Sustainable Horse Careers: Executive Director of GallopNYC
BY JESSIE LOCHRIE
Careers in the horse world are known for long hours, low pay, and a high rate of burnout — so how do the professionals we admire manage their careers in a sustainable...
5 Tips When Using Waivers in Your Horse Program
By Kimbrell J. Hines, Esq.
Interacting with even the most gentle horse always involves some risk—accidents do happen, after all. Horse owners and professionals can help protect their businesses by requiring all clients, guests, and...
2021 USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship Top 24 in Photos
Breathtaking efforts. Perfect trips. Top hunters and riders. We sure were glad to be back at the Kentucky Horse Park this year.
Even though this was only Cannon Creek's fourth hunter show in the US,...
3’6/3’9 Green Incentive Championship Photo Gallery
Though Thursday's competition had a rainy start, the sun came out for the 3'6/3'9 hunters to shine for the 2021 Green Incentive Championships. With championship round scores of 91, 87.5, and 94, Reign and...
Warning! Posting a Warning Sign Will Not Legally Protect You
BY KIMBRELL HINES
At your next visit to a barn or show, look around. You’ll probably see at least one "WARNING" sign citing the state's equine law. Aside from Maryland and California, every state has...
Horse Tests Positive for EHV-1 at Sonoma Horsepark
We've received a report that a horse that attended a show at Sonoma Horse Park in Petaluma, CA has been confirmed positive for Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) secondary to EHV-1. Though the horse did...
We Have to Fix Our Audience Problem Before We Can Fix Our Sponsorship Problem
BY ERICA SAUNDERS
In a recent commentary on the challenges of profitable horse shows, show staff Jack Nash talked about how our sport is one that sponsors don’t understand. Why don’t they understand? Because there’s...
How to Fix Our Horse Shows: An Opinion From the Other Side
BY JACK NASH
Karl Cook has big opinions about increasing the visibility of show jumping and with it the prize money of Grand Prix events. As a horse show employee, I’d like to respond with...
Reasons Why You Can’t Find a Braider for Your Horse
BY BETH BOYER
There's currently a braider shortage at the horse shows, and braiders are quitting left and right. It's a hard job under the best circumstances. While some clients are great, many are the...
USEF Competition Task Force Seeks to Strengthen Baseline Competition Requirements
BY JULIA DIFIORI
USEF President and Competition Task Force Chair Tom O’Mara and USEF Chief Executive Officer Bill Moroney hosted a live webinar on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 to update members on the progress of...
Rethinking How We Define Professionals
BY DAPHNE BOOGAARD
The USEF amateur rule has been a topic of hot debate lately. The powers that be seem overly concerned about what does and doesn’t make an amatuer while the amateurs in discussion...
The Revolution Series: a New Clinic+Show Format to Develop Riders
BY KATHLEEN MARTINEZ
Seated in the middle of Northern Illinois’ horse country is a unique year-round Hunter/Jumper show series that has established a popular format of its own. The Revolution Show Series was co-founded by...
The Dark Underground of Horse Show Costs in the USA
BY A FED UP HORSE OWNER
The letter to the editor was sent anonymously to The Plaid Horse.
We’ve all heard it. Many of us have said it. The rising costs of rated shows in...
The Social License to Operate: Is the future of equestrian sports at stake?
BY TANJA BORNMANN
Bad press for our sport is back, and it’s going to linger around for a while.
Recently, a prominent US show jumper was suspended from participating in equestrian sport for his prolonged use...
OTTBs Can – Top Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event Finishers
No discipline understands the versatility and tenacity of OTTBs better than eventers. Perhaps it's because they appreciate a scrappy horse, but regardless of the reason OTTBs are plentiful throughout the levels. This is even...
EEI Responds to Logistics Involved in Running Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day
In response to the "8 Things I Don't Understand About USEF" Op-Ed, The Plaid Horse was sent the following clarification from Lee Carter, Executive Director of Equestrian Events, Inc regarding the Land Rover Kentucky...
8 Things I Don’t Understand about USEF
BY PIPER KLEMM, PH.D
I don’t hate USEF, but I don’t understand it either. This week, I’ve been looking at the organization through the lens of game theory when it comes to cancelling the Devon...
It’s In the Details: The Quarter Marks of Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event
PHOTOS © HEATHER N. PHOTOGRAPHY
Turnout is about a lot more than looking pretty for a horse show, and eventers know that more than most disciplines. From elaborate jog outfits to color-coordinated cross country gear,...
More and More Games: A Post Mortem on USEF and WEC
BY PIPER KLEMM, PH.D
Yesterday, we looked at the 2021 Devon Horse Show cancellation through the lens of game theory. But that hasn’t been the only game played this year. Today, let’s use game theory...
Meet Ema Klugman, Kentucky Three Day Event’s Highest Placed Young Rider
BY HEATHER FRENCH
The Landrover Kentucky Three Day Event is the only 5* event in the U.S. and one of only six such events in the world. Even though spectators weren’t allowed this year due...
Is USEF Playing Games With Our Horse Shows?
BY PIPER KLEMM, PH.D.
I’ve been thinking a lot about horse shows lately, specifically “The Devon Horse Show that wasn’t,” 2021 edition. These thoughts, shared in this article, are entirely conjecture based on my evaluation...
Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day 5* Cross Country Photo Gallery
PHOTOS © HEATHER N. PHOTOGRAPHY
It was a wet, exciting day of cross country at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. 15 horses were eliminated on cross country, including some of the sport's biggest names,...
