The Plaidcast Junior

It would be hard to find a horse lover who doesn't eat up books about horses, and we're thrilled to have a new series to dive into. This week, Rennie Dyball, co-author of the brand new Show Strides series, comes on to talk about what it's like to write a book about horse crazy girls and their barn adventures and gives us some sneak peaks into the plot. Listen in!

Are equestrians athletes, or do we just "sit and steer"? This week, we're joined by Coach Daniel Stewart to talk about how we can treat ourselves like athletes, and more importantly, why we should exercise to ride better. Plus, he gives us a lot of tips on the mental game of riding and you can hear Jess talk about their experience with Coach Daniel's Equestrian Athlete Camp. Listen in!

We love Thoroughbreds! This week, Jen Roytz from the Retired Racehorse Project comes on to talk all about the ins and outs of owning and riding thoroughbreds. They have a reputation for being sensitive, so what should people keep in mind about riding them? Should they be turned out for awhile when they come off the track or put right to work? Tune in!

Hoof care is important to horse health! This week, a farrier gives us a lot of advice about how to prepare for the farrier and how to keep our horses' hooves in the best possible condition between visits. Should we be using supplements? Hoof oil? Listen in to find out!

Buying and selling horses is a fast changing process and can be overwhelming, but Alice Bruno of Shenandoah Sporthorses is here to give us some tips on what kinds of questions to ask when buying a horse, how to be a good buyer, and the best practices for marketing and selling horses online. Listen in!

Deworming and vaccinating horses is critical to their health, but how much do we really know about and understand how it all works? Dr. Mitchell Rode comes on this week to chat with Alyssa and Jess about LOTS of facts and myths around parasite control and vaccinations in horses. We guarantee you will learn something new. Tune in!

There’s a lot to know with horses, but we’re lucky to be in a time when we can learn from a lot of people we may not have the chance to meet in person. Jumper trainer Chris Hickey comes on this week to talk to Jess and Alyssa about what he thinks are the top five things all young riders need to know.

It’s cold in most parts of the country right now, but if you want to keep riding during the winter, we have some tips for you. Alyssa and Jess sit down with Allie Carlson, who currently lives in Alaska, to learn all the best tricks for riding in the cold.

Pony Club rallies and horse shows are both really fun ways to spend time with your horse, but how are they similar and different? USPC National Examiner Mary Schwentker joins us again to help us break it down. Mary is a graduate A from Manada Pony Club, has evented through the four star level, competed in dressage through Prix St. Georges, and is a USEA ICP Level 2 trainer. She thanks the Culpeper Farm Co-op, Uvex, Big Red Mare, and Millwood Equestrian for their continued support.

Pony Club National Examiner Mary Schwentker explains US Pony Club's rating system and how it makes your horsemanship education streamlined and organized. Mary is a graduate A from Manada Creek Pony Club, has evented through the four star level, competed in dressage through Prix St. Georges, and is a USEA ICP Level 2 trainer. She thanks the Culpeper Farm Co-op, Uvex, Big Red Mare, and Millwood Equestrian for their continued support.