“I like to compare Hudson to an ugly duckling. He was big and awkward as a yearling, and no one wanted him, but he grew up to be a beautiful champion.”

Amber Pickard, now an AQHA horse trainer in Michigan, has her own unique story of the journey that led her to the equine industry, and it all began with a baby African Elephant named Laura. 

The announcer at the IPHA Fall Shootout and Futurity decided to surprise the couple by announcing them over the loudspeaker as the homecoming king and queen. “It was very embarrassing. They gave Ashton a special shoutout of being the number one horse show boyfriend!”

“Her family and team of doctors are supportive of her riding, so we have been taking her off the oxygen to ride for 30-50 minutes at a time depending on how she’s feeling. She does have full time nursing staff who carry the oxygen tank in a backpack and help administer meds and check her vitals frequently. Sometimes, I wear the backpack, and we’ll hook her back up for a little rest on the horse. My horses have been amazing with all the tubing, which has allowed Everleigh to be really independent when she’s grooming, saddling, and riding.”