Protective Jackets and Vests: To Wear or Not To Wear?

By Armand Leone, Jr. While having dinner with my family a few weeks ago, we had a conversation about the use of inflatable airbag jackets and vests while riding after recently learning of an older friend who was bucked off and severely injured. Like cycling, skiing, contact sports and cars, there have been advancements over
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Rebecca Waite: Worth the Wait to Make it to the Top

By Ruby Tevis Portraits by Melissa Fuller Rebecca Waite’s passion for horses is in her DNA. The daughter of a horse-loving mother, Rebecca has followed her heart from her family’s vegetable farm in Houlton, Maine, across the country to international dressage competitions in Wellington, Florida. After working her way up from stall cleaner to head
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Rob Jacobs: Called to Exactly the Right Place

By Britney Grover Portraits by Shawna Simmons If his family financial circumstances had been different, Robert “Rob” Lawrence Jacobs might be jumping Grand Prix every weekend. Admittedly, there are some moments he wishes that would have happened. But when it comes down to it, Rob is actually happy that it didn’t. “Personally, I do believe
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Finding the Zone

How many times have you heard someone say, “I was just in the zone!” after a great round? On the other hand, perhaps you were riding and having some difficulty with an exercise when your trainer yelled, “Come on, pay attention, get in the zone!” You wonder, What does that mean? How do I get there?
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Unbridled With Michael Britt-León

By Jan Westmark Professional riders work hard and the opportunity to be recognized is always a thrill. So when Michael Britt-León captured the World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Pro Finals at Capital Challenge recently, it was a dream come true. “I’ve watched some of the greatest hunter riders compete and win the Pro Finals, so
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Eventing with Boyd Martin

What’s your approach to training through the winter? For me, training in winter is about fitness and about getting the horses conditioned for the upcoming season. The reality is that we won’t be competing again in the immediate future, so we need to slightly adjust our training program with less focus on drilling the dressage
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Julia Stone: Exceptional Horsewoman, Exceptional Young Woman

By Britney Grover Portraits by Lori Ovanessian Julia Stone has always loved learning and horses. While attending a college preparatory high school, she commuted each week to horse shows — including flying from her home in California to Florida every Thursday and back each Sunday during the Winter Equestrian Festival. While juggling AP and honors
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Noah Stanlaske: Young Eventer With a Wise Mentor and Talented Horses 

By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Adrienne Morella  Do you believe in fate? Eventer Noah Stanlaske does. At 14 years old, Noah has repeatedly been in the right place at the right time to let his equestrian aspirations take flight.  For Noah, first grade was more than just learning about reading, writing and arithmetic; it’s where
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Dressage Life, Writing, Winning Awards and Adopting a Horse

Ruby Tevis Lexington, KY College student, journalist and dressage rider  How long have you been part of the horse world? I totally caught the horse bug as a freshman in high school, when I started leasing a sweet Arabian dressage pony named Remy. He taught me the joy of loving a horse — that there
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Horse Trailer Ride-Sharing: Is it Worth It? 

by Armand Leone Ride-sharing is a common scenario at many boarding barns. You and a friend are planning to attend the same horse show, but unfortunately her trailer is in the shop. She asks if you would consider letting her horse share a ride in your trailer. She’ll chip in for gas, saving you some
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