The holiday season, for most people, means being with friends and family, giving thanks, gift-giving, worshiping, cheering, and celebrating. For GoHorseShow readers, it also means reflecting back on the top 10 stories of the year. It has been an annual tradition at GoHorseShow since we launched over 14 years ago.
This is the time of year we take a few days to look back on the horse show year that was; all of the great (and sometimes not-so-great) moments that comprised it all. GoHorseShow was there to capture all the highs and lows, all the smiles and tears, all the ups and downs, and everything in between.
As we reflect back, we almost have to pinch ourselves every year at what an unbelievable group of readers and advertisers we have who make it all possible. And 2022 was certainly no exception. More than ever before, we find ourselves overcome with gratitude for all of the people, horses, and businesses that make what we do possible, and make the horse show community so special. We hope we have delivered you an unparalleled media experience. We know our readers and advertisers have provided us with unparalleled support and for that, we thank you. We know we could never do any of it without you.
Here’s to 2023 being the best year yet. Until then, from now until January 1, we will reveal the top 10 stories of the year from 2022. Enjoy and happy holidays from all of us at GoHorseShow!
Number 1
WEC Championship Show 2022 Canceled
Published on September 2, 2022
Written by World Equestrian Center
When the World Equestrian Center Ocala sent out a press release announcing the 2022 Championship Show was canceled due to a lack of entries, to say that it was breaking news would be an understatement. In just its second year, the Championship seemed to be making its mark on the industry, offering exhibitors a chance to show for some great purses and prizes at arguably the premier equine facility in the country. That’s why, when the somewhat last minute cancelation announcement came, it sent shockwaves through the horse show industry leaving some exhibitors scrambling to make alternative plans. Never fear, the All American Quarter Horse Congress extended their entry deadline to offer all exhibitors a soft landing spot, resulting in one of the best Congresses in history. Whatever you make of our number one story of the year, it’s hard not to argue that when all the dust settled, the Congress is…still the one.
CLICK HERE to read the #1 most popular story of the year on GoHorseShow.
NUMBER 1 VIDEO
Congress Win Reaction Video
Published on October 13, 2022
Video by Jordan Jones Photography for GoHorseShow
What happens when you combine one part talented photographer/videographer Jordan Jones with an epic reaction from one of the most accomplished and recognizable 13 and under exhibitors in the industry? You get a viral video seen by hundreds of thousands of people. When Allie Rippeon and Itzonly Make Believe were crowned Congress Champions in the L1 13 & Under Trail with a score of 233.5, Jordan was there, as always, to capture it all for GoHorseShow. Jordan did some amazing video work for us throughout the year, but this one topped them all across all of our social media platforms, making it the number one video of the year.
CLICK HERE to see the #1 video of the year on GoHorseShow’s YouTube channel.
NUMBER 2
Making a Statement: Men’s Horse Show Fashion Doesn’t Need to be Plain to Have Style
Published on May 30, 2022
Written by Megan Rechberg
May is fashion month at GoHorseShow and for the past 14 years, it’s one of the busiest times of the year. Our May Fashion Issue of GoMag is one of the most highly read issues of the year and our fashion stories throughout the month are generally some of the most read articles on the website. And most of it is geared toward the women in the show horse industry. Who doesn’t love all that bling? But, when Megan Rechberg decided to take on the subject of the ever-evolving men’s fashion in the show pen, readers definitely took note. Let’s just say plain white shirts and a pair of plain black chaps doesn’t really cut it for men in the pen anymore. Men’s fashion tips from two the the biggest fashionistas in the industry was popular enough to be the number two story of the year.
CLICK HERE to read the #2 most popular story of the year on GoHorseShow.
NUMBER 3
We Ask Trainers: What are Your Conformation Deal-Breakers When Buying a Horse?
Published on April 18, 2022
Written by GoHorseShow
Buying a new show horse…an exciting, yet terrifying process. Uncertainty regarding the horse’s future soundness can often be nerve-wracking as sometimes, what may seem like a sure thing, ends up being a bit of a bust. Dealing with soundness issues down the road can be a nightmare. If only there were a magic wand to waive to guarantee a successful outcome when making such an important purchasing decision. Well, there’s not. However, when some of the leading trainers in the industry offer their detailed expertise on when to pass on a horse for conformation reasons, it’s one step closer to being able to buy with confidence. This kind of inside information hit close to home with enough readers to make it our third most popular story of the year.
CLICK HERE to read the #3 most popular story of the year on GoHorseShow.
NUMBER 4
Girl Talk: Top Female Trainers Discuss Shattering the Glass Ceiling in Open Western Classes
Published on February 14, 2022
Written by Megan Rechberg
Given the fact that the number of entries in non-pro western pleasure classes tends to heavily favor women, the juxtaposition to the open classes being predominately dominated by men is notable. Although the playing field has been leveling over the last few years, the topic of gender equality in the event is an interesting one. GoHorseShow writer, Megan Rechberg took a deeper dive into the subject and talked to three of the industry’s leading female trainers to get their thoughts on the matter. Their insight was enough to make it our fourth most popular story of the year.
CLICK HERE to read the #4 most popular story of the year on GoHorseShow.
NUMBER 5
We Ask Trainers & Judges: What Are Things Non-Pros Should Never Do in the Show Pen?
Published on June 24, 2022
Written by GoHorseShow
No doubt about it, when some of the leading trainers and judges in the industry share their thoughts on any given topic, our readers take note. Who doesn’t love some free advice from the pros and people who determine your outcome in the arena? When we asked the question, “what are things non-pros should never do in the show pen,” readers were eager to absorb all the pointers to help gain an edge against the competition. If you were one of the few people to miss it, check out all the great advice in our fifth most popular story of the year.
CLICK HERE to read the #5 most popular story of the year on GoHorseShow.
NUMBER 6
Gilliam & Weakly Families Purchase All But Sudden from Huver Family
Published on October 17, 2022
Written by GoHorseShow
What do you get when you combine two of the cutest kids in the horse industry with one of the most accomplished show horses in the industry? You get a story popular enough to be GoHorseShow’s number 6 story of the year. Christmas came early for 12-year-old Shayne Gilliam and 5-year-old Knox Weakly when their families acquired multiple World and Congress Champion All But Sudden to show in the 13 & Under and Small Fry respectively. We announce a lot of new horse and rider teams throughout the year, but readers clearly just couldn’t get enough of the cuteness factor on this one, making it our sixth most popular story of the year.
CLICK HERE to read the #6 most popular story of the year on GoHorseShow.
NUMBER 7
We Ask the Industry – What’s Your Favorite Horse of All Time…that You Never Showed or Owned?
Published on February 7, 2022
Written by GoHorseShow
Unlike naming a favorite child (which everyone probably has, but isn’t supposed to), it’s generally pretty easy to name your favorite horse. There’s always that one “heart horse,” that “unicorn” that somehow had such a profound impact on your life, you don’t hesitate to call them your favorite. But, what about a horse you’ve never owned or showed? With so many unbelievably talented equine specimens in our industry throughout the years, that can actually be hard to narrow to just one favorite. When we posed that question to some of the leading people in the industry, most of whom are undoubtedly not easily impressed, the responses took us on a trip down memory lane and read almost like a show horse hall of fame. The answers were so fascinating, it came in as the seventh most popular story of the year.
CLICK HERE to read the #7 most popular story of the year on GoHorseShow.
NUMBER 8
Stepping Away from Showing Horses – Part 1: Career and Family
Published on July 11, 2022
Written by Paige Wacker
Many of us are lifelong horse people. We could ride before we could walk. It’s in our blood. It’s who we are. However, for one reason or another, some of us are forced to step away from our horse passion for a while. No matter how long the hiatus, it can be challenging to cope with until you can get back into the arena. Lifer horsewoman Paige Wacker recently found herself facing this very dilemma. In our number 8 story of the year, Paige addresses stepping away for career and family reasons. In parts two and three of the series, she discusses staying involved and having to step away for health reasons, including opening up about her own personal health struggles. Perhaps it’s because so many people can relate to this topic, or perhaps it’s because Paige is undoubtedly one of the most beloved people in the horse industry (or maybe a little bit of both)… whatever the reason, it resonated enough to make it the eighth most popular story of the year.
CLICK HERE to read the #8 most popular story of the year on GoHorseShow.
NUMBER 9
Five Signs it’s Time to Change Trainers – with Dan & Darlene Trein
Published on August 26, 2022
Written by Kassidy Lammers
If we’ve learned anything over the past 14 plus years, it’s that sensitive topics always get the reads. Regardless of the year, switching training programs is always somewhat sensitive. When to do it, how to do it, if you should do it at all; it’s never an easy subject to broach. To complicate things further, it’s also a difficult topic to seek advice for, given that talking about it publicly pretty much tips your hand that you are, in fact, thinking of switching trainers. That’s why, when two of the industry’s most respected and seasoned professionals, Dan and Darlene Trein were willing to offer their pointers about it, readers expectedly sat up and listened…or in this case, read. This particular sensitive subject was the ninth most popular story of the year.
CLICK HERE to read the #9 most popular story of the year on GoHorseShow.
NUMBER 10
We Ask Trainers – What’s the Best Training Advice You Ever Received?
Published on January 12, 2022
Written by GoHorseShow
Year after year, one thing’s for certain, our readers love when we ask the industry for their thoughts on any given subject. This year was no different. Be it trainers, judges, exhibitors, you name it, our unprecedented access to some of the industry’s leading experts provides readers with some very informative, and often entertaining input. When we asked leading trainers what the best training advice they ever received was, the question prompted enough response to make their compiled answers the #10 most popular story of the year.
CLICK HERE to read the #10 most popular story of the year on GoHorseShow.
