The Plaidcast

The Plaid Horse

The Plaidcast is a weekly equestrian podcast hosted by Piper Klemm, PhD, publisher of The Plaid Horse magazine. Guests include Olympic riders, top hunter/jumper and equitation riders, trainers, horse show managers and industry insiders, plus in-depth conversations on topics such as horsemanship, collegiate riding, the state of our sport and horse show how to’s for riders at every level. One episode each month is devoted to the mental side of riding with nationally recognized mental skills coach and author Tonya Johnston (Inside Your Ride).

  1. 2 days ago

    496. Shelby Dennis, Equine Welfare Advocate

    Send us Fan Mail Shelby Dennis is an acclaimed professional horse trainer, equine advocate, International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) certified equine behavior consultant, and cofounding member of the Alliance for Horse Welfare in Sport. A driving force in the equestrian world, she is known for her compassionate approach to horse training and her unwavering commitment to the well-being of horses. With a lifetime of experience in the saddle and a deep understanding of equine behavior, Shelby has dedicated her career to promoting a more empathetic and respectful relationship between horses and humans.  Growing up in the picturesque landscapes of British Columbia, Canada, Shelby developed a profound love for horses from an early age. Her journey into the world of horsemanship began when she was four, as a young rider showing Arabian horses.  Armed with an Equine Science Certificate from the University of Guelph and years of hands-on experience as a professional horse trainer and educator, Shelby has inspired countless riders to adopt methods rooted in empathy, patience, and respect for the horse's natural instincts and behaviors. As the founder of Milestone Equestrian, she hopes to provide a sanctuary for both horses and riders seeking a deeper connection and a more harmonious partnership. Her innovative training techniques, based largely on the research findings of modern equine scientific study, focus on developing mutual trust and understanding to foster a relationship built on cooperation rather than dominance.  Shelby's latest book Secrets of the Horse: A New Approach to Training and Understanding Horses is available for purchase on Amazon and anywhere fine books are sold. theplaidhorse.com Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us. At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize. Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here. We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place. Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

  2. 5 days ago

    Plaidchat: The Five-Dollar Horse + My Show Strides Activity Book

    Send us Fan Mail The Five-Dollar Horse by Ellen Feld A boy, a horse, and an impossible dream... When the school bully started teasing Drew Anderson, the young boy found solace riding his mother's old horse, Rusty. Whether spending time grooming the horse or galloping through the pasture, Drew found that the stresses of school and the constant bullying faded when he was with Rusty. When it was time to retire Rusty, however, Drew felt lost without a horse to ride. That was until he heard about a national essay contest where the first prize was a horse! When the call came informing Drew that he had won the writing contest, he was thrilled to meet his new horse, Rimfire, a beautiful young Morgan. Together, they learned about trail riding, bumblebees, and snowstorms. Entering the show ring, Rimfire carried Drew to many blue ribbons, and that's when he heard about the Morgan Grand National, the pinnacle event of the Morgan show world. Drew dreamed of making a victory pass at the Grand National on his beloved horse, but as time went by, it seemed unlikely they would ever have the chance to compete at the prestigious show. Would Drew and Rimfire ever make it to the biggest show in the Morgan world? And what about that victory pass? Based on a true story, The Five-Dollar Horse proves that no dream is impossible if you work hard and never stop believing.  https://www.willowbendpublishing.com/shop/p/the-five-dollar-horse My Show Strides Activity Book by Piper Klemm and Rennie Dyball Show Strides readers, this book is for you. Literally! It's all yours to fill in the blanks, fill in the boxes, and design your own courses. After publishing My Show Strides Journal, we decided to add another DIY title to our library where you get to be the author and fill in your own answers. In My Show Strides Activity Book, we challenge you to solve horse-related calculations, design your own courses, and test your knowledge with a series of crossword puzzles and word jumbles. Keep learning and keep reading! https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=ocf73Bo9NCLcjmAxAnG5kSvDy6npeb5cLgQXDGfgzqI theplaidhorse.com Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us. At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize. Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here. We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place. Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

  3. 10 Jul

    494. US Center for Safe Sport CEO Benita Fitzgerald Mosley

    Send us Fan Mail Benita Fitzgerald Mosley Olympic gold medalist Benita Fitzgerald Mosley is the CEO of the U.S. Center for SafeSport. An established international leader in nonprofit, sports, and business, Benita has served as CEO of Multiplying Good, a nonprofit committed to cultivating greatness through service to others. She has also served as the President of FundPlay Foundation, the VP of Community & Impact for LeagueApps, and the CEO of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA, where she helped leverage the power of sport to build thriving kids and communities across the nation. A world-class athlete, Benita won a gold medal in the 100-meter hurdles in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, making her the first American woman to accomplish this feat. She was a member of the 1980 and 1984 U.S. Olympic Teams, an alternate on the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team, and a gold medalist in the 1983 Pan American Games. She is an inductee into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. Committed to furthering athlete well-being, Benita serves on several committees and boards, including the International Olympic Committee Commission, and the Boards of Special Olympics International and Athletes for Hope. She also served on the Senate Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics. Benita graduated from the University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering, where she competed on the track and field team, becoming an eight-time national champion and a 14-time NCAA All-American. She lives in Virginia with her husband and they have two kids in college. theplaidhorse.com Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us. At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize. Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here. We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place. Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

  4. 7 Jul

    493. Dr. Erica Lacher, DVM, Equine Veterinarian and Owner of Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic

    Send us Fan Mail Dr. Erica Lacher is an equine veterinarian and the owner of Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic in Newberry, Florida, near Gainesville. With more than twenty years of experience running her own equine practice, she has also served on the admissions committee for the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine, where she has reviewed hundreds of student applications.  Beyond the clinic, Dr. Lacher is a podcaster, speaker, and equestrian whose practice runs on two philosophies: a better educated client is a better client, and hire the right people and keep them happy. Recognizing the need for client-facing veterinary education, she co-founded the podcast Straight from the Horse Doctor's Mouth, where she and co-host Justin Long cover horse healthcare, care, and maintenance for owners of every kind of horse — "whether your horse is an athlete or a lawn ornament." The show has grown into one of the top podcasts in its category.  She is also a published author, co-writing How to Become an Equine Veterinarian: A Guide for Teens with Justin B. Long, and speaks regularly to the general public, horse owners, and fellow veterinarians on a wide range of topics. Her stated goal in everything she does is to make the world a better place for horses. theplaidhorse.com Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us. At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize. Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here. We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place. Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

  5. 29 Jun

    Plaidcast: Olivia Ferro, trainer and author of lowercase

    Send us Fan Mail Olivia Ferro is a 24 year old author, equestrian, producer, and writer based in the United States. She describes herself as an author and equestrian who rides with Metro Stables and is a proud Fresno State alumna, where she competed on the varsity equestrian team.  Her second book, lowercase, is available here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/lowercase-olivia-k-ferro/34c37ae1bf3b6983?ean=9798295680519&next=t As a collegiate rider for the Fresno State Bulldogs, Olivia competed primarily in the jumping seat discipline, earning multiple Match of the Performance honors and competing at the national championship level. Her time as a collegiate athlete gave her a deep foundation in the hunter/jumper world that continues to inform her writing and creative work.  Beyond the barn, Olivia is a poet and prose author bringing the same precision and focus she developed as a rider into her creative career. She works across writing, production, and digital media, with a portfolio that spans equestrian content and beyond.  theplaidhorse.com Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us. At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize. Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here. We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place. Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

    Plaidcast: Olivia Ferro, trainer and author of lowercase
  6. 26 Jun

    Amy Dragoo

    Send us Fan Mail Amy Dragoo has been shooting the Kentucky Three-Day Event for over 24 years, and she's been a photographer for Practical Horseman for more than 30 years. If you've ever opened a copy of Practical Horseman, Dressage Today, or the Chronicle of the Horse, you've almost certainly seen her work.  Based in the Philadelphia area, Amy is an internationally recognized commercial and editorial photographer serving magazine and website publishers, equestrian sport sponsors, and stock agencies across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.  Known for her creative angles, stunning backgrounds, and images that tell a story. She is a storyteller, a student of the sport, and one of the most passionate advocates for equestrian media working today. theplaidhorse.com Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us. At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize. Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here. We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place. Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

  7. 22 Jun

    Plaidchat: Dr. Clair Thunes on Beet Pulp & Sonja Ochadlik on Purchasing Expectations

    Send us Fan Mail Dr. Clair Thunes, PhD is an equine nutritionist and the founder of Clarity Equine Nutrition®, bringing over 35 years of hands-on experience as a horse owner to her practice. She earned her BSc (Hons) in Animal Science from Edinburgh University, her MS in Animal Science from the University of California, Davis, and her PhD in Nutrition from UC Davis in 2005. Through her consultancy, Dr. Thunes develops individualized feeding programs for a diverse range of horses — from high-performance athletes and lactating mares to seniors and horses managing complex conditions such as insulin resistance, PPID, and muscle myopathies — while also collaborating with veterinary practices and advising international feed and supplement companies. A dynamic public speaker and educator, she draws on her upbringing in England riding disciplines ranging from eventing and dressage to polo and fox hunting, making her as relatable in the saddle as she is authoritative in the lab. Her guiding philosophy — that nutrition is the foundation of a horse's overall well-being — informs every aspect of her work with individual owners, breeding farms, and Olympic-level competitors alike. Listen to the Scoop & Scale Podcast here:  https://scoopandscale.com/ Dr. Clair Thunes nutrition consulting: https://clarityequine.com  Sonja Ochadlik — Show Jumper & Equestrian Entrepreneur Sonja Ochadlik is a show jumping rider originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, who is now based in Ireland. Her transatlantic journey — from the American Southwest to the heart of Irish equestrian country — gives her a distinctive perspective that bridges two very different horse sport cultures.  She runs Stonehall Sporthorses, a business specializing in producing young horses and sourcing and selling top-quality horses and ponies. She operates the business alongside her husband Johnathon, with a focus on equine welfare and longevity in sport.  Beyond riding and trading, Sonja has become a vocal voice in the broader conversation about the future of show jumping. She is passionate about the training and welfare of horses and working towards making the sport of show jumping more inclusive. She has written for The Plaid Horse magazine on topics such as innovations in American show jumping, including updates to U.S. Pony Jumpers and proposed changes to Young Jumpers, with an emphasis on correct, safe, and welfare-driven development of both young riders and young horses. Her experience competing in Ireland is reflected in her competition record — she has been listed in Showjumping Ireland results riding horses from Stonehall's string — and she has become a regular commentator and contributor to American equestrian media, appearing multiple times on The Plaidcast with Piper Klemm. Her conversations have covered topics ranging from the differences between horse sport in Europe versus the US to equine education, pony jumpers, and horse auctions.  Sonja represents a growing cohort of American riders who have relocated to Europe to immerse themselves in the deeper pipeline of quality horses and a more established competition structure, while maintaining strong ties to the U.S. market and community. theplaidhorse.com Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us. At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize. Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here. We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place. Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

About

The Plaidcast is a weekly equestrian podcast hosted by Piper Klemm, PhD, publisher of The Plaid Horse magazine. Guests include Olympic riders, top hunter/jumper and equitation riders, trainers, horse show managers and industry insiders, plus in-depth conversations on topics such as horsemanship, collegiate riding, the state of our sport and horse show how to’s for riders at every level. One episode each month is devoted to the mental side of riding with nationally recognized mental skills coach and author Tonya Johnston (Inside Your Ride).

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