As 2018 comes to an end, it has become a GoHorseShow tradition since 2009 to look back on our top 10 most popular stories of the year as determined by our readers.
GoHorseShow’s goal has always been to combine unbiased and responsible journalism, entertainment, education, interaction and fun, as well as to provide a reading experience unparalleled to any other in our industry. And once again, GoHorseShow was there to cover it all in 2018.
We would like to give special thanks to the many loyal GoHorseShow readers for making 2018 one of our biggest years to date for our website and social media traffic. From now until January 1, we will reveal the top 10 stories for the year 2018.
Number 1
From Craigslist to Level 1 Champion
Published on May 10, 2018
Written by GoHorseShow
Clicks, impressions, likes, comments…all internet speak for things that contribute to the amount of traffic a particular story receives. But, nothing creates more traffic than when a story “goes viral” and to say the number 1 story of 2018 went viral would be an understatement.
The story of Matthew Siefker and the horse he bought from Craigslist really hit home with readers as tens of thousands tuned in to read how this amazing kid and his hard work and determination paid off to accomplish his goals in the show pen. People couldn’t get enough of this story as it spread throughout our horse show industry and beyond.
However, this story was just the beginning of Matthew’s success. After it ran on GoHorseShow, he and Grace Zipsinthe Rein went on to have an outstanding year winning the Congress and placing at several other big circuits, including the NSBA World Show and the AQHYA World Show. Our hats are off to this young man and all that he and Grace accomplished in 2018.
Click here to read the most popular story of the year on GoHorseShow.
Number 1 Video of the Year
Emma Brown Winning the 2018 AQHYA World Championship in Trail
As an added bonus this year, and as video becomes more and more popular in this digital world we are all living in, we’ve included the number 1 video of the year. This video captured Emma Brown edging out fellow competitor and horse show bestie, Natalia DeVencenty, for the Gold Globe in Trail at the Youth World. The reaction of Emma and her family, friends and trainers is priceless, so it’s easy to see why this video was a smash hit on GoHorseShow’s Instagram page and other social media sites.
Fun Fact: Emma was the cover girl for our 2018 AQHYA Issue of GoMag and Natalia, who won the Trail in 2017 was the cover girl for the 2017 AQHYA Issue of GoMag. Coincidence? We don’t think so.
Click below to see the most popular video of the year on GoHorseShow.
Number 2
Five Unwritten Rules of Showmanship
Published on March 21, 2018
Written by Julie Hoefling for GoHorseShow
Executing a pattern in the show pen can be as simple as following the rules outlined in the rule book…at least as a starting point. Following the basics should result in above average scores if done correctly. But for the really fine-tuned, there are certainly some unwritten rules to take you to the next level. In our 2nd most popular story of 2018, readers got the inside scoop on some of those unwritten rules in Showmanship and learned a few new tricks to try to execute with their own Showmanship runs.
Click here to read the 2nd most popular story of the year on GoHorseShow.
Number 3
New Performance Halter Rule Changes Announced for 2018
Published on January 5, 2018
Written by AQHA
Wow, who knew Performance Halter was such a popular class? Okay, maybe it’s not the class as much as the controversy that seems to always surround it. When we published AQHA’s press release announcing another change to the Performance Halter rules, our readers couldn’t get enough. So much so that it came in at number 3 for the year in total readership. Apparently, as long as they keep moving the goal posts, readers will continue to tune in. Hey, who doesn’t love a good old fashion horse show controversy?
Click here to read the 3rd most popular story of the year on GoHorseShow.
Number 4
Positive Pleasure: A Case to End the Stigma
Published on August 28, 2018
Written by Chenay Jordan McDowell for GoHorseShow
The western pleasure industry has taken its share of hits in the way of the PR department over the years. So, we set out to clear the air in our number 4 story of the year and broke out two of the industry’s biggest pleasure guns to do it; Casey Willis of Masterson Farms and Aaron Moses of Aaron Moses Show Horses. Much like their success in the show pen, they more than cleared up any possible misconceptions about the discipline and helped explain why it is so vital to the industry. Apparently when guys of that caliber talk, our readers listen.
Click here to read the 4th most popular story of the year on GoHorseShow.
Number 5
Common Misconceptions of Horse Trainers with Darla Lee
Published on June 19, 2018
Written by Darla Lee for GoHorseShow
In our 5th most popular story of the year, professional trainer Darla Lee of Plain City, Ohio tried to set the record straight on some common misconceptions about horse trainers. Perception is often reality, but as shown by the amount of traction this story received, sometimes the negative stereotypes regarding horse trainers simply aren’t true. Or at least they’re the exception rather than the rule. By and large, our readers agreed with Darla leaving no doubt that horse trainers are some of the most hard working and underrated of any profession on earth.
Click here to read the 5th most popular story of the year on GoHorseShow.
Number 6
Congress 2018 Reporter for a Day Series
Published throughout the 2018 All American Quarter Horse Congress
Written by Various Authors
It is no secret…people in the horse industry love Columbus, Ohio in October and everything that goes along with the ever-prestigious Quarter Horse Congress. When GoHorseShow started our ‘R4AD’ series back in 2017, we knew it would be a hit. We just had no idea how big of a sensation it would become in just two short years. This year’s series did not disappoint as readers got to take in many different aspects of the Congress from several different perspectives and each day’s readership averaged enough to bring it in at number 6.
Click here to read the 6th most popular story of the year on GoHorseShow.
Number 7
Brad Ost and Troy Lehn Announce New Training Partnership – Empyre Show Horses
Published on October 12, 2018
Written by Courtney Hall for GoHorseShow
Brad Ost and Troy Lehn are undoubtedly two of the most accomplished trainers in our industry. So, when the two announced they’d be partnering up to form Empyre Show Horses for the 2019 show season and beyond, to say the industry was excited would be an understatement. Early indications are that this new training team has a very bright future ahead, as evidenced by their number 7 ranking in our 2018 Top 10.
Click here to read the 7th most popular story of the year on GoHorseShow.
Number 8
Trainer Pet Peeves: Dangerous Habits
Published on April 10, 2018
Written by Mo West for GoHorseShow
We all have pet peeves in our respective lives, whether at a horse show or not. In our 8th most popular story of 2018, Mo West spoke with several well-respected professional trainers in the industry to learn what some of their pet peeves are with regard to safety. Given this story’s popularity, apparently our readers took note. Hopefully those safety tips have trickled over to the real world and if everyone reviews them again heading into 2019 by clicking below, the horse shows will be a safer place in the coming year.
Click here to read the 8th most popular story of the year on GoHorseShow.
Number 9
Six Life Lessons Learned from Showmanship
Published on September 5, 2018
Written by Cat Guenther for GoHorseShow
Horse showing teaches exhibitors invaluable life lessons. And to take it a step further, certain classes have different elements that apply to various aspects of life. Our number nine story illustrates how some of Showmanship’s core values and traditions span far beyond the show pen. Whether you are a die hard “Showmanshiper” or have never even tried the class, it’s easy to see why our readers loved this story and took away some amazing perspectives with regard to how showing horses impacts all of our lives, both in and out of the arena.
Click here to read the 9th most popular story of the year on GoHorseShow.
Number 10
Fashion Through The Years: Kent Ray Taylor
Published on May 19, 2017
Written by GoHorseShow
The tenth most popular story of the year took readers to our digital magazine, GoMag, to read the cover story of Kent Ray Taylor and his impeccable fashion sense throughout his many years of showing horses. Kent was the first male cover model to grace the cover of our highly popular, annual fashion issue during the month of May. Needless to say, our readers loved it. Even if you already read it the first time, it’s worth another look as Kent Ray Taylor’s story is so fascinating that people just can’t get enough of him.
Click here to read the 10th most popular story of the year on GoHorseShow.
