Behind the much-publicized issue of immigration stands a frequently overlooked population that imparts considerable influence on our hobby: the non-citizen workers who have a desire to be part of the horse industry here in the United States. Whatever your viewpoint on the complex topic of immigration, there’s no doubt that apprentice or guest workers are responsible for many of the behind-the-scenes tasks that turn horses into champions.
Continue reading …Megan Waldron of Parker, Colorado, is going into her final year of youth competition in 2019 with some impressive titles already under her belt. This well-rounded rider has already earned a NSBA World Show third place finish in Youth Hunter Under Saddle, Congress Championship in Novice Youth Western Riding, and a Congress Reserve Championship in Youth Hunt Seat Equitation. She has known the thrill of winning and the heartbreak of saying goodbye to a beloved horse that had been her best friend, confidante, and show partner.
Continue reading …During the final years of his life, legendary AQHA stallion Invitation Only enjoyed grazing in a green field reserved especially for him at Leeman Farms in Massillon, Ohio. The 1990 bay stallion by Barpassers Image and out of Bears Raisin Kane passed peacefully on February 15, 2019 after a well-deserved retirement with Fritz and Carole Leeman.
Continue reading …Ryan and Andrea Kail are third-generation horsemen, following the family tradition of quality and success at Kail Quarter Horses in Scottsdale, Arizona. They’re an equine power couple that’s managing a thriving family business in a demanding industry while raising two energetic sons, Lane and Carter. They’re living proof that if you have a village, in the form of a loving, supportive family, and clients who feel like extended family, the sky is the limit.
Continue reading …The Old Farmers’ Almanac has maintained an enduring and faithful readership since its inception in 1792. Early farmers took the Almanac’s advice very seriously for planning, predictions, planting, and animal health. While the world has changed much over the centuries, the Almanac’s Best Days advice continues to be one of its most popular features, right in league with its long range weather forecasts.
Continue reading …It’s been a long day in the saddle. After tossing your barn gear in the laundry, you fix yourself a drink and turn on the TV. It’s time to relax, and you haven’t even left the showgrounds! From keeping costs down to bringing along the kids or the family dog, there are countless benefits to camping onsite. Read on for tips and advice from some of the industry’s most fairground savvy exhibitors.
Continue reading …These days, a Trail course can seem like an endless sea of poles: pinwheels, serpentines, and chutes. No matter the graphic complexity of all those lines, at any point in the pattern, you’re only dealing with one pole. Breaking a pattern down to that basic element not only helps eliminate the overwhelming aspects of the course, it’s the starting point of training a young or green horse the fundamentals of Trail work. Three Trail experts share their reasoning for perfecting pole work, starting with a single log.
Continue reading …Every competitor has experienced that dreaded moment when the pressure is on and, for some unknown reason, their mind takes a holiday. What pattern? Extend the trot where? What are logs doing here? Which side of the cone am I supposed to be on? In the past, show nerves were exacerbated by the pressure of having to memorize patterns with little prep time before an event. Trainers and competitors juggling the excitement and energy of time crunch at the horse show found it difficult to do their best under those circumstances when only given a few minutes to learn a complicated series of maneuvers.
Continue reading …To begin, lease agreements involve terms that can be unfamiliar. The “lessor” in a lease is the one who owns the horse at issue and has the ability to temporarily transfer possession, custody and/or use to another. The other person in the lease transaction who receives use of the horse under the terms of the agreement is the “lessee.”
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