Ask Andre: How do you coordinate a day of showing at WEF?
By Andre Dignelli
"If we take a lot of kids to a horse show, in a lot of different rings, I'm embarrassed if we ever hold up a ring or keep someone waiting- I don't...
USHJA Annual Meeting: Proposed Rule Changes for Equitation
BY TORI WEED
Day two of the USHJA National Convention was spent discussing proposed rule changes for USHJA hunter, equitation, and jumper divisions and general rules. Every proposed rule inspired active conversations about whether or...
The Only Thing We Need to Fear
BY PIPER KLEMM
I have written at least 30 versions of this article in the last 72 hours. I have read the entire USEF rulebook twice and certain passages dozens of times. I have talked...
Breaking Down The Breeding: 2020 ASPCA MACLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
BY BETHANNE BORT
Following the successful “Breaking Down the Breeding: 2019 Maclay” article published by The Plaid Horse in December 2019, I decided to do a repeat for 2020 to evaluate trends and further our...
How To Write The Best Resume for an Equestrian Career
BY GRACE CARTER
With
equestrian careers becoming increasingly popular, more and more people are
looking at entering this industry. This high demand makes for tough
competition, so you’ll need to make sure your resume sells your skills and
gives...
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...
Tips for Every Boarding Agreement to Protect Facility Owners from Boarders Who Don’t Pay
BY ERIN PRUTOW
Every year I receive calls from distraught farm owners involving boarders who do not pay their board or facility fees. A particularly jarring recent case prompted me to write this article, with...
US Equestrian Lettering Program: Varsity Letters for Equestrian Sports
BY VYLA CARTER
The US Equestrian Lettering Program was started by the United States Equestrian Federation to recognize and honor student athletes in grades five through twelve. This program allows junior high school and high...
An Argument for Private Horse Show Photography
BY SARA SHIER
I realize photography is near the bottom of the list of requirements competitors need when they are heading to a horse show. It is a luxury item, and there are thousands of...
Dear USEF: You Have a Representation Problem
BY LYSSETTE WILLIAMS
Every time I open a US Equestrian or In Stride magazine, I quickly
scan it. I dog ear articles for later, note recent achievements of riders
across the country, and catalogue the faces in...
Focus on Flatwork Produces Winning Results with Leslie Burr Howard
BY REBECCA WALTON
In today’s fast paced horse show world, the importance of flatwork can often be lost as riders are consistently going in the ring to win ribbons where the key focus is often...
You Are Not Alone: Mental Health in Our Equestrian Community
BY JANICE BYER
For many people, talking about mental illness
can be uncomfortable and a stress ensuing experience. A lot of people don’t
want to admit if they have been dealing with something or they don’t know how
to help...
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,...
I’d Be a Bad Professional. Why are USEF and USHJA Trying to Make Me...
BY PIPER KLEMM
As I was reading over the proposed amateur rule updates for both USEF and USHJA, I got stuck on a startling question: Why exactly are we trying to create bad professionals?
Our sport...
Issues Surrounding Commission Payments
BY LISA LAZARUS
What is Commission? Why do trainers charge commission?
As many readers know, selling a horse requires significant work. You need to think about your horse’s strengths and weaknesses; what an appropriate sale price...
Fast Facts: Jumper Judging
BY ANNIE BIRMINGHAM
David Distler, FEI jumper judge and the United States Steward General of the FEI, gave a presentation to members at the USHJA Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado on a jumper judges perspective....
Confessions of an Equine Risk Manager
BY BECCA HUNT
Working in the personal insurance industry as a risk manager for decades has conditioned my eye to be keenly aware of circumstances that could threaten the safety of lives and our built...
So Amateurs Are Good Enough to Write a Check, But Not to Have a...
BY PENELOPE AYERS
Amateur exhibitors are the economic engine that fuels horse sports across hunter/jumpers, dressage, eventing and many other breeds and disciplines. In the hunter/jumper world, we are governed by the USEF, the overall...
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...
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,...
Desert Circuit V Cancelled as DIHP Announces Updated Rules and Protocols
Edited Press Release
The Desert International Horse Park (DIHP) announced the cancellation of its fifth week of hunter-jumper competition Sunday in light of the continued outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) onsite.
Management released the following statement:
Dear...
The Quarter Marks of LRK3DE 2022
PHOTOS © HEATHER N. PHOTOGRAPHY
Quarter marks are a time-honored tradition to "put on the ritz" for the top shows of the year. While this grooming practice has all but disappeared in the hunter/jumper world,...
