The Plaidcast The Plaid Horse

Piper speaks with USHJA President Britt McCormick and Yash Balasaria, the CEO of American Stalls. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.   


Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid HorseGuest: Britt McCormick has been an owner, rider and trainer for over 25 years at Elmstead Farm LLC in Parker, Texas and the USHJA President. Britt has been the show manager of many Premier, National and local horse shows and has served as a licensed official at top horse shows across the country as both a Judge and a Course Designer. Britt has chaired several committees at the USHJA and USEF and was also on the Board of Directors at USHJA. Guest: Yash Balasaria is the CEO of American Stalls – representing the second generation in his family’s business. Yash’s experience in the steel industry, precision manufacturing and luxury hospitality has helped American Stalls grow as a market leader. American Stalls manufactures luxury stabling equipment for leading equestrian facilities across the globe. They provide everything from horse stalls to barn doors to tack hardware to lighting for your barn. Their mission is to build the finest stabling equipment to promotes elegance, safety, and long-term value in their clients' barns.  Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance ServicesSubscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineSponsors: American Stalls, Purina Animal Nutrition, World Equestrian Center, LAURACEA, America Cryo, BoneKare, Show Strides Book Series, With Purpose: The Balmoral Standard. Good Boy, Eddie and HITS Horse Shows

Tonya Johnston, Mental Skills Coach speaks with trainer and rider Tasha Visokay of Ingenium Farm. Tonya also answers a listener question on how to get into your zone quickly. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.   


Host: Tonya Johnston, Visit her Website, Facebook and buy her book Inside Your Ride Guest: Tasha Visokay has over 35 years of experience riding, training and caring for horses and their riders. After a successful career as a junior rider and working student, Tasha began her professional career after graduating from Barnard College. She worked for top professionals Andre Dignelli, Leslie Steele, and Karen Healey before starting her own Ingenium Farm in 2016. Tasha has a natural talent as a horse trainer and rider in the hunter and jumper rings, but her ability to run a successful business is also one of her biggest strengths. Tasha's clients have won top ribbons at local, regional and national medal finals as well as top placings at jumper year-end award finals.  Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance ServicesSubscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineSponsors: American Stalls, Purina Animal Nutrition, Wordley Martin Premium Equestrian Surfaces, LAURACEA, America Cryo, BoneKare, Show Strides Book Series, With Purpose: The Balmoral Standard. Good Boy, Eddie, World Equestrian Center, Sentinel Horse Nutrition, Laurel Springs School and HITS Horse Show

Piper speaks with rider and trainer Maggie McAlary about her career and splitting her time between Europe and the United States. Working amateur riders Laura Connaway and Dr. Sandra Gregory also join to talk about how they help each other to make horse shows within their busy careers. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.   


Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid HorseGuest: Maggie McAlary is a 34 year old show jumper and trainer originally from New Hampshire and now splits her time between Wellington, Florida and Antwerp, Belgium. Following a successful pony and junior career with highlights including the youngest ever winner of the USEF pony medal finals, winner of the USEF medal finals, ASPCA Maclay finals and team gold and individual silver medal at NAYRC she attended Auburn University where she competed as part of their NCAA equestrian team earning SEC championship wins, a national championship win as well as being a two time academic All American. Turning professional after graduation she worked with some of the top riders in the world including; Francois Mathy, Darragh Kenny, Double H Farm and Ben Maher. She considers jumping for Team USA at the CSIO 5* Spruce Meadow Masters as a standout professional moment. After years of building her resume and skill set she started McAlary LLC at the start of 2022, focusing on developing riders and horses. Guest: Laura Connaway is the founder and president of Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services, Inc. Laura is also an amateur grand prix show jumper that has competed several horses that she bred herself. Guest: Dr. Sandra Gregory is an amateur equestrian, part-time equine photographer, and an ABR Board Certified Radiation Oncologist based in Alpharetta, Georgia. Dr. Sandy is a member of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Medical College of Georgia. Sandy has worked in hospitals and cancer treatment centers in major cities including Memphis, Tennessee and the greater Atlanta area.Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance ServicesSubscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineSponsors: American Stalls, Purina Animal Nutrition, Wordley Martin Premium Equestrian Surfaces, LAURACEA, America Cryo, BoneKare, Show Strides Book Series, With Purpose: The Balmoral Standard. Good Boy, Eddie and Cheval Press

Piper speaks with top US show jumping groom Margo Thomas and top junior rider Violet Tatum. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.   


Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid HorseGuest: Margo Thomas is the head groom for Laura Kraut. After graduating from Virginia Intermont College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Equine Studies, Margo started out as an eventing groom and rider. Nine years ago she made the move to grooming show jumpers and has since traveled to top level shows such as Spruce Meadows, Aachen, and Geneva. Margo has been part of Laura’s team for nearly five years and she groomed Baloutinue at the Tokyo Olympics, where she helped team USA win a silver medal.Guest: Violet Tatum is a top-ranked 15 year old junior rider from California that has amassed an impressive collection of championships and victories in the seven years that she has been riding. Violet competes in the junior hunters, the equitation and the jumpers under the guidances of her trainer Archie Cox of Brookway Stables. Violet and her horses have won multiple USEF Horse of the Year National Champion and Reserve Champion honors, champion at the USEF Junior Hunter Finals, as well as wins and top placings at Devon, Capital Challenge, the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, the Washington International Horse Show and The National Horse Show.Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance ServicesSubscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineSponsors: American Stalls, Purina Animal Nutrition, Wordley Martin Premium Equestrian Surfaces, America Cryo, BoneKare, Show Strides Book Series, With Purpose: The Balmoral Standard and Good Boy, Eddie  

Piper speaks with Mark Miness and Karen Lucian who are amateur riders that support professionals in this industry as owners and collaborators. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.   


Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid HorseGuest: Mark Miness has been riding horses competitively since he was twelve years old. As a young rider, Mark trained under Leslie Howard and Molly Ashe, whom he credits for both his horsemanship and riding abilities. After a hiatus that lasted about fifteen years where Mark built a career in sustainable investing, he returned to riding both as an amateur rider and as an owner. Today, Mark is a Partner at Generation Investment Management, which is a mission driven investment firm focusing on investing in businesses and technologies that will help address some of the world's most urgent sustainability challenges. When he has time, Mark rides in the amateur owner hunters and focuses on owning and developing young horses primarily in partnership with Tom de Bel and Rene Dittmer. Guest: Karen Lucian lives in Newport Beach, California and keeps her  hunters in Wellington, Florida and trains with Keri Kampsen and Lexy Reed. Karen is a financial advisor at Raymond James and her lifetime dream has been to ride quality show horses.Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance ServicesSubscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineSponsors: American Stalls, Purina Animal Nutrition, Wordley Martin Premium Equestrian Surfaces, America Cryo, BoneKare, Show Strides Book Series, With Purpose: The Balmoral Standard and Good Boy, Eddie  

Tonya Johnston, Mental Skills Coach speaks with top rider Aaron Vale and answers a listener question on handling fatigue at a show. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.   


Host: Tonya Johnston, Visit her Website, Facebook and buy her book Inside Your Ride Guest: Aaron Vale is a top rider and trainer who manages Thinkslikeahorse, a full-service training facility in Williston, Florida, with quality jumpers, hunters, and equitation horses. Aaron has won more than 275 Grand Prix and has represented the U.S. in Nations Cups and FEI World Cup™ Finals. In 2024, he began the year by representing the NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team at the Longines League of Nations™ Abu Dhabi CSIO5* and the Longines League of Nations™ Qualifier in Ocala with Carissimo 25. He also rode Prescott to the win in the $100,000 MARS Equestrian Grand Prix CSI3* at WEC Ocala. Aaron has had numerous hunter and derby wins including twice winning the $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix. Aaron has also excelled in the equitation and as a junior rider was reserve champion at the ASPCA Maclay, Medal and USET Talent Search finals.  Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance ServicesSubscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineSponsors: American Stalls, Purina Animal Nutrition, Wordley Martin Premium Equestrian Surfaces, America Cryo, BoneKare, Show Strides Book Series, With Purpose: The Balmoral Standard, Good Boy, Eddie, Sentinel Horse Nutrition and Laurel Springs School