Jenna Tolson, of McPherson, Kansas, first fell in love with horses while on a trail ride in Colorado with her family. For months she and her sisters, Jillian and Gretchen, begged their parents to take lessons somewhere, so Brent and Sue Wall found a semi-local pony club for the girls to join. All three girls would be dropped […]
Youth competitor Madison Anger has only been showing for the past four years, but her love for horses began at an early age. Growing up in Clyde Hill, Washington, the only daughter of Kristin and Matt Anger began riding at her grandparent’s barn in Clovis, California. Ginger and Bob Thomas promised they would get her a horse so she could […]
New York trainer Dodie Howard said it’s not always easy to tell people what they don’t want to hear but if it’s truthful and comes from the heart most will understand. Howard’s parents always instilled in her the message that honesty is the best policy and as a professional horse trainer that advice has always served her well. “I […]
When she was just 6 years old, Jaclyn Landers asked her mother if she could have a horse. The answer was simple: “If you still like horses in a year I will get you riding lessons.” Sure enough, Landers was riding a year later. “My first lessons were on an old horse named Smirf,” Landers recalled. […]
Grace Ann Himes has a close bond with her show partner, Gota Lota Lace. She likes to think she knows everything about the 2003 American Quarter Horse bay mare by Gota Lota Potential out of Iron N Lace. Like how she oinks like a pig when Gracie pokes her on the nose. Or like how she gets so excited when […]
“Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” Georgia trainers Nick and Carmen Mayabb say that’s the best advice they’ve ever been given and it’s reflective of their operation. Growing up in Dacula, Georgia, Carmen’s mother, Christie Moss, was a horse trainer so she grew up on a farm and at age 4 she […]
When Carly Epp first moved from her home in Ontario, Canada to attend Texas Christian University, all she wanted to do was fit in, she didn’t even care about showing. But with the help of trainers, Will and Elizabeth Knabenshue, she has learned the benefits of standing out. Born and raised in Brampton, Ontario, 22-year-old Epp has had […]
Dan and Jacquie Ochs, have always encouraged their children to find something special they love and give it 110 percent. For their 13-year-old daughter, Sydnie, that something special has always been a horse. She has a real passion for her horses and there’s nothing she enjoys more than traveling around the country to accomplish her goals. Sydnie was born and […]
Heath McNeill says the best part about being a horse trainer is having the opportunity to take a colt or filly that knows nothing, and taking it all the way to a finished show horse. And, as a 40-year-old professional trainer he says he’s lucky to get to do a part of that every day. […]
When Erin McNab was just a youngster she found a passion for gymnastics. Starting to tumble in the third grade, the Salem, Oregon native competed in meets all the way through eighth grade when she started riding horses. “I love horses and I’ve always been competitive. I’ve always been the competitive type of person academically, […]
Looking back, there were plenty of clues that Elsie Naruszewicz would pursue a life showing horses. When her parents signed her up for weekly riding lessons just down the road from her home in Monroe, Washington, Elsie would not just limit her visits to that one day. She’d show up at the barn nearly every […]
For Colton LaSusa the best part about being a horse trainer is seeing the growth of his horses and clients both in and out of the arena. “Horses are not robots they are athletes with their own minds,” said the Pennsylvania trainer. “Understanding what it takes to make your horse reach their best ability is […]