The Women Behind AHT ABROAD Lara Ames
Lara Ames, daughter of longtime Minnesota breeders Dick and Lollie Ames, grew up on a farm showing horses. “I have been fortunate enough to be in the barn ever since I was a toddler,” she recalls. The youngest of seven children, she continues to manage her family’s Cedar Ridge Arabian Farm in addition to her role as Publisher of Arabian Horse Times (AHT) and AHT Abroad. It has been a formula for success on both fronts, as proven at the 2017 United States National Championships, where Cedar Ridge was the #2 Breeder Overall, a remarkable achievement.
championship with her halter gelding, GS Neapalotan RCF, and a national reserve championship in the Country English Pleasure AAOTR Jackpot, as well as additional top tens on several other horses.
Throughout her life, the Ames’ were close to the Walter Mishek family, who published AHT for decades. Being a journalism major with a degree from the University of Minnesota, Lara recognized it as the perfect opportunity to do something more within the Arabian breed while utilizing her university training when the chance to take over ownership of the magazine was presented. Under her leadership, the publication has grown in every way and is now regarded as the world’s leading monthly in print and online magazine dedicated to the Arabian horse. “I love everything about the Arabian horse and am so lucky to spend every day in this world,” Lara enthuses. She is a highly accomplished amateur horsewoman, with a battery of national championships in both halter and performance to show for it. At the 2017 U.S. Nationals, she garnered a national
A HT Abroad
After growing into her role as publisher of AHT, Lara wanted to expand the scope of the magazine to areas outside of North America. In 2015, she started AHT Abroad with the guidance of thenCreative Director Jeff Wallace (who recruited the current all-women Abroad production team: Mieke Opsteyn, Susanne Bösche, Elisa Grassi and Theresa Cardamone). “It seemed that there was a need for a publication in Europe and the Middle East which had strong editorial content in support of the breeders and farms in those areas,” Lara explains. Abroad was very well received, with a rapidly growing list of subscribers that puts it on coffee tables and desks throughout the world. Lara treasures the lifelong friendships that her involvement with the Arabian horse has given her and appreciates the new people that enter her life every day through the publications. She wants to spend more time connecting with them and doing the things that she loves. To that end, Lara Ames has set a goal to not take on more than she can handle in 2018. “I want to focus my energy on what I know best,” she says. “And that is sharing my passion and love for the Arabian horse!”
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Susanne Bösche
Theresa Cardamone
Susanne Bösche remembers losing her heart to the Arabian horse as a young girl when she was gifted with the book, Ghazal – Fürst der Pferde. “Since then, my life has been interwoven with the grace of these horses, the people who are dedicated to them, and the rich history and stories behind them,” she relates.
Theresa Cardamone’s writing led to being pen-pals with superhorse Secretariat before she met Valez, the Arabian gelding who carried her across the USA in 1976. She codeveloped/managed Ventura Farms in California in the 1980s before relocating to the Seattle area.
A longtime student of bloodlines as well as a writer, Susanne published her first articles about Arabian horses more than 27 years ago. She worked with Dr. Hans-Joachim Nagel on his first Hanan book and published the Pyramid Society Europe’s Almanach II to IV. In addition, she published her own small Arabian horse magazine for ten years before becoming the editor of a German Arabian horse journal, Araber Weltweit. Susanne has been writing for Abroad since its premiere issue, and also composes blog entries for Arabian Horse Global Network. She looks forward to enjoying many more years as part of the Abroad team.
A HT Abroad
After raising a family, Theresa earned her BA at NYU, graduating magna cum laude in 2014 with a degree in Organizational Behavior & Change. That year, she began writing for AHT and has been part of the Abroad team from its inception. A lifelong learner, Theresa gained an Advanced Diploma in Copyediting/Proofreading/Fact-Checking at NYU in 2017. “I’m grateful that my work with the magazine has brought me back to the Arabian horse,” she says. “My life has truly come full-circle. I appreciate the effort it takes to produce Abroad and the knowledge and skill of my amazing teammates.” Theresa again makes her home in the Pacific Northwest, where she can envision another Arabian horse in her not-toodistant future.
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Elisa Grassi
Mieke Opsteyn
Elisa Grassi grew up with horses and was introduced to Arabians when her father bought a group of Russian-bred mares. When she was 16, she spent a year in Utah, USA, living with a Mormon family…a great life experience. Elisa studied Public Relations in college, but after she met Frank Spönle in Italy, she went to work at Fontanella Magic Arabians, where Frank came every month to train.
Mieke Opsteyn’s first contact with Arabian horses came through attending European shows. She met Glenn Jacobs, who recommended her for her first industry job at Al Wabra Stud in Qatar. She then spent three months in an internship with Judi Forbis at Ansata Arabians, USA.
“That is how our life together started,” explains Elisa. “After our daughter Virginia was born three years later, we decided to have a permanent home together, and I moved to Germany. Three years ago, our son Francesco was born. They keep us busy!” Elisa loves designing ads and considers working for Abroad the last two years a beautiful challenge. She says, “To see the magazines in print, the work of a few months finally in our hands, is just amazing!”
A HT Abroad
Mieke soon received a job offer from Sheikh Khaled Ahmed Bagedo at Al Khaled Farm in Egypt, courtesy of a kind referral by respected horseman, Bart van Buggenhout. She spent nearly five years in Egypt before relocating with Al Khaled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Arabian horses also brought Mieke her life partner, Glenn Schoukens. When their relationship bloomed, she decided to join him in Belgium, intending to start a family. Just over a year ago, their daughter Mia was born. Mieke has Bart to thank for also referring her to her current job as AHT Abroad Representative. “I enjoy the creative part, coming up with new editorial ideas,” says Mieke. “I also like the satisfaction of keeping everything organized and look forward to another great year!”
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