Laura Gilmer

Mike Farina of North Lawrence, Ohio is a very private man who likes to remain behind the scenes in the horse industry. Many individuals in the industry have no idea what he looks like or that he owns two of the top breeding stallions in the industry, Invitation Only and Lazy Loper. Even though Farina shies away from the limelight, GoHorseShow.com was able to find out a few interesting tidbits about Farina, and talked to him while he was at his vacation home in Maui, Hawaii.

Recently, I was watching a rerun marathon of the drama Criminal Minds on TNT. The actor caught my attention because he looked familiar for some reason. About halfway through the show, I realized that it was Riley Smith, whose father is trainer and AQHA judge Russ Smith of Whitesboro, Texas. Riley is also a former AQHYA President (96-97) and showed mainly in the pleasure and halter events when he was a youth exhibitor. Seeing him on television, made be wonder what he has been up to all these years since he stopped showing horses.

While Alaska is largely associated with popular annual events like the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race that starts in Anchorage and ends in Nome, it is exciting to know that Open and AQHA horse shows are frequently held in the state. AQHA judge Lita Hottel recently judged a show in Fairbanks, Alaska and AQHYA World Champion exhibitor Danielle Long is from Anchorage, Alaska and we wondered what it is like showing and judging in this state.

While at the Chicago airport recently (headed to a horse show as most of you can relate), I went on a search for a new book to read when I realized I had forgotten the novel I was reading back at home.  I am sure many horse lovers have never heard of this memoir, and it is worth the read.

It has been almost ten years since Montgomery Lee Petty won an AQHYA World Champion title in Western Pleasure aboard Mr Magnolia Zip. As the grandaughter of Richard Petty, her life has never been considered what many would call routine or predictable. So it came as no surprise that after graduating from high school, this North Carolina native moved to Nashville to attend Belmont University. During her first week there, she met and fell in love with her now husband, up and coming country music star, Randy Montana.

There appears to be mixed emotions when it comes to trying new show formats at AQHA shows. I recently judged the second ever AQHA 4 judge/4 sets of points show in Berrien Springs, Michigan. The first AQHA show to try this format was in Ohio earlier this year. AQHA has also tried three judges with three sets of points at the Texas Classic, Dixie Nationals, and the Sun Country Circuit. The American Paint Horse Association (APHA) has been using this type of format for years, yet, until now, AQHA has seemed reluctant to follow suit.

Meagan Dean is one young lady who knows how to 'cowboy up' when it comes to horses and living life. This 19 year-old has been an inspiration to many in the horse industry. A native Texan, Meagan has always loved horses, and she has continued her involvement with horses despite what Dean calls a "few bumps in the road."