Do You Have Show Ring Superstitions?
We asked the plaid horse Adult Amateur Lounge on Facebook (come join us!) and got some fascinating replies …
“I’ve found that if, during the show as I’m walking around, I give a random compliment...
Karen Lucian: Reaching New Heights
BY CHRISTOPHER CERVANTESPHOTOS BY ANNE GITTINS
Karen Lucian is not only a prominent show competitor on the Wellington, Florida show circuit, but she also possesses admirable characteristics, which make her successful in both her professional...
Use Your Life Skills to Be a Better Rider
BY TONYA JOHNSTON
This is a story about an adult amateur rider named Sue, who had a very lazy, lovely horse that didn’t always follow along with the plan. On this particular day, Sue...
A Good Voice for Horses
By Sarah Blanchard
“That old horse doesn’t look like much, does he? Old and shaggy, he wouldn’t even get hired as a poor man’s scarecrow now. But that’s Harry. He was pretty famous in his...
I Am a Fat Equestrian and I’m Never Dieting Again
BY LAUREN MAULDIN
Fat is a tricky word. The dictionary defines it as:
noun: a natural oily or greasy substance occurring in animal bodies, especially when deposited as a layer under the skin or around certain...
Three Ways to Make 2021 The Ammie Year of ‘You’
BY NANCY BUZZETTA
You don’t have to spend a lot of time at horse shows to start to get the feeling that a lot of adult amateurs really don’t appreciate themselves very much. For the...
When No Amount of Success Is Enough: The Struggle With Self Esteem in the...
BY LAURA ADRIAANSE
Horseback riding is one of the biggest blessings in my life. The ability to have a living, breathing teammate with a mind of its own is such a unique experience for an...
What’s Happening to Young Equestrian Professionals?
BY ANN DEMICHELE
I was recently reading an article about the hidden lives of Ballerinas during the artist Degas’ life. These ballerinas were portrayed in his very famous paintings. The article spoke about how the...
Horse People Helping Horse People
BY CATIE STASZAK
Janet Jolliff worked in the insurance agency—of the human health variety—for several years before she connected with Taylor Harris Insurance Services.
But ask the 18-year veteran of the company what skills help her...
The Positives From Changing Our Show Schedule: What I Love About Showing Close to...
BY KIM STEWART
COVID 19 certainly threw a “monkey wrench” in my schedule last year.
I remember hearing about the virus in Wuhan on the news in January, but didn’t think much of it at the...
Great Expectations (with apologies to Dickens) When Horse Shopping
BY RANDEE BECKMAN
Buying a pony or horse is hard work! You have to know what you want, but be prepared to be realistic with the budget accompanying your wish list. A seller needs to...
Publisher’s Note: Your Warmup Is My Horse Show
BY PIPER KLEMM
I arrived at The Capital Challenge Horse Show this year fully ready for the best day ever. I mean, I had been working out like crazy and the goal of the North...
Equestrian vs Depression: Embracing a New Pace in Life
BY A PERSEVERING EQUESTRIAN
We had a clinic at my barn this weekend, one that I was planning on riding in originally until my horse’s health meant it was better for me to sit out....
Learning to Be a Good Loser
BY AMANDA TERBRUSCH
“If you’re not first, you’re last” is a phrase I’ve heard a lot in my riding career. It was used in dead seriousness, as a phrase of endearment, or as a joke...
Ashwood Farm: Built on Honesty, Thriving on Hard Work
BY LAUREN MAULDIN
Mary Ann Thomas & her daughter Abby Funk open up about their small, standout program
Equestrian programs aspire to have a barn full of exquisite horses, rippling with talent that snap their knees...
Helping Others Fly
Pegasus Therapeutic Riding helps special needs kids learn new skills on horseback for free — and it needs your support.
BY KRISTIN PITZER
“Pegasus gives clients with a variety of deficits a place to go to...
Ride the Perfect Course with Paul Jewell
“R” judge and renowned course designer Paul Jewell discusses how he got to the top, why he lives for the horse show, and what makes the perfect course
BY TROY ANNA SMITH
You may not know...
It Happens! Margie Engle, Louise Serio, Alexis Taylor and Anne Kursinki Share Whoops Moments
We all make mistakes. But horse people, as a group, aren’t always the best at handling them. So TPH reached out to some top riders to share their own show ring bloopers to prove,...
It Matters Who You Horse Show With
BY CHLOE HARDGRAVE
I was tired. I wanted to go home. I was covered in sweat and tears from the round before. My horse had pushed me past the point of a bad show round....
Appreciating What We’ve Learned From the Craziest Year Ever
BY LAUREN MAULDIN
I know I'm not the only one that's ready for 2020 to bite the dust. It's been one thing after another, and we've all been in this muck together. I don't have...
Moments with Horses
BY JENNIFER THOMAS, PH.D.
Jerry is a (roughly) 32-year-old retired carriage horse from Chicago. I’ve never seen him before (even though he has been in residence for about a year). Today, however, he caught...
If Hallmark Made a Holiday Horse Movie
BY LAUREN MAULDIN
This time of year, Hallmark holiday movies are my guilty pleasure. I’ve watched a “dog therapist” fall in love with a Silicon valley tech guru (and save the day before Christmas), a...