An Interview with Actor and Equestrian Eric Nelsen
BY PEARL RUNNING DEER
Eric Nelsen is an Emmy and Tony Award -winning American actor and producer. He’s best known for his role as Ennis in the record breaking television series 1883. The prequel to Yellowstone. On stage, Nelsen...
Fran and Joe Dotoli Part II – Peter Wylde
The solution was for the young couple to start a year-round barn at Fran's parents’ farm in Medfield, Massachusetts. Fran had kept her horses there as a kid, and they continued the Young Entry...
On Community and College
By Randi C. Heathman
I was halfway through writing the first draft of this piece when the architect of the “Varsity Blues” scandal, Rick Singer, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison....
A Look Into TerraNova Equestrian Center – Florida’s New Showing Destination
By Nancy Jaffer
Down a road edged by scrubby pine trees and live oaks hung with Spanish moss, the half-hour drive east from Sarasota ends with the sighting of spectacular showgrounds. It’s seemingly in the...
Joe and Fran Dotoli: A Lifelong Love Affair – Beginnings
BY ANN JAMIESON
Falling for Horses
"I followed a pretty girl to the barn. She left, and I stayed."
So began Joe Dotoli's lifelong love affair with horses. The pretty girl, Maryanne, was his sister's friend. Joe,...
The Reality of Working Abroad in the Horse Industry: Told by a 17-year-old
By Valentina Martínez
The Equestrian World is Harsh and Challenging
In the beautiful sport that we riders chose to do, more people will judge you than congratulate you. Unfortunately, you will have to learn to live...
Film and Horses: Country Music Video With Horses
BY PEARL RUNNING DEER
Music is an important part of movies and TV shows. The music rhythm enhances what you see, and enjoy. One of the most important parts of Dressage is the music. Without...
3 Money Saving Hacks for Horse Owners
BY DIANA BEZDEDEANU
1. Spend More to Save More
Believe it or not, it is actually more cost-effective to spend the extra money on high-quality grain, hay, supplements, tack, training/lessons, farrier, and vet care maintenance in...
It Happens! With Vivian Golden, Richard Slocum and Tim Maddrix
We all make mistakes. But horse people, as a group, aren’t always the best at handling them. So TPH reached out to some top riders to share their own show ring bloopers to prove,...
Neal Shapiro: Aim High – Part II
BY ANN JAMIESON
Going Professional
When Neal was competing, the team was structured so that the riders were selected, trained, prepared, and had horses to ride, whether they were lucky enough to have a great horse...
The Beauty of the Golden Years: Celebrating Our Senior Horses
By Emily Dickson
By some Universal luck, I was present the day my horse was born.
At the time, I didn’t know that she would become my horse. I was just a 10-year-old kid who had...
The Plaid Horse Questionnaire With: Kristin Silon
Hometown: Frederick, Maryland
Profession: Orthopaedic Surgeon/Hand & Upper Extremity Specialist
Status: Amateur
Trainer: Alan Lohman
Horses: Kismet (3’3" Amateur-Owner Hunters), Four Score (3’3" Amateur-Owners), Lima Z (3’6" Amateur-Owners)
As a horsewoman, I am most proud of my commitment to my...
Danny & Ron Book Excerpt: Forever Home
By Ron Danta & Danny Robertshaw and Larry Lindner
Before Danny was released from the hospital, twenty-four days after he was admitted, the doctors sat Ron down and explained that Danny’s life expectancy was in...
American Bred Motueka: An Awkward Start and a Grand Prix Future
By Victoria Sheehan
Peering over the edge of the stall door, young Angela Pritchard stretched her 4-year-old legs to stretch as far as they could go. With wisps of hay in her hair and the...
American Stalls: Designing Your Dream Barn
By Troy Anna Smith
Yash Balasaria, CEO of American Stalls, has one overriding goal for his family business. “We are just looking to make your life easier!” he cheerfully tells The Plaid Horse. Balasaria has...
Internet Shopping for Horses 101
BY DAPHNE THORNTON OF TWO BIT TRAINING
Buying horses on the internet has gotten interesting…for both buyer and seller. I am not unsympathetic to the plight of Sellers. People kick tires, look at horses they can’t...
Sweet Briar College: 100 Years of Equestrian Women
By Sarah Welk Baynum
Nestled in the rolling hills of Sweet Briar, VA, is a collegiate equestrian program that has been a part of campus culture for over 100 years. In fact, Sweet Briar...
5 Strides With: Rain King
An “interview” with the young hunter, via his rider, Taylor Ann Adams
The 5-year-old Dutch Warmblood has won multiple Young Hunter championships in Florida
1. How does it feel to be a top 5-year-old hunter?
I don’t...
Neal Shapiro: Aim High
BY ANN JAMIESON
A Walk in the Park
As a child, Neal Shapiro liked to draw. There were two things, in particular, he enjoyed drawing: horses and airplanes. Neal's father first lifted him up onto a...
An Adult Amateur’s (Unrealistic) New Years Resolutions
BY LAUREN MAULDIN
It's that time of year again when everyone is focused on self-improvement—and I'm no exception. For most of my life, I've fallen into the resolution trap. You know, when you start to...
Get to Know the Equine Mastery Education System
‘‘With the Right Horsemanship Tools, Our Industry Could Be Revolutionized’’
By Annie Birmingham
Raegan Comeaux has trained riders from their first lessons all the way to the Indoor finals, but began to notice a growing trend...
Equine Elixirs: The Power of Positude and Calmakazi
How Positude and Calmakazi supplements address spooky, nervous, anxious, hormonal and temperamental behavior
If you’re looking to address your horse’s behavioral or temperamental challenges, you don’t want to miss Equine Elixirs’ popular product duo: Positude...
