A little #FlashbackFriday for you... I wrote this piece for the August 15, 2016, issue of the Quarter Horse News, and while it's geared towards cutters, reiners and working cow horse riders, I feel like this could be a beneficial read for anyone who looks at clinics to improve something in their lives. For example, … Continue reading Questions Answered: Is a Clinic Right For You?
Reining
Judge’s Chair: Pre- and Post-Checks at the Arena
Anyone who's competed at an NRHA event can attest that the show management, judges and stewards take the rules seriously. Though procedures like pre- and post-checks, NRHA officials strive to keep every horse and rider legal and safe while they're competing. These checks at every reining show allow a carded equipment judge to check each … Continue reading Judge’s Chair: Pre- and Post-Checks at the Arena
Sandra Bentien: Alone at the Top
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 … Continue reading Sandra Bentien: Alone at the Top
Andrea Fappani – Getting the Most From Your Horse
(From the January 2017 Reiner Magazine) 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 … Continue reading Andrea Fappani – Getting the Most From Your Horse
The Importance of Balance in Reining Horses
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 … Continue reading The Importance of Balance in Reining Horses
Getting the Most from Your Horse
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 … Continue reading Getting the Most from Your Horse
Throwback Thursday: Not Your Typical Horse Owner
When Casey Deary slid into the 2015 NRHA Futurity Finals aboard a flash Palomino mare, her owner was just so happy that not only was she in the finals, but she was spinning in the middle of Jim Norick Arena in Oklahoma City. Rob Curtis is about strategy--management strategies for business owners to help them … Continue reading Throwback Thursday: Not Your Typical Horse Owner
Breeding: Reproducing Greatness with a Little Help
Every winter stallions enter breeding sheds across the country with owners’ hopes of producing the next Spooks Gotta Whiz, HF Mobster, or Wimpys Little Step. Eleven months later mare owners wait with baited breath to see what possibly months or years of plan- ning has produced. Four long legs, a fluffy mane and tail, and … Continue reading Breeding: Reproducing Greatness with a Little Help
A Golden World Equestrian Games for USA Reining
Last week was a crazy one for me. I've learned it is particularly difficult to cover an event that is happening in France while you're located in Kentucky. But, thanks to technology and social media, it wasn't too bad. I was doing remote coverage of the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games for the EquineChronicle.com and HorsesDaily.com. It … Continue reading A Golden World Equestrian Games for USA Reining
Reining Team USA Announced
Six riders are now preparing their passports for Normandy, France, after a stellar showing at the 2014 Kentucky Cup Reining Event held during the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington over the weekend. Over the course of two rides, the top reiners in the country battled it out for the … Continue reading Reining Team USA Announced