The Plaid Horse

Spring is a time to prepare for what’s ahead and many of this week’s International Horse Trials contenders took full advantage of ideal opportunities to build confidence, confirm training and find out where they can push the edges of their horse’s performance. Bec Braitling’s plan to “run quick here” with Caravaggio II was part of a shake-up in the CCI4*-S standings. Tommy Greengard and That’s Me Z moved from 6th to 2nd and Megan McIver and Igor B kept their overnight third rank. https://lnkd.in/gnvwkZuN

Tom O’Mara is the President of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), and Vicki Lowell is the?Chief Marketing and Content Officer of USEF. Together, they sat down with?The Plaid Horse?to share thoughts, reflections, and exciting information on the highly anticipated conclusion to the jumping branch of the premier US Equestrian Open Series–an equestrian competition format and broadcast like the world has never seen. Here’s what you need to know about the Jumping Final. https://lnkd.in/eebDrwCj

Will I be disappointed if I am on the cuff and don’t make it? Am I ready for all the pressure? Can I leg up and ride respectably to my horse and the competition in time? I have never ridden at Devon before, so I don’t know what it even takes. I’ve watched, observed, interviewed, and learned. I have had the privilege to show my baby ponies on the line at Devon four times. Those ponies are now 27 and 11. Does Reuben want to go? Will he want to after our annual May Kentucky outing? To all of these, who knows. https://lnkd.in/gKy2skMz

Piper speaks with show jumping riders Kristen VanderVeen and Alise Oken, who will be representing the US at the FEI World Cup Finals in Basel, Switzerland on April 1-6, 2025. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services. Listen in! https://lnkd.in/e9ZWJarb

Six of the world’s top 12 eventing riders, including World #1 Tom McEwen (GBR) and World #2 Tim Price (NZL), head an impressive list of entries for the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian?. The event will feature 11 Olympians and athletes from seven countries when it returns to the Kentucky Horse Park, April 24-27. Produced by Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), a non-profit, charitable organization that supports the development of equestrian sports by staging sporting events at the highest level, the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian features one of only seven annual 5* three-day events in the world. Known as “The Best Weekend All Year,” the event annually attracts nearly 90,000 spectators who also enjoy extensive shopping, a variety of hospitality experiences and a wide array of demonstrations. https://lnkd.in/ex28jjHY

“Last January, when I was getting ready for Road to the Horse, I went to Seattle, and I did a chicken camp for four days and that's where you learn how to train chickens. One of the things that you learn about is called the rate of reinforcement, which means how often the horse or the chicken is getting reinforced. And if you think you need good timing for a horse, let me tell you, you need good timing for a chicken. With how quick they look around, you're trying to capture just the right moment in order to reinforce something so that they do it a second time. Also, in chicken camp, we learned how much we have to break down behaviors and not skip steps, and that's so important with something like Road to the Horse.” With Road to the Horse 2025 underway, recount humorous and insightful stories with last year's winner, Tik Maynard, in his Plaidcast Live episode. https://lnkd.in/evjEQ7wt

?????????????????????? ???? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????!? It’s a surreal and exciting milestone — and I’m incredibly proud and grateful to our HorseGrooms team to see our mission of supporting grooms and preserving horsemanship spotlighted in such a major way. The Plaid Horse editor Piper Klemm, Ph.D. wrote a beautiful article about our mission, and the testimonials people shared for the article are powerful, touching, and a reminder of why this work matters so much.? ? Being on the cover myself (thank you to Ashley Neuhof for making me look good) instead of a groom or Amy felt a little awkward, but Piper told me to get over myself — “This is your idea and your passion project,” she said. And she’s right. It all started with a wild idea, a desire to contribute to better horse welfare, and a commitment to empower the people who care for our horses.? ? Still, I wouldn’t be here without Amy McGann, HorseGrooms’ brilliant Creative Director. HorseGrooms’ identity — its voice, its look, its feel — is entirely thanks to her artistry. Amy is a creative force who gave HorseGrooms its soul, and she deserves every ounce of credit. (???? ??????’???? ?????????????? ?????? ?? ?????????? ???????????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????? ????????????????, ???? ???? unbridledform.com — ?????? ??????’?? ???????????? ????.)? What’s also deeply humbling is how many incredible professionals have volunteered their expertise to uplift and support grooms — vets, bodyworkers, nutritionists, Olympic-level grooms, and more. Without them, HorseGrooms wouldn’t be what it is today: a growing, trusted space for grooms and equestrians around the world. HorseGrooms is here to stay — and with the financial support of trainers, stables, sponsors, riders, and equestrian businesses, I hope we can become a truly sustainable organization. That way, we can not only keep going, but grow — offering even more education, events, resources, meetups, and tools to help grooms thrive, stay in the industry, and keep horsemanship alive for generations to come. If you'd like to support us: https://lnkd.in/eJ73QtEv A special thank you to US Equestrian who recently partnered with us to expand their educational support for grooms nationwide. It’s a big step for the grooming community to be officially recognized and supported by such a huge national federation, and this is something that makes me really proud. Let's hope more NF's will follow! Read the full cover story in The Plaid Horse April issue (pages 38–45):?https://lnkd.in/etfXfyJ9 Join the HorseGrooms Community or explore resources at horsegrooms.com Let’s keep horsemanship alive — for the love of the horse, and the people who care for them.

There’s a second victory for lovers of equestrian sport this week following an incredible display of top-level show jumping last weekend in the Longines League of Nations? hosted at the World Equestrian Center – Ocala. Today from home, stream the events again on CBS Sports Network during the primetime hours of 8:00-10:00 pm EST. https://lnkd.in/eDWA6_xi

Read about HorseGrooms on the cover of the April Issue here: https://lnkd.in/dM7ud5W

Gastric health is always a hot topic among equestrians. EQUINE ELIXIRS ushered in the New Year with a new liquid gastric supplement that has garnered a lot of attention. Slimer, an all natural way to coat the sensitive gastric lining from splashing acid, is the newest addition to Equine Elixirs’ exclusively show safe supplement lineup. “An easy-to-administer liquid alternative to sucralfate is something we have been working on for a while,” said Elizabeth Ehrlich, the founder of Equine Elixirs. See answers to FAQs below: https://lnkd.in/eiYx4wi2