The Importance of Balance in Reining Horses

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While I lived in Lexington, I had the privilege of getting to work with leaders in the equine health industry in many facets. I’ve always enjoyed talking with Stuart Muir, resident farrier at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. Stuart is a wealth of information when it comes to the horse’s hoof, so when he knows of a podiatry topic horse owners need to learn about, he and I work together to get that information out there.

One such example is this article I wrote for the NRHA Reiner: “The Importance of Balance in Reining Horses.”

GH-Joe Schmidt

Why is balance so important? In order to alleviate the amount of stress and pressure on the horse’s front legs during movement, it’s imperative that the front legs breakover with as little force as possible. “We need to get the horse moving very efficiently,” says Stuart. “To do that, we work a lot at balancing the hoof with trimming and shoeing. It’s very important, especially in reining, to make sure that the front end is balanced.”

You can read the rest of the article: The Importance of Balance in Reining Horses

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Saddle Up for Scottsdale

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I know this post is more than a month overdue, but I wanted to share some of the excitement from my trip to the American Horse Publications Seminar in Scottsdale, Arizona, in June.

As you may recall, I was a finalist in one category, plus I had an article that was submitted by a client, the American Quarter Horse Journal, that was a finalist in another.

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I’m proud to say that this editorial series for the Journal won its class!

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My personal profile on Tootie Bland for Western Horse & Gun Magazine took second in the Freelance Writer division, which I’m very proud of.

It was so fun to see fellow writers and magazines that I work for be honored throughout the night. The NRHA Reiner, American Quarter Horse Journal, Quarter Horse News, Western Horse & Gun Magazine and Horse Illustrated were all honored with numerous awards. I’m so lucky to get to work with some of the best writers, editors, photographers and designers in the industry.

Owners & Publishers of Western Horse & Gun, Ann & Rick Pihl
The NRHA Reiner staff: Bucky Harris, Simona Diale, Jana Thomason

Also at the Seminar, I took in some motivating information from renowned editor and writer Jacqui Banaszynski. I had heard so much about her, so I was happy to spend a day in writing sessions to learn about reporting and writing.

I also took in the session led by the Freelance Remuda, and led a session speaking to our student members about careers in the equine media field. It felt a little odd to have younger writers come up and say they’d read my work and aspired to do what I do…wasn’t I just that person a few years ago?

And, who can forget the gorgeous location and scenery around the Double Tree? The cacti were gorgeous, the pool amazing, and the friendships that were solidified were empowering.

If you are ever interested in equine media of some sort, I highly recommend becoming a member of the AHP and attending a seminar. Next year we will be in Hunt Valley, Maryland, and I’m looking forward to the trip already!

The Freelance Remuda ladies & fellow freelancers: Abigail Boatwright & Kate Bradley Byars
The infamous Larri Jo Starkey: Editor/Mentor/Friend
(L to R) Abigail Boatwright, Jessica Hein, me, Katie Navarra, Larri jo Starkey

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Trailer Shopping? Be Ready to Hit the Road

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Summertime means road trips, and for a lot of horse people, that means taking your horses with you–whether it’s for a horse show circuit or a long weekend of trail riding. And, if you’re looking to purchase a new ride for your horses, it’s a lot more than just choosing gooseneck or bumper pull.

In the May 2017 issue of the American Quarter Horse Journal, I did the research so you can answer this question yourself: Are you looking at the right horse trailer?

 

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Read more: Hit The Road

Getting the Most from Your Horse

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I just returned from a trip to Oklahoma City for the 2017 NRHA Derby, the aged event that celebrates 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old reining horses. It’s always fun to see the horses that competed in the prior year’s Futurity, as well as returning Futurity champions all in one building. I’ll post some photos from my trip later, but first, I thought it’d be good to learn how to get the most from your horse in the reining pen from the 2016 NRHA Futurity Champion (and NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider) Andrea Fappani and the NRHA Reiner.

The surprise wasn’t really that Fappani had won the Lucas Oil NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity, but the surprise was what horse he won it on, and how he did it.

Spooky Whiz joined the Fappani training barn at the end of his 2 year old year after Fappani purchased him through agent Eduardo Salgado for Rancho Oso Rio, an NRHA Million Dollar Owner. While the dark bay gelding was a bit on the small size, Fappani could tell, even at an early age, that he had exactly the mind he was looking for.

Andrea-romal

Read more on the PDF:

Trainer Talk: Getting the Most from Your Horse with Andrea Fappani

A Tootie Bland Production – Western Horse & Gun

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This weekend I set off for Scottsdale, Arizona, for the 2017 American Horse Publications Seminar. I’m so excited for this weekend, not only for the gorgeous backdrop of Arizona, nor the fact that I’m a finalist in two categories, nor that I’m presenting to our student members, but for the chance to catch up with friends and colleagues that I haven’t gotten to see in some time! I’m looking forward to face-to-face time with my editors and meeting new people, as well as all the education that I’m about to absorb to help better my writing!

Speaking on being a finalist, I wanted to showcase the article in which I’m a finalist for the Freelancer division. Tootie Bland is a legend in the equine world because of her groundbreaking event, Road to the Horse. She’s a firecracker who doesn’t have any quit to her at all, and I was excited to get to spend a couple of hours talking for this cover story for Western Horse & Gun Magazine.

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Tootie has lived a crazy life: growing up on her grandfather’s ranch, attending college, professional rodeo cowgirl, stunt woman, and now an equine production specialist.

One of my favorite quotes from our interview was: “One thing I am known for is: It is not what happens to you that matters, its what you do with it.”

You can read more from the magazine about this inspiring cowgirl: A Tootie Bland Production

I will share more from the seminar later!

American Horse Publications Finalist!

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The equine journalism world has what we like to think are the equivalent of the Oscars, only with no red carpet and we truly are excited just to be nominated. This morning the announcement was made showcasing the finalists for the Equine Media Awards. The awards are for work published in 2016 for member publications, associations and individuals, and will be awarded at the annual seminar in June.

And, yours truly is a FINALIST!

I entered only a few articles and crossed my fingers–they were what I thought my best works from 2016 (that clients hadn’t already entered to represent their publication). So to be named a finalist for at least one of the three articles I entered is pretty cool.

I want to congratulate and give a shout-out to my fellow freelancers for their finalist title, as well as some of my clients who were just named finalist: Horse Illustrated, NRHA Reiner, Quarter Horse News, The American Quarter Horse Journal, and Western Horse & Gun Magazine.

Below is the press release:

APRIL 25, 2017 – The wait is over. The finalists in the 2017 American Horse Publications Equine Media Awards (EMA) have been named. “This announcement ends two-months of anticipation for the 71 AHP members who have learned that they placed in the top five in one or more of 64 classes,” says Chris Brune, AHP Executive Director and EMA Coordinator.

Held since 1974, the AHP annual awards contest provides members with an opportunity to be recognized for excellence in equine media. This year’s competition for material published in 2016 drew 783 entries from 105 members, an increase in entries and participants from last year.

The Equine Media Awards, open to AHP members only, offer a Publishing Media Division for publications and freelancers and a Business division for equine-related businesses, organizations, and colleges.

The awards not only recognize excellence in equine media, but every entry is critiqued by professional judges to encourage members to improve.

The excitement isn’t over for the finalists. The next milestone is the announcement of the winners. Awards are placed first, second, third, or honorable mention, so every finalist is recognized for their achievement. The Equine Media Awards presentation will be held on Saturday evening, June 17, 2017, at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Paradise Valley during the AHP “Saddle Up for Scottsdale” Equine Media Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Members interested in attending the AHP Equine Media Conference & Awards in Scottsdale can access conference information and register online.

The results of the Equine Media Awards will be available on the AHP website after the awards presentation in June.

Who will be this year’s stars who earn EMA gold in Scottsdale? Here is the list of AHP members who are Equine Media Award finalists for 2017. Congratulations!

PUBLISHING MEDIA DIVISION FINALISTS

  • American Cowboy
  • American Racehorse
  • America’s Horse
  • Barrel Horse News
  • BloodHorse
  • California Horsetrader
  • Chrome
  • Cowgirl Magazine
  • Daily Racing Form
  • Dressage Today
  • Driving Digest
  • Equine Career Network
  • Equine Journal
  • EQUUS
  • Hoof Beats
  • Horse & Rider
  • Horse Illustrated
  • Horse Radio Network LLC
  • Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred
  • Modern Arabian Horse
  • New York Horse
  • NRHA Reiner
  • Off-Track Thoroughbred Magazine
  • Paint Horse Journal
  • PATH Intl. Strides
  • Pennsylvania Equestrian
  • PleasureHorse.com
  • Practical Horseman
  • Quarter Horse News
  • Ranch Horse Journal
  • Sidelines Magazine
  • Speedhorse
  • The American Quarter Horse Journal
  • The Chronicle of the Horse
  • The Florida Horse
  • The Horse: Your Guide To Equine Health Care
  • Thoroughbred Daily News
  • Untacked
  • USDF Connection
  • USHJA In Stride
  • Western Horse and Gun
  • Western Horseman Magazine

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

  • Megan Arszman
  • Abigail Boatwright
  • Melinda Brown
  • Kate Bradley Byars
  • Sarah Evers Conrad
  • Jennifer Keeler
  • Bianca McCarty
  • Merri Melde
  • Kathryn Navarra
  • Dusty Perin
  • Cheri Prill
  • Kelly Sanchez
  • Kara Stewart
  • Scott Trees

BUSINESS DIVISION FINALISTS

  • American Paint Horse Association
  • Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.
  • Central Garden & Pet
  • Certified Horsemanship Association
  • Horse Lifestyle
  • Horseware Products, Ltd.
  • Manna Pro Products, LLC
  • Monty Roberts JOIN UP International
  • National Reining Horse Association
  • Ohio Quarter Horse Association
  • Pinto Horse Association of America, Inc.
  • PM Advertising
  • Purina Animal Nutrition
  • Road to the Horse/Ride the Remuda Productions
  • SmartPak

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Podcast: Sharing My Experiences as a Freelancer

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I’ve been a freelancer for about 12 years, starting back in college…I can’t believe it’s been that long. Since then, I’ve gained and lost clients, met so many new people and shared countless of stories.

But, unlike a lot of my freelancing friends who do it full-time, I am also employed full-time elsewhere. I made the decision years ago that I wanted my freelancing career to be my “side hustle” and to continue working in a similar field. And while it’s considered “side hustle”, being a freelancer to the degree that I am is more than just a part-time gig. I’ve evolved my communications company to be a second full-time job, working almost as many hours at home, and in the truck, as I do in the office with the job with benefits.

Oh, yeah, and then there’s that other “full-time job”…the one I’ve held for a little more than two years now, with a very demanding boss, one that calls me nicknames like “Momma” and “My Mommy”. So, yeah, when you see my Instagram posts with the hashtag #3jobs2paychecks, that’s what I’m talking about.

So, when fellow freelancers, and friends, Abigail Boatwright and Kate Bradley Byars, approached me to talk about my experiences and to offer tips for those who want the “side hustle” for their podcast The Freelance Remuda, I was flattered. While I try, and hope, to keep everything in line, I’m not the best. But, I try. And that’s all you can do, is try.

So, I invite you to listen as I try to pass off as an “expert”, but mostly as someone who has lived and learned, and yet I realize that you are constantly improvising and improving.

And, then, I invite you to listen to their other podcasts with other wonderful freelance writers and marketers, editors and publishers. If you’re interested in being a part of equine media, this is the podcast for you!

The Freelance Remuda: Catching Up with Megan Arszman

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