The New Guard: Stevie McCarron Wigley Doesn’t Live in Her Father’s Shadow
By Kelsey Konz
For horse racing enthusiasts, Stephanie “Stevie” McCarron Wigley’s maiden name holds significant weight and star power. Her dad is Hall of Fame Jockey, Chris McCarron. But though she grew up exposed to...
Sydney Zahn: Soaring to New Heights
Story and photo by Mackenzie Shuman
Like many other riders at the beginning of the show season, Sydney Zahn found herself on a new horse walking into the arena. Nervously, she edged him toward the...
Norris Brings Home Derby Win at Idaho’s Inaugural USEF Rated Show
By Irene Elise Powlick
Photos by Stefanie Reed Photography
McKenna Norris was excited coming in to the Treasure Valley Classic, Idaho’s first USEF rated ‘B’ show. With normal horse shows regularly being eight to ten hours of...
Vale Wins Venice Concours I $25,000 Grand Prix at Fox Lea
Interview and Photos by TPH Intern Dominique Gonzales
Aaron Vale—the name heard at the top of the leaderboard constantly. April 30 was no exception, at the Fox Lea Farm Spring Series (Fla.), he took home...
Christian Heineking Multitasks to Win $30,000 Texas Shootout Grand Prix
By Jordan Cobb
Click here to see the full photo gallery!
Christian Heineking and AJE Equitation’s AJE Cluny proved that sometimes the top of the order isn’t unlucky by starting and ending on top of the...
Yeager Wins The Plaid Horse High Score Junior Derby Award at Blenheim
By TPH Intern Caroline Nicklaus
For Elli Yeager, her affinity for horses began at a young age when she was at a fair and took a pony ride. From that moment on, she was hooked...
The Key to Equestrian Happiness? Enjoyment Before Achievement
BY JOHN HAIME
Sometimes things get fuzzy in sports, and a reset is exactly what you need.
Very often my phone will ring, or I’ll get an “emergency” text - an athlete client is in a...
6 Ways to Build Your Emotional Muscles for Show Jumping
By John Haime
Working with some of the world’s leading athletes in mental/emotional development has taught me many lessons about what is important to be a consistent high performer. One thing I have learned for...
Six Tips to Successfully Matching Pony Buyers and Sellers
With Stefanie Mazer
Honesty, education, and a good working relationship with trainers and professionals you can trust are keys for the best pony shopping and selling experience.
TRUST YOUR TEAM
Both buying and selling, you need to...
Top 9 Concussion Myths Debunked
BY HANNAH NAVA
Concussions are often associated with high-impact sports such as hockey, football, and soccer. Players are required to tackle, block, and push in an effort to prevent the other team from scoring a...
The New Guard: Kyle Muckler
Story and photos by Emma Dubinsky
When I first saw Kyle Muckler ride last year, I know he would be something special. He makes every horse go its best, and can ride anything you put...
Do You Feel the Riding Pressure Cooker?
BY JOHN HAIME
Does pressure in show jumping really exist?
Well, according to some researchers and experts, it really doesn’t. It’s all dreamed up by you to make it difficult for you to perform when it...
The New Guard: Georgie Lewis Polishes Diamonds in the Rough
By Kelly Sheehan
A consistent temperament and predictable responses are attributes that make green, off-the-track Thoroughbreds bloom. They are also keys to success when working with novice riders. Georgie Lewis enjoys working with both specialty...
Behind the Scenes with MTM Farm at HITS Ocala
Photos by Dominique Gonzalez.
MTM Farm is located in Flower Mound, Texas, but this winter, Mike McCormick and Tracy Fenney rented a permanent barn at HITS Ocala. These barns come with their own sand ring,...
The “H” Word
By Olivia Ferro
Homework: most likely to be voted “Inconveniently Horrible” by many young riders; especially on trips across the country where you could be missing weeks, even months of school. Homework must be squeezed...
West Coast Rider Wins High Point at East Coast College Preparatory Invitational
By Mackenzie Shuman / Photos of Jaden Olson taken at Summer in the Rockies 2016 and Colorado Spring Preview 2017
Jaden Olson stepped into the arena at the world-class Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Palm...
Notes from a New Farm Owner
By Abby Gibbon
It’s now January 2016, and I’m sitting in the half-renovated kitchen of a haunted, run-down farmhouse, exhausted, cold, alone (but for my dog, and the faint scratchings of what are likely rodents...
Beezie Madden Makes it Count on Day 2 of GHM Horsemastership
By Erin Gilmore
“A correct position is not always the same position all the time. You've got to be able to adjust what you're going to do.”
Adjustability was just one show jumping cornerstone that Beezie...
Judges Scott Hofstetter and Bill Talbert Answer The Questions You’ve Been Wondering About Hunters...
BY MACKENZIE SHUMAN
This year at the Colorado Hunter Jumper Associations Medal Finals, I was able to sit down with the two judges at the end of the show and ask them a few questions...
Learn the Basics of Polo
When most people watch polo, all they see are people on horses riding up and down a field, chasing after a ball while they try to score goals. Polo is not like “Pretty Woman”...
Spectator Looks: Brandi Cyrus, Style Native
By Brandi Cyrus of StyleNative.com
This article if from the September 2015 Show Jumping Issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine – read the full issue here.
For the September Show Jumping Issue, I decided to do something a little...
4 Tips to Help Your Horse Beat the Summer Heat
By Elleni Paulson on behalf of Purina Equine Nutrition
Heat and humidity place an added burden on horses during training, showing and transporting. Especially during the busy summer travel and show season, it’s important to make...