Ken and Emily Smith: Working and Riding Together

By Dani Moritz-Long Portraits by Shawna Simmons While working and living together can often be a recipe for disaster, that isn’t the case for equestrian power couple Ken and Emily Smith. The owners and trainers of Ashland Farms, which is based in Wellington, Florida, during the winters and Lexington, Kentucky, in the summers, got married
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Amanda Steege: Finding Her Inspiration by Leaving it Behind

By Laurie Berglie Portraits by Isabel J. Kurek While horses have always been a part of Amanda Steege’s life, it wasn’t until her last year of college that she realized they would become her life. Armed with a psychology degree she admits would later come in handy, Amanda set out on a path that would
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Makayla Benjamin: Enjoying Horses From Sweet Briar to Bitterroot

By Carrie Wirth After donning a cap and gown and graduating from Sweet Briar College, 2018 USEF/Cacchione Cup winner Makayla Benjamin packed her bags and road-tripped to Wyoming with her best friend and IHSA teammate Courtney Barry. The two riders hit the trail and headed west for a five-month adventure as wranglers at Bitterroot Ranch
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Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue: Stubbornly Advocating for Misunderstood Animals

By Britney Grover In the equestrian world, horses have a cousin far too often overlooked: equus asinus, or donkeys and burros. Mark and Amy Meyers were once among the many who didn’t know anything about donkeys, but taking in just one 20 years ago has turned into saving the lives of over 10,000 and leading
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Julie Ulrich: Four Lifetimes of Horses

By Lauren R. Giannini Portraits by Shawna Simmons Former grand prix jumper rider Julie Ulrich holds an unofficial Ph.D. in horses. A firm believer in the importance of flat work, she can ride and train at the highest level of dressage and show jumping. Based in France for many years, she’s going to spend half
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Mimi Wroten and the Sweet Briar Vixens Take on the NCEA

By Carter Anderson The Sweet Briar Vixens, of Sweet Briar College in Virginia, have completed their first year as a National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) team with Head Coach Mimi Wroten leading the way. Mimi is excited to add to the accolades of Sweet Briar’s successful first season. She hopes that other equestrian teams will
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Angel Heart Farm: Joy and Ponies for Children with Cancer

By Britney Grover Portraits by Hannah Draughan It was just a walk-trot class at a class A Arabian show, but Kira and Krystal Annie EN looked fit for any world stage. With fancy bows attached to her riding helmet, Kira fit in with all the other kids. As the judge moved down the line, he
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Maggie Jayne: Life in a Horse Show Family

By Alannah Castro Portraits by Isabel J. Kurek Maggie Jayne grew up in a horse show family — and wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s easy to see why, when one considers she’s grown up in a well-known family of equestrians who have competed at top levels of the sport, earning titles in divisions
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Theresa Sanders: Adventures Riding the Dartmoor Derby

by Pam Lazor It all started a few years ago, when Theresa Sanders’ non-horsey sister told her she had read a travel magazine article about the Dartmoor Derby in England — four days of challenging rides on horseback through the picturesque countryside of Dartmoor National Park. Theresa, a cardiology nurse and research supervisor at Emory
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Mint Julep: The Sweet Taste of Kentucky

By Bob Bell Each year when I arrive at Churchill Downs for the Oaks and Kentucky Derby in May, the first vendor I see is the one selling the mint julep in the official souvenir glass. Of course you start your morning with the sweet taste of Kentucky. Best known as the official drink of
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