The Plaid Horse September 2024 - The Fashion Issue
At LAURACEA, we work hard to create quality, function, and beauty in every piece we design. Our Belt Wallet Clutch is a perfect example. Like our best-selling Convertible Backpack Tote, it can be worn several ways depending on your needs and your style. Most importantly, it is beautifully made with the utmost quality, and the option of a luxury leather or the durability of a waterproof leather. We understand that just because your life requires function, doesn’t mean you should have to sacrifice style and beauty.
Quality. Function. Beauty.
Taylor Harris
Microscopic scale
Introducing Systemiq™ Supplement
a live & active probiotic
A healthy microbiome is critical to gut health and your horse’s wellbeing and performance.
At Purina, we’ve developed Systemiq™ probiotic supplement to support your horse in a whole new way.
Systemiq™ supplement helps promote normal recovery after exercise and occasional gastrointestinal stress using our live and active probiotic.
Our probiotic strain is research-proven to survive manufacturing and the acidic stomach, so the little things can make a big di erence.
The Fashion Issue
READ THE QUESTIONNAIRE WITH TAYLOR KAIN ON PAGE 60
Taylor Kain and Corlando 63 warming up at CSI Ommen in July (Ommen, The Netherlands).
OCTOBER 17-20
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
PIPER KLEMM, PH.D.
Managing Editor
RENNIE DYBALL
Art Direction
L/BAILEY DESIGN
Senior Editors
APRIL BILODEAU
JESSICA SHANNON
SARAH WELK BAYNUM
Advertising
CLARE CIANCIO
ANN JAMIESON
STEPHANIE JONES
WILLOW KAUFFMAN
DAWN KIRLIN
Subscriptions & Plaidcast Manager
CIRA PACE MALTA
Plaidcast Production
VICTORIA SHEEHAN
Web Manager
PAYTON MEDFORD
WEB: ThePlaidHorse.com CALL: 541-905-0192
EMAIL: piper@theplaidhorse.com
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/theplaidhorsemag
THREADS: @theplaidhorsemag
INSTAGRAM: @theplaidhorsemag
PINTEREST: pinterest.com/theplaidhorse
TIKTOK: @theplaidhorsemag
SUBSCRIPTIONS: subscriptions@theplaidhorse.com North America’s Horse Show Magazine, published since 2003
Annual
ST
•$50,000 WCHR Professional Challenge sponsored by The Gochman Family & John R. Ingram Fund
•$25,000 KASK/Vogel Green Hunter
3’ & 3’3” North American Championship sponsored by The Wheeler Family
•$20,000 WCHR Pro Finals
•$10,000 WCHR Developing Pro Challenge sponsored by John R. Ingram Fund
•WCHR Challenge Classes
•NAL Hunter & Jumper Finals
•Ariat National Adult Medal Finals
•THIS National Children’s Medal Finals
•Palm Beach International Academy
Junior Equitation Championship
•EMO Insurance Agency/USHJA
3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Finals
September 26 - October 6, 2024
Painting of McQueen by Sharon Lynn Campbell
Award Winning Expert in Equestrian Real Estate
With 35+ years of experience in the equestrian community, I offer personalized service for buying/selling and renting properties in Wellington Florida. With a proven track record, I guide clients in achieving their real estate goals.
FITTON ENGEL & VÖLKERS WELLINGTON 10620 W. Forest Hill Blvd | Suite 40 | Wellington | FL 33414 M +1 561-758-1634 | O +1 561-791-2220 scott.fitton@evrealestate.com Learn more at scottfitton.evrealestate.com
Highs, Lows, and Timelines
YOU KNOW THOSE RIDERS you tend to see again and again in the lineup of your under-saddle classes?
Ashley Crouse-Ackerman, the subject of this month’s cover story, was one of those riders for me.
Back in 2022, we were both competing in the Low Adult Hunters. We shared rings at the McDonogh shows in Maryland, under the oaks at Loudoun, and at the WIHS Regional Horse Show, among other venues. I always enjoyed exchanging whispered congratulations with her in hack lineups, as well as our time chatting on the showgrounds.
Ashley and I have a lot in common. We’re both moms with busy careers who want to give our all in every one of our arenas. We are passionate about horses and riding, and we battle our anxiety to be the best partners we can be for our animals.
But our riding trajectories have since taken different paths.
After our year together in the Low Adults, Ashley moved up to the Adult Amateur Hunters on her horses Kardinal (“Sam”) and Lancelot Z (“Lance”), whom you’ll meet in this issue’s cover story. With the end of my own Low Adult season came the end of my lease. I got to ride and show lovely horses at my barn for a while after that, though with less frequency. Then it came time to save up to make my very first horse purchase, amounting to considerably less saddle time.
This past April, after decades of waiting and hard work, I bought my first horse—a 17.2h Danish Warmblood named Chase. I gave him the show name If I Can Dream.
Chase is indeed a dream come true, but in ways I did not expect. Having only leased show horses who came from my own barn, I felt unprepared to ride
a horse that my trainer, Nicole, didn’t already know well. Making the decision to buy him felt overwhelming, and that anxiousness showed up in my riding. Nicole is exceptionally good at matching horses and riders…and at telling me what I need to hear. After she schooled him at home and then I rode him—again, quite poorly—I cried in the tack over how big the decision felt.
“You don’t have a decision to make. I’ve already decided for you,” Nicole said, (mostly) joking. “This is your horse. He was perfect for me, and he didn’t bat an eye at you riding…like you rode today. He checks so many of your boxes. Tell yourself you’ve already bought him. Now go jump the outside line again with that in mind.”
After mentally wiring the money, I put my leg on, willed my hands and arms to follow Chase, and jumped him up the outside as if I hadn’t just fallen apart on my first few attempts.
“See?” said Nicole.
I saw.
•
Just a couple of weeks after making Chase officially mine, my barn, Urban Ridge,
shipped off to Lexington, VA, for two weeks of showing. Nicole rode Chase in the 2’6,” keeping things easy as the horse adjusted to our program. I opted for even smaller in an attempt to forget about the jumps, and to soften nerves that came with riding a horse who felt like a stranger. My goal was just to enjoy myself. It was a successful outing, but it also showed me that I am only at the beginning of getting to know this horse.
May and June found me and Chase getting acquainted, little by little. He was suspicious of the wash stalls on our property, so I opted to back him in, saving us both the frustration and a fight I would never win. We worked through other quirks like that, too…the really good horses are usually quirky, Nicole likes to say. I took lesson after lesson, and Chase had pro ride after pro ride. Then, in late June, I made a silly pilot error, resulting in an unplanned dismount and, frustratingly, an injured tailbone.
For the next four weeks, all I could do without pain was walk on Chase. So, walk we did, around the paddocks and up and down the hills on the property. Chase got many pro rides, and once or twice a week, I
got on, slow and creaky, for those easy strolls. Chase and I learned to trust each other as we explored outside of the ring. I healed. He learned from Nicole. And now that I’m better, we’re slowly back at it. Our next show is in September and I doubt I’ll be ready for the Low Adults by then. So, I’ll show where I’m comfortable, saving the move up…to my old division…for next season.
A younger version of me might have been highly discouraged by the pace at which I’m progressing. But this version of me is still basking in the glow of making my own dream come true. Learning to understand my new horse and earning his trust has been more rewarding than I even knew possible. A victory I didn’t know I needed.
These days, Chase happily follows me, head first, into the wash stall. We used to hand graze within a few steps of the barn only—he seemed to feel the safest there. If I took him further out, he’d sniff around a few times before politely suggesting we head back to his stall. Now, we take grazing adventures all over, and he has even started looking to me for guidance in unfamiliar situations.
Of all the boxes Chase has indeed checked, two of them—my goals to show in the Adult Amateur Hunters and the adult equitation
“If you’re lucky enough to find horse show friends like Ashley, keep them close.”
AT LEFT AND BELOW:
The author and Ashley Crouse-Ackerman both had successful Low Adult Hunter seasons back in 2022
EDITOR’S NOTE
medals— feel very far away. But the difference this time is that I don’t have to send the horse home at the end of 12 months. Chase is home at my barn, and with me. I have to keep reminding myself that this is not another lease. For the first time in all my years of riding, I’ve got time.
Last fall, my dear friend Holly and I cheered Ashley on via live stream when she showed at her first Indoors season on Sam and Lance. These days, I always enjoy catching up with Ashley at the shows, even if we’re no longer showing in the same ring. I am happy for her success, and I applaud her for sharing her story so candidly in this month’s issue. You never know what someone is going through. Ashley’s health scare earlier this year is a prime example.
And the work she did to set boundaries in her life— to give everything she’s got to her clients, her family, and her horses—is something I strive to do myself.
“Even Target’s got business hours,” she joked during our interview, and I knew the moment she spoke those words that I’d adopt them as my own. If left to my own devices, I don’t ever really stop working. But time spent with my family and with Chase is sacred, and shouldn’t constantly be interrupted by my inbox. Ashley’s really on to something, and I think many readers will benefit from reading her story.
During the interview, we both got a little nostalgic about our year in the Low Adults together, and I realized that if there were more women like her—riders who cheer each other on and genuinely support one another—the horse show would be a much kinder, better place.
I cannot put a timetable on when I’ll see Ashley next in a shared under-saddle or equitation class lineup. I don’t know how quickly she’ll move up to the AOs, or when I’ll make my own AA debut. While editing Ashley’s story, I texted her to say I hope we’ll get to share more of those “we did it” smiles of relief in the same ring again. Next time, it’ll be in the Adult Amateurs. Even if it takes me a while to meet her there.
“You’ll get there!!!” she wrote back. “You can do it, I know you can.”
If you’re lucky enough to find horse show friends like Ashley, keep them close.
And know that whatever high or low you currently find yourself on in your riding, I’m cheering you on, too.
Rennie Dyball
TPH MANAGING EDITOR
“A younger version of me might have been highly discouraged by the pace at which I’m progressing. But this version of me is still basking in the glow of making my own dream come true.”
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT:
The author with her first horse, Chase, home at Urban Ridge; Chase getting to know her daughters; a quick kiss at the Virginia Festival of Champions
HITS Vermont Summer Festival
1 Grace Taylor and Keops van de Begijnakker in the $2,500 NAL/Pyranha Jr/Am 1.25m classic during the Manchester Classic • 2 Amina Setouhi and Up Up & Away • 3 Kevin McCarthy and Jardina in the $5,000 Horseflight Jumper Classic during the Valley Classic
JULY 2024 • MANCHESTER, VT
PHOTOS: JESS WINDHURST
Canter Culture’s floral breeches are a best seller and fan favorite
CANTER CULTURE
Countering the Norm with Stylish Athletic Riding Apparel
WORDS:
JESSICA SHANNON
CANTER CULTURE was born out of a pandemic passion in 2020. Texan founders Lauren Baggett and Sarah Dahlberg set out to modernize equestrian apparel in a way that supports equestrian athletes while giving a nod to traditions in our sport.
Dahlberg lost her job as a result of the pandemic. She spent 20 years in marketing and public relations for theater, and the arts were one of the industries hit the hardest during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dahlberg, an amateur rider, partnered with USDF Silver Medalist and professional trainer Lauren Baggett to create Canter Culture. “Lauren had always thought it would be fun to do an equestrian clothing line that was a little bit different from what you can find out there now. She was tired of only being able to buy the five neutrals [colors] that you can typically find breeches in,” says Dahlberg. While Baggett had the entrepreneurial bug, Dahlberg had the dream to work in the horse industry, or what she refers to as her “passion industry.” Together, they create breeches that are set apart from the rest.
MODERNIZING TRADITION
Dahlberg and Baggett had very specific ideas on what they wanted to create. “We wanted to make a riding tight that was high quality with an impeccable fit, was flattering on all body types, and super comfortable, but also stylish in that it would come in really cool colors and patterns, which we couldn’t find in any other company.” says Dahlberg. After a lot of online research and fabric testing, they were able to launch their Athletic Breech in January 2023.
Their animal print breeches are currently sold out, but due to high demand, they are restocking the print next year with a fun, new twist.
SPOTLIGHT
Canter Culture’s flagship product, their athletic breech, first hit their website in black, white, orange, and a black and white houndstooth pattern that sold out within three months. The houndstooth breech remains a popular item with multiple restocks. “Everyone wanted that houndstooth breech, and we thought, ‘Wow! I think we have something here!’” says Dahlberg. Patterns are unique in breeches, and Canter Culture has since designed plaids, polka dots, and animal prints, customized with Pantone colors selected by their team.
The reviews, whether they are in Dahlberg’s email inbox, on the website, or on social media, are glowing. “Almost daily, people are saying that these are their new favorite breeches…our fabric is really special. It’s custom-knit for us.” Canter Culture uses a silk-soft compression fabric for their breeches, and they focus on a high-waisted tight due to how flattering and comfortable that rise is for most people.
In addition to their comfortable, fun breeches, Canter Culture recently released a sun shirt, belt, socks, and other accessories. The sun shirts come in three neutral colors that allow riders to create multiple outfits with their patterned breeches.
Their creativity does not stop at plaids and polka dots, and their sun shirts may look basic, but that is not the case. Canter Culture’s sun shirt has an innovative detail on both sleeves: a watch window. A rider’s smartwatch sits in the watch window, allowing you to stay safe and connected without having to push your sleeve or move your glove in order to get a peek at your watch. Dahlberg and Baggett want their creations to adjust with the times while acknowledging the traditions of our sport.
Like the sun shirt, Canter Culture designed their elastic belt and socks in neutral colors to be mixed and matched with their colorful breeches. The belt’s circle is reminiscent of their logo, and the socks have a vintage athletic look to them. Canter Culture’s sourced belt and uniquely designed shirts and breeches are meant for endless riding outfit inspiration.
ATHLETES OF ALL TYPES
Both Dahlberg and Baggett have struggled finding clothes that look good, and they want to ensure their riding apparel line looks great on all body types.
1. The Alice Sun
2. Breeches truly designed to go from the barn and beyond
3. By switching boots for heels and a sun shirt for cute top and jacket, you now have a fun outfit for going out on the town
4. All body types look beautiful in Canter Culture’s flagship Athletic Breech
flattering, as oppsoed to thin waistbands or low- and mid-rises that are not necessarily great for all body types.
They use a universal design that looks good on many bodies, and the fabric is flexible to fit multiple sizes. For instance, Canter Culture’s extra large breech fits up to a size 20, but a size 16 and size 18 rider can wear them, too. Dahlberg says, “We designed our breech so that riders of all shapes and sizes could fit into them and look beautiful. It was important to us because of our own struggles finding clothes that we liked that looked good on us, neither of us having ‘traditional’ equestrian body types.” She adds that they plan to add an XXL next year, and petite riders can already find a special size for them on Canter Culture’s website.
Canter Culture chose their breeches to be pull-on tights because of the flexibility that tights offer in sizing. Baggett and Dahlberg believe that the high and wide waistband of Canter Culture’s pull-on breeches are much more universally
Size is not the only area in which Canter Culture aims to be inclusive. Their price point was derived from market research and a goal to be competitive with similar brands. Their fabric is highend, the designs are intricately detailed, but they keep in mind that their breech is still classified as a tight, and they want to be competitive in a growing market. Seasonal sales and older colors are on sale to help the budget-conscious rider.
DRESSED FOR SPORT
“We are athletes. Riding is a sport,” says Dahlberg. As equestrians themselves, Baggett and Dahlberg know firsthand that riders are active, constantly moving their bodies and working hard, and they want their brand to be true athletic apparel. Canter Culture designs their clothes to work for the rider in the same way that apparel designed for runners, yogis, and ball players work for them. “That’s our mission. We are working to modernize equestrian apparel by designing our clothing to be both supremely comfortable and athletically functional, while also
Shirt’s innovative watch window is a game changer for those who use watches during their rides
introducing fresh looks and styles for riders tired of the status quo,” says Dahlberg. Dahlberg and her daughter both ride in Canter Culture breeches. Baggett rides multiple horses each day as a professional, and her brightly colored pull-on tights stand the test, keeping her cool even in the Texas heat. They kept the scorching Texas heat in mind when choosing their fabric for both their breeches and sun shirt. Their triple thick silicone stays sticky longer than many other silicone breeches, and their shape remains intact, ride after ride.
Baggett and Dahlberg tried out different fabrics before settling on the movable and comfortable fabric of their breeches. Their quality control tests helped them find fabric that does not pill, sag, or lose its shape over time, and is incredibly durable.
BUILDING A BRAND
It is incredibly difficult to start a riding apparel company, and Dahlberg finds that word of mouth and social media play an integral part in their growth. Part of what has helped them is how riders are having fun styling their breeches as non-barn apparel by pairing their patterned breeches with heels and a cute top or jacket for outside-the-barn fun with friends. “We
“We designed our breech so that riders of all shapes and sizes could fit into them and look beautiful. It was important to us because of our own struggles finding clothes that we liked that looked good on us, neither of us having ‘traditional’ equestrian body types.”
—SARAH DAHLBERG, CANTER CULTURE CO-FOUNDER
know that riders basically live in their riding clothes. So we’ve made it easier to go from the office to the barn to drinks with friends without feeling self-conscious about showing up in barn clothes,” says Dahlberg.
Canter Culture also has two programs riders can be a part of that help promote their brand. They have sponsored riders from all disciplines, including eventing, dressage, hunter, jumper, and saddle seat. They are always looking for new riders to sponsor. Dahlberg also emphasizes the importance of their ambassador program. Anyone can apply to be an ambassador. Ambassadors receive a discount code to share with their friends and social media followers. The code provides a 15% discount for the ambassador’s friends and followers. Sales on the code earn the ambassador a commission, and with the discount plus commission, the ambassadors get a sizable discount on Canter Culture products so they can more affordably promote the brand.
Both the Ambassador and Sponsored Rider programs are wonderful ways to spread the word about Canter Culture’s modern yet traditional athletic rider apparel, and a great way to support an up-and-coming women-owned business.
Dahlberg brings their pop-up shop to major horse shows across the country, and she will be at the AEC’s and Dressage at Devon this year, and at the Scottsdale Arabian Show and Kentucky-ThreeDay Event next year. She finds face to face time with riders to be incredibly beneficial. Riders get a chance to feel their high-end fabric, try on their dsigns, and experience how flattering their apparel is on every body type. She also loves chatting with fellow equestrians from all over the country. “It’s such a cool experience to get to meet all these interesting and diverse women who all share the same passion—the love of horses,” says Dahlberg.
Dahlberg thinks fondly of her late parents and how proud the would be of her. She is living her horse girl dream with a trusted partner in Baggett. Dahlberg says, “I wish they were here to see what we’ve done. It’s pretty exciting. But what’s most exciting is making a difference in the equestrian fashion space with our brand. The industry is very traditional, and we aim to honor that traditional aesthetic, vibe and feel, while also putting our own unique spin on things. And I think it’s going well so far!”
CARLOS QUIÑONES
“He
Understands the Process of How Horses Learn”
WORDS: JESSICA SHANNON
THE GREATS OF EQUESTRIAN SPORT can be found all over the world—and age is merely a number. In Argentina, equestrians know one of the most esteemed athletes to be Carlos “Lalo” Quiñones, who is 69 years old. His career is full of strong relationships with his horses, making an influence on the equine industry as a rider and trainer, and ensuring his name is synonymous with a beautiful riding style and a deep love for every horse he has the pleasure of training.
A WINNER FROM THE START
Quiñones, known to riders and professionals worldwide as “Lalo,” was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1954. He is recognized as much for his riding and horsemanship as he is for his love of dogs, especially his Jack Russell terrier, Bully. Bully and Quiñones were quite the pair of stubborn best friends, and fellow equestrians were accustomed to seeing them together. Quiñones loves watching sports, especially soccer, tennis, and polo, and he still enjoys being active, including working out at the gym multiple times a week.
Quiñones began riding at six years old on a pony named Pancho, and Pancho was adamant that jumping was not his job. Two years later, Quiñones made his showjumping debut on Pinguito, a grey pony. His debut was the beginning of a fruitful career that many only dream of, and his first big win was at age 14. Quiñones was then chosen to jump in the Argentinian Equestrian Federation’s A category, which is 1.35m classes with professionals. The
PHOTOS, CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: LUCIO LANDA (3); SPORTFOT; SOL PRATO; LUCIANA QUIÑONES
“He understands the process of how horses learn, so he never asks them things that they are not ready for.”
—MICHELLE NAVARRO
teenage Quiñones beat Dr. Hugo Miguel Arrambide, a well-known Argentinian rider with wins in multiple countries.
Charly became Quiñones’ mount two years later, and Charly took Quiñones to his first Grand Prix. The pair won, and Charly later joined Jorge Llambi on Munich’s Olympic run in 1972, as his second horse. The next few years were as rewarding as they were emotionally taxing on Quiñones. He turned professional after these profound losses in order to support his family.
A PROFESSIONAL CAREER TAKING FLIGHT
Quiñones’s passion for horses was influenced by his father, Felix, who encouraged his son to take dressage lessons as a young rider. His father hoped dressage would help him learn how to work a horse, and the results of his training are seen in Quiñones’ outstanding flatwork today.
While he saw major success in 1978 with a new horse, Cry Cry, in Brazil and Argentina, both Cry Cry and Quiñones were injured. Quiñones had a motorcycle accident that sidelined him for seven months. The pair won the Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix, reserve national champion Argentinian Championship, and were second at the South American Championship with Team Argentina before their injuries halted their partnership.
The 1980s saw Quiñones’ career take off, as he moved to Venezuela for a few years as both a rider and clinician. His return to Argentina was a turning point for Quiñones. He found a new teammate, Bimcinco, and was called up to represent Argentina at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Quiñones and his family headed to Europe for a pre-Olympic tour. One Monday during the pre-Olympic European tour, the Quiñones family was visiting the Berlin Zoo when Bimcinco had a devastating heart attack two weeks before the Olympics. After the heartbreak surrounding Bimcinco and the Barcelona Olympics, Quiñones coped by relying on his love for horses. Bochin, a polo pony with scope, was his new, talented teammate. After a
CSI-W in Brazil, they qualified for the World Cup Finals. Quiñones, ever the horseman, knew that the World Cup Finals might be too much for his beloved polo pony-turned-show jumper, and he opted to protect his horse and not travel to the finals. His career as a trainer and clinician grew in Venezuela and Peru, and the opportunities to teach there led him to Thessa Navarro Dyer. Navarro’s hopes to have Quiñones train her daughters led him to a new life in the United States.
STATESIDE SUCCESS
Quiñones trains Navarro’s daughter, Michelle, along with her niece, and his own daughter, Luciana. Michelle Navarro now owns the string of horses Quiñones trains, and the continued supportive relationship the Navarro family has for him is incredible. Under Quiñones’ tutelage, Michelle qualified for the Pan American Games three times and won the first class of the Pan Ams in Santo Domingo riding Osho. The Navarro family traveled with Quiñones between the United States, Peru, and Argentina before buying a farm in Wellington, FL in 2008, followed by another farm in Lexington, KY. The two farms allow Quiñones, his daughter, and the Navarro family to spend winters in Wellington and summers in Lexington for year round showing opportunities. After over two decades with the Navarros, Quiñones has 18 horses. Since moving to the United States, Quiñones continued his own riding career in FEI classes and national Grand Prix, among other classes. He continues to ride 4-6 horses a day, and his love for showing and developing young horses remains a passion. Luciana says, “He is a really hard worker. All he did, by himself as a young guy, and for so long now, he is as motivated as ever and cares for his horses so much.”
Luciana says that she and her father
get along well. “We have one rule. It is that whatever happens in the ring, it stays there. We try to laugh about it when it doesn’t go that well over dinner,” she says. Luciana is incredibly proud of her father’s success and reputation, including the honor Quiñones has had, multiple times, to lead Team Argentina as Chef d’Equipe, and she expresses such pride in being both his student and daughter.
A LEADER AND ADVOCATE FOR HORSES
Professionals, amateurs, and his children all have the highest praise for Quiñones. Luciana has heard professionals describe her father as “methodic, a leader, lover of horses, talented, a hard worker, determined, and strong willed.”
His professional colleagues note his “elegant, modern style” and that he has a “good feel.” Michelle Navarro says that Quiñones “is patient with the horses. He understands the process of how horses learn, so he never asks them things that they are not ready for.”
While many in the horse industry recognize Quiñones for his strong partnership with his horses, he is also known for his strong, vocal support for Selección Argentina, Argentina’s national football team, and cherishing time with friends over a glass of Argentinian wine. Luciana, however, admires her father for his horsemanship. She says, “If I can say one big virtue my dad has is that he always gives time for the horses to develop. Even if sometimes we think they are ‘behind,’ he waits for them to be sure and ready for their next level.”
BR AVO
Congratulations to SCAD Equestrian on an
In a busy world full of unrelenting demands, we find stillness in the barn. Stillness that allows us to be present with our loved ones and our horses.
Make each second spent in your barn, a cherished memory.
AP HASSINGER
Amy Hassinger’s fashion-forward brand launches a new line with all your favorite features
WORDS: APRIL BILODEAU
LAST YEAR, Amy Hassinger was busy getting ready to launch her new clothing line, one of her many business ventures under the Hassinger name.
Hassinger has a reputation of recognizing problems or gaps in the equine industry and inventing solutions herself. From better fitting earplugs, like the well-known POMMS, to Bit Butter, Hassinger is all about improving the things that equestrians use on a daily basis.
Her clothing line, AP Hassinger, was intended to improve upon breeches.
In 2022, Hassinger’s trainer Tori Colvin encouraged her to show in the jumper classic in Wellington.
“As soon as Tori brought up showing in the classic, I knew that meant white breeches,” Amy Hassinger tells The Plaid Horse.
As she set out for her search for whites, Hassinger additionally found issues with the fabric, breathability,
“As a rider myself, I understand the weak points in equestrian clothing and we’re implementing muchneeded change.”
—AMY HASSINGER
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: “Fifth Avenue” Black Lace Sun Shirt; “The Hunter” Front Zip Breech; “The Prix” Side Zip Jumper Breech with glove grip knee patch; Designer AP Hassinger
SPOTLIGHT
and staining with several brands that she tried. While she felt she was being picky, her inventive mind started to take over to come up with a better, more attering riding pant that would o er riders great quality and new features.
BREECHES WITH FEATURES
A er that winter circuit, Hassinger spent time with her mother learning the ins and outs of the fabric industry.
Hassinger wanted the breeches to feel like pajamas to o er all day comfort to riders. She also wanted to add appropriate patching in spots that would o er comfort and support to riders without tearing or scratching leather.
“Before my mother passed, I told her about this problem as she had a background in clothing creation,” says Hassinger. “So from April to June I picked her brain about everything I didn’t know but she did, such as seams, fabrics, etc. Together, we put together prototypes. It was an incredibly special way to spend time with my mom.”
“I thought to myself, the knee touches the saddle 100% of the time, why is no one protecting the knee?” says Hassinger. Her designs all feature a signature “AP” sticker on the knee right above where the top of your boot sits, o ering a supportive grip that won’t rub your skin or your saddle.
She also created a new design and shape for the sock bottom that is looser, so it doesn’t pull the top of your pants like other breeches. All AP Hassinger breeches are a Comfort Rise t, which sits right at your belly button for a attering, comfortable t, in either a front or a side zip based on a rider’s preference.
“The reality is that most people who design breeches are not riders,” says Hassinger. “As a rider myself, I understand the weak points in equestrian clothing and we’re implementing much-needed change.”
Breeches are available in several styles for the jumper ring, hunter ring, and for schooling. AP Hassinger o ers breeches in an array of colors (including a very popular navy schooling breech with pink touches!), all featuring the buttery so material that Hassinger made a priority in the creation of her breeches.
FROM STABLE TO STREET
A er a successful launch last year, Hassinger has been hard at work
developing the next generation in her clothing line.
bring embroidering back to show collars!
“For our new line, we designed our breeches to be able to switch style a bit so you can go to the grocery store a er the barn and not look totally out of place,” says Hassinger. “Just throw on a di erent shoe and you’re good to go!”
Hassinger has also designed beautiful schooling tops and show shirts with the same versatility from the ring to a restaurant.
“We asked ourselves the same question, ‘What do we want in show shirts?’ So we designed something structured and feminine that you would want to wear out,” she says.
While they may be more stylish than most, the show shirts are even more functional, featuring a cooling material that can reduce your body temperature. The shirts have a cotton collar that’s a little taller so it looks nicer under your jacket with buttons in the back so it has a more nished front. Added bonus: Hassinger designed these shirts with the goal to
In addition to the unique shirts, Hassinger has also designed a blazerstyle jacket to o er riders a stylish way of covering their show clothes, coming in colors such as Perfectly Pink and Ti any Blue with the signature crystal AP Hassinger logo.
“It’s a versatile piece that you can put over your shirt to stay clean, or the darker ones you could get away with using in the show ring,” says Hassinger.
WHAT’S NEXT
The AP Hassinger brand has grown tremendously in the last year of being on the market, but in true Amy Hassinger fashion, she won’t stop there.
The brand now features options for kids, o ering the same great features as the adult breeches…with a couple of bonuses.
“No one really asks kids what they want, so we asked,” she adds. “They said they wanted pockets in the back so they could look like the big kids.”
In addition to their news kids’ line, Hassinger is also pleased to announce they are working on a men’s line: “It’s an adventure that is growing bigger than I could have ever anticipated.”
For more information on AP Hassinger or to view the collection, please visit www.aphassinger.us.
Junior “Lollipop” Short Sleeve Silk Touch Show Shirt and matching Junior Show Jods
Junior “ProZip” Performance Top in Perfect Pink, paired with the Junior “Savannah” Jod and paired
“I am not sure where to begin about Carleton and Traci Brooks! They are lifelong students and they never stop learning. They truly learn their horses and develop a program for the horse and rider to be successful; not only in the show ring. I am truly excited for this book and I hope there are many more to come because we should never stop learning.”
—Faith McKay-Alicea, USEF “R” Steward
VIGNON MANOR FARM
A
Wedding Venue for Everyone— and the Woman Behind It All
WORDS: RENNIE DYBALL
PHOTOS, FROM LEFT: AMANDA McCOY PHOTOGRAPHY; ANDREW RYBACK PHOTOGRAPHY
ASHLEY CROUSE-ACKERMAN is the sole owner of Vignon Manor Farm, a wedding venue in Havre de Grace, Maryland. She’s also a mom of three— including a budding Short Stirrup star—and a successful Adult Amateur Hunter rider campaigning two horses for Indoors.
“Most wedding venues are not posting Instagram stories from the horse show, but we do!” Crouse-Ackerman tells The Plaid Horse. “We are a horse family and horses are at the heart of the business. If it weren’t for three large ponies in the ’90s, Vignon wouldn’t exist.” That’s because Crouse-Ackerman’s family works in construction, and they purchased Vignon nearly three decades ago to turn it into a riding and training facility. The property dates back to the 1700s with only three recorded owners.
Vignon Manor Farm owner Ashley CrouseAckerman loves to “stay connected and continue to follow our clients. Watch them have children—and return to Vignon for maternity and baby photos.”
“I ride my best when I’m enjoying the animal,” says the wedding venue owner of her horse show mindset. “Too much pressure and it starts to fall apart.”
THANKS TO THEIR pony-crazy daughter
Ashley (“I lived for riding,” she says), the Crouses built a large indoor riding arena and a 36-stall custom barn with high end amenities and architecture. Ashley’s ponies were the first residents, soon joined by many more as the farm became boarding and training facility. Vignon doubled as an event space, but it wasn’t until 2019 that the family converted the property again—this time, to be exclusively a wedding venue. “The property lent itself to something bigger,” she says.
“But in all we do, we try to remember the heart of what this place is, and how those couple of ponies started it all. My pony lived here until he was almost 40. The current reception area was my old riding ring. The footing is still under the floors.”
WEDDINGS AT VIGNON
This is not your average barn venue. “I call Vignon a non-cookie cutter barn venue,” explains Crouse-Ackerman. “You think about a barn venue and some are older or rustic, while others were never actually a barn to begin with. Ours was a fully operational riding facility, and we pride ourselves on the fact that we are a 360-degree property with unobstructed views.”
They also prioritize making Vignon feel
like family. With a staff of just a few people on site, comfort is the top priority for wedding couples and their guests. “We want it to feel like home,” she says. “People will tell us, ‘I didn’t even know this was here.” We’re still very much a hidden gem that we’ve allowed to grow organically.”
Another priority at Vignon: Inclusion. “Everyone is welcome. We want all couples to feel like their love matters,” says Crouse-Ackerman. “It doesn’t matter what faith, the LGBTQ community, we want everyone to know we are a safe space. No matter what your story looks like, we want to celebrate it with you. I am loud and proud about that.”
Clients rave about how Ashley and her husband Bill Ackerman—Vignon’s Chief of Operations and on-site manager—are so involved as owners. As very public faces for their venue through their social media, they want clients to know who they’re doing business with, and what’s possible at Vignon.
“We most often hear that as soon as you drive up over the hill, that just seals it for people. The property speaks for itself. You just don’t see anything like it. There are so many spaces to use, while keeping the heart of it in horses.”
Some equestrian touches at Vignon include The Tack Room lounge, complete with the original brass bridle and saddle racks, The Paddock Lounge,
Same-sex couples and couples of all faiths are welcome at Vignon
“There are so many parallels between the wedding business and equestrians. Both are all-encompassing and wonderful and stressful in their own ways. Even on my hardest days I would not want to change a thing.”
—ASHLEY
CROUSE-ACKERMAN
ASHLEY’S FASHION FAVES
While she describes her style as relaxed and laid back, the wedding venue owner can’t resist little touches in the show ring like matching her jacket piping to her belt. But above all, comfort reigns supreme.
“As an adult amateur, you nd brands you like and keep going back. After what we wore in the ’90s, I just want to be comfortable!”
• BOOTS: Parlanti, both the leather and vegan styles
• BREECHES: Equiline
• SHOW COATS: Charles Ancona—”I’m kind of a collector!”
• SCHOOLING: “I love For Horses breeches because they feel like leggings. Yeardley love them, too.”
• SHOW SHIRT: For Horses
• HORSE SHOW VENDOR: Jods. “My daughter loves Jods for everything from breeches to show bows. It’s a must-visit for her at every show.”
Lancelot Z “makes you feel like a rock star,” says Crouse-Ackerman (showing “Lance” at Harrisburg in 2023) PHOTOS: ANDREW
“If things go awry behind the scenes, our clients will never know. You don’t get two rounds for a wedding day!”
—ASHLEY CROUSE-ACKERMAN
a getting-ready suite, along with the fencing, pastures, and even some refurbished stalls—perfect for photo ops. Vignon has hosted many equestrians, past and present, who love those parts of the venue. “Clients with nostalgia for horses, or people who currently have horses, really love and understand our facility,” Crouse-Ackerman says.
Vignon is as much a destination as it is a local gem for people in the tri-state area. The venue has hosted clients from as far as New York, California, and Hawaii, as well as couples for whom the Mid-Atlantic is a convenient middle ground.
Crouse-Ackerman notes that her business supports the local community as guests can utilize the area hotels (just 12 minutes from the venue), Airbnbs, restaurants, and breweries in the area.
“WOMEN
CAN DO IT ALL— AND DO IT WELL”
It is undoubtedly difficult to run a business as a mom of three kids who also shows at a high level. But CrouseAckerman believes it is not only doable but also a worthy endeavor.
“I believe in the power of women in business,” she says. “You can do it all if you build to your strengths.” Over the past year, she has worked hard on asking for help where she needs it and giving her all in her three roles—one at a time.
“We often do Zoom tours for clients who can’t visit from out of state. Many clients book without setting foot at Vignon until closer to the big day.”
In addition to being the sole owner, Crouse-Ackerman manages the Vignon’s social media and enjoys connecting with future and former clients, staying in touch well beyond their wedding days. “I had no wedding experience prior to this. I built the business from five weddings in our first year to 60-90 a year now.”
“I have made so many calls and worked through so many contracts on horseback over the years,” she says. “But what I’ve realized this past year is that to do it all, you have to set boundaries. When I’m at work I give everything I have to Vignon. When I’m home, I spend time with my kids [Lincoln, 15, Briggs, 9, and Yeardley, 7]. And when I’m riding, my focus is on enjoying my animals. Barn time is sacred time.”
While on the road at shows, the horses’ care and preparation used to be a group effort among Crouse-Ackerman, her trainer, and barn family—who’ve been instrumental in supporting her. Today, while she still trailers her animals herself, she made the decision to hire two new
grooms who travel with them to shows to provide additional support. “I am very lucky to be able to do that. I’ve learned that asking for help when I need it makes me better at each of my roles,” she says. “I want to give everything to my clients, my family, and my horses. It’s hard to do that when there’s too much overlap. I had to be very structured in creating those boundaries.”
Her advice for other working riders and working moms is what she wished she’d learned years ago. “I used to be such a quick replier, answering emails at all hours. I thought that was important, but it was at the expense of myself,” she explains. “But you know what? Target has hours too! The chiropractor, the vet, they all have business hours. You can always break the rules when you need to, but you can’t find balance if you’re taking your work into the ring or home to your kids. Work hard when you’re working, and enjoy your horse when you’re with them. If you take work stuff into the ring with you, that’s the energy you’re giving your animal.”
“You can be a mom, a business owner, an equestrian, or all three. Women can do it all and do it well.”
SUCCESS WITH HORSES
The three large ponies Crouse-Ackerman had as a child lived out their entire lives with her family, much of it at Vignon. She treats her horses as an adult the same way. “Once I get them, they typically never leave,” she says with a laugh. “I realize we are very
lucky that we can do that. Because I’d sell my soul before I sell my horses!”
Between competition horses, retirees, and her daughter Yeardley’s pony, the Crouse-Ackerman crew includes seven horses and ponies in total. The show horses live at Fox Creek Farm in Churchville, MD.
Crouse-Ackerman competes in the middle adults with Lancelot Z, a 9-year-old Zangersheid gelding, and Kardinal, a 16 year-old “seeing eye dog,” she jokes. “My horses both take care of me as a nervous amateur rider. I’m so grateful for them, and my trainer, Laura Leroy, who tailors her program to each individual. She’s great at figuring horses out in a short period of time. There’s a sense of camaraderie at the barn, and Laura always meets us where we are.”
“We all joke about the anxious adult amateur, but it’s a real thing,” she adds. “After having kids, we don’t bounce any more and we have to work through the anxiety, plus the pressure of doing well when riding is taking us away from our work and our families.”
“After a health scare this year, I learned the hard way that no one expects anything of me, and the only reason to do this is to enjoy myself and my animals. If you don’t make your own health and mental health a priority, it will stop you in your tracks at the most inconvenient time.”
Last year, Crouse-Ackerman qualified for Indoors for the first time on both of her horses and called her successful trip to Harrisburg “my top feeling as an adult rider.” She plans to continue riding Kardinal in the Adult Amateurs and moving up to the 3’3” Amateur-Owner Hunters on Lancelot Z.
PONY MOM
Sharing a love of horses with her 7-year-old daughter Yeardley, “is everything I’d hoped for and more,” says Crouse-Ackerman. “She likes to do her own thing when we hack out together. The only thing I’m allowed to tell her is when to change her diagonal!”
Yeardley meets her mom at every horse show where she competes in Short Stirrup and Mini Stirrup on their local circuit. “From the start, I didn’t tell her what the ribbon colors meant. I never wanted her to feel any pressure. She thought the pink ribbon was the greatest ever,” Crouse-Ackerman adds. “I want her to always try her best rather than focus on blue ribbons. That time will come, but for her as a kid, it’s just heels down, eyes up, and enjoy the ride.”
“Personally, I am a nervous rider. I dget and I can be a puller. But I don’t get nervous for Yeardley because she just lets the animal be,” adds the mom of three (her sons compete
in other sports). “She’s a quiet little rider, she just goes. Horses really like her. Her pony thinks she’s the best thing on the planet. I wish I had her con dence. She just goes in the ring and enjoys the animal. As we get older we let our anxiety in the way, and forget to enjoy how much fun this is supposed to be and how incredible these animals are to us.”
people,” says Crouse-Ackerman (with children Yeardley and Briggs) of her horse Kardinal
“Both have so much personality,” she adds. “I don’t care if a horse jumps a 10…if it can’t be around my children and is not affectionate or personable, it won’t check the boxes for me.”
WEARING ALL THE HATS
During her health scare earlier this year, Crouse-Ackerman shared more of her personal life with her social media.
“I was running myself into the ground,” she says. “I wasn’t sleeping—like, at all—and I developed a stutter. It was really hard to communicate, and to ride. I got hundreds of messages of support, which meant so much to me. I learned that I need to ask for help and I want other people, women in particular, to know they’re not alone if they share these struggles. I wasn’t alone thanks to my barn family. They help me wear all these different hats without getting to a run-down place.”
Crouse-Ackerman takes that sense of camaraderie and sisterhood to her barn family, and to the show ring. “We have such a great community of adults in our area,” she notes. “I love lining up in a flat class and that moment of, ‘We survived!’ with riders who have become my little horse show family.”
“We genuinely want each other to do well. And I truly believe women can do it all.”
“Everyone is welcome. We want all couples to feel like their love matters. It doesn’t matter what faith, the LGBTQ community…we want everyone to know we are a safe space.”
—ASHLEY CROUSE-ACKERMAN
There are no horses currently living on the Vignon Manor property, though Crouse-Ackerman hopes to live on site one day with her retirees. At a safe distance. She jokes: “Ponies and cocktail hours don’t mix!”
THE VIGNON BARN WAS BUILT BY CROUSE CONSTRUCTION WITH HELP ON DESIGN FROM CLARK TURNER
TIPS FOR RIDING SUCCESS: BE A WORKER
Workers show up. They are ready to learn from the moment they get to the barn. We all get distracted, but a worker is the one who puts in the extra time. They pick up, and help around the farm with whatever is needed. When they ride, they ride with a plan. They do transitions, and figures and have a goal. They ride without stirrups, without reins. They put in days of long, boring fitness rides because it is the right thing for the horses. They do the hard things, because it makes them stronger and better.
RIDERS
THE PLAID HORSE QUESTIONNAIRE WITH
CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT: Kain and Im Special in the 1.45 CSI3*, warming up 7-year-old Corlando 63 for the 1.40 m, and coursewalking at CSI Ommen in Ommen, The Netherlands with Bahloo
Ta ylor Kain
STATUS: Professional • PROGRAM: Horseshoe Bend Sales
As a horsewoman, I am most proud of how far I've come from where I started. We've done it by mostly seeing things in horses others didn't and being able to bring out those qualities in them. • As a horsewoman, I would most like to improve keeping an even keel. I think that will come with more experience. I just want to keep banging on the door until I can knock it down.•I’d be lost without my box of sugar cubes in my tack trunk and boot polish in my ring bag.•My best piece of advice for young riders is find someone who believes in you and work your fingers to the bone for them. No matter what background you come from, success in this sport is largely based on work ethic, people
who support you, and a never-ending quest for knowledge.•The most important quality for a jumper rider to have is fight. It may not always be smooth and pretty, but at the end of the day you have to be willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.•My favorite horse book is The de Nemethy Method•My favorite non-horse book is The Old Man and the Sea•Fashion in the equestrian world is constantly changing. The new styles and tech fabrics that have been introduced in the last several years have made the clothing more fitted, more attractive, and more functional. I think it's also come to a point that riders are really able to express their personality and fashion preferences
these days.•I feel my best when I’m wearing anything from Horse Pilot. It's like the Alo for equestrian sport.•The best part about living in the Netherlands is from a riding perspective, it's the accessibility of top shows and top riders. Every week, whether it's a 2* or 5*, you have to go up against and measure yourself against most of the best in the world. From a personal perspective, it's the lifestyle. I couldn't point to one thing... the cleanliness, the food, the safety, the work/life balance and helpfulness of the people here are all things that have made me fall in love with the Netherlands.•I’m a sucker for a horse with a pink nose.•On Mondays, you’ll find me at the stable—in Europe,
we work on Mondays.•The horse person I most admire is besides Geoff Case (my husband), I would have to say Erynn Ballard. Her ability to get on anything, jumper or hunter, and see how they perform for her is unique and special.•Women in our sport are on the rise. Moving from the US—where horse shows are predominantly female—to Europe where it is much more male dominant has been eye opening for me. But the Iron Dames are leading the LGCT standings at the moment and many more females are winning big classes. I think worldwide women are earning more respect and we're on the cusp of a female revolution in top sport.•My absolute favorite show is Devon because there is always something special about riding in the Dixon Oval.
THE FUTURE OF OUR SPORT DEPENDS ON
accessibility.
Even in Europe, where it is much more affordable than the US, costs are rising. Horse prices are rising, fuel costs are rising, and everything in between. We need to cultivate both corporate and private sponsors to bring the costs down, so that everyone with work ethic and a dream can truly feel like they have a chance to reach those dreams and not get into a situation where net worth is not the main requirement for a rider to succeed.
MY MOTTO IS
You can't always control what happens...
in the ring, but you can control your preparation and how you present yourself walking in.
PHOTO GALLERY
Introducing GGT Care Basic ATV 80 Compatible Arena Conditioner
Standard Features Include:
•80” Width
•Weighs 650 lbs.
•Features 25 tines and rear cage roller with internal auger for pulling material from rail back to center
•Requires only a 20 hp tow vehicle with a drop on ball hitch
•Swivel is standard (for getting into corners easily)
•Track Clearer is standard (so it doesn’t scrape your kick rail)
•Leveling Bar for additional smoothing of the surface prior to the rear cage roller
•Only $4500.
As the only undergraduate equine program located within an AACSB accredited college of business, our core business administration classes combine specialized education, focusing on equine enterprises. Based in famed Kentucky, the heartland of America’s equine industry, our classroom instruction is supplemented with the opportunities for internships, field experience, and contacts with prominent industry professionals.
EQUINE DEGREE PROGRAMS:
BSBA in Equine Business
Equine Business Minor
Equine Business Certificate
Horse Racing Industry
Graduate Certificate
RIDING OPPORTUNITIES: IHSA Hunt Seat Team IHSA Western Team
ISSRA Saddle Seat Team
USPA I/I Polo Team USEA Eventing Team
LEAD
Helicon Pathfinder
Lessons learned from a particular pony
WORDS: ELIZABETH ONESS
DIFFICULT ANIMALS are the ones you learn the most from. Pathfinder really upped my game, though that wasn’t what I was looking for at the time.
Breeding or pedigree can predict a lot about a horse’s ability and temperament. Still, there are regally bred Thoroughbreds who aren’t very fast, Border Collies who are not assertive enough to herd effectively. When I wanted to learn more about breeding Welsh ponies, specifically hunter ponies, everyone said to me, “Oh you have to meet Thalia Gentzel!”
Thalia wrote the “Pony Profiles” column for The Paisley Pony, and reading it gave me a sense of the world I was stepping into. I read Thalia’s articles––filled with Welsh names and pedigrees and exclamations––with wonder and bafflement. Her sentences, constructed with antecedents I couldn’t identify, were hard to untangle, but it was clear she had an encyclopedic knowledge of Welsh ponies, and she loved pony hunters, so I wanted to meet her. She liked to quote her friend Cheryl Patton, who riffed on an old Flip Wilson routine: “What you breed is what you get!”
That summer, my mother, who was living in Vermont, had something like a stroke, though it quickly became clear that it was the beginning of real cognitive decline. My sisters on the East Coast handled hospital stays and finances; my sister Meg found a rehabilitation facility after deeming several others unsuitable, but my sisters worked full time, and I was off in the summer, so I drove out to Vermont to help move my mom from the rehabilitation clinic back to her apartment in an assisted living facility. I made plans to meet Thalia on my drive home.
The difficulties of aging were very much on my mind as I drove back to the Midwest and found my way to Helicon Farm. A faded sign by the road told me I was in the right place, and I turned into the grass and gravel driveway, which had pastures on either side. Near a small barn, the electric fencing was down between
fields, the stray wire like an unfinished sentence. I didn’t see any ponies in the field and wondered if I should offer to help fix the fence. As I pulled up to a Victorian home, Thalia popped out of the door before I even had time to knock. She wore shorts and a t-shirt, big, out-of-fashion glasses, a pair of Crocs, and a huge smile. She apologized that her husband George wasn’t well enough to come outside. He was indoors on oxygen.
I guessed that George’s frailty accounted for the fencing disrepair, though Thalia obviously did what she could, and hired some help, but this would become a theme Chad and I would see again: one elderly person can’t easily manage a farm on their own—unless they have reliable help or they’re deft with heavy equipment, and neither seemed to be the case.
Thalia introduced me to her broodmares, big-eyed Welsh ponies with refined muzzles. She spoke their names with reverence, as if they were celebrities, and I already knew everything about them. The mares were lovely, deep with bearing, but it was like being introduced to too many people at a party. I could barely keep them all straight. •
I WAS FEELING AMBITIOUS in my plans to train or breed a few ponies that could do well on a national level, and it was fascinating to look at the ponies and weigh my options. Thalia pointed out certain qualities and lineages, and she stressed how important mares were for any breeding program. “I want them to have the face of a lady and the a** of a maid!” she cackled.
Helicon Country Rose was lovely. As a filly, she was more expensive than Helicon Pathfinder, who was beautifully bred for driving and jumping. He was a dark gray gelding, almost blue, with one blue eye. He was well-conformed, a good mover, and seemed very athletic. A few weeks later, when Chad and I drove back to look
at him together, I rode him in Thalia’s pasture. He was obviously green but went along nicely enough and, a few weeks after that, when Chad took Jensen to a Neil Young concert outside of Chicago, Chad brought Pathfinder home for me. Thalia posted the following on her website:
HELICON PATHFINDER
Chad and Jensen Oness of Minnesota came home from a Neil Young concert near Chicago with a Christmas surprise for wife and mother Beth!
2006 ¾ Welsh gelding by GlanNant Country Roads x Cat Creek Rose of Graceby GlanNant Epic.
This is a full brother to the flamboyant mover, Helicon Country Grace, who was USEF Zone 4 (FL) Champion in 3 Year-Old Pony Hunter Breeding - and to the lovely filly, Helicon Country Rose. They are by GlanNant Country Roads
who was a Supreme Champion Welsh and an incomparable driving pony in his youth—and then at 19 and 20, the WPCSA National Hunter Champion 12.2 and Under! Country Roads brings in the famous *Cusop Sparklet hunter line. Their dam, Cat Creek Rose of Grace by GlanNant Epic (consistently in Top Ten of USEF Leading Pony Hunter Sires), has also produced two by Helicon Corsair, one was ASPR IL Site Champion at 3 months of age, and the other is pictured at the upper right of this page, jumping 3'6".
In addition to his presence, eagerness to please, correct underpinnings, and height (12.3 1/2 as a yearling), "Hawkeye" has special BLING—eyes of black and pearl! He is eye-catching indeed! Let him be your performance champion!
Careful what you wish for.
One of the first things I learned when Chad brought him home: Pathfinder did not tie.
Some people don’t realize that horses have to be taught to stand tied. You might think: okay, you tie the horse to a post or a fence, he tugs on it, can’t get loose, and realizes he better stand there. It doesn’t work like that. Horses naturally lean into pressure—the way you might lean into having your back scratched. A horse has to be taught to yield to pressure. If you tie a horse who hasn’t been taught to tie, he will panic and freak out and yank the snot out of anything he’s tied to. He will rear, try to flip himself over, and heaven help you if whatever he’s tied to comes loose, and he starts running around, because then he’s being “chased” by whatever he’s tethered to. Think how you’d feel if you found your head clamped in a vice.
This is why we use crossties with safety releases or tie horses with a quick release knot. If the horse does pull, you can yank on one end and let him loose, but if a horse yanks too hard or too quickly, a cotton leadline will tighten in on itself, so even though the knot should come loose, sometimes the soft material of the lead line makes this difficult.
On the first afternoon I owned him, I tied Pathfinder up to a hitching post that had a horizontal railing. I thought I was going to have a nice time brushing him off, getting to know him. He reared up, yanking, hind muscles taut and quivering. He somehow got his legs over the horizontal rail of the hitching post, and he couldn’t get his feet free because his head was tied down. It was hard to get close enough to him to get to the end of the lead line because I didn’t want his front hooves to crush my skull if he snapped the rope or halter and got loose.
This went on for a few heart-thudding minutes. He finally rested for a moment, and I was able to untie him. So that’s when it became clear: Pathfinder had never learned to tie.
What to do? I read online, talked to people, and got some suggestions such as using a rubber inner tube to teach him to tie. The idea was that the rubber would give, avoiding scaring the horse into a panic. I didn’t want to try it–– it sounded like the kind of thing that could backfire: if it broke while Pathfinder was pulling on it, the band would snap and smack him. Imagine being cracked in the face by a huge rubber band––it would only confirm his panic.
One vet, who was not a horse person, suggested using a long rope and wrapping it around his mid-section and up through the halter, so that, when he pulled it would eventually cut off his air supply, and he would stop. This did not seem like a particularly good idea—a bit like putting a claustrophobic person in a closet and taking the air out so that when they passed out, they’d learn it was “okay.” So…not a great plan.
A horse who doesn’t tie is hard to have around; you need to be able to move around to get brushes and hoof picks and tack and all sorts of things that require moving a few feet away from the horse. It’s inconvenient to have a potential disaster every time you need to step a
The author riding Pathfinder
few feet away. You can teach a horse to ground tie, but I wasn’t sure how to do that reliably.
In the movies, when a rider swings off her horse, drops the reins, and the horse just stands there, what you’re really seeing is hours of patient training. Ground tying is hard to teach; horses are prey animals and do not necessarily just stand there, especially when there are cameras and vehicles and people in the periphery. So, when the actress slides up to their beloved for an intimate moment or big movie kiss, I’m thinking: wow, how did you get the horse to stand like that?
•
MY FRIEND MARY had a trainer she respected coming to visit Winter Hill Farm. Janna Webster had studied dressage and worked as a ranch hand in the Vaquero tradition. She also, as Mary said, drank from the well of Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt, old horsemen who worked with horses, observing them, as opposed to ‘breaking’ them. Their philosophies were considered radical at the time, but by now, they’ve become the grounding for lots of trainers around the world.
Janna was a wiry woman with an air of capability; she looked as if she lived in chaps and spent most of her time outside. It’s easy to imagine that those who work with horses are big “doers,” but a lot of working with horses involves being quiet and watching. One thing I learned from Janna was how much I didn’t see.
When Janna worked with horses from the ground, she’d ask the horse to step over, or move his body one way or another, and she wanted a certain softness or quality from the horse’s step—not merely obedience. She would ask the horse to move his hind legs, then turn to me and say:
“Did you see that?”
I had seen the horse move his feet, but I had to say “no,” I didn’t quite see what she was talking about.
“Watch again,” she said, wanting me to see the difference between a hurried obedient step, and a soft, relaxed step. I started to see it, but as philosophers have said: Sometimes we have to learn something in order to see it.
When I described the tying problem, Janna told me what I suspected: “You’ve got to teach him to yield. It’s going to take time.”
In the physical sense, people generally
“One of the first things I learned when Chad brought him home: Pathfinder did not tie.”
yield to pressure. If you bump into someone by accident, they usually move away from you. But horses are different. When you first put a halter, and later a lead line on a foal, you don’t want to tug on it, because you’re teaching the foal to brace in his poll, and that first resisting reaction will be what he defaults to. It’s better to start by asking a foal to follow his dam, which he usually wants to do anyway, and then progress to a little exercise: gently take the lead line to one side, and when the foal turns his head, even a glimmer, you release that slight bit of pressure immediately.
That’s it.
You do the other side: slight tension and release.
If you want them to step forward, you ask, very lightly, and the moment the horse steps forward, or even leans forward, you release.
You have to pay attention. You can’t do this while talking on a cell phone or keeping one eye on a puppy or a kid.
So, this seemingly small thing: pressure and release. People tend to overdo
the pressure part, but the release is the reward. The horse quickly realizes that all it needs to do is yield to pressure, and the pressure comes off.
Now, when I teach a horse to tie, I drape a lead line over the bar of a smooth gate, give a gentle tension, and the moment the horse steps toward the gate, I release and they get a treat. Zero force required. But if you don’t do it, you get ….well, you get Pathfinder, or in a full-sized horse, more than a thousand pounds of panic. And it’s like PTSD, the horse’s brain gets wired with trauma and it’s hard to undo.
•
I SPENT WEEKS WORKING on this with Pathfinder––rewiring his brain. Pressure and release. In different places, never walking too far away, letting him learn that he could release the pressure by stepping toward it.
A few weeks later, I brought Pathfinder back to Mary’s stable. Her barn was elegant and spacious, and I’d tell the ponies “We’re going to the spa!” It was good practice for them to go for a trailer ride, have Janna work with me, ride home. Easy peasy, no pressure.
I put Pathfinder in a stall there, and he was bouncing around, not quite rearing, but fussing, since the horses at my place have run-ins and are rarely stalled.
Janna looked at him bouncing around the stall and said, “Beth, I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but this horse is not broke.”
I nodded.
Janna didn’t mean that he needed to be broken down, in the tough sense, but that, even though he was learning to tie, and I was able to ride him without too many fireworks, he still wasn’t accepting that I was his mentor, or had things in hand. Pathfinder was four or five when I got him. Left to his own devices, he had learned to fend for himself.
Horses teach me this over and over: I think I’ve got it, and I realize I only have a part of it, or I haven’t seen the whole picture.
•
ON ANOTHER DAY, Janna and I were working with a different young pony. I was riding and trying to keep the pony’s shoulders aligned with her body, but she was over-bent and popping her shoulder to the outside of the circle. Janna must have seen the frustration on my face. She said:
“The horse can’t do what you haven’t trained him to do.”
Was there rebuke in her tone? Maybe a little. But this statement has stuck with me. Animals are not mind readers. Most of what we ask them to do is not natural to them. They don’t naturally climb into a horse trailer, or become ambidextrous in their bodies, or jump into a stream. We have to train them to do these things. When I wish a horse should do something more easily, I remember Janna’s instruction and know that it’s on me.
Chad said that Thalia got Pathfinder in our old 1960s trailer on the day he brought her home, but it was hit and miss to get him loaded after that. I had what I thought was a really good idea.
When Chad sank the posts for our outdoor riding ring, he made an alley between the ring and the paddock next to it. The alley was maybe fifty feet long, and I asked Chad to park the trailer at one end. The other end of the alley was closed off by a four-foot high metal gate. I decided to feed Pathfinder in the trailer; I’d put some grain and his hay in there so he could load in and out without the pressure of time or me standing there. He learned to step in and back himself out, and after a few days, I was congratulating myself for this
low-pressure training technique.
One morning, a chicken must have decided to nest in Pathfinder’s hay. Pathfinder stepped into the trailer, a loud squawk and clucking filled the air, a rumbling thump, and Pathfinder hustled out backwards, spun around, and galloped toward the high gate. There were only a few strides between the end of the trailer and the gate. In that horrible slo-mo vision before a disaster, I could see him getting hung up on the gate—front legs over, back legs not—and struggling till he killed himself. I’m sure I yelled and cursed, and then I watched Pathfinder rock back on his hind legs, as if he was rearing up, and he jumped up and over the gate with room to spare.
When I called Thalia the next day to tell her, I didn’t even get to finish my story.
“He cleared the gate, didn’t he?”
“Yes, he did, and easily, but it scared the crap out of me.”
Thalia cackled. “He’s got the moves! He can do anything!”
He did have moves, and I took him to horse shows where he was excited in the first classes but learned to settle down. It helped to have my friend, Gwen, at ringside, saying, “Keep the dirty side down!” which made me laugh so hard that I didn’t
get tense. One judge commented that she’d seen the Lipizzaners last week, so maybe she’d seen enough of the “airs above the ground.” I took her point.
In one class, when we were ready to canter as a group, I glanced outside the ring and saw what looked like a woman walking a bear on a leash. I turned Pathfinder’s head so he wouldn’t see and brought him to the center of the ring. I asked the judge if I could forfeit and let him wait there. When I looked up, I saw the bear was actually a Newfoundland, or some other large breed, but it still seemed like the better move.
•
THE NATURE VERSUS nurture debate applies to animals as well as people. Something in Pathfinder’s background accounts for both his ability and his fire. I wish I could ask Thalia, who is gone now. I miss her knowledge and good humor. I have other horses who I acquired around the same age, who’d had little done with them, and they came around quite easily. But horses are like people, they’re individuals and they learn at different rates.
Pathfinder and I went to a dressage clinic in the Cities, and he behaved well there. It had taken weeks of slow work, but I was proud of the fact that I’d taught him to tie. I could tie him to the trailer, though I’d never walk away from him there, but I could tie him to groom him and tack him up without any drama. I think Janna would say he was broke.
Still, Pathfinder was tricky. I felt as if I needed to be armored or vigilant to ride him or work with him. I had to be precise every single minute. I had to make sure he didn’t encroach on my space. He might load in the trailer easily one day and be sticky the next. It was exhausting. I had a family, a full-time teaching job, and other ponies. I’d look at my watch when I got on him and make myself ride for 35 minutes, which is no way to have a real relationship with a horse. I reminded myself I wasn’t a professional. I’d bought him to train and sell, but I’d planned to get him going over fences first. He was certainly more valuable if he was trained to jump.
I’d managed to get him going nicely on the flat, and I’d ridden him at horse shows and clinics, but one summer I came off him twice in one week—a cat in
PHOTO:
the bushes or a chicken in the tall grass startled him, and he spooked so quickly, I slid off his side. Both times I hopped right back on because I didn’t want to reinforce that behavior by letting him imagine that, if I fell off, he’d be done for the day. But I decided that was enough. If he was so quick that I couldn’t stay on him, maybe it was time to sell him.
There are the ethics to selling a horse, which many people ignore. Pathfinder was beautiful, talented, athletic, and people would call or email and ask if he was suitable for a kid. I’d tell them, “No, he’s not a pony for a kid.” Some parents were puzzled by this.
“But he’s a pony, why wouldn’t he be good for a kid?”
“He’s super quick and athletic. He’s terrific, but a kid would have to be really experienced, work regularly with a good trainer, and have a great seat. That kid would have to be pretty tough.”
I thought he might go to a teen who
“He’s got the moves! He can do anything!”
wanted to develop a pony jumper, but no one appeared.
A few trainers who inquired thanked me for my honesty.
An adult woman came to ride him, and Pathfinder behaved beautifully. He walked, trotted, and cantered around the ring without a blip. I was proud, but she decided he wasn’t quite what she wanted.
PATHFINDER HAD SOME great driving ponies in his pedigree, and a woman called me from the Southwest, oohing and ahhing over his video.
“My husband is looking for a large pony to do Combined Driving Events with. I just love him!”
“Are you experienced starting horses and ponies with driving?”
SWEET PEET OF NEW YORK, INC.
“Yes, we’ve started lots and lots of ponies.”
I’m generally suspicious of people telling me they know a lot. “Well, he’s great, but I had to do some of his early training when I got him. He’s super athletic, so he needs to be in experienced hands.”
“Well, we just got back from Kentucky. We drove as part of an exhibition at the World Equestrian Games.”
“Sounds like a good fit,” I said.
So, it was done. A week or two later, I loaded Pathfinder onto a big rig headed for sunnier climes. His new owner reported him as a bit rattled by the long trailer ride, but he arrived in one piece.
I learned a lot from working with him, but like so many lessons, I learned that I didn’t want to repeat that lesson again.
THE HORSE
BY TIMOTHY C. WINEGARD
SOMETIMES THINGS ARE SO omnipresent, so obvious, that we blithely overlook their importance. In our twittering, computerized age of artificial intelligence, we have lost sight of how essential and impactful horses have been to humanity. The horse was the pinnacle instrument of profit and power. For more than five millennia, with their unrivaled operative force, they steered and dominated every part of our existence. The horse was a source of protein, milk, and a variety of secondary products. It was a war‑winning weapon, a groundbreaking agricultural engine, and a high‑speed vehicle for transportation, trade, and travel. The horse was the prime mover of civilizations.
With the domestication of horses, human greed and curiosity could now be fully realized. The advent of the farming package (agriculture and the domestication of barnyard animals) sowed vocational specialization, the first urban city‑states, and a capitalist surplus economy. High‑speed communication al‑ lowed distant, previously isolated peoples to become neighbors, allies, or enemies. Remote, exotic lands, only whispered in legend and lore, now entered expand‑ ing—and increasingly lucrative and
multifarious—trading networks within a flourishing but competitive commercial environment. The chariot and mounted cavalry enhanced significantly the ability of avaricious conquerors to establish, expand, and hold vast empires. The horse was the defining factor that hauled, assembled, and secured these founda‑ tional building blocks. It single‑hand‑ edly created an infinitely smaller and integrated global village.
One of the reasons horses were so historically dynamic and culturally influential is that they eventually became a relatively democratic resource. For the most part, their acquisition and
reproduction were outside of government control, commercial manufacturing, business monopolies, social status, and economic condition. Horses were self‑reproducing, reasonably self‑suf‑ ficient, and could be acquired through purchase, trade, theft , and even capture. In this sense, they leveled the playing field through their ability to gain or subvert power. Horses proffered a sense of liberty and endowed the individual with a spirit of freedom. The democracy of the horse allowed women to assume dominant political and military positions in ancient nomadic societies such as the Scythians and Massagetae, and in early
dynastic China. The fabled Amazons, as it turns out, were fierce mounted female warriors of the Eurasian Steppe.
Horses transcended demographics, geography, ethnicity, gender, spiritu ality, class, and station. Horses pulled royal carriages and peasant carts. They conveyed humble merchants to peddling markets and gilded chariots and chivalrous knights to battlefield glory. Horses hauled plows across feudal farms and pranced in regal parades. They shuttled private coaches, hired cabs, and public transportation. Horses belonged, and belong, to all human beings.
They changed the way we hunted, traded, traveled, farmed, fought, worshipped, and interacted with one another. Horses reconfigured the global human genome and the languages we speak. They gave rise to nation‑states and pulled into place modern international borders. They were a potent instrument
In our twittering, computerized age of artificial intelligence, we have lost sight of how essential and impactful horses have been to humanity.
of feudalism, land usage patterns, and European colonization during the Columbian Exchange.* Horses made vital contributions to modern medicine, lifesaving vaccines, and developments in sanitation. They even inspired recre ational cannabis use, sports, invention, entertainment, architecture, furniture, and fashion. Horses are an integral part of what it means to be human.
From THE HORSE: A Galloping History of Humanity by Timothy C. Winegard, published on July 30th, 2024 by Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright (c) 2024 by Timothy C. Winegard.
PHOTO: COURTESY BECKY WINEGARD
SHOW STRIDES 1: School Horses & Show Ponies
BY RENNIE DYBALL AND PIPER KLEMM
Reprinted with permission from Andrews
DOWN IN THE TACK ROOM, Tally gathered up her helmet, Sweetie’s saddle, pads, and bridle and then hurried down the aisle, hoping that the mare hadn’t rolled in the mud overnight.
“Hi, pony,” she said affectionately when she reached Sweetie’s stall. At fourteen-point-three or fifteen hands (depending on who you asked), Sweetie was, quite frankly, an undesirable height for showing. She was just a couple inches too big to compete in the large pony division, and her size would keep her from being competitive over big fences in the horse divisions. At shows, horses and ponies had to make it down the lines—two jumps in a row with a set number of strides between them. The smaller your horse’s stride, the more difficult it would be to make the numbers. This wasn’t such a problem at the barn’s in-house schooling shows, where the lines were set shorter with a school horse’s step in mind, but it would be a stretch for Sweetie to do the numbers at a bigger show.
Tally groomed Sweetie quickly with a hard brush, and the mare pinned her ears to express her distaste for the rushed treatment. Sweetie usually preferred a more relaxing grooming.
“Sorry, girl,” Tally whispered, “We’re in a hurry today.” She tacked Sweetie
up fast, something else the little school horse wasn’t thrilled about, and walked her out of the stall and out the aisle, glancing again at her watch as they walked. She had two minutes before the lesson started. “New record,” Tally whispered under her breath.
Up at the ring, a couple of riders were flatting their horses. The two girls with whom Tally usually took lessons, Maggie and Jordan, were walking around the ring with each of their horses on a loose rein. Tally mounted quickly and Sweetie tossed her head and walked toward the rail just as Tally put her right foot in the stirrup. The
mare did not like being hurried.
“Hey guys,” Meg said as she strode into the ring. “Let’s make sure we walk a full lap and then pick up a posting trot.”
The girls settled into the usual rhythm of the flatwork at the start of all their lessons, and Meg threw in some more unusual exercises—aimed at getting ready for the medal class, Tally thought with a little thrill.
“Drop your irons,” Meg called. Tally kept her calves as firm as she could against Sweetie’s sides as she slipped her feet out of her stirrups. As soon as Sweetie felt the irons moving against
McMeel Kids
The Reimagined SHOW STRIDES
her barrel she scooted forward a little bit, and Tally sank deeper into the saddle, whispering “whoa” to the mare.
“Good, Tal,” Meg said, “Just keep riding through that. She’ll settle. Maggie, great job using your lower leg, even without your stirrups. Keep it up.”
Tally glanced at Maggie—her lower leg position did look great—and she thought about the rider on the shiny chestnut pony down in the smaller indoor. That rider had a great position too—it was obvious from just the couple of minutes that Tally watched her. Tally stretched up a bit taller in the saddle as she continued sitting the trot without her stirrups.
“I saw that, Tally. Nice work sitting up tall, hold that there.”
The lesson continued with the girls recovering their stirrups, then jumping a grid, followed by a small course of jumps.
The girls settled into the usual rhythm of the flatwork at the start of all their lessons, and Meg threw in some more unusual exercises— aimed at getting ready for the medal class, Tally thought with a little thrill.
When it was time to walk their horses and cool out, Meg suggested that Tally, Maggie, and Jordan take a walk around the property, a little treat reserved for the most competent riders in the lesson program. Maggie, a rider the same age as Tally, walked up next to her once they were past the gate of the outdoor ring. Both girls were about five-foot-three, so they ended up riding a lot of the same horses in the Oaks lesson program. They both loved riding Sweetie and had fun
comparing notes on her after lessons.
“Sweetie looked really good today. She’s jumping so cute,” Maggie said.
Tally thanked her friend, enjoying the familiar thrill that followed a great lesson. Maggie took riding really seriously, just like she did, so it was always fun to talk through all the details together.
Show Strides 1: School Horses & Show Ponies is available now for pre-order, and everywhere book are sold on September 24.
Building Your Dreams, Preserving Your Legacy
RANCHO POLO EQUESTRIAN CLUB
SHOW STRIDES 2: Confidence Comeback
BY RENNIE DYBALL AND PIPER KLEMM
Reprinted with permission from Andrews McMeel Kids
“OH MY GOSH, GOOSE , you are gorgeous!” Tally whispered. The pony perked his ears and took a couple of tentative steps toward her. He was a dark dapple gray—gray horses and ponies got lighter in color as they aged; Goose was obviously quite young, with a neatly pulled, silvery mane and the most adorable dished face. He had a pink muzzle and looked cozy in his plaid blanket. Meeting him reminded Tally of opening model horses on Christmas morning and marveling over just how perfect they looked. And here she was, in the stall of a pony just like that. Only this one was real. Tally gave Goose a scratch on his forehead before going to the tack room
to collect the pony’s tack and brushes. Ryan had a college-aged working student who was meticulous about labeling everything. Tally felt, yet again, a wave of gratitude for her work, since it saved her from having to ask someone to show her where things were every five minutes.
As Tally brushed the pony, she first took off the front of his blanket to groom that half, then replaced it and pulled up the back half to groom. Goose was body-clipped, and she didn’t want him getting too cold. She quickly noticed just how curious he was. Maybe it was his age, or the fact that she was a new person to him, but he took great interest in everything from the soft brush she ran
across his neck to her coat when she bent over to pick out his feet.
At first, she jumped when he placed his head on the small of her back—a flinch that came from years of grooming certain schoolies who’d try to nip you when you weren’t looking. Goose looked mildly offended when Tally flinched, so she rubbed his neck and told him it was okay. When she picked out the other front hoof, Goose tentatively placed his chin on her back again and Tally giggled quietly. She finished getting the pony ready, the two of them quietly enjoying each other’s company.
Ten minutes later, Tally had walked Goose around the ring on a loose rein,
The Reimagined SHOW STRIDES
and then once more, picking up some contact with his mouth. Ryan told her to trot the pony around, do some circles, and generally just let him see the ring.
Tally picked up the trot and was immediately taken aback by what the pony felt like underneath her. It was not at all what she expected out of a small pony, a full two hands shorter than the mare she was used to riding.
“What do you think?” Ryan asked. “He’s pretty special, huh?”
“There’s just . . . so much stride,” Tally replied. Ryan chuckled. “Yeah, he covers a lot of ground. Tons of stride. He measures 12.2 so he’s technically a small, but he’s really big-bodied, so he probably rides a lot bigger than he actually is. Keep circling and bending him and let him see the ring. Oh, and don’t get any taller, okay? You just barely fit on this one.”
Tally smiled and kept trotting around
The pony perked his ears and took a couple of tentative steps toward her. He was a dark dapple gray—gray horses and ponies got lighter in color as they aged; Goose was obviously quite young, with a neatly pulled, silvery mane and the most adorable dished face.
on Goose. Though she had hacked Danny at least a dozen times, the concept of flatting a pony herself—without the usual instruction and direction of a lesson—was still a fairly novel one. She felt so special making circles around the jumps and guiding this fancy little newcomer around while Ryan taught another student.
As for the pony, he behaved under saddle a lot like he did on the ground. Giving his surroundings a careful look,
but doing so calmly. He had a lot to observe, but without actually spooking. Tally changed directions and sat an extra beat to change her diagonal, grinning to herself at what it felt like to sit just an extra beat of this pony’s huge trot. She couldn’t imagine having to do a sitting trot on him.
Show Strides 2: Confidence Comeback is available now for pre-order, and everywhere book are sold on October 8.
“Hauntingly beautiful” “Gorgeous”
Featured Clinicians:
Guy McLean (Quietway Horsemanship) sponsored by Custom Equine Nutrition
Chris Irwin (Horse Think, Mind Your Horse)
Tik Maynard (Eventing & Behavioral Training)
Ryan Rose (General Training & Trail)
North America’s Premier Equine Exposition & Equestrian Gathering
NOV. 7–10, 2024
W. SPRINGFIELD, MA
Eastern States Exposition
• An Unparalleled Educational Program.
• The Largest Horse-Related Trade Show in North America.
• The Marketplace Consignment Shop
• The Fantasia (sponsored by Equine Medical and Surgical Associates) — Equine Affaire’s signature musical celebration of the horse on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
• Breed Pavilion, Horse & Farm Exhibits, Horses for Sale and Adoption Affaire
• NEW! Breed Bonanza (sponsored by Blue Seal) — A unique under saddle class showcasing the best features of horses from all breeds!
• Drive A Draft — Learn to ground-drive a draft horse in this fascinating experience with gentle giants!
• Equine Fundamentals Forum and Youth Activities — Educational presentations, exhibits, and activities for new riders and horse owners, young & old.
• NEW! Stagecoach Rides — Enjoy a horse-drawn stagecoach ride around the fairgrounds and see Equine Affaire like never before.
• The Versatile Horse & Rider Competition (sponsored by Chewy) — A fast-paced timed and judged race through an obstacle course with $5,500 at stake!
• Great Equestrian Fitness Challenge — Show off your muscles in one of our fun barnyard Olympic events!
• And much, much more!
Lauren Sammis (Dressage)
Traci Brooks (Hunter/Jumper)
Barbra Schulte (Cutting, Sports Psychology)
Beth Baumert (Dressage)
Marcie Quist (Driving)
Daniel Stewart (Jumping, Sports Psychology)
Ben Longwell (Vaquero and Ranch)
Kevin Raber (Reining)
Ivy Starnes (Easy Gaited Horses)
Mary Miller Jordan (Mustangs, Liberty)
Solange (Stable Riding)
Celisse Barrett (Mounted Archery)
Sam & Kellie Rettinger (Draft Horses)
Mini Doves Equestrian Drill Team (Mini Horses)
Renegades & Outlaws Drill Teams (Drill Teams)
Rebecca Platz (Mini Obstacle Courses)
Copper Hill Vaulting Team (Vaulting)
Additional presenters to be announced soon!
2024 Saratoga Women
ELEVATE EQUINE
CATHERINE FOSTER KENNEDY is a woman on a mission. She is readying horses, clients, and her children for a two-week stay in Dorset, VT. Their destination is the HITS Vermont Summer Festival, where they will compete and enjoy all that the beautiful mountainous area has to offer. With her penchant for organization, Kennedy has deftly managed all of the details of the operation— travel plans, entries, accommodations, packing all of
WORDS: CANDACE FITZGERALD
LLC
the necessary equipment, shipping the horses, and setting up and decorating the show stables once they arrive. In addition, she has arranged a schedule to apply show prep therapy and recovery treatments for their horses and clientele as well as restaurant reservations and a er-hours and o -day activities for the whole group during their stay.
While it may sound overwhelming, Kennedy is the picture of calm and composure because orchestrating multiple projects and focusing on the
details is something that comes naturally to her. She is enthusiastic about helping others and generous with her time.
“I love starting and running businesses. I also love helping people. If someone asks me for advice, they’ve made my day!” she tells The Plaid Horse. “As I’ve gotten older and watched my business grow and my children grow up, I felt compelled to somehow turn these unique skills into a business.”
Out of this desire to help, a new lifestyle and wellness brand has emerged in
Elevate Equine LLC, in which Kennedy has packaged her unique skill set to create a suite of services designed to facilitate a healthy, happy and highly functional rider, horse, farm, and support team.
Elevate Equine LLC o ers of variety of wellness and lifestyle services including personal style/shopping, equestrian business administration, travel, and equine wellness via MagnaWave and red-light therapy. Through these services, Kennedy will help equestrians save time, elevate personal style, streamline
PHOTOS,
FROM LEFT:
Elevate Equine LLC owner
Catherine Kennedy and Mickey at Mor Linn Farm; Serving as Joint Master of Norfolk Hunt, Kennedy enjoys hunting with daughter
Lucy Rose on her pony Polka Dot
“Our collaborative process helps clients to find the look that suits them, making it simple for them to put together outfits on their own, and express themselves through their wardrobe.”
—CATHERINE KENNEDY, OWNER
travel and establish business processes to improve cash ow and revenue streams.
“Let’s start with personal styling and shopping—whether you need to build or revamp your show wardrobe or you need a special out t for a black-tie event, our diverse selection of personal styling services can e ectively manage the process,” she says. “I believe when people know they look their best they also feel their best and can perform at their best. Our collaborative process helps clients to nd the look that suits them, making it simple for them to put together out ts on their own, and express themselves through their wardrobe.”
Elevate Equine’s services are attainable for everyone, as Kennedy can help with just one out t, or an entire wardrobe. She understands that some people don’t have time to shop, or simply don’t like to spend time doing it. Removing those obstacles is part of the service.
“Our goal is to help clients look polished and professional, whether schooling, showing, sitting in a VIP, or doing Monday errands,” says Kennedy. “This goes for our sponsored riders as well. We know they need to represent their own stable and brands, while honoring their contract to represent a sponsor’s brand. Elevate Equine will help clients pull together a wardrobe that will delight sponsors and make them feel their best.”
We all know that equestrian sport involves an inordinate amount of travel. Elevate Equine o ers travel services for both work and leisure. Whether a client needs help booking and planning a trip to shop for a horse in Europe, or wants someone to book the best hotels or the perfect restaurants for a vacation with family and friends, Elevate Equine will plan and organize a detailed custom itinerary for all speci c travel needs.
For many starting an equestrian business, the administrative side of running a farm can be the most challenging, managing cash ow and balancing
time spent in the o ce versus working with horses and clients.
Elevate Equine o ers o ce systems and administrative set up for invoicing, bill pay and collection, contract development, and many other administrative needs. They build a simple and functional program so that clients can prioritize their business and still focus on horses and riders.
Kennedy became a certi ed MagnaWave practitioner for her own horses, but quickly discovered that she wanted to o er her services to horses and farms at home and at shows.
“I have found MagnaWave and red-light therapy to be an invaluable, non-invasive, and drug-free modality to help competition and pleasure horses recover, feel relaxed, relieve pain, perform at the best and identify areas where they may need help from their veterinarian, farrier or saddle tter,” she says. “I would recommend it to every horse owner.”
Elevate Equine provides MagnaWave and red-light therapy to farms at home and at shows, posting their travel schedule online so that clientele knows where they’re going to be and when they’re available to work with them and their horses.
The services Elevate Equine provides are unique and speci c to each client. Their collaborative process and the tools they use are designed for ease and convenience and modi ed to meet individual needs. That can mean coming to your home to work on a wardrobe makeover, meeting over Zoom to plan travel arrangements, or planning time a er-hours or on the weekends to accommodate a busy work schedule. Before working with a new client, they discuss billing and payment options, and typically bill hourly for their suite of services, with the exception of MagnaWave, which is billed by the session or package of sessions.
To learn more about Elevate Equine LLC’s services, fees, and hourly rates, visit elevateequinellc.com.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Kennedy prepares for a dinner party in her dining room at the family’s Mor Linn Farm; A certified practitioner, Kennedy administers MagnaWave to Mickey at Mor Linn Farm; Kennedy and her son Aidan with Highlight Van Molga, winners of the $5,000 Manchester Designer Outlets Open Welcome at HITS Vermont Summer Festival 2024
ABOUT CATHERINE KENNEDY
A lifelong equestrian, Catherine Kennedy studied abroad during college and met fellow horseman Cormac Kennedy in Ireland while taking lessons at his family farm. She stayed in Europe after graduation to work in the international travel industry. After the couple married, they moved to the states and established Mor Linn Farm in Walpole, MA. Kennedy pursued a career in journalism and ultimately became a TV news producer in Boston. During this time, she earned her riding instructor’s license and managed her schedule so that her early morning newscast allowed her to teach lessons in the afternoon when she finished at the station.
As their business and family grew, Kennedy decided to leave broadcasting to teach and train full-time at their busy stable which had expanded to offer lessons, training, summer camps, horse sales and importing. Today their clients include pony riders, juniors and amateurs. They spend winters in Wellington and traverse the East Coast the rest of the year, following the premier horse show circuit. When they go to shows, there are horses still at home in Walpole with staff and operations that must be managed from afar.
Kennedy has amassed a plethora of skills in two decades as a farm and horse owner, successful entrepreneur, competitor and pony mom.
PHOTOS: KKATZ
PHOTO GALLERY
HITS Culpeper
JORDAN ATWELL-PURCELL AT DAPPLED HUNTER PHOTOGRAPHY 1 Will Coleman and Comme Again HS soar in the $24,500 Purina Open Prix • 2 Peyton Preblick and Blush in the Pyranha 1.25m Jumper Classic 3 Elisabeth Yeager and Wavo Alvaro in the $24,500 Purina Open Prix • 4 Tillie Hall and Girl Crush after a successful round in the Adult Amateur Hunters
PHOTO
PHOTOS:
PARTNERS WITH FASHION ICONS
Throughout the 2024 summer competition season, visitors to HITS Hudson Valley and HITS Del Mar Horsepark may have noticed a few new brands among the usual mix of equine-centric sponsor banners and jumps — Saks Fifth Avenue, J. McLaughlin, and Veronica Beard. Leading names in the fashion industry, and undoubtedly staples of many exhibitors’ closets, these iconic brands are relative newcomers to the horse show scene but are quickly making a statement as welcome additions to the HITS sponsorship family.
For HITS, these exciting new partnerships were forged with the deliberate goal of pairing significant luxury and fashion brands with sponsorships of amateur divisions. These new opportunities recognize the dynamic lives of amateur athletes, honoring their riding pursuits with prizes, such as gift cards and products, that can be appreciated beyond the horse show arena.
“We were thrilled to welcome Saks Fifth Avenue, J. McLaughlin, and Veronica Beard to HITS,” said Ashley Baker, HITS Senior Vice President of Marketing. “These partnerships were crafted to unite our customers’ equestrian lifestyles with the iconic luxury brands they are intimately familiar with, and the response has been incredible. Amateurs are such an important constituency for HITS, and we appreciate the support of our partners in helping us celebrate their accomplishments.”
Saks Fifth Avenue is the leading name in luxury shopping. Since 1924, the brand has maintained a reputation for delivering an expertly curated assortment of fashion and highly personalized service. The Saks Style of Riding Award is presented to one competitor from the Amateur-Owner Hunter or Adult Hunter divisions each week at HITS Hudson Valley and HITS Del Mar. Selected by HITS judges, the Award recognizes the rider who best exemplifies excellence, horsemanship, and passion for the sport. Winners of the Saks Award receive a $1,000 gift card to Saks Fifth Avenue.
Veronica Beard was the Presenting Sponsor of two $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derbies at HITS Hudson Valley. Award Recipients, 1-12, received Veronica Beard branded gift cards with the winner receiving a $1,000 gift card as well as a Veronica Beard handbag. Veronica Beard, founded in 2010 by sisters-in-law Veronica Miele Beard and Veronica Swanson Beard, is an American ready-to-wear brand, known for cool, classic, wardrobe essentials for women who make it happen.
J.McLaughlin is a timeless lifestyle brand with a legacy of style and a spirt of connection, offering an incredible range of clothing and accessories for men and women that are not only chic and sophisticated, but exceptionally comfortable and effortless. As the Presenting Sponsor of two $2,500 Junior/Amateur Jumper Classics at HITS Hudson Valley and HITS Chicago, the winner of each classic received a $500 gift card to use at a J. McLaughlin signature store or at jmclaughlin.com.
Haul your equestrian gear with protection that’s tailored to your vehicle. Cargo Liner is laser measured to fit the contours of your cargo area, so you can carry whatever you need for the barn without the wear and tear on your interior. Discover more personalized defense at WeatherTech.com.
