Horse Life from Animal Health Industry to Barrel Racing 

Doug Stouffer Kansas City, Missouri Marketing Manager – USA for Hygain Feeds How long have you been part of the horse world?  I’ve had horses my entire life. I grew up in Nebraska, and mostly competed in 4-H and open saddle club shows. I’ve done showmanship, halter, Western pleasure, Western horsemanship, trail, Western riding, reining,
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The Hues of Horses

What does my horse “see” and why does he react to something one day and a few days later he has no reaction at all? An owl can see a mouse moving more than 150 feet away. A dragonfly has 30,000 lenses in its eyes. These lenses assist them with motion detection and, consequently, it’s
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Reviving a Farm to a Sport Horse Haven

Aleco Bravo-Greenberg Rutledge Farm, Middleburg, Virginia Businessman How long have you been part of the horse world?  I’ve been involved with horses my entire life. I rode my first horse, a Shetland pony, at Pegasus/Meadowbrook in Washington, D.C. when I was 6 years old. When I was 16, I had the privilege of training with

Rockin’ Mental Tools in Riding and Competition

By George Williams “It’s all because your mama don’t dance and your daddy don’t rock and roll!” The Loggins & Messina lyric is definitely catchy. I’m not sure why it popped into my head when it did. However, it immediately became my mantra to help me maintain a calm and focused mind when the young
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The Risk and Duty of Designing Jumping Courses

By Armand Leone Jr. When it comes to course designing in the jumper rings, safety of the horse and rider are the greatest concern. However, it’s also a course designer’s job to create a track that presents a level of difficulty appropriate for the class. If you only get one clear in the Grand Prix,
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Louise Atkins: Getting a Star Ready to Re-Shine

By Haylie Kerstetter Louise Atkins is a dressage queen with a love for fancy off-the-track Thoroughbreds, so when she met Imperative, winner of $3.3 million on the racetrack, she was worried that he may not be meant for the dressage ring. But, over time, the little bay OTTB was able to win her over, just
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Equest: Celebrating 40 Years of Royal Achievements

By Britney Grover Excitement filled the air at Equest, Texas’ largest and oldest therapeutic horsemanship center, on a warm October day in 2000. The horses gleamed; the stable was clean; demonstration riders were at the ready. A 14-year-old girl with Down syndrome waited with a bouquet of flowers, and Lili Kellogg was ready to receive
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Kate Mathews: Writing Her Riding Story

By Ruby Tevis Portraits by Melissa Fuller Kate Mathews is a storyteller, and at just 17 years old, the young dressage rider has only written the beginning of her own story. With a passion for horses, writing and the arts, Kate has found a way to tell stories in the arena and on the page.
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Focus and Family in the Hunter-Jumper Ring

By Nicki Shahinian-Simpson  Nicki Shahinian-Simpson had a successful career as a junior rider in the East, where she won both the ASPCA Maclay National Championship and the U.S. Medal Championship. After moving to the West Coast, Nicki continued to place well in major Grand Prix events and has competed in the U.S., Mexico, Canada and
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Clare Christie: The Journey of Sculpting Movement

By Shya Beth  Equine artist Clare Christie finds that sculpting brings forth an intuitive skill to capture and present the energetic form of the horse in clay. “I’m constantly training my eye to catch the subtleties of the horse,” Clare said. Being a trainer and riding herself for many years, she is attuned to the
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