Neal Shapiro: Aim High – Part II
BY ANN JAMIESON
Going Professional
When Neal was competing, the team was structured so that the riders were selected, trained, prepared, and had horses to ride, whether they were lucky enough to have a great horse...
The Beauty of the Golden Years: Celebrating Our Senior Horses
By Emily Dickson
By some Universal luck, I was present the day my horse was born.
At the time, I didn’t know that she would become my horse. I was just a 10-year-old kid who had...
The Plaid Horse Questionnaire With: Kristin Silon
Hometown: Frederick, Maryland
Profession: Orthopaedic Surgeon/Hand & Upper Extremity Specialist
Status: Amateur
Trainer: Alan Lohman
Horses: Kismet (3’3" Amateur-Owner Hunters), Four Score (3’3" Amateur-Owners), Lima Z (3’6" Amateur-Owners)
As a horsewoman, I am most proud of my commitment to my...
An Adult Amateur’s (Unrealistic) New Years Resolutions
BY LAUREN MAULDIN
It's that time of year again when everyone is focused on self-improvement—and I'm no exception. For most of my life, I've fallen into the resolution trap. You know, when you start to...
How to Keep your White Breeches White
Constantly finding yourself with brown, stained breeches that once sparkled white? Members of The Plaid Horse Adult Amateur Lounge shared their best tips and tricks to keep your white breeches stain-free.
The winning products? Fels...
What if I’d Missed the Horses?
BY JANA MAUNEY
For years when people greeted me, “Hey, how are you?”
I quipped, “Livin’ the dream!” frequently letting my voice drip with sarcasm as some task or other that awaited my attention—one that I...
What Having a Baby Taught Me About Riding
Both require softness and strength
BY KAREN HOPPER USHER
A good canter has always been my favorite gait. Some people describe the rolling sensation as a “rocking horse” canter. A former dressage instructor of mine talked...
A Play-by-Play of an Adult Amateur Winter Lesson
BY LAUREN MAULDIN
The adult amateur, regardless of geographical location, is typically skittish in the winter. Less sunlight, colder temperatures, and holiday stress make a trifecta that can result in some interesting behavior. While many...
Dianne DeFranceaux Grob: I Just Like All Things Horse Part III
BY ANN JAMIESON
Foxfield Jumping Derby
The Foxfield Riding School was founded by Bill and Joanne Postel and Nancy Terrill. Legends in California, they ran a huge program starting little kids and bringing them along to...
Back in the Saddle: The Things I Took for Granted
BY STACY BANNERMAN
I don’t think I’m paralyzed, but something’s not right, and a voice in my head says, “Be still.” So I am.
Three seconds ago, I was riding Buddy, a four-year-old horse just getting...
Dianne Grod: I Just Like All Things Horse
by Ann Jamieson
Saving Her Son
Dianne and Steve got divorced. Tired of moving all the time, Dianne built a farm in San Marcos in order to stay in one place. It was a 10-acre, 40-stall...
I’m Done Letting Show Goals Determine My Horse Girl Happiness
BY LAUREN MAULDIN
Life—and horses—have seasons. When I set out to purchase a horse capable of getting me into the adult hunters, I thought this would be the time for me to buckle down, train...
Horse Shows are a Big Bowl of Life Lessons
BY DAPHNE THORNTON OF TWO BIT TRAINING
As horse trainers, we all see a lot of angst, drama, fear, and anxiety at horse shows. Sometimes, it’s not even ours. Kids and drama seem to be able...
Dianne DeFranceaux Grod: “I Just Like All Things Horse”
by Ann Jamieson
Part I
Beginnings
Dianne De Franceaux Grod was born in Louisiana when her father, George DeFranceaux, left for World War II and her mother went home to have the baby. When her father returned...
The Ride of Her Life
A sneak peek at the newest book from Elizabeth Letts, the author of The Eighty Dollar Champion.
Living Color: 1954
The sun rose bright over Pasadena, California, on January 1, 1954. All along Colorado Boulevard, people...
Are You a Horseman? Ten Points to Consider
By Tori Bilas and Jackie McFarland
When you hear the word “horseman,” what comes to mind? And what does it take to truly be one?
With decades of experience and success in the hunter/jumper industry, Traci...
To Lease Or to Buy?
We loved the recent discussion on the Facebook Plaid Horse Adult Amateur Lounge about owning vs. leasing—and what you wish you knew before buying a horse. Here’s a sample of the insightful comments…
Don’t get...
Horse Halloween Costume Inspiration From the GSWEC’s Monster Mash
All photos by Jerry Mohme Photography
If you're looking for Halloween costume inspiration for you and your horse, you need not look further than the Great Southwest Equestrian Center's Monster Mash horse show!
Held each October,...
Laura Chapot: Carrying it Forward
by Ann Jamieson
You certainly couldn't get a better start in the show jumping world than by being the daughter of Frank and Mary Chapot. Laura has the genes, the talent, and the work ethic...
It Happens! Colleen Acosta, Lindsay Yinger and Brooke Brombach
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,...
Overwhelmed with a New Horse? You’re Not Alone
BY ALEX BOWYER
Whether you've been around horses your whole life or have just entered the world of horse ownership, it's okay to feel overwhelmed with a new horse. Many people worry about doing something...
Balancing Motherhood and Horses—and When Your Partner Doesn’t “Get” Your Passion
In the Plaid Horse Adult Amateur Lounge on Facebook, one member brought up her significant other not “getting” horses and complaining about the money she spends on them. Her significant other thinks the riding...
