Horses

Alternative treatment options raising legal issues

Alternative treatment options raising legal issues

An emerging area of equine law has been focused on the practice and licensing of equine sports therapy, chiropractic care, and massage.  Performance show horses, much like top Olympic athletes, are susceptible to injuries and other conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system.  In order to treat and help horses maintain peak physical performance, some horse owners […]

AQHA stallion Hot Diggity Joe passes at age 26

AQHA stallion Hot Diggity Joe passes at age 26

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 […]

Pattern Prowess: Tips for helping you memorize those complicated patterns

Pattern Prowess: Tips for helping you memorize those complicated patterns

Competition in the pattern classes at top breed shows and futurities has improved so much in the past decade that course designers have had to add maneuvers and to the degree of difficulty just to keep up and make the classes challenging. Some of today’s Showmanship Horsemanship, Equitation, Trail and Ranch patterns can get extremely […]

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. […]