He is the top National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) Open Western Pleasure money earner with over $1.3 million in lifetime earnings. So when Rusty Green selects, trains and shows a young contender, people pay attention. The industry pays attention. That’s exactly the case with the young Western Pleasure sire Top Gunn (Cruz), a 2020 […]
A few years back, I wrote an article about some of the weirdest, strangest, and downright wackiest equine laws in the United States that I have come across. Now, we are back for part two. This month’s article takes a look at some more of those bizarre and outdated laws that may still be […]
Bestselling children’s author JK Rowling, who penned the Harry Potter novels once said that “family is a life jacket in the stormy sea of life.” Sisters Allie and Madeline (Maddie) Rippeon, of Mount Airy, Maryland would agree. As fierce competitors on the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) show circuits Maddie, 17, […]
If you ever watched the 2005 movie “Batman Begins,” starring Christian Bale, you surely recall the line “It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do, that defines me.” Back then, Batt Man, an American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) leading sire of Western Pleasure contenders wasn’t even born yet. But all of the astute […]
Pennsylvania Amateur competitor Ali Hubbell has never tried a discipline she didn’t like. From Showmanship and Horsemanship to Equitation to Trail, she’s shown in it. She even rode Saddle Seat and Dressage for a time on her first show horse, a leopard Appaloosa by the name of K Doc Holiday. “He did everything,” Hubbell said. […]
Anyone with even the slightest bit of experience in the show pen knows that there are many variables that go into the making of a champion. Conformation and genetics have big roles. And of course there’s the training aspect. But when you start with an animal that is a natural things just seem to fall […]
AQHA and NSBA competitors Drew DeBuhr and Brooke Granzow were married on Sept. 14, at the Haviland Residence in Urbandale, Iowa. Brooke graduated from Valley High School in Iowa and studied Animal Science at Iowa State University. She earned her MBA in Business Administration (Strategic Management) from Drake University. She competes as an Amateur and Non-Pro. […]
QHA and NSBA competitors Clay Arrington and Lexi Frencl were married on Aug. 31, at the French Farmhouse Venue in Collinsville, Texas. Frencl grew up in Illinois and competes in Amateur and Non-Pro events. Arrington grew up in Florida and is the son of professional trainers Ricky and Christie Hill Arrington, of Graceville, Florida. Clay established […]
They laugh about it now but Gracie Robertson’s parents, Mark and Katie Robertson knew they were in trouble pretty much the first time she ever sat on a horse. Since they themselves showed American Paint Horse Association (APHA) as kids and actually met showing horses, they were careful not to push Gracie in that direction […]
For 28-year-old Justin Melvin there are no “one size fits all methods” when it comes to training horses. “I like to learn what works for each horse specifically,” he explained. “Some horses may learn more quickly than others and some may need to be started a little slower.” Melvin became seriously involved with show horses […]
Multiple Congress Champion and Reserve American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Champion producer Hot Diggity Joe was humanely euthanized on Friday in Ocala, Florida, following a brief battle with congestive heart failure. The 1998 sorrel stallion, sired by Blazing Hot and out of Jodie Fivette, was bred by and owned his entire life by Kerry […]
When she was just a kid, growing up in rural Brill, Wisconsin, Ann Lapacinski was lucky to share a passion for horses and showing with her mother. “When I was in kindergarten I can remember getting picked up by my mom on our old horse Rusty who was a Quarter Horse/Welsh Pony cross and we […]
