As every horse approaches that inevitable two-year-old mark, there is one question that must be asked. To cut or not to cut. For APHA/PtHA competitor, Brandy Smith, of Findlay, Ohio, the answer was simple.

They are the stall cleaners, silver polishers, cab drivers, makeup artists, personal organizers, point keepers, videographers, cheering squads, personal chefs, therapists, horse groomers, motivational speakers, and so much more. They are horse show moms, and without this special group of ladies, the world would be a much more complicated, and not to mention disorganized, place.

Bella captivated the nation when she used her body to shield her newborn foal, Butterscotch, from the flames of a late night barn fire one-month ago today. She is now in recovery

“I follow her around with the laptop so Amy can watch her and then I pass forward any verbal commands. It’s hard when we are in Ocala and the pattern coach is in Connecticut!”

Understandably, you might not want to eat anything big or heavy before a long hunter under saddle class, but you do need something in your stomach to combat any weakness you might encounter from hunger.