By: Ambassador Amy Bieber

​Last summer, I finally got to show at my goal fence height for two glorious rounds, one of which landed me my first first place in a jumper class ever. A month later at our next show, I went in to do a lower “warm up” round on the first day, and was promptly thrown off my horse. So it goes with horses, am I right? But where I could pick my younger self up off the ground and get going again like it never happened, my adult self does not bounce back so quickly.

By  Lena Andrews Licata

To ride or not to ride is definitely a question all of us female equestrians that get pregnant are going to have to face. Everyone has their own reasons for what they decide to do and none are wrong as it’s a personal decision for you and your journey. I figured I would channel my personal reasons for what I did.

By: Ambassador Allison West Hughes

​Despite our rocky history, I am once again tempted to start making plans and dreaming of future greatness for Rivalry, my 9-year old Czech warmblood gelding.  We completed our first weekend of jumping around miniature courses after 18 months of challenges this makes perfect sense to me. I set goals. I set multiple goals at the same time and set about to achieve all of them. 

By: Cristin Bertolino

As an equine insurance agent, I have to admit, I love my job. I get to help my fellow equestrians find coverage that works for them, and we get to relate on all things horsey along the way. I don’t have to worry about being judged for my Danskos, or my desk full of horse pictures. I get to help my tribe find what they need! It’s kind of amazing.
 
With that said, I want to emphasis how essential insurance is to your business and protecting those that you love, four-­‐legged and two. I get it. I’ve been on the other side of the table. Before I was an agent I had no idea what I was buying, and had so many questions I was afraid to ask. I’m here to help, and I’m excited to do it. I’ve put together a quick two­‐part guide, to help you beef up on the ins and outs of equine insurance.  

By Ambassador Allison West Hughes

It’s 8 a.m. and I am in a folding camp chair I have fished out of the horse trailer. There is a soft breeze, bright blue skies, sunlight filtered through swaying trees. The smell is unmistakably horse show; hoof oil, fly spray, show sheen, freshly shampooed horses and faintly, coffee. Through a perfect set of happy accidents I am at the George Morris Clinic at Smoke Tree Ranch in Scottsdale.

By: Ambassador Hannah Spector
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​I have been obsessed with braiding horses since I was old enough to show. I spent hours pouring over a battered copy of “Grooming to Win”, and trying to replicate all of the different braiding styles on my poor American Girl horse, and childhood pony. Many years later, I now have a semi-professional braiding gig for dressage and sport horse events in the Pacific Northwest, which helps me the majority of my horse showing costs.  From one adult amateur to another, let me share some tricks and tips that make braiding (or your braider’s job) faster and easier!

​Alexis and her horse Budweis'czar (Bud) compete in the 3'3" amateur owner hunter division on the A Circuit up and down the East Coast at shows such as Pennsylvania National, WIHS and Southeast Medal Finals (SEMF) in now held in Tampa, Florida..

by: Claire Caust-Taylor

2017 was quite a year for bashing hunters online. Admittedly, there was some scandalous behavior by hunter riders last year, but it could have happened in any discipline. If you read any comment section of any Chronicle, Practical Horseman, or Plaid Horse, etc. Facebook post, you’re bound to run into hunter bashing. But, now it’s 2018 and time for someone to step up and defend hunters. So, here are five reasons that hunters are just as good as other disciplines!