It’s been said that a goal without a plan is just a wish. Iowa professional trainer Denton DeBuhr must have heard that along his way because it’s the first two things he wants to discuss with his clients. “I like to let the horse tell me what they are ready for,” he explained. “I try […]
A tiny miniature pony Blakely Abbott received as a Christmas gift from her grandfather when she was just 4 years old sparked the Georgia youth competitor’s passion for showing horses, even though there were a few detours along the way. Bakely first expressed an interest in showing horses in 2013 but ultimately opted to pursue […]
To 46-year-old Donnie Recchiuti, of Heath, Ohio, watching horses that he started, trained and exhibited still in the show arena competing and winning at the industry’s biggest events, is all the reward he needs. “I always feel a sense of achievement because it’s a testament to the foundation they were given and the hands they […]
For Cave Creek, Arizona professional trainer Erica Owen, her own training business wasn’t exactly planned but since taking over her boss’ business after she retired Owen has thrived doing what she loves. Growing up in Stanley, New York, Owen began riding at the age of 3. Her maternal grandmother had horses even before she was […]
His last name is synonymous with greatness in the horse industry, whether it’s in the Western Pleasure pen or in the Cutting arena. But Brody Galyean is not letting that intimidate him. Instead, he’s motivated by it. Brody’s father is trainer Gil Galyean, who was the first to be honored by the National Snaffle Bit […]
When you have a horse with as big a personality as The Rocknroll Cowboy (Bennett), you can’t help but enjoy the shows. After selling his previous show horse, 38-year-old Adam Parks, of Washington, D.C., took his time finding a replacement. There were countless hours spent watching videos on Facebook and YouTube, and visits to farms […]
Delanie McClanahan, of Belton, Texas, will put her 2019 National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) Foundation Scholarship to good use when she begins 16 years of higher education, as she pursues a career as a neurosurgeon. To reach her goal, McClanahan will complete four years of undergraduate studies, four years of medical surgeon and eight additional […]
Thirteen-year-old Carley Rutledge, of Altoona, Iowa, is all about the Trail. It’s her favorite class to watch. “I like watching the spots they (competitors) choose and how they set up the pattern,” she explained. And it’s her favorite class to ride. That won’t come as any surprise to her fellow youth competitors. Carley and her […]
Professional trainers Carley (Veldman) and Wade Parks welcomed their second son on Feb. 13. The new arrival, named Corbin Thomas, weighed eight pounds and measured 20 inches at birth. He joins a brother, Caden.Carley and Wade own and operate Parks Show Horses, in Sabina, Ohio.
Marlee White, of Seneca, South Carolina, grew up riding horses, roping with her grandfather and trail riding with her dad. But when she turned 12, her mother thought she’d give Marlee the opportunity to show. They connected with Georgia trainer Terri Layer to go shopping and ended up with a $6,500 package deal including a […]
It should have been easy to predict that eventually, North Carolina native Allison Hinson would find success in the show ring. Not many youngsters fall off not once but twice at their very first competition. But that’s exactly what happened to Hinson when, at the age of 12, she took her new horse, Asset Associate […]
Iowa youth competitor Kaylynn Heitman, 14, bought her first equine partner, a pony named Marbles, for $25 when she was just 4 years old. Marbles was blind in one eye and had a fatty cyst on one side. But she would “pull around a sled like a boss” and Kaylynn adored her. After that, there […]