Best of 2021: Top Plaidcast Episodes
Hosted by The Plaid Horse Publisher Piper Klemm, the Plaidcast has become a destination for conversations on topics that matter, from horsemanship to the state of our sport and horse show how-tos for riders...
Ask Andre: What Are Your Greatest Takeaways from 2021?
By Andre Dignelli
As the world readies to begin a New Year in 2022, a new horse show year has already been underway for a month.
The city never sleeps, as they say, and that for...
Equestrian Tradition and the Ultimate Athlete
BY ALEX O'SULLIVAN
The founder of the modern pentathlon, Baron Pierre de Courbetin, chose the five disciplines - fencing, freestyle swimming, show jumping, pistol shooting and cross country running -because he wanted the competition to...
McLain Ward: Olympic Athlete and Businessman
BY Devyn Trethewey
Hollowbrook Wealth Management Company hosted an exclusive online event with five-time Olympic equestrian show jumper, McLain Ward, to shed light on the importance of good business practices to succeed in the sport.
Philip...
The Two Deeply Flawed Principles of USEF—And the Obvious (Resisted) Solution
By Brian Sean Wee, CFP
I am very much energized by the recent changes that USEF has made, and applaud them for the recent work from the Amateur Task Force and Competition Task Force.
However, as...
An Open Letter From Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center: The USEF Mileage Rule in...
An open letter from Beth C. Porter, Executive Director of Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center
Dear all,
I am writing today to ask for your help. As you likely know if you are active in the...
Protected: Piper Klemm, Ph.D. to Offer Hourlong Consulting Services
For the first time, The Plaid Horse Publisher Piper Klemm, Ph.D. will offer a limited number of hourlong consulting services this fall.
Klemm began her tenure as publisher in 2014. She received her B.S. with...
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...
What Can We Learn From Saint Boy? Considering Horse Welfare Beyond the Modern Pentathlon
BY ALEXANDRA O’SULLIVAN
Since the Modern Pentathlon at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, a photograph of Annika Schlue riding Saint Boy has been circulating the internet. It shows her shoulders tensed, eyes scrunched closed as...
Publisher’s Note: The Blame That Holds Us Back
PIPER KLEMM, PH.D
If you told me at 25 that I was holding myself back, I would have said that you were wrong. In fact, I did say that to people. I got defensive. I...
“People That Never Got a Chance to Show Here, Now Have a Chance to...
In its 75th year, the Pennsylvania National Horse Show has a new look.
With the implementation of a new management team, spearheaded by Pat Boyle of Showplace Productions, Harrisburg has returned to the Pennsylvania...
Judging WTH: A Dotted (Head) Line
BY Piper Klemm
The situation last night was as follows. The Taylor Harris Insurance Services National Children’s Medal Final is running. Forty Riders qualify, 39 contest, the course is clearly posted. There is a dotted...
Inside the Equestrians of Color Photography Project
BY BETHANY PASTORIAL
The organization focuses on better allyship in the equestrian community.
In the wake of George Floyd’s murder in May 2020 and the resulting nationwide racial unrest, the equestrian community began buzzing with the...
Publisher’s Note: It’s Time to Get Off the Timeline
PIPER KLEMM, PH.D
This summer in Kentucky was one of the happiest times I’ve had in a long time. There was joy and there was laughter and there was a culmination of many years of...
29 USEF Competitions Added to Florida Winter Circuit Calendar
After review, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has announced the addition of 29 sanctioned competitions to the Florida competition calendar for the 2022 season.
In April, the national federation's Board of Directors approved a...
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...
The Silent Loophole
By Piper Klemm
In June, USEF announced that it had rescinded Peggy Fackrell's licenses as a USEF judge and steward for violating the Social Media and Ethics policy.
Fackrell’s content in question included a Facebook post from...
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...
Publisher’s Note: Work Ethic
PIPER KLEMM, PH.D
I was recently walking around at a horse show where I heard a supportive friend or family member say to a beginner rider, “You look like a natural!”
It’s a well-intentioned and positive...
In Focus: Weekdays at Pony Finals 2021
The 2021 USEF Pony Finals: a triumphant return of what serves as many riders' first championship experience.
Pony Finals is truly an event: a competition, an educational forum and a tremendous networking experience—both for...
Tokyo Takeaways Episode #6 Presented by Haygain — Medals Decided in Thriller, Greatest Memories of...
In this series, StreamHorseTV will be talking Tokyo Equestrian with the lovely and knowledgeable Catie Staszak, international Show Jumping commentator, multimedia sports journalist, and CEO of Catie Staszak Media—and The Plaid Horse‘s Show Jumping Content Manager...
