Horse

Ann Lapacinski: Maybe Next Time has a home for life with this Amateur competitor

Ann Lapacinski: Maybe Next Time has a home for life with this Amateur competitor

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 […]

Pleasure the foundation for other events

Pleasure the foundation for other events

Western Pleasure. In terms of entries, it’s traditionally been one of the most popular classes at American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and American Paint Horse Association (APHA) and other breed association events. Large purses and prestigious titles have traditionally drawn big numbers to the pen to be evaluated on quality of movement. The National Snaffle […]

Amanda Smith: Riding Shop Class in Hunter Under Saddle puts a smile on this Amateur competitor’s face

Amanda Smith: Riding Shop Class in Hunter Under Saddle puts a smile on this Amateur competitor’s face

If you are watching the Amateur Hunter Under Saddle or Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle Maturity at the National Snaffle Bit Association’s World Championship Futurity this month or at the Quarter Horse Congress, it will be easy to spot Amanda Smith. She will be the one with the big smile on her face, courtesy of her […]

Trotting properly in Showmanship

Trotting properly in Showmanship

We’ve all seen it – those competitors in a Showmanship class who “run  funny.” Maybe they stick their behind out too far. Maybe they resemble a duck. Or maybe they are just running on their toes and their stride appears off. Many times, this is happening unfortunately because handlers simply don’t know the correct way […]

Making Memories: The Hermans enjoys showing together as a family

Making Memories: The Hermans enjoys showing together as a family

“Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.” – Michael J. Fox. For the Herman Family, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, nothing could be closer to the truth. It’s what defines them, both inside the show arena and out. The Hermans have patriarch Dr. Robert Herman to thank for their love of horses and competition. He was […]

Jessica Balo transitions to All-Around

Jessica Balo transitions to All-Around

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 […]

Love at First Sight: Alexis Gooding teams with Snazzy Lil Machine for 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure events this year

Love at First Sight: Alexis Gooding teams with Snazzy Lil Machine for 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure events this year

Close your eyes for just a moment and imagine Elle Woods from Legally Blonde as a horse. What you will have is Alexis Gooding’s 3-year-old Western Pleasure contender Snazzy Lil Machine (Molly). Alexis and her husband, Austin, purchased the 2021 sorrel mare by Machine Made out of Lazy Lil Me, last April from her breeders […]

Redd Corvette: 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle contender getting his show career started with Jessica Noiseux

Redd Corvette: 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle contender getting his show career started with Jessica Noiseux

It’s just like Prince penned in his 1988 Billboard Hot 100  single ….. And the ride I say, the ride is so smooth. You must be a Limousine. Redd Corvette (Smith), a 2021 chestnut gelding, sired by Allocate Your Assets out of Blue Couture, is indeed a “smooth ride.” Purchased by Pamela Raad, of Middlebury, […]

Tonight’s Virginia Maiden 3-Year-Old & Over Western Pleasure slot class features $46,125 total purse; winner takes home $10,053.52

Tonight’s Virginia Maiden 3-Year-Old & Over Western Pleasure slot class features $46,125 total purse; winner takes home $10,053.52

A total of 19 unshown Western Pleasure prospects are slated to compete for a total purse of $46,125 in the Virginia Maiden 3-Year-Old & Over Open Western Pleasure Slot Class later today at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington. The winner will collect $10,053.52 and the class will pay all the way down to 10th place. […]

Debby Brehm: Teaming with Ima Golden Machine was meant to be

Debby Brehm: Teaming with Ima Golden Machine was meant to be

Some things are just meant to be and Lincoln, Nebraska Amateur competitor Debby Brehm’s recent teaming with the AQHA show mare, Ima Golden Machine (Mac) is one of them. Bred by Stuart and Karen Banstra, of Pella, Iowa, Ima Golden Machine, a 2017 palomino by Machine Made out of Ima Golden Pleasure was previously owned […]

Gone Western: You don’t have to look past the show pen to spot fashion world’s latest trend

Gone Western: You don’t have to look past the show pen to spot fashion world’s latest trend

The fashion world has gone western. Even GQ magazine contributor Chris Black said in a recent column that although he grew up in Georgia he never wanted to rock a big belt buckle and boots – until now! He wrote….“In the world that I inhabit today, however, nothing is cooler than dressing like a cowboy. […]

Ditty Up: Continuing a tradition of breeding and showing Western Pleasure contenders with youngsters like Forever Twisted and Machine Made Gold

Ditty Up: Continuing a tradition of breeding and showing Western Pleasure contenders with youngsters like Forever Twisted and Machine Made Gold

Since the day he was born, Forever Twisted, Nancy Ditty’s entry for this year’s 3-Year-Old & Over Western Pleasure Slot Class at the March To The Arch this month in Fort Worth, Texas, has been reminding her of life’s most important lesson. Never give up. The 2021 bay gelding, sired by Gone Viral out of […]