Featured Columns

If you are a competitive rider, I am sure you are familiar with the benefits of visualization. You know, the “if you can see it you can be it” stuff. As a sport consultant, visualization is one of the most popular go to techniques for creating peak performance, but it is a little more complex than just making pictures in your mind. Kirsten Farris has a few props to use when visualizing that will bring your pictures to life.

All I can say is those girls at Gordyville, USA sure do know how to take care of their exhibitors! The Hannagan sister trio of Patty, Mary and Jody were all on hand for their three day show this past weekend in Gifford, Illinois, and provided a great time to what appeared to be a sell-out event. Can I just say, “Thank you for cranking up the heat!"

It might be called “The Winter Circuit,” but temperatures in the high 60’s sure brought out the “Spring” in everyone’s step as exhibitors flocked to the Champions Center in Springfield, Ohio for a premiere horse show event. Dakota Diamond Griffith took great candid pictures during the four day show.

Like many of you, I have to work for a living, and sometimes that involves being on the road for weeks at a time. I am currently in the UK, in a town spelled Derby, but pronounced Darby, where jumpers aren't horses who go over fences, they are sweaters, and the word shag has nothing to do with a type of carpet that was popular in the late 70’s. Being on the road and away from your horse doesn’t mean that you can’t improve your riding skills.

Ten years ago, I witnessed one of the most un-horseman-like antics from someone who claimed to a be a "certified trainer" of a popular clinician to the masses. If his confusing actions were any part of a credible teaching process, I made the decision that this girl would never need “one of those” clinicians. I hadn’t forgotten my experience, but my curiosity was peaked when two friends suggested that I might consider talking to the darling of RFD-TV, Clinton Anderson. Although my fellow horse show junkies may be in disbelief that I’d miss a day in the show ring, it was simple. The guy is hot!

The 21st Winter Olympics begin Friday in Vancouver. Leave it to our Dakota Diamond Griffith to bridge the gap between our horse show world and the Olympics. With Dakota style, she does this with none other than Lindsey Vonn, the best downhill skier in the world right now. Lindsey has won the past two World Cup Championships and by the end of these Olympics, there's a reasonable chance she will become one of the most decorated American Winter Olympians of all time. As Dakota explains, Lindsey just happens to be the “Vonn-derful” Olympic bound niece of AQHA/NSBA judge, Lisa Krohn!

GoHorseShow.com contributor Kirsten Farris has just returned from the Sun Circuit with the Reserve Circuit Championship award in Amateur Hunter Under Saddle with her horse, Lyles Al Lie. While in Scottsdale, she completed a humorous, yet informative article about eating healthy at the horse shows. Unfortunately, at the typical horse show, there are more obstacles to eating healthy than a Tim "the Trail Man" Kimura trail course. With a few tips from Farris and a good strategy, you can be as finely tuned as your horse, and you will still be able to zip your chaps.

Doug Carpenter is a legend and if you’re too new to this industry to know who he is, I urge you to take the time to learn about the man who is one of the most influential people the pleasure horse industry has ever known. Carp literally wrote the book on western pleasure. He has raised, trained and shown some of the very best horses to ever step in the show pen. He has won World and Congress Champions, coached youth and amateurs, brokered some of the biggest horse deals ever done and gone on to be successful in other disciplines. But to me, that doesn’t even begin to describe who he is or the man I know.

The Winter Circuit has wrapped up here in Florida, but not without a final send off party at Fox Lea Farm. The weather finally cooperated for the exhibitors, even if just for one day!  I feel like I've been in Florida forever! I guess I kinda have, at least since before Thanksgiving. But before I head north, I want to fill you in on all the goings-on from the sunshine state! 

Although it was a frigid 35 degrees, Rita Crundwell’s annual birthday party heated up the beachfront patio Sunday night at the famous Sharky’s restaurant in Venice Beach, Florida. Industry leaders traveled to Venice from many parts of the country just to attend the party which was one of the premier events of the year. It was just the shot in the arm needed by weary horse show exhibitors who have been braving unseasonably cold temperatures for several weeks during the Florida Winter Circuits.

What is up with New Year’s Resolutions? Where did they originate and does anyone really ever follow through on them? Most of us have a certain commitment phobia to begin with but we find it especially hard when it comes to making a resolution. Carl Yamber actually playfully jumped in his truck to attempt a fast get-away when I pressed for his. I felt like the paparazzi chasing Tiger Woods. Just kidding, but it does put people on the spot if only for a day.  We all know I'm not above putting people on the spot though, so I asked some of the leaders in the industry, "What's your New Year's Resolution?"

In her second installment for GoHorseShow.com, Certified Sport Consultant, Kirsten Farris, takes the blah blah blah and the yadda yadda yadda out of New Year’s resolutions. Her fun tips will put you well on your way to getting what you really want this year while others are busy making lists of things they will never accomplish.