Click here to read the complete article 136 – November/December, 2016 BY ERICA GREATHOUSE The AQHA rulebook defines Showmanship as a class “designed to evaluate the exhibitor’s ability to execute, in concert with a well-groomed and well-conditioned horse, a set of maneuvers prescribed by the judge with precision and smoothness while exhibiting poise and confidence, […]

Halter is a conformation class where you track a horse into the pen, square him up, and present him to the judges. Simple, right? Not so fast.

Kirsten Thomsen’s performances bring the very essence of fierceness to mind, with an ownership and command of the ring unmatched by most. Yet, those who know the California amateur best understand that it’s the various facets of her personality, such as her loving and caring nature, that have formed the competitor she is today.

Click here to read the complete article 150 – November/December, 2016 by Rachel Kooiker The Breeders’ Halter Futurity kicked off five years ago with just four classes. In its first year, the event paid out an impressive $266,000 and hosted 85 entries. Fast-forward to 2016: • Approximately $1.2 million in cash awards were paid out. […]

Click here to read the complete article 108 – November/December, 2016 BY ERICA GREATHOUSE Jan Pittman of Chipley, Florida is no stranger to the winner’s circle. In fact, she has been the last one standing in the arena, not once, but twice, at the AQHA Select World with her homebred mare, Ona Good Impulse. Also, […]

Constantly changing trends make the task of finding a complimentary color combo for both horse and rider seem daunting. Some consult the color wheel and adhere to fashion rules, while others throw caution to the wind and select cutting edge color combinations.

More than 2,180 horses, 4,762 entries, and nine countries will be represented. When it comes to hosting the largest breed World Championship in the United States, the largest breed registration organization in the world knows that preparation is the key to having a successful show

The long list of champions to come out of Simons Show Horses in Pilot Point, Texas is a testimonial to the late Lynn Simons’ ethos: produce quality horses with style, substance, and good minds. Lynn’s wife, Andrea, is a respected trainer, clinician, and APHA, AQHA, NRHA, NSBA, and NRCHA accredited judge.

Admit it: you’ve seen the scenario unfold before your very eyes. A star exhibitor executes an unexpectedly substandard performance during a high stakes situation. As he exits the ring with his horse, the awkward silence follows him out.

I have no regrets,” said Payton Manning when he announced his retirement from the NFL this year, not long after the Denver Broncos won Super Bowl 50 and the sports world was abuzz with speculation. Did he pick the right time? How did he know when it was time to retire? Is he really done? Did he go out at the top of his game?