Cover Story: From Harley to Marley Meg DePalma and New Partner – Don’t Think Twice
For the past six years, we’ve grown used to watching Meg DePalma aboard her beautiful black gelding, Hotroddin Ona Harley, competing in Western All-Around classes to great success at events like the AQHA World Show, NSBA World Show, and Quarter Horse Congress. But after the recent sale of “Harley” to a fellow barn member, Robin Sowell, Meg was in need of a new partner. She seems to have found the perfect match in the 7-year-old mare, Don’t Think Twice, aka “Marley.”
Beau Baird – Representing the Horse Industry in Government
March 31, 2021 Comments Off on Beau Baird – Representing the Horse Industry in Government
A legacy of compassion and a desire to help others began as a way of life for Beau Baird, even as a young child.
Continue reading …Getting to know Assistant Trainer Martin Doustou
March 28, 2021 Comments Off on Getting to know Assistant Trainer Martin Doustou
Amidst the craziness that ensued during the 2020 show season with a virus soon turned pandemic, there was a bright spot for Martin Doustou with a new opportunity as he landed a coveted spot as assistant trainer with Rusty Green Show Horses in Ocala, Florida. Then, at the AQHA World Championship Show, Martin found himself in the arena competing against some of his biggest idols with Beez In The Trap, a mare owned by Rusty’s late mother, Mary Rogers Green. They topped the Level 2 Junior Trail class, which gave Martin his first World title.
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She checked her reins one more time as she started down the dimly lit tunnel titled “Gateway of Champions.” Her stomach vaulted as she followed her fellow exhibitors into the bright lights of the Jim Norick Arena. The time had come. As she began her first lap around the ring, she thought to herself, “What do I have to lose?” Chin up, hand down, and grounded in her saddle, Sydnie took a deep breath, beginning what would become a World Championship performance.
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His resume and pedigree are impeccable, but it’s his work ethic, intelligence, and athletic ability that earn One Hot Chip accolades like “one in a million,” “horse of a lifetime,” and “unicorn.” The 21-year-old gelding, lovingly known as Jackson, has an impressive list of achievements: multiple ApHC World Champion titles, a record for the most Western World and National Champion Titles, as well as ApHC World Record Holder in Western Riding with a score of 231.5.
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At ten years of age, Adam Winter did an assignment for his fourth grade teacher. It was a letter to his future self. It read, “Dear Adam, I want to be a horse trainer. I will be a great one, too.” That determination has been a constant for Adam and a trait that has served him well in the industry. At just 19 years old, he started Winter Performance Horses and, now, seven years later, he has a list of accolades that his resolve has helped him earn.
Continue reading …The Super Man Behind the Superhorse – Chuck Briggs and Dancin N The Dirt
March 16, 2021 Comments Off on The Super Man Behind the Superhorse – Chuck Briggs and Dancin N The Dirt
To say that Dancin N The Dirt is no stranger to the winner’s circle is like saying Tom Brady is a mere acquaintance at the Super Bowl. The horse wins and he wins big.
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Those of us who have served in the role of apprentice know you can depend on one thing: you’re going to work hard and learn a lot. As an apprentice, young horsemen have the chance to get a foot in the door in a competitive industry while learning from seasoned professionals. The hours are long, the work is frequently of the grunt variety, and compensation isn’t always lucrative, but the knowledge and experience gained as an apprentice are invaluable in the long run.
Continue reading …20 Years in the Making – Dressage Comes to the Forefront in AQHA
March 10, 2021 Comments Off on 20 Years in the Making – Dressage Comes to the Forefront in AQHA
It’s a long way from Greece in 400 BC to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 2020, but the sport of Dressage has arrived in AQHA World Show competition, much to the delight of horsemen of all ages and abilities. Classical Dressage traces its roots to the Greek military, as recorded by the legendary Greek Military Commander, philosopher, and writer, Xenophon, who led the battalion of mercenaries known as the ‘Ten Thousand’ in 400 BC. His treatise, “On Horsemanship” is still considered a primary document in the art of horse training today.
Continue reading …NSBA is On Course to Grow Opportunities for Hunter/Jumper Exhibitors
March 7, 2021 Comments Off on NSBA is On Course to Grow Opportunities for Hunter/Jumper Exhibitors
Close your eyes and tap into the most horse-crazy part of your brain. What would it look and feel like to be at a Disney World for equestrians?
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