America’s Finest Youth Exhibitors 2021 Calendar
Check out the new AMERICA’S FINEST YOUTH EXHIBITORS 2021 CALENDAR! Print it out, or pick up your free copy at the shows!
Show Management FAQ With An Equine Production
June 5, 2020 Comments Off on Show Management FAQ With An Equine Production
The adage, “there’s no such thing as a dumb question,” is perhaps so commonly heard that it may be tempting to overlook the wisdom at its core: it’s better to ask a question than to pretend to know the answer or to be wrong entirely. This is especially true when it comes to horse show rules. The 2020 AQHA rulebook clocks in at a hefty 324 pages, and within those pages are rules that change slighlty from year to year.
Continue reading …Cannabis Use in Horses – CBD Has Many Benefits
June 2, 2020 Comments Off on Cannabis Use in Horses – CBD Has Many Benefits
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes multiple species and several “strains” within those species. These plants originated in Asia, but are now grown all around the world. Hemp is the term for varieties of Cannabis cultivated for fiber, seeds (food) and oils. Other varieties (marijuana, which has mind-altering properties) are used for medicinal purposes, and as a recreational drug.
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It’s no secret that life as a collegiate student-athlete is a balancing act. Between school, practice, and competition, it can be difficult to remain focused on the big picture: life after college. While many of us wish that college would never end, the reality is that we will all have to grow up, move on, and begin working towards our career-oriented goals.
Continue reading …Does the Mane Matter? – The Trend of Long Manes in Pattern Classes
May 27, 2020 Comments Off on Does the Mane Matter? – The Trend of Long Manes in Pattern Classes
A horse’s long, flowing mane is the stuff dreams are made of. There was a time, not so long ago, when a long mane would never have been found in the all-around pen – particularly not in a pattern class like Horsemanship or Trail. As short, banded manes gained in popularity for their ability to show off a horse’s neck and reflect a precise, polished look, they became a standard in most all-around classes.
Continue reading …The Dark Horse: Up-and-Coming Trainer Travis Duit
May 24, 2020 Comments Off on The Dark Horse: Up-and-Coming Trainer Travis Duit
Travis Duit’s first experience in the horse industry was breaking colts for a neighbor who was in the business of “dealing ponies.” At the time, he was a teenage bull rider. Apparently, to both him and his then employer, if he could stay on a bull, then he should be able to break a colt as well. Though the logic may have been flawed, the experience was Duit’s stepping off point into an industry in which he has since made great leaps and bounds.
Continue reading …New Partners in Life and Business – Rastall Show Horses
May 21, 2020 Comments Off on New Partners in Life and Business – Rastall Show Horses
After ten years of dating, Brian and Ashley (Frappier) Rastall married this past September. Both are well-known and well-loved former assistant trainers at barns such as Pine Meadow Quarter Horses, Masterson Farms, and Starnes Quarter Horses; but now, the two have struck out on their own as Rastall Show Horses. Their commitment to each other, their clients, and their horses has made for a successful start to their partnerships in both business and married life. The key to both, they say, is communication.
Continue reading …Legacy – Three Generations of Ladies Dominate the Halter Pen
May 18, 2020 Comments Off on Legacy – Three Generations of Ladies Dominate the Halter Pen
It’s often been said that family is the backbone of society and, in essence, what really matters in the world. Young equestrian McKenna Gibson has already learned the value of family due, in part, to the gift of the love of Halter horses from her grandmother, Carolyn Stewart, who she lovingly calls “Mamaw,” and from her mom, Cara McMillian-Gibson.
Continue reading …A Match Made In Heaven – Kathy Tobin & VS Code Blue
May 15, 2020 Comments Off on A Match Made In Heaven – Kathy Tobin & VS Code Blue
Every so often, fate smiles upon us to produce a natural specimen so exceptional that it’s in a class of its own. VS Code Blue is one such rarity. Combining the merits of careful breeding, devoted nurturing, and a little bit of DNA kismet, the little, roan colt has grown into a strapping mega-star gifted with exceptional conformation, lyrical movement, and natural charisma.
Continue reading …Importance of Strong, Healthy Soles
March 23, 2020 Comments Off on Importance of Strong, Healthy Soles
Your horse stepped on a rock and has been gimpy for several days. Your farrier examined the foot and said it looks like a mild stone bruise and mentioned that your horse has thin soles. Is there some way to help the horse develop a thicker, stronger sole?
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