5 Exercises to Improve 5 Essential Showmanship Skills
May 7, 2022 Comments Off on 5 Exercises to Improve 5 Essential Showmanship Skills
When it comes to Showmanship, the discipline has come a long way from its humble 4-H beginnings–when it was used to teach youth how to present an animal in-hand–to the complex dance we see between horse and exhibitor today. In fact, what was once thought of as a basic class has become one of the most technical of the all-around disciplines, with five maneuvers utilized in almost every pattern: the set-up, the walk, the trot, the back, and the turn.
Continue reading …Common Characteristics of Equine Sale Disputes
May 5, 2022 Comments Off on Common Characteristics of Equine Sale Disputes
Equine sales are on the upswing these days, and many believe we’re now in a seller’s market, with high prices and eager buyers. As a busy lawyer with over 35 years of experience, my phone rings frequently with calls from horse buyers or sellers who are considering a lawsuit or who have been threatened with one.
Continue reading …New Opportunities Coming to 2022 AQHA World Shows
May 3, 2022 Comments Off on New Opportunities Coming to 2022 AQHA World Shows
The American Quarter Horse Association, in partnership with various sponsors like Nutrena, Ford, and Farnam, has been providing opportunities for exhibitors to compete on the World Show stage for over fifty years. Today, AQHA offers five different World Championship shows including the Built Ford Tough AQHYA, Farnam AQHA, Adequan AQHA Select, AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse, and AQHA Cowboy Mounted Shooting World Championship shows. These prestigious events, held in various cities each year in the United States, offer a chance for accomplished horses and exhibitors to compete for the elusive title of World Champion, as well as millions of dollars in cash and prizes.
Continue reading …Non-Pro Profile – Samantha Stubblefield
May 1, 2022 Comments Off on Non-Pro Profile – Samantha Stubblefield
Five foot dynamo, Samantha Stubblefield, has loved horses since she can remember. Growing up in a non-horsey family in Blue Springs, Missouri, a little town outside Kansas City, she remembers wishing for the chance to ride a horse. Her parents, Ross and Andrea Stubblefield, encouraged Samantha, aka “Sami,” and her older brother, Alex, to try different activities.
Continue reading …Taylor Sheridan – The Bigger Picture
April 29, 2022 Comments Off on Taylor Sheridan – The Bigger Picture
Mere mention of the highly popular Yellowstone television series generates a chain reaction of delight and enthusiasm among equine enthusiasts, and even the general public. Fans of the Western genre anxiously await each episode, whether it’s the original series, Yellowstone, or 1883, the prequel. It’s no surprise, considering the acclaim of any production listing Taylor Sheridan as creator.
Continue reading …From the Publisher – A Fond Farewell
April 28, 2022 Comments Off on From the Publisher – A Fond Farewell
Having grown up riding and competing as a youth and amateur exhibitor in APHA and AQHA circles, I’d always been familiar with The Equine Chronicle. Gordon Downey is a longtime family friend and, for many years, I was able to see images of my beloved horses featured in the magazine’s glossy pages. When I began studying Creative Writing and Journalism in college, Gordon suggested writing some articles for the magazine, on a freelance basis.
Continue reading …Cover Story – Melissa Busch Cook and Flo Rida
April 27, 2022 Comments Off on Cover Story – Melissa Busch Cook and Flo Rida
After a 14-year absence, Melissa Busch Cook is back in the saddle again making her show pen debut with a talented, 3-year-old, AQHA gelding named Flo Rida. For her, the return to her favorite discipline of Western Pleasure “feels like I’m stepping back into something comfortable.”
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The sweeping strides of graceful horses and the splendor of vintage-inspired attire lends to an air of elegance that makes Pleasure Driving such a beautiful discipline to watch. But teaching a horse how to drive has far-reaching benefits that extend beyond competing in the class itself.
Continue reading …5 Go-to Bits for Taking a Two-Year-Old to an All-Arounder
March 28, 2022 Comments Off on 5 Go-to Bits for Taking a Two-Year-Old to an All-Arounder
Transitioning from a snaffle or hackamore to a bit with a shank and a curb chain is a big transition in a young horse’s life and not one that happens overnight. First, the pressure applied takes place in entirely new and different areas. Acclimating a horse to new headgear is something that takes time, tenacity, and the right tools.
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Injuries are fairly common in horses because they are large and strong, and highly mobile. Domestic horses in small enclosures injure themselves more often than a less active species. Horses in athletic careers often have greater risks for injury because of the speeds they travel, with more stresses on feet and legs.
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