The Plaidcast The Plaid Horse

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

Piper speaks with rider, trainer and USEF R judge, Rob Jacobs. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.   


Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid HorseGuest: Rob Jacobs is a licensed and insured equestrian trainer, judge, and clinician based in Seattle, WA. Rob received a BA in 2011 from St. Andrews University where he studied Politics and Equine Business Management. During his time as an undergraduate student, Rob had tremendous success on the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association team, winning IHSA Nationals in Novice Fences in 2009 and winning the Cacchione Cup Flat phase in 2011. In 2017, Rob completed his Masters in Business Administration from St. Andrews University. Rob has developed a talent for patiently bringing along horses & riders and helping them excel in the Hunter, Jumper, and Equitation rings. His attention to detail and passion for the sport is evident in his teachings.  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 and Cheval Press

Piper speaks with Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm about riding and training. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.   


Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid HorseGuest: Jim Hagman is the Founder, Head Coach and Instructor of Elvenstar in Moorpark, California. As founder, Jim not only laid the foundation, but also presented and developed each aspect of the business. Jim's systematic teaching emphasizes the art of communication between the horse and the rider, and Jim has a passion to his teaching style that is very positive and enthusiastic; building confidence and poise is a top priority. Jim’s training and coaching excellence has played a role in a long list of successful riders including top placings and wins at the most prestigious competitions in North America. Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance ServicesSubscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineSponsors: American Stalls, Purina Animal Nutrition, Wordley Martin Premium Equestrian Surfaces, America Cryo, LAURACEA, BoneKare, Show Strides Book Series, With Purpose: The Balmoral Standard, Good Boy, Eddie and World Equestrian Center