We all dream of that moment in the spotlight when all of the long nights, early mornings, miles traveled, and hours spent at the barn lead to being the last one standing in the arena. It’s a moment that keeps many of us going when we want to quit. In those tough moments, that dream is enough to push us to work a little bit longer, sleep a little bit less, and continue to put in the hours necessary to achieve victory. We imagine our horse having a neck ribbon fastened tight and the feeling of taking a victory lap in front of a cheering crowd.
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The search for the right bit is an ancient one. Archeologists now speculate that humans probably became equestrians at least 6,000 years ago, and riders have spent the intervening millennia trying to figure out how best to communicate with their horses. Early bits were made of vastly diverse materials, such as animal horn, bone, wood, sinew, rawhide, and rope. The appearance of metal bits coincides with the Bronze and Iron Ages, roughly the time between the 8th and 14th centuries BC.
Continue reading …Around the Rings – Appaloosa World Championships
November 4, 2019 Comments Off on Around the Rings – Appaloosa World Championships
Click here to view more fun photos from around the rings at the Appaloosa World Show.
Continue reading …EC Amateur Profile – Larisa Affeldt – A Grateful Heart
November 3, 2019 Comments Off on EC Amateur Profile – Larisa Affeldt – A Grateful Heart
“When my youth career was coming to an end, I didn’t know if horses would ever be in my future.
Continue reading …Super Sires Superstars – A Recap of WPSS Western Pleasure Futurity at 2019 Tom Powers Futurity
November 1, 2019 Comments Off on Super Sires Superstars – A Recap of WPSS Western Pleasure Futurity at 2019 Tom Powers Futurity
The Super Sires Western Pleasure program has a mission to foster Non-Pro riders of all skill levels and support the breeding of quality bloodlines. The program is living out its mission in 2019 with the presentation of significant cash and prizes in three Super Sires Western Pleasure classes that were held at this year’s Tom Powers Triple Challenge Futurity.
Continue reading …The Cowboy Rides Away – Remembering Stanley Dale Ryan
October 31, 2019 Comments Off on The Cowboy Rides Away – Remembering Stanley Dale Ryan
Many people come into our lives through horses, but only a few stay in our hearts forever. Stanley Ryan was a special soul, who made life sweeter for everyone who was fortunate enough to cross his path. An immense talent in the horse show world, a loving father, and devoted friend, Stanley was known for his beautiful smile and attention to detail. His daughters, Courtney and Chelsea, were his pride and joy, and he was blessed with a grandson he adored. He went home to see his mama and sisters every chance he could, and he was a friend that could be relied on when needed. Stanley lived life to the fullest, and he was always there to build up others with a kind word and his ever-present grin.
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At just 17 years of age, Kaitlyn Smith has more titles than many who have shown their whole lives. In fact, just this year alone, she racked up two APHA Youth World Championships at her debut World Show and earned an All-Around Youth title at the AQHA Level 1 Central Championships.
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A Congress win is arguably the highest honor a horse or rider can achieve. It presents a level of competition that comes with tremendous pressure, and there is no room for error. The unpredictability is part of the allure and what keeps it interesting. While we will never forget a big win, we may want to forget those blunders, bloopers, and bumps along the road, especially when they happen at the prestigious All-American Quarter Horse Congress.
Continue reading …EC Amateur Profile – Katie Shepherd – A Soft Spot for Appaloosas
October 25, 2019 Comments Off on EC Amateur Profile – Katie Shepherd – A Soft Spot for Appaloosas
The Appaloosa horse has a fascinating history in America. Their origin on this continent extends back to the Spanish invasion of Mexico in the 1500s. As their movement grew northward, the distinctive breed, named for Idaho’s Palouse River, transformed the Nez Pierce nation from a localized agrarian people to a nomadic hunting powerhouse in the northwest. Their brightly spotted horses were prized possessions, and the breed remains synonymous with the culture of the West.
Continue reading …Around the Rings at the 2019 Congress – October 10th-27th with the G-Man
October 24, 2019 Comments Off on Around the Rings at the 2019 Congress – October 10th-27th with the G-Man
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