Sandra Bentien: Alone at the Top

January 30, 2019January 30, 2019 / Megan / Leave a comment

When I am able to cover events live, I love to hear everyone’s stories. It’s part of my job: to listen and share your story. I met Sandra Bentien at the NRHA Futurity a couple of years ago and fell in love with her stallion, Gotta Twist It Up. The pair ended up winning the Level 3 & 2 Non Pro Futurity Championships in 2016, then came back to win the Level 4 Non Pro Derby Championship in 2018.

It was my privilege to share her story in the January 2018 issue of Horse & Rider magazine. She tells me how she survived her first pony, a black Shetland named Thunder, and moved on to teach herself the intricacies of reining.

“Competitors all dream of winning on the big stage. For reiners, that’s often at the Jim Norick Arena in Oklahoma City during either the National Reining Horse Association Derby or Futurity. Riders and trainer fantasize about being crowned the NRHA Futurity Champion, the penultimate title. Breeders hope they’ve produced the next prospect to wear the roses. Owners dream of taking those roses home to their mantels.

“Rarely are all four of those people–rider, trainer, breeder and owner–under one hat. But when you’re the ultimate do-it-yourself non-pro, the stars can align for that to occur, as they did for Sandra Bentien at the 2016 NRHA Futurity.”

Read the whole article on Horse & Rider’s website: DIY Rider Alone at the Top

A little behind the scenes look when Sandra was named 2018 NRHA Level 4 Non Pro Derby Champion with her homebred, Gotta Twist It Up.

Catching up with Sandra Bentien right after she’s named 2018 NRHA Level 4 Derby Champion.

Andrea Fappani – Getting the Most From Your Horse

December 4, 2018December 4, 2018 / Megan / Leave a comment

(From the January 2017 Reiner Magazine)

Andrea Fappani Spooky Whiz The surprise wasn’t really that Andrea 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, Fappnie could tell, even at an early age, that he had exactly the mind he was looking for.

“What I liked was his mind,” recalls Fappani. “As a 2 year old he was very mature, and you could tell he took different things that he wasn’t used to and handled them well. That’s what I’m looking for when I train young horses.”

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Learn more about how Fappani got the most out of Spooky Whiz, and why he chose to break tradition and ride in romal reins: Trainer Talk: Getting the Most From Your Horse

Arszman to Speak at AQHA Racing Summit

November 12, 2018December 4, 2018 / Megan / Leave a comment

Award-winning freelance writer and social media marketer Megan Arszman travels to Los Alamitos, Calif., to speak about marketing for racetracks and racing groups at the 2018 American Quarter Horse Association Racing Summit on November 14-17. The Racing Summit is an educational event held in conjunction with the Bank of America Challenge Championships at Los Alamitos Race Course. This is the second year in a row AQHA Racing has invited Arszman to speak at the event.

In her second year in charge of the marketing and communications for the Indiana Horse Racing Commission and its breed development programs, Arszman’s position is a unique one—Indiana is the only state to have a dedicated marketing person for a commission. This was due to a change in a bylaw regarding the Commission, it was tasked with promoting the state’s horse racing industry.

“Having Megan on board with the Commission has been a wonderful addition,” says Jessica Barnes, Director of Racing and Breed Development for the IHRC. “She is so driven to promote our industry not just in Indiana, but across the country, and we’ve already seen growth because of that.”

In her short time with the Commission, Arszman grew their social media presence from non-existing to one that gets a lot of attention. She’s also pushed for better branding for the programs and increased awareness of marketing not only for the programs, but also for the horsemen that participate in the program. Arszman’s presentation at the Racing Summit focuses on the challenges most tracks and horsemen’s groups have with the image of horse racing and some ways to combat those challenges.

“I’m honored that Janet VanBebber and AQHA asked me to come back to the Summit this year,” says Arszman. “I had such a good response after last year, I’m excited to see what we can accomplish this year.”

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ABOUT MEGAN ARSZMAN

Megan Arszman has been involved in the equine publishing and media industry for more than 12 years, with roles stemming from intern to Enewsletter Editor to Web Producer to Freelance Writer. She has earned accolades with the American Horse Publications group and the Livestock Publications Council. She is a member of AHP and the Turf Publicists Association. She works full-time doing the marketing and communications for the Indiana Horse Racing Commission and its breed development programs, while running her communications company on the side. She is a mother of a horse crazy toddler, married to a patient man and fourth generation horsewoman and dog trainer.

ABOUT THE INDIANA HORSE RACING COMMISSION

The Indiana Horse Racing Commission ensures that pari-mutuel wagering on horse races in Indiana will be conducted with the highest of standards and the greatest level of integrity.

Riders4Helmets – IHAD

August 21, 2018August 20, 2018 / Megan / Leave a comment

Every year I have the privilege of helping with the marketing efforts of a noble cause–International Helmet Awareness Day. I work alongside Lyndsey White and Chad Mendell of Riders4Helmets to do press releases and stories to help increase awareness for the day and spread the word about the great deals riders can get to purchase a new helmet one time a year.

Riders4Helmets International Helmet Awareness Day

Aubrey and I always wear our helmets!

In the past, I’ve written short articles regarding concussions and the longevity of a helmet. This year, I wrote an educational article on the makings of a helmet, featuring some of the top helmet manufacturers like Troxel, Back on Track, Ovation, etc.

What Makes A Helmet Safe?
Gone are the days of simple hard plastic with a velveteen outer layer. Nowadays, helmets are held to a much higher standard of safety testing. They’re more aerodynamic and better padded, without adding extra weight, and they are stylish so riders will want to wear them. The safety of every ride is the main goal for each helmet manufacturer as they strive year after year to develop the safest helmet they can, while keeping it comfortable, attractive, and easy to wear.

A few of the top helmet manufacturers around the world shared with us some of their most important components when it comes to making helmets…

Then, this one article…the kind that makes you stand up and take notice and really think about “what if” when it comes to the smallest decisions you make.

Megan’s Troxel helmet was broken in eight places, but her head was safe.

Back story: I was assigned a story by the American Quarter Horse Journal to tell the story of a veterinary student’s fateful day, but after the interview, I knew it was such an eye-opening story that it needed to be shared during International Helmet Awareness Day. I’m thankful to editor Becky Newell for allowing me to share the story with Riders4Helmets, understanding the importance of educating all horsemen and women about wearing helmets, even for the shortest of trail rides.

This is only a small snippet of Megan Richman’s story–the rest will be shared in a later issue of the American Quarter Horse Journal (you can subscribe online).

Helmet Versus Train
There are some decisions you look back on and wonder what would have happened had you chosen a different option. For 26-year-old Megan, she’s gone through all the “what ifs” and “should haves” repeatedly the past two months. But things remain the same: She’s still alive.

Keeping Up with the Johnsons

August 19, 2018August 19, 2018 / Megan / Leave a comment

One of my favorite things to do is write profiles on the people of the horse industry. I love to tell their stories, and to share with the world something that maybe nobody else knew. When I am assigned a story about a subject whom you think everyone knows everything about, I see it as a challenge to dig a little deeper…

Bob and Karen Johnson of Burns, Tenn., are those kind of people–their personalities are so big that everyone wants to be their friend. They met at a horse show, and now they spend their time together at horse shows all across the country, showing their American Quarter Horses in ranch riding and halter.

This story earned an Honorable Mention at the 2018 Livestock Publications Council awards in the Feature/Human Interest, Association category for the American Quarter Horse Journal. Continue to read more to learn about this awesome couple.

Bob and Karen Johnson feature in American Quarter Horse Journal

Read more: Keeping up with the Johnsons

On the Hunt – Equine Media Descend on Maryland

June 13, 2018June 13, 2018 / Megan / Leave a comment

As I’m writing this, I realize that I have not been the best in updating my own website, and for that I’m embarrassed. However, maybe that’s a good sign to show that I’ve been so busy with projects and work and promoting others that I don’t have the time to promote myself? Yeah. Let’s go with that.

This weekend I’ve flown East to Hunt Valley, Maryland, for the annual American Horse Publications Media Seminar. It’ll be a weekend of learning, networking, inspiring and (hopefully) being inspired. The weekend starts with a tour of Maryland’s horse country, including fox hunting grounds and Sagamore Farm. It’ll culminate with the annual Equine Media Awards.

This year, I am a finalist in at least one category that I know of. I entered a few different stories, and one that I wrote for the Quarter Horse News was named a finalist in its category. It was a fun article looking into the history and the use of the romal rein, spurred by the use of them by 2016 NRHA Futurity Champion Andrea Fappani.

QHN041517_BraidedInTradition[1]

You can read it here: Braided in Tradition

I’ll be sure to take photos and chronicle the weekend, in hopes that it kicks me back into updating things and sharing more of my work with you. To say life has been a whirlwind is putting it mildly.

Horses Healing Humans

May 7, 2018May 7, 2018 / Megan / Leave a comment

It’s no secret that the outside of the horse can bring out the best in any human. In fact, Winston Churchill’s famous quote, “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man,” is seen everywhere horses are prevalent. That’s why equine therapy has started growing in popularity and use.

Last year I wrote an article on Acri Verde Farm in the suburbs of Chicago for the Equine Chronicle. I talked with owner, Jannee Pugliani, who is a horsewoman and a wife of a veteran. While she was finishing her college degree, at 46 years young, she learned about a mode of therapy called equine-assisted psychotherapy and the Equine Growth and Learning Association (aka EAGALA). It is through this line of work she joined with SheForce for female veterans and has made a huge difference in so many lives in just a short amount of time. 65-80

I invite you to read more about Pugliani, Acri Verde Farm and EAGALA…

MA Communications

Freelance Writer. Editor. Blogger. Social Media.

Author: Megan