From an EF 1 Tornado to a Category 4 Hurricane

by Elizabeth Janoski To live in Tornado Alley is to be prepared to move quickly to safety and, after the tornado passes by, to reassemble what can be saved. No community knows that better than...

Human Touch: Reminding Riders to Care for Their Own Bodies, Too

BY TYLER BUI We provide the highest quality of care for our horses’ bodies, but what about our own? In almost any other sport, the athlete’s physical state is top priority—but our sport is unique,...

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,...

How Riders Can Prioritize Skin Care

Skin cancer is the most common—and one of the most preventable—cancers in the United States. Here’s how you can protect yourself.   By Barbara Blasko, M.D. As equestrians, we spend most of our time outside—usually in...

The Mule: Everything You Should Know About the Most Underrated Equines

This is the latest story in Margie Sloan’s  “So! Who’s Your Daddy” series about some incredible stallions and their babies. BY MARGIE SLOAN Molly was a sight to see: well groomed, athletic, and proud of the...

A-Circuit to Dude Ranch: How I found my passion for riding again

BY VYLA CARTER Much of my time at my last show on the A-circuit was spent in the feed stall crying. I was burnt out. I was exhausted from the high pressure—the constant tiny mistakes...

A Day in the Life of a Dude Ranch Wrangler

By Vyla Carter This summer, I traded in my English saddle and tall boots for western tack and cowboy boots to be a wrangler at a dude ranch in Wyoming. A dude ranch is basically...

Well-Performing, Well-Fitting, Confidence-Boosting Apparel: Kerrits

Led by horsewomen, Kerrits has been providing quality, inclusive riding apparel for over three decades. From everyday riding clothes to winter gear and show clothes, Kerrits has something for every horse lover.  “Kerrits was started...

Whitethorne LLC: How This Women-Led Business Is Creating Opportunities for Others   

By Tyler Bui In this sport, education and opportunity are invaluable—and Whitethorne LLC strives to contribute their share of each for the industry.  Led by Georgy Maskrey-Segesman, Whitethorne LLC develops top Grand Prix and jumper mounts,...

The Equestrians of Color Photography Project: Meet Sajid Saleem and Briana Villa

The Plaid Horse is proud to introduce some of the photo project’s featured equestrians to our readers in each issue. In 2020, a group of photographers came together to create the Equestrians of Color Photography...

Prixview: Fantasy Sports Games for the Equestrian Industry—and Beyond

By Piper Klemm Lucy Davis has developed quite the list of accomplishments—from her Olympic silver medal to her bronze medal at the FEI World Equestrian Games, she continues to find success at the highest level...

The Plaid Horse Questionnaire with: Bob Crandall— Rider, Trainer & USEF “R” Judge

As a horseman, I am most proud of: the many horses I was able to find, start, and bring along. Sadly, I wasn’t able to keep many of them.  As a horseman, I would most...

Hayley Culverwell Resumes Equine Training for E-9 Search and Rescue 

By Lisa Pellegrene Hayley Culverwell is the founder of a project called E-9 Search and Rescue, a project she founded, dedicated to training horses to track and / or trail for search and rescue services....

The Equestrians of Color Photography Project: Mariah Eisenbraun & Erica Swank

The Plaid Horse is proud to introduce some of the photo project’s featured equestrians to our readers in each issue In 2020, a group of photographers came together to create the Equestrians of Color Photography...

“Comfortable, Happy, & Secure” at Timberwagon Farm

BY TYLER BUI Sonja Boorman has created the ideal equine wellness and retirement center. Combining her love for horses and science, she has developed Timberwagon Farm and Balanced Equine Bodyworks—two businesses with a mission to...

The Save America’s Forgotten Equines Act

Thousands of Equines are Sent Abroad to Slaughter—the Senate Must Vote to Pass a Bill to Save Them By Margie Sloan Death is inevitable for our horses. How they die is a decision we are often privileged...

From Racehorse to Companion Pony

BY DIANA BEZDEDEANU If I had to pick out the biggest lesson I have learned to date from owning horses, it would be that nothing ever goes according to plan… As every Equestrian knows, owning horses...

Book Excerpt: Milo’s Eyes

By Lissa BachnerReprinted with the permission of Behler Publications Now, while others were toasting the New Year, we were in a barn in our down parkas and warm boots, waiting for two horses from Germany....

Yoga for Every Equestrian

Horses are incredibly intuitive animals. It is one of my favorite things about them. They sense your energy the second you walk into their space. I will never get over the fact that these...

How Can Riders Prepare to Feel Their Best on Show Days?

ShowMD’s Dr. Barb Blasko provides her top tips. As equestrians, we are often guilty of taking better care of our horses than ourselves. But focusing on your own optimal performance conditions will only improve your...

The American Saddlebred: The Horse America Made

BY MORGAN MARTIN Though hunter/jumper competitors know the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show as a heritage horse show in Texas with Grand Prix and International Derbies, but there is more breed representation there. Pin Oak...

Defining Relationship-Based Horsemanship

By Farrah Green and Isabelle Farmer What is Relationship-Based Horsemanship? The International Horsemanship Association (IHA), is a 501 C3 non-profit education organization formed in 2018 by a group of horse lovers and horsemanship instructors from all...