The transformation of Equestrian from an individual sport to a team sport is difficult to understand if you’ve never attended a collegiate equestrian meet. One of the most common questions I’m asked, as a participant in this sport, is if I get to ride my own horse. Although I wish I could bring my horse with me to college and ride him every day, that’s just not how this sport works. Before diving into the details about where the horses we ride do come from, it’s helpful to provide a bit of background about the sport itself.
Continue reading …Reid Thomas Performance Horses – Not Your Average Horse Trainer
October 3, 2019 Comments Off on Reid Thomas Performance Horses – Not Your Average Horse Trainer
Reid Thomas, owner of Reid Thomas Performance Horses in Boerne, Texas, represents the best in the modern horseman. He has successfully combined his strong educational background in business with an innate talent to read and understand horses and the ability to teach and inspire his clients. A multiple champion in his own right, Reid is turning out winners in youth, amateur and select, specializing in all-around events. He lives by his motto, “success is a journey, not a destination,” and the wisdom of that motto is borne in the long list of champions developed through his training program.
Continue reading …A Facebook Guide to Selling Horse-Related Items
August 26, 2019 Comments Off on A Facebook Guide to Selling Horse-Related Items
Attention spans are short and thumbs scroll fast on all social media platforms. Most people on Facebook and Instagram aren’t on these social media pages to find things to buy. However, just because they aren’t there to purchase your horse-related items doesn’t mean they can’t be enticed to do so…
Continue reading …NCEA – Tips on Conquering Nerves From Collegiate Riders
August 25, 2019 Comments Off on NCEA – Tips on Conquering Nerves From Collegiate Riders
The phrase “having butterflies in your stomach” has always struck me as strange. Butterflies? I’ve always looked at butterflies as soft, gentle, and kind. Maybe I was born different, but I firmly believe that I’ve never been lucky enough to experience these butterflies.
Continue reading …Cases Show Strength of State Equine Activity Liability Laws
August 24, 2019 Comments Off on Cases Show Strength of State Equine Activity Liability Laws
Currently, all states except for California and Maryland have some form of an equine activity liability act (“EALA”). Since the first EALA was enacted thirty years ago, courts have evaluated numerous cases involving these laws. In two recent cases, lawsuits that had been brought by people injured in horse-related activities were dismissed.
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Motivational phrases like, “get back in the saddle” and “just get back on the horse,” pertain to just about every hard knock life can throw at us. But, becoming unseated doesn’t always imply that your skills aren’t good enough to hold on. It simply suggests that you’ve momentarily lost your balance on a bumpy ride.
Continue reading …The Most Points Ever! – Zips Bossy Chip Makes History
August 22, 2019 Comments Off on The Most Points Ever! – Zips Bossy Chip Makes History
Brent and Melissa Maxwell have a lot of which to be proud. In 2017, their daughter, Ellexxah, and her mare, Zips Bossy Chip, became the AQHA All-Time Leading Youth team when they broke the 30-year record of 4,270 AQHA youth points held by the great Van Decka.
Continue reading …Seeing Double – Dale and Hannah Laplace
August 21, 2019 Comments Off on Seeing Double – Dale and Hannah Laplace
People are usually surprised to learn that twins Dale and Hannah Laplace aren’t identical, because their likeness is uncanny. Although they’re technically fraternal twins, that doesn’t stop people from confusing them almost everywhere they go.
Continue reading …Living The Sweet Life – Samantha Ihde
August 20, 2019 Comments Off on Living The Sweet Life – Samantha Ihde
Samantha Ihde thought it was a cruel joke. As she was working through the busy holiday season as a catering chef
and bakery owner, her mom, Kelly, was watching classes at the AQHA World Show.
For as long as he can remember, Chris Gray has loved horses. Growing up in a non-horse family didn’t stop him from becoming interested in horses and expressing it to anyone who would listen, as soon as he could talk. “I was drawn to horses and, from the time I started talking, I told my parents that I wanted to ride,” Chris explains. His philosophy as a young boy was that he would ride any horse he could and that any time in the saddle was better than none.
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