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. […]
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 […]
This is an important year for Blacklick, Ohio Amateur competitor Jessica Balo. It marks her transition into all-around competition and her trainer, Missy Thyfault found the perfect partner for her in Absolutely Krymsun (Goose). Goose is a 2018 bay gelding by One Hot Krymsun out of Absolutely Luxurious who was bred by Karen Hurtgam. “Missy […]
Sixteen-year-old Ava Hathaway, of Coldwater, Michigan knows all too well what a roller-coaster ride showing horses at the top level can be. She’s had her share of bumps along the way but staying focused, patient and determined she has also learned that there are just as many high points as there are lows. Like many, […]
Delaney Lee may have just gotten her start showing three years ago but the 16-year-old El Dorado Hills, California native has had a love of horses for the better part of her life. The daughter of Cathy and Aaron Lee first caught the horse bug as a toddler at a preschool carnival where the kids […]
Illinois professional trainer Colton Smith is a firm believer that each horse he trains must be able to do its job in its sleep, in order to be a solid citizen for its rider. And so his program is built on a lot of muscle memory and repetition. “I spend a lot of time confidence […]
They say that discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments and if you know Audrey Thomas and her quest for success in the show arena, you’d probably agree. Before she ever swung a leg over a horse two years ago, the 15-year-old youth competitor from Michellville, Iowa spent almost all of her time cheering […]
Dedication and commitment are what transfer dreams into realities and if you don’t believe that then just ask 34-year-old Non-Pro competitor Mallory Menard. Menard, a Michigan native, was raised around horses. Ever since she was a baby her mother has had Arabs. She started taking riding lessons at the age of five and has not […]
Gretna, Nebraska professional trainer Micah Hansen believes that every horse and person has a way that they like to learn and it’s his job to figure out what exactly that is. “I try not to make every horse’s program the same,” he said. That philosophy has served Hansen well as he has navigated the path […]
When Tammy Conroy returned to showing horses after a long hiatus to finish college and start a family, she could not get over the changes in the industry. “When I left we showed to one judge and all the classes were held the same day,” she said. “In Showmanship, competitors had to stand in the […]
A few years back, Scott Jones finally heeded the advice a special woman in his life shared (actually, yelled at) him: “Let go.” And since he took some time away from the business, he has come back fresher and with a renewed enthusiasm. But it took a long time and a lot of stress to […]