained. “It seems so small, but his biggest victories were learning how to do basic tasks.”

By the summer of 2020, Hadwin had blossomed in his training. Schrader was riding him under saddle and Hadwin had grown to trust Schrader. Around that same time, an in-utero foal Schrader had purchased was lost. “I was devastated but I knew in my heart that this change of events meant that I was supposed to take Hadwin home, and we made it official in September 2020,” she shared.

A Whole New World

From the moment Schrader laid eyes on Hadwin, she could see the possibilities. “He had a lovely trot, flowing gaits and natural athleticism,” she noted. “A hardy, chunky pony, yes, but I knew he had the potential to go far."

"Growing up, I always had the dream of attending [US Equestrian’s] Pony Finals, but it never happened,” she continued. “When I adopted Hadwin, I dreamed of giving a junior competitor the opportunity to ride in the rated pony divisions.”

“

I was devastated but I knew in my heart that this change of events meant that I was supposed to take Hadwin home, and we made it official in September 2020.”

Photos: Winslow Photography

Inspiration: A Horse Rescue Trainer's Journey to World Equestrian Center – Wilmington

Currently, Schrader trains an 11-year-old student who competes on Hadwin locally with plans to move up to the rated pony hunter divisions. Schrader also competes him and was thrilled when she had the opportunity to show at World Equestrian Center –Wilmington for the first time. In addition to showing, Schrader and a small team from DEFHR traveled seven hours to share the organization’s mission of ending equine abuse and neglect with competitors and fans. During their visit, Schrader introduced DEFHR through a liberty performance with DEFHR

equine ambassador Vinni the Mini and taking over WEC’s Instagram account to give followers a peek at a first timer’s experience.

“I was amazed at how big everything was. The facility is incredible,” said Schrader. “Everything is thought out, from the layout to the amenities offered. Even though there were hundreds of horses showing throughout the week, it never felt crowded.” Schrader also found WEC’s atmosphere hospitable. “I did not know what to expect in bringing a rescue pony to compete at WEC,” she said. “Would I be judged or looked at funny? I definitely wasn’t.

Inspiration: Title of Article Inspiration: A Horse Rescue Trainer's Journey to World Equestrian Center – Wilmington

Photos: Winslow Photography

“

He had a lovely trot, flowing gaits and natural athleticism,” she noted.

“A hardy, chunky pony, yes, but I knew he had the potential to go far.”

From the WEC staff to the other competitors, everyone was incredibly friendly and extremely supportive. It was refreshing to be at such a large venue and feel so welcomed.”

Like Schrader, Hadwin experienced his own firsts. Thanks to his trust in Schrader and their years of hard work, he took everything in stride and proved rescue ponies can do it all.

“I was so proud of Hadwin,” added Schrader. “It was his first overnight show and his first rated show. We did some of the USHJA open hunter classes, as

well as the .65-meter open jumpers for fun. Neither of us had done jumpers before, so it was just for the experience and to get him over different jumps. I wasn’t expecting much, but we ended up with a blue-ribbon round on the first day!”

Competing at WEC in addition to sharing DEFHR’s mission and sparking happiness was icing on the cake for Schrader. “One of my favorite experiences at WEC was showing in the Sanctuary,” she explained. “Jumping over the same jumps and courses later used in the grand prix and higherlevel classes was super cool. Another favorite

moment was sharing Vinni the Mini’s rescue story. Vinni brings joy wherever he goes and performing with him [at WEC] was extra special for me.”

Schrader’s advice for someone visiting WEC for the first time? “Enjoy it and make sure you look for all the small details that makes WEC’s show experience outstanding. From the outdoor pavilion for horse shade, to the WEC truck for photo ops, the ride-through Starbucks coffee, and Vendor Village, you don’t want to miss all that WEC has to offer!”

EVERY HORSE

DESERVES kindness

Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR), based in Woodbine, Maryland, is a nationally renowned nonprofit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation and transitioning of horses in need and educating the community on equine welfare and advocacy. The 33-year-old organization has rehomed approximately 3,500 horses to date.

DEFHR staff believe that every horse deserves kindness, and it’s our responsibility as a community of horse advocates to give a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. By creating a culture of humane care and compassion for all equines, DEFHR is committed to ending the abuse and

neglect of animals. DEFHR welcomes horse lovers of all ages to be part of the solution by helping them become equine advocates through extensive handson educational programs including volunteer opportunities, internships, youth camps, clinics/workshops, daily farm tours and more.

The organization has a generous and loyal network of donors and volunteers, but more help is needed to make an even bigger impact as they look to reimagine the future of equine welfare.

At DEFHR, support comes in many forms. As a privately funded organization with exceptional financials, there are a number of ways you can help make a difference in the life of a rescue horse such as participating in DEFHR’s Equidopt Grooming Sponsorship, helping to fund a special project such as the construction of the organization’s rehabilitation and training arena or intensive care unit, donating stock investments, shopping at the facility’s store Tink’s Tack & Treasures, giving an in-kind gift of goods or services and more. To learn more about all of the ways you can show your support, visit DEFHR.org/other-ways-to-give.

Photos: Winslow Photography

Photos: Bethany P Photography

Chef Kari poses in front of the wild assortment of treats in the confection cases at Miss Tilly’s.

Behind the Plate with Pastry Chef Kari

HOWARD

With two emergency cakes in the freezer, Kari Howard is prepared for anything. For the pastry chef, a typical day at World Equestrian Center – Ocala begins with early mornings overseeing her close-knit team of four pastry cooks as they sift flour, portion cream, beat eggs and orchestrate hundreds of pans sliding in and out of the surprisingly compact oven. Their labor brings to life the cases that line the front of their wholesome shop, the shelves brimming with delectable desserts. Chef Kari and her team are not only responsible for back-of-house production for Miss Tilly’s Lollipops, their whimsical home base at WEC – Ocala, but they also create the sweet treats on offer at the property’s three other quick-serve restaurant outlets. The tres leches cake at Filo’s Mexican Cantina? Cannoli at Viola and Dot’s Italian Kitchen & Pizzeria? The generous (and rave-reviewed) slice of carrot cake at Ralph’s Sandwich Shop? —all created in Chef Kari’s kitchen.

Day in and day out, guests marvel at the creative confections on display at Miss Tilly’s Lollipops. The shop’s cases contain every sinful treat imaginable, from playfully shaped sugar cookies flooded in a colorful wash of shiny icing to a full ice cream bar carrying over 75 rotating flavors. The shop is vibrant and fun, emitting a lighthearted, playful energy that’s evident not only in the abundant selection of sweets, but in the staff’s easy pleasantries and warm, genuine smiles. Under Chef Kari’s watchful eye, the service team whip up ice-cold smoothies and stack heaping scoops of ice cream onto waffle cones, handing them over to eager kids, competitors and spectators alike. “I appreciate that I have so much more interaction

By Lea Brayton Photos by Maven Photo + Film

with guests than I ever have before,” Chef Kari says. “I can go to the front of the house and have conversations with our customers. It lets me see how the things we’re making give them a little bit of joy and adds sweetness to their day.” It’s this special connection to Miss Tilly’s that drives the chef: “It’s the first time I’ve felt like I have something all my own,” she says.

On Saturday nights, especially during show series, Miss Tilly’s is decidedly the happening spot. Designed as a nod to the old-fashioned ice cream parlor, there’s often a line out the door as guests

chomp at the bit for a double scoop of Butterscotch Explosion, Rocky Road or Razzle Dazzle. There’s no denying the inherent joy this shop brings to the resort as guests funnel out the doors, happily licking at ice cream cones. Favorite flavors include fun Florida classics like “Gator Tail” and “Mom’s Banana Cream Pie,” but Chef Kari says the true superstars are the shop’s brownies which sell like crazy year-round. A classic, fudgy recipe that’s a

The chef cuts a perfect slice of four-layer carrot cake, a favorite on property.

little bit chewy and topped with a generous amount of fudge icing, they are one of the chef’s favorite indulgences, too.

You may have tried Chef Kari’s carrot cake at Ralph’s on a property visit, and if you haven’t, add it to your bucket list. The cake is truly an exceptional version of the traditional—it has more than eight pounds of carrots in the recipe. “I do keep it classic,” Chef Kari says, “It’s really balanced, there’s nothing funny in it. I’ve had recipes before that chefs have made us use with pineapple and funky stuff in it.” For this cake, which she makes clear is not her original recipe, she says the trick is to keep the spices well balanced and the cake moist, “the icing is part of that secret as well I think.” She laughs when she tells me about one time she had to shred the carrots for the recipe by hand: “It was horrible, my arms were so sore and I came close to grating the tips of my fingers. I’ll never forget that.”

Chef Kari and her team reimagine the offerings in the Tilly’s case seasonally, opting to develop fun spins on family favorites, like their Twix and peanut butter-brownie macarons or decadent, Crumbl-inspired giant cookies (that we can assure you are as good as they look). You might imagine that Chef Kari has been dreaming up creative confections since she was a child, but she confides that before she began her pastry career, her dreams took quite a different shape.

“I actually thought I would become a skatepark designer” the chef admitted. “I grew up really involved in sports and I was always very good at math.” As an athlete, Kari participated in swimming, gymnastics, horseback riding and especially skateboarding. In fact, she still skates today: “I’d bring my board to WEC, but I’m not sure how the pavers will do,” she jokes. It was this experience and skill set that drove her interest in becoming a structural engineer. After having a difficult physics

professor during the course of her studies, she decided to change tracks and landed on culinary school. Her skill at math isn’t lost in pastry, however, as anyone who’s baked understands it’s an art that requires a degree of exactitude. From converting and scaling recipes, to fine-tuning measurements, Kari’s expertise comes in handy.

High Volume to High Creativity

As magnanimous as she is introverted, Chef Kari exudes a quiet confidence and strength that has positioned her as a leader throughout her career. Coming to Miss Tilly’s has been something of a change for the chef who’s spent the majority of her career working in high-volume pastry production. Chef Kari joined World Equestrian Center in 2021 with a wealth of knowledge and experience in pastry production for convention

Chef's Corner:

Above: The ice cream bar at Miss Tilly’s offers up delightful flavors full of color, as well as the colorful cases housing desserts from sprinkled cupcakes, giant cookies, neon donuts and the chef’s perfect macarons.

The pastry team at Miss Tilly’s from left to right: Marisol Serrano, Josefina Salazar, Kari Howard, Mileena Algarin and Lora Templin. Five creative ladies!

"

It’s always a team effort. We talk amongst ourselves and bounce ideas off of each other and go from there. We test it out and see what works and what doesn’t. Everybody has their strengths.”

All Family in the

hotels, having served as the Pastry Sous Chef for the Hilton-Waldorf in Orlando for four years. There, she specialized in plated desserts and wedding cakes, supporting an enormous 1,500room hotel operation.

Prior to years in service to the Hilton family hotels, Chef Kari spent five years with Royal Pacific Resort in Orlando, and before that, six years with the Hardrock in Orlando, where she began her pastry career. Chef Kari trained at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Orlando, where she found herself intrigued by the breadmaking and pastry classes in her coursework and which set her forth on an accomplished lifelong career path in the pastry arts.

Though her work at Miss Tilly’s is somewhat of a departure from the hospitality pastry production she’s done in the past, she enjoys allowing her creativity to thrive: “In a banquet or large-scale hotel, you can be pretty confined by the menu as your set production. But here at Miss Tilly’s, we are able to be really creative. That creative freedom is one of my favorite things,” she says.

Tools of the Trade

Like a chef de cuisine has their knife set, Chef Kari has a personal set of tools…and then some. As she gives the tour of her kitchen, a spotless but somewhat small space considering the level of production it supports, she stops by a storeroom in the back. We browse an enormous, floor-toceiling shelf stocked plumb full of every type of baking topping imaginable. Think thousands of tiny chocolate pearl sprinkles, unicorn baking cup liners, colorful crisped rice cereals and assorted candies. With so much color on the shelf, it’s easy to overlook the outline of a toolbox tucked along the wall. At first glance, the hefty metal box is as unassuming as any other—except this one is dark pink and quite special to the chef.

Chef Kari was gifted the box some years ago by her family to house her collection of pastry tools and implements. When she walked through the contents of each drawer, sorting through the

treasured items inside, the love for her trade was written on her face. In that moment, Kari’s pastry toolbox bore a striking connection to the equestrian grooming box. Every horse show competitor understands the sacred nature of these specially selected contents. A well-worn soft brush that flicks across the coat with just the right finish, a wide-toothed comb, a special braiding clip—an array of items chosen through experience and honed through preference, cherished for their familiarity. Kari’s box is representative of the same discretion, marked by the same tender and practiced selection. It’s full of objects whose outline feel familiar in her hand and the trusted “tried and true” brands that she reaches for time and time again.

A captivating assortment, the toolbox houses everything from a set of small glass food coloring dropper jars, each still bearing a pop of tinted color to an accordion knife that looks like an industrial pizza cutter, but widens into six blades for precision sizing. Many of the tools in her arsenal are for specialized processes that she doesn’t have use for at the moment, but she still draws inspiration for her creative process from the items within. “For me, the learning process—the trial and error, the getting it wrong or getting it right— I’ve found that I get a lot of joy from that. It takes time and experimentation, but it’s really gratifying to go through all of it and come out with an end product that people really enjoy.”

"In a banquet or largescale hotel, you can be pretty confined by the menu as your set production. But here at Miss Tilly’s, we are able to be really creative. That creative freedom is one of my favorite things,”

Chef Kari had a deep connection to the culinary arts, even before her pastry career began. Growing up, her father owned and operated a restaurant in Leesburg, Florida, that Kari says is similar to World Equestrian Center’s own Ralph’s. She spent a lot of time at The Dairy Ranch, a burger joint that has been a small-town tradition in Leesburg for more than a half century. Her grandmother worked there, even before her father purchased it, and her sister joined her and her father throughout the years as well. At the family restaurant, Kari learned to serve up golden fries and quarterpound patties smothered with cheddar and bacon, and mixed malt milkshakes that can snap you back fifty years. "It's a small town and it was the best place to go get a hamburger. I learned to do a little bit of everything. There weren't a lot of staff members, so I prepped, set up the line, made the ice cream.”

Through this experience, she forged fond memories and familial ties to the restaurant industry. That cherished time, surrounded by family, deeply influenced her ultimate decision to spend her life in culinary pursuits. In 2020, her family made the difficult decision to sell the restaurant. Chef Kari confided how much it haunts her to be removed from the legendary locale: “I still have dreams about it. It’s been sold and remodeled, but it had been around in the community for 60 years.”

Quality. Class. Distinction ®

The chef sorts through her collection of tools.

Hanging off the side of the toolbox is a large, wellloved pan that the chef considers essential, but not for creating pastry. “I use it to cook the team breakfast” she says nonchalantly, as if every boss shows this degree of consideration for their staff. In Chef Kari’s kitchen, there’s a mutual respect not often found in the culinary industry. Historically, kitchens have been cutthroat scenes, full of intensity, energy, emotion and little room for error. Because Chef Kari has experienced animosity

in kitchens like this in her career, her approach to managing her own team has been decidedly positive. She truly cares about them and makes an effort to show them that, whether it’s cooking them breakfast or giving them the days off that they request, “It’s the little things that make them happy to come into work every day,” she says.

The compassion she shows her team is a rare and admirable trait. As a team of four and all female, they’re quite close. “Really, I’ve never had a team that works so well together” explains Chef Kari. “It’s a little easier, I think, because we’re a smaller team. They’re very clean and organized and we have no issue holding each other accountable when we need to and everybody takes feedback really well so we are always improving each other in that way.”

Interestingly, each member of Chef Kari’s team is trained to do everything. They rotate positions often, taking turns on who will be handling production for Ralph’s, Filo’s, Viola’s and Tilly’s. “It keeps everyone fresh,” Chef Kari says. The team also helps come up with new ideas, especially for the holidays. Kari credits each of their strengths, her reverence and respect for the members of her team clear: “It’s always a team effort. We talk amongst ourselves and bounce ideas off of each other and go from there. We test it out and see what works and what doesn’t. Everybody has their strengths.”

From Sifting to Snapper: Florida Roots Run Deep

Kari lives with her charming partner Austin and their dog, a loveable and adventurous Blue Pit-mix named Ash. As life-long Florida locals, she and Austin have known each other for more

than 25 years. They went to high school together and Kari says she had a crush on Austin back then, but he had a girlfriend. “I recently found a journal from high school and he may have been a central theme,” she laughs. At the time, things weren’t meant to be and the two lost touch after graduating. In 2017, however, they reconnected through a mutual friend and the rest was history.

Both active and avid outdoor enthusiasts, Chef Kari and Austin spend most of their free time recreating on the incredible Florida waterways. Together, they enjoy the nearby access to crystal-clear springs, rivers and the ocean by boat. They fish as often as possible and are always geared up to spend a day on the water or in the Florida sunshine.

Kari grew up in the water, like most Floridians, and feels most at home on the beach. An adventurous spirit, she likes to wakeboard and scuba dive— and she just got her first rifle. Chef Kari, Austin and Ash currently live on Lake Harris, near the fishing town of Leesburg, and take their boats out to Homosassa or the Gulf to explore mangrove islands and hunt for red fish, snook, snapper and the like in the crystal-clear waters.

On your next visit to World Equestrian Center, be sure to stop in to meet the chef and taste her team’s creative confections.

Chef Kari and Austin enjoy time on the dock with Ash.

Chef Kari paddle boarding on Lost Spring Lake.

Kari, Austin and Ash recreating at the Canyons Zip Line and Adventure Park in Ocala.

OUR HEARTS O UR HERITAGE

FEATURING A GLIMPSE OF THE GREAT HORSE TRIBES OF THE PLAINS

APRIL 4-8

Quality. Class. Distinction ®

This event is designed in partnership with the Bluebird Cultural Initiative to celebrate the traditions and powerful history of the great horse tribes of the plains and honour their invaluable cultural heritage.

ROBERTS ARENA

‘The Showplace of the Midwest’ at by

Kayla Ison

M ary Roberts (1986)

“

No more second-rate facilities, poorly kept showgrounds and hazardous kept conditions for riders…We’ve got to have a good place to show.

Aiming to replace shanty showgrounds, with less than adequate conditions, the built-from-theground-up facility espoused cleanliness, customer service and comfort for horse and rider to the forefront of its business plan. For nearly forty years, Roberts Arena was the home of all-around horse showing in the Midwest and played field to host top AQHA and other breed shows with competitors traveling from as far as New York and Texas to take part in events.

Exhibitors recall the way the venue played a part in their lives, both as competitors and in family and friendships.

Exhibitors and spectators rallied year-round for sold-out weekends at the 40-acre complex, which

secured an enviable twelve horse show contracts in its first year of business. Roberts Arena quickly doubled and eventually tripled in size, with the family constructing new arenas and stabling barns to accommodate their rising event numbers, which reached 35 horse shows by 1988. The all-inclusive venue was known and respected nationwide, being praised for its quality of competition, premier footing, attention-to-detail, exhibitor dinners and fun-filled after parties.

Exhibitors and guests have fond memories wrapped up in the hallmark facility events like the Whistle Stop Futurity, SOQHA Turkey Circuit, the AQHA Madness, AQHA Level 1 East Championships, Tough Enough to Wear Pink, Central State’s Fall Round Up and many more.

In 2015, a new era took hold when the equestrian complex underwent a multimillion-dollar makeover, expanding once again, but on an even grander scale to appeal to a broader equestrian community.

Ground broke for the nation’s largest indoor arena, which spanned the length of nearly two football fields. A beauty salon opened its doors, bringing a new service to equestrian customers. Quaint log cabins and luxurious mobile homes offered myriad lodging options fit for short and long-term stays.

The renovations aimed to feature a full slate of hunter/jumper competition, specifically, a winter

“ I went to my first AQHA show at Roberts Arena in 1998 and now I show my horse’s offspring at World Equestrian Center during the Madness and Level 1 Championships.

L eah Stites

Situated just outside a small agricultural town in Ohio, an idea for a better horse show facility would ultimately grow to be the mecca of all-around horse showing. Opening its doors officially in 1985, and earning the namesake of ‘Showplace of the Midwest,’ owners Mary and Larry Roberts had innovation on their minds when they built Roberts Arena.

A Look Back at Robert's Arena, 'The Showplace of the Midwest'

Jessie Macy

Over the next few years, more amenities were added to the burgeoning facility, including The Paddock Club restaurant, Vendor Village, a complete outdoor show complex, new indoor rings and stabling improvements, the Cabin Village, Home Away from Home park and The Wilbur Estate luxury suites, as well as a dog spa, candy store and A Sudden Impulse boutique for popular WEC merchandise. Ultimately, the facility expanded to 200+ acres and grew its new roster of shows to 32 hunter/jumper shows, and an additional 11 outside shows that are comprised of AQHA, and multiple breed shows.

Over nearly four decades, Roberts Arena has gone through a tremendous transformation, but throughout its evolution, its original goals, values and the way it makes exhibitors and guests feel, have remained the same.

“

It’s been exciting to watch the facility grow and develop throughout the years. Showing at Roberts Arena was great, but showing at World Equestrian Center is on another level. I love the amenities and whenever I walk my horse through Vendor Village, I joke that I’m taking him to a city!

“ I was born while my parents were at a show at Roberts Arena. My mom was at the hotel and my dad had to be paged over the PA system.

Alexis Taylor ”

EquiTrace Health Monitoring and Tracking Made Easy

By Juliana Chapman

ennifer Corley, CEO of EquiTrace, qualified as a specialist equine surgeon at the Royal Veterinary College in London. Jennifer then worked as a surgeon at a racing practice in Ireland. When a car crash ended her veterinary career, Jennifer was determined to continue using her knowledge to improve horse’s heath. Her first company, Veterinary Advances, made apps for veterinarians. Having the opportunity to step back from practice, she could see that both on the ground and in research poor record keeping and access to data was a major problem for horse health. 75% of farms still use pen and paper records, these are often inaccurate, not up-to-date or not available when veterinarians need them. Horses travel and it’s difficult to keep data private and keep records with the horse as they travel. By creating an app-based health record, Jennifer’s team could address some of the biggest problems facing the horse world today. The Tech Equestrian had a chance to catch up with Jennifer in Ireland, courtesy of Zoom, to find out more about this revolutionary innovation.

“EquiTrace was founded in 2019 and we commercially launched at AAEP in 2021,” shared Jennifer. Over the course of a year, EquiTrace now has 24,700 horses being monitored, a testament to the success and support of the app. “From top Thoroughbred trainers, like Mr. DK Weld,

to important warmblood breeders, like Paul Schockemöhle, we have had an amazing response.”

“Our vision is to make it easy for the people on the ground to record health information and comply with medication regulations,” stated Jennifer.

“We are delighted to be able to work with Merck Animal Health. EquiTrace works with any standard microchip, but we are the only company with software to record temperatures from the new Merck Animal Health Bio-Thermo® microchips. These revolutionary microchips can measure body temperature by simply scanning the horse. With no physical contact, they are much safer for everyone, including the horse. The temperature measured has also been shown to be closer to core body temperature, providing a more accurate reading than standard rectal temperature measurements. The EquiTrace temperature graphs make it very easy to spot when an animal is becoming unwell.”

We designed the tool to be very simple - a touch of a button and very secure

Core Features

Defined

The core features of EquiTrace all work together to provide a complete and compliant picture of your horse’s health, including identity, location (GPS), medical records and communications. These features are powerful and used by different customers in different ways.

Large sales facilities like Fasig Tipton or Goffs want to ensure the right animal is in the right place at the right time. Trainers want accurate treatment records and reminders of vaccination times or suggested withdrawal times. Studs love the mare management records.

Clients appreciate how much paperwork is eliminated and time saved.

Identity Secure Medical Records

“Using the microchip for identity is an important feature, although you can use most of the features of the app by manual entry of the name, if you prefer. Scanning the microchip eliminates any identity errors. It also means owners or trainers who are not on-site can see exactly where a horse is and when it is checked. When staff scan an animal, they can see exactly what it needs and get reminders through notifications about treatments, vaccines or other procedures,” explained Jennifer. “It’s important with busy stables, our solution helps eliminate human error. The right medicine will always be given to the right horse and correctly recorded. The data is not held on the microchip, it is immediately encrypted after entry on the phone and securely held in the cloud. With four levels of access, the subscription holder can completely control who can only enter data, who can set treatments and who can access all areas. If the animal is sold, the data does not go with it, the subscription holder has complete control.”

Traceability is important – if you have a Bio-Thermo® chip, the combination of this with GPS is fantastic for tracing animals in the event of a disease outbreak. Farms can identify a fever cluster and rapidly isolate a group if necessary. As these Bio-Thermo® chips are adopted, you can see how useful they would be to check animals are healthy as they arrive at shows or competitions.

Even just having the GPS recording alone if an animal develops a disease like Herpes or Influenza, veterinarians can immediately trace all the horses, know where they were located and who might have been in contact.

Location Records Management and Communication

The app allows for complete medical record access which, in turn, makes it easy to communicate confidentially and securely to the people you have assigned to your horse, so they stay ‘in the know.’ “You have the choice – you get to decide who has access to your data. If you want to give your vet access, you can do that. Say goodbye to barn whiteboards – your information is now completely confidential but can be accessible too.”

“One of the most valuable features is that the app recognizes more than 1,000 medications by bar code and gives suggested withdrawal times for competition animals,” said Jennifer. The drug information is constantly updated by board-specialized, equine veterinarians, which gives you the most accurate data. It will even take into account the route the drug was given, for

example, into a joint and the dose administered, to calculate this suggested withdrawal time.”

This product has regulations included for USEF and FEI – so when they scan the drug, it shows the suggested withdraw time - which helps you plan for your competitions.

The app gives you piece of mind that you are complying with the regulations. In addition, you eliminate error of giving the incorrect medication to a horse. So many drugs have similar names and mistakes can happen through simple lack of communication. With barcode scanning, this eradicates the problem. “We designed the tool to be very simple - a touch of a button and very secure,” said Jennifer.

The EquiTrace temperature graphs make it very easy to spot when an animal is becoming unwell

Bio-Thermo® Microchip Advantages

“A high percentage of sport horses in Europe have a microchip,” said Jennifer and she is hoping that the Bio-Thermal microchip will become the new normal to provide a powerful tool in managing disease control. “We became a commercial partner with Merck Animal Health because they needed software to record the data from their Bio-Thermo® microchips – as a veterinarian, I’ve been very impressed with the results from these. I have one in my own horse which allows me to monitor her temperature, because every animal has a unique daily pattern. Each animal has their own normal, so it’s hard to measure against an average. One day, she came up with a spike – and it wasn’t a fever –we took blood and found a tooth abscess. I found out about this way sooner than normal, thanks to the Bio-Thermo® chip. Kinsale stud in England who use the Bio-Thermo® microchips in their foals report they could pick up animals that were unwell two days before other clinical signs from a change in the temperature graph.”

Subscription Service

EquiTrace is a subscription, and it is important to know that the data stays with the person, not the horse, so if you sell your horse, you keep the horses’ data. “The new owner can’t just scan the microchip without having the subscription and access to the data which is encrypted. We know security is important, especially when we have big stud farms as our customers,” explained Jennifer.

There is a basic level subscription and for stud farms, a premium package subscription is available. “For as little as $2 per horse per month, EquiTrace is saving you time and integrity; and you can monitor your horse remotely.” The standard monthly/per horse subscription is designed for

individuals and for showgrounds there is an annual subscription depending on their requirements.

Free Trial

You’ll need to sign up for an account in the app and you’ll get a free trial for the month. In addition, once you have a microchip - it comes with a scanner. If you want to use the temperature reader, you buy the Bio-Thermal microchip from Merck.

The Team Behind EquiTrace

“I’m very proud of the team because we are providing a high-quality, easy to use product and that all comes from the intelligence of the software development from Dr. Paul Hayton, CTO and PhD from Oxford. Dr. Kevin Corley, our CSO, is a double boarded specialist in equine medicine and critical care DACVECC DACVIM a worldrenowned expert in horse health.”

Customer Feedback and Support

“We recently had a top groom use the solution and said, “I hate computers, but I love this.” Jennifer confirmed, “That is what we need and that is why the laptop solutions have failed, the barn staff don’t have time to use one – it’s got to be done by the side of the horse – scan it and you are done.”

“If we get questions from subscribers, you can count on having a human answer on the other line; you won’t get a bot,” said Jennifer. They are convinced they have a quality product and are investing in staff. All of the software is developed in house in Ireland. With a commitment to making it easy for the barn staff, they are also adding a Spanish translation feature to the product. “We haven’t lost a customer to date. We have 100% retention which is phenomenal and something we are very proud of.”

Industry Support

“We have a relationship with the US Trotting Association, they have been quick to adopt technology and are very forward thinking – all of their horses have the Bio-Thermo® microchips – they see this as a way to promote welfare and protect from disease outbreaks,” shared Jennifer.

“We’ve had great interest with racetracks in the US – especially since the industry is really working on welfare and clean sport. As of January 1st – all medications used in racehorses will have to be recorded by federal law and reported within 24 hours. Having a tech solution like EquiTrace could help make it simple and easy to be compliant.

Giving Back

EquiTrace works with a racing welfare organization that rehabs racehorses after their time at the track. “We are working with Racing to Relate and Bristol

University to help work on rehoming animals after racing, there is a perception that racing doesn’t care about the animal after they leave the sport. But this is a huge concern for everyone involved in racing right now. Many horses do go on to wonderful second careers, even helping people through equine therapy. EquiTrace provides a way for the sport to trace horses because it can be linked to the microchip. When a horse is rehomed, you can track what happens to that animal from vet checks, vaccines and more. Better monitoring and measuring these efforts will lead to better welfare.”

“We see this as a great fit throughout the world and the problems are truly global, so we are beginning to look at high-net worth investors for the next stage of our journey. It is definitely time to use technology on horses, but it has to be the right fit. Creating something that works for both horse people and horses takes a special team,” Jennifer highlighted.

Palm City, FL • thetechequestrian.com

Juliana is a technology marketing professional and lifelong equestrian who grew up in Rhode Island and showed in the pony and children’s hunter divisions and later rode adult hunter in the Bahamas. She is the founder of The Tech Equestrian, a technology and lifestyle blog that is designed to provide insights on the latest technology solutions in the horse world. Juliana has written articles for Horse & Style, EQ Living and other top industry publications.

The Tech Equestrian: EquiTrace: Health Monitoring and Tracking Made Easy

Juliana Chapman

BALD ROCK, SAPPHIRE , NC

Step through the doors of Mr. Pickles & Sailor Bear Toy Shoppe at The Equestrian Hotel into a magical world of whimsical toys and gifts for children of all ages. Carefully curated to surprise and delight, you’ll find life-sized animatronic lions, bears and giraffes alongside a huge selection of huggable stuffed animals of all shapes and sizes. Peruse our incredible selection of Breyer model horses and accessories. Start your child’s lifetime collection of handmade Steiff animals or select an heirloom, handcrafted rocking horse by the renowned British craftsman, Stevenson Brothers. Dreams come true at Mr. Pickles & Sailor Bear Toy Shoppe.

FavoriteThings

We’ve curated a unique group of items that are sure to delight this holiday season…we’re sure you’ll find among them something to surprise and delight the special equestrian in your life…Happy Holidays from all of us at WEC!

Own a piece of original art from visually impaired artist Jesse Hall, The Blind Blacksmith. Jesse creates metal art designed and hand forged through old world blacksmithing techniques. His work features custom wood and metal sculptures, décor pieces and furniture. Choose from an array of unique pieces including his iron horse sculpture (now on display at Kentucky Horse Park), elegant wine cart, handmade wine carrier and hand forged metal rose.

Books

Horse

by Geraldine Brooks

A discarded painting in a junk pile, a skeleton in an attic and the greatest racehorse in American history: from these strands, a Pulitzer Prize winner braids a sweeping story of spirit, obsession and injustice across American history.

$28.00 Amazon.com

Show Strides Series

by Piper Klemm and Rennie Dyball

“Show Strides” is a middle grade novel series about riding, showing, horsemanship and the special friendships we form with our animals and fellow horse lovers. The series is for everyone—from the kid actively competing in horse shows, to those for whom a horse book is the only way to connect to these animals. As horsewomen and leaders in the equestrian industry, authors Piper Klemm and Rennie Dyball want all horse lovers to see themselves in these books.

$16.96 each Available at Exceptional Equestrian, Amazon, Audible, Kindle and theplaidhorse.com/books

You can learn more about Jesse and his work, and order/purchase custom or in-stock pieces at theblindblacksmith.com

CH Designs

Necklaces

Exquisite, handmade, custom horse heads to match any horse, present or passed. Each custom horse head is drawn and hand cut to perfectly match your horse’s facial markings.

Available in three metals: sterling silver, copper and 12-karat gold, with add-on options like turquoise stones, flower, back engraving and different charms available.

Visit chjewelrydesigns.com for ordering instructions and pricing.

SAS Equestrian Home

SAS Equestrian Home embraces the long-standing traditions of the elite American hunter/jumper show circuit with a fresh, modern perspective. More than the blue ribbons, it’s about the love of the horse. It’s not just a sport; it’s a lifestyle.

It’s watching the sunrise between two ears. The smell of worn-in leather in a tack room. Rolling white fence lines and lush green grass. The shine of freshly polished boots. The feeling of kissing a soft muzzle. The smell of fly spray and fresh hay. The satisfaction of a near-perfect round in the show ring. To an avid equestrian, these are all part of what it means to live the lifestyle.

This wallcoverings collection is inspired by the beauty of these horses’ coats, groomed to the nines with detail and precision. With coats gleaming, hooves oiled, manes and tails braided to perfection, with not a hair out of place or a speck of dust to be seen. The love and care that goes into making the horse the best it can be and the beauty that each horse exhibits when they perform at the top of their game.

To purchase, visit: yorkwallcoverings.com/collections/sas-equestrian-home

The Blind Blacksmith

These are a few of our These are a few of our

Stride Boot Wear

Start the new year in a fabulous pair of tall boots from Stride Boot Wear. This new collection of tailored boots is designed to fit your needs, whether you are schooling, training or competing. Each pair combines unique Irish design with European materials and craftsmanship to create elegant, functional and durable boots, affordably priced from $600.

Find a US retailer at stridebootwear.com

Holiday Gift Guide 2022

A Sudden Impulse

Shop official WEC merchandise for everyone on your list at our A Sudden Impulse boutique. Check out WEC-branded items, including hoodies, vests, jackets and caps, all perfect for schooling or street wear.

Stocking Stuffers

Dreamers & Schemers

Pair and a Spare

Snag the perfect stocking stuffers this holiday season…Dreamers & Schemers Pair and a Spare boot socks - buy two and get a third, spare pair free!

$15.95

Savenac 1821

A jewelry collection combining the timeless elegance & refinement of English equestrian sport with traditional fine jewelry details. Made by hand in the US, destined to become your next heirloom.

Shop online at Savenac1821.com

Or put a colorful WECbranded Yeti under the tree for your favorite equestrian. Gift cards available Shop online at asuddenimpulse.com

Mane Jane Spur Straps

The most fun you can have in the show ring!

$29.95

Both available at dreamersnschemers.com

Spread Joy and Goodwill

during

VOCAL

An organization dedicated to a unique set of strategies designed to solve the homeless pet problem. Using myriad programs, VOCAL has launched a new era of animal welfare in Marion County, Florida, including a Community Clinic and Resource Center. vocalforpets.com

Gleneayre Equestrian Program

An extraordinary New Jersey-based program using the powerful connection between horses and people to teach, learn, grow and heal. gleneayreequestrianprogram.org

Kevin Babington Foundation

Providing support to equestrian showjumping athletes who sustain spinal injuries, along with education and equestrian sport safety advocacy. kevinbabingtonfoundation.org

The Equestrian Aid Foundation

Assisting people from all corners of the horse world within the United States who are coping with catastrophic injury, illness or occurrence. equestrianaidfoundation.org

the holiday season by giving to one of these worthy organizations.

The Peeps Foundation

Dedicated to helping minis in need with rescue, rehabilitation, rehoming and sanctuary. peepsfoundation.org

Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses

Teams of tiny horses visiting thousands of adults and children each year inside hospitals, hospice programs and with families, veterans and first responders who have experienced traumatic events. A multiple, award-winning 501(c)(3) charity celebrating over 25 years of service. gentlecarouseltherapyhorses.com

Days End Farm Horse Rescue

A nationally renowned, benchmark 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to rehabilitating neglected equines and educating the community on equine welfare and advocacy. defhr.org

Retired Racehorse Project

Exists to facilitate placement of Thoroughbred exracehorses in second careers by increasing demand for them in equestrian sports and serving the farms, trainers and organizations that transition them. therrp.org

Brooke USA

Dedicated to significantly improving the health, welfare and productivity of working horses, donkeys and mules and the people who depend on them for survival worldwide. brookeusa.org

EQUUS Foundation

The only national charity in the United States 100% dedicated to ensuring the welfare of America’s horses and fostering the horse-human bond. equusfoundation.org

The Art of Horsemanship

• World-class equestrian center

• Exceptional equestrian studies program

• National championship team

Your future is bright at SCAD.

To learn more about SCAD equestrian or explore other award-winning programs, visit scad.edu or email admission@scad.edu.

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS IN THE

Shoofly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . inside front cover

Lugano Diamonds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 1

UF Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 2

Coca-Cola. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 3

MARS Equestrian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 4

Florida Coast Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 5

Hampton Green Farms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 6

EZGO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 7

Numerous top brands advertise their products and services to our audience in the World Equestrian Center Magazine.

Add your business to our growing list of sponsors!

Contact Karla Campbell at 412.326.7325 or karla.campbell@wec.net to inquire for rates

Captive One: Show Plus Protection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 8 Adequan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 9 Tri-Eagle Distribution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 10 14 Hands Winery/Ste Michelle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 11 Alltech. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 12

C. Jarvis Insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 14

Equine/Canine Chronicle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 16

FarmVet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 17

Cone Distribution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 18

Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 21

Kentucky Performance Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 22

Communications Direct. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 24

Ariat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 28

SEB Equine Appraisals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 30

Pyranha. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 31

Antares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 35

Tribute. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 36

Sheltair Aviation Ocala. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 38

Purina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 39

Gainesville Regional Airport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 42

Premier Horse Sales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 43

The Kenyan Collection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 44

Recharge Clinic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 45

Vortex Transport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 45

Zesterra. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 48

Buckeye Nutrition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 49

For Horses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 52

Perri's Leather. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 53

Perfect Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 53

CWD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 55

Appleton Museum of Art. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 59

Equiline. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 59

Vitalize Blazin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 60

Clinton Memorial Hospital. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 60

Two Men and a Truck. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 62

FEI World Cup Finals 2023– Omaha. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 63

Days End Farm Horse Rescue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 67

Dressage at WEC Ocala. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 68

Equine Medical Center of Ocala. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 71

The Wilbur Estate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 75

Golden Ocala. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 77

Florida Center for the Blind. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 78

Landmark Realty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 79

SCAD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 85

Top Bedding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 90

Voltaire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 91

The Equestrian Hotel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back cover

Matthew Jenkins

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