Piper speaks with two of the judges from the 2025 WEF Equitation Championship in Wellington, Florida, Karen Healey and Michael Tokaruk. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Karen Healey began her professional career working for George Morris at Hunterdon Stables in New Jersey in 1971. Karen moved to California ten years later and began her business at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. Since moving to California, Karen’s riders have won over 100 medal finals and she has trained numerous hunters and jumpers to wins at indoors, earned national championships and medals at the North American Young Riders Championship and the Prix de States. In addition to her students’ success in the show ring, Karen is an instrumental force in the administration of equestrian sport. She holds a USEF R-rated judging license and has judged some of the most prestigious shows in the country, including the Devon Horse Show, the Hampton Classic, the USEF Pony Finals and the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search East Coast Finals and the 2022 Dover Saddlery USEF Hunt Seat Medal Finals in Harrisburg, PA.
• Guest: Michael Tokaruk is a top rider, trainer and judge who also runs a training and sales business, Tokaruk Show Stables, out of Tennessee and Wellington, Florida. Michael worked with top professionals such as Scott Stewart, Missy Clark, Bob Braswell and Anne Kursinski as a junior rider. Michael has multiple grand prix wins, international and national hunter derby wins to his credit along with continuing his professional education by working with professionals such as Chris Kappler, Andre Dignelli, Katie Monahan-Prudent, and Melanie Smith Taylor. Michael has judged at some of the prestigious horse shows including the 2021 USET Talent Search Finals East, 2022 ASPCA Maclay Finals, Capital Challenge Horse Show and the 2024 Adequan/USEF Junior Hunter Finals- West Coast in Del Mar, CA.  
• Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
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Welcome to The Plaidchat- an extension of The Plaidcast where we expand upon conversations in our sport and discuss the most recent issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine. Today, Piper speaks with Chairman of the Lake Placid Horse Show Philip Richter about the upgrades that exhibitors will enjoy in July 2025 during the two week horse show. We also speak with Scott Neuman who is the Director of Competitions at the American Quarter Horse Association about their growing discipline. Listen in and share with your friends!

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Philip Richter grew up with horses and has been actively competing on the “A” show circuit his entire life. The son of the late, highly respected trainer, Judy Richter, Philip began riding in the short stirrup at age six and later competed in the pony hunter divisions, equitation, junior hunters, junior jumpers and remains an active competitor in the amateur jumper divisions. Philip sits on the board of the United States Equestrian Team Foundation, the United States Equestrian Federation, the Revs Institute, and the Pray Family Foundation. Philip is also Chairman of the Lake Placid Horse Show and serves as Co-Treasurer of the Hampton Classic Horse Show. Outside of the horse world, Philip is also the President of Hollow Brook Wealth Management, LLC, a full service, SEC registered, wealth management firm. Philip is a graduate of Boston College and holds an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business. 
• Guest: Scott Neuman is the Director of Competitions at the American Quarter Horse Association. Before working at AQHA, he operated a boarding and training business specializing in all-around horses. Scott was an AQHA judge for more than 20 years and the Director of Equestrian Studies at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana. He also managed shows for Kathy Avolt’s horse show management company, A Equine Production. 
• Read the April Issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine
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Piper speaks with show jumping riders Kristen VanderVeen and Alise Oken, who will be representing the US at the FEI World Cup Finals in Basel, Switzerland on April 1-6, 2025. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Kristen VanderVeen is one of the most accomplished American show jumpers over the past decade. At rank 60 worldwide on the LONGINES FEI List, she's the 6th highest-ranking U.S. Show Jumper and third highest-ranked U.S. female rider. Kristen is one of only 4 U.S. Show Jumpers who has won over 100 FEI competitions/Ranking Classes- sharing that accomplishment with McLain Ward, Kent Farrington, and Laura Kraut. Kristen has been extremely successful in grand prixs through the 5* level and has represented the U.S. in World Cups in Paris and Germany. Kristen will soon be heading to Basel, Switzerland, to represent the U.S.A. in the World Cup.
• Guest: Alise Oken is a 33-year-old show jumper from Charlotte, North Carolina. As a junior, Alise competed in the FEI North American Youth Championships and, in 2010, won the team silver medal. Alise competed in her first senior Nations Cup in 2014, and since then, has been a member of the U.S. Jumping Team that won bronze in the FEI Jumping Nations Cup CSIO3* in Lisbon and a part of the U.S. team that finished third in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ of Sweden. In 2024, Alise competed for Team U.S.A. at the Longines League of Nations CSIO5* in Abu Dhabi and was a member of the fourth-place U.S. team at the FEI Nations Cup™ in Rome. Most recently, Alise was named to compete at the 2025 FEI World Cup Finals, which will take place in Basel, Switzerland.
• Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
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Welcome to The Plaidchat- an extension of The Plaidcast where we expand upon conversations in our sport and discuss the most recent issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine. Today, Piper speaks with COO of STRIDER, Natasha Sprengers-Levine. We also speak to writer Jessica Shannon about the TPH March cover story and author Jody Jaffe about her book, Commander Speaks, which is featured in the March issue. Listen in and share with your friends!

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Natasha Sprengers-Levine is STRIDER’s Chief Operating Officer of STRIDER. A USDF Silver and Bronze Medalist, FEI rider, and graduate of the United States Pony Club, Natasha brings a wealth of experience to both the equestrian and business worlds. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy from the University of Vermont, where she was captain of the dressage team and the 2014 IDA Individual National Champion. In addition to her leadership role at STRIDER, Natasha operates a boutique dressage training business at Blue Wood Farm & Vineyard in Verbank, New York.
• Guest: Jessica Shannon is a chaplain and writer from the Houston area.  In her personal writing and chaplaincy careers, she specializes in family centered bereavement support and exploring grief from many angles. She rides in the hunters with her beloved thoroughbred, Gunner, who she has brought along in his second career since he was 3 years old.
• Guest: Jody Jaffe started her writing career as a journalist and feature writer for the Charlotte Observer; she was on a team that won Gold Medal Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. After moving to fiction, she wrote the internationally published Nattie Gold horse show mystery series, including, "Horse of a Different Killer,” the People Magazine Page-Turner of the Week, "Chestnut Mare, Beware,” and "In Colt Blood.” Jaffe has also been a columnist for The Chronicle of the Horse and taught writing at Georgetown, Hollins, and Washington and Lee Universities.
• Read the March Issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine
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• Sponsors: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services and BoneKare

Piper speaks with veteran pony trainer Emily Elek about a recent Facebook post she made that struck a nerve in the pony community and has larger implications for how we run our championships for junior riders. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Emily Elek is the owner of Stonewall Farm in Ixonia, Wisconsin where she operates one of the largest pony leasing, sales, breeding and training operations. Emily takes a holistic view in developing ponies and riders for lifelong success. 
• Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
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• Sponsor: Foxhall Equine

Welcome to The Plaidchat- an extension of The Plaidcast where we expand upon conversations in our sport and discuss the most recent issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine. Today, Piper speaks with Plaid Horse Magazine online editor Marley Lien-Gonzalez about the March wellness issue of The Plaid Horse magazine. We also speak with TPH Small Business Contest winner, Dr. Barb Blasko of ShowMD. Listen in and share with your friends!

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Marley Lien-Gonzalez is Blog Editor of The Plaid Horse and passionate equestrian college student studying Journalism. As a junior, she was a working student for a top-level training and sales barn and competed in the equitation and jumper rings. Since then, she’s transitioned to freelance grooming but still rides frequently, and she enjoys traveling across the country to work at different horse shows.
• Guest: Dr. Barb Blasko is a Board-Certified Emergency Medicine physician with over 20 years of progressive successful delivery and operational management of Emergency Medicine for regional and national medical facilities. She is a passionate entrepreneur who has blended health sciences and technology to improve the lives of her patients in equestrian settings. Her expertise spans medical fields including specialty in Emergency Medicine, clinical strategy, telemedicine and biomedical informatics. With her own horses, she competes in USEF show jumping competitions across the West Coast. As a competitive equestrian herself, Dr. Blasko personally relates to common stressors, conditions and injuries that may arise when riding or working with horses.
• Read the March Issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine
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• Sponsors: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, Equine Affaire and BoneKare

Piper speaks with dressage trainer and rider Amelia Newcomb and high-performance coach and somatic practitioner Natalie Hummel. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Amelia Newcomb is a USEF Gold medalist and recipient of the Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize from the Dressage Foundation. Based in California, Amelia has competed all her life and trained horses that she has started all the way up to Grand Prix. Her approach incorporates all aspects of horsemanship from basic groundwork to advanced Dressage movements. The emphasis is always on the foundation with the basic trust, understanding, and relaxation for both horse and rider to create a harmonious partnership. Amelia's mantra is "Dressage for All," which is evident in both her training and extensive online learning platform. With a successful YouTube video library of hundreds of free educational videos, over 300,000 subscribers, and thousands of students enrolled in her online courses across the globe, Amelia has a clear passion for teaching and horses.
• Guest: Natalie Hummel is a competitive equestrian athlete turned high-performance coach and somatic practitioner. She uses science-based tools to help high-performance athletes and high achievers do the inner work required to reach top levels of success. Natalie was always been a competitive person, but it wasn't until she healed from her past and learned to regulate her nervous system that she found true mastery. Through her programs, she passes this knowledge on to clients and students, allowing them to do the deepest work that unlocks peak performance in all areas of life. With a degree in Psychology and multiple certifications in polyvagal theory, Natalie guides people with unconditional support and provides actionable tools to bring back your love of sport and life.
• Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
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Welcome to The Plaidchat- an extension of The Plaidcast where we expand upon conversations in our sport and discuss the most recent issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine. Today, Piper speaks with Dr. Alberto Rullan, VDM, who was featured in the March issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine. Listen in and share with your friends!

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Dr. Alberto Rullan, VMD is the co-founder of Performance Equine Veterinary Services alongside his brother, William Rullan. Together, they built a leading veterinary practice dedicated to diagnosing and treating performance-related issues in horses. In 2018, Dr. Rullan founded the Equine Performance Innovative Center, a state-of-the-art rehabilitation facility specializing in cutting-edge therapies for performance horses. Dr. Rullan earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree at Pennsylvania State University in 2002. Following graduation, he pursued an intensive equine internship at Louisiana State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Clinic, where he gained advanced expertise in equine medicine, surgery, and therapeutic techniques. As a certified member of the International Society of Equine Locomotor Pathology, Dr. Rullan brings specialized expertise in diagnosing and treating complex locomotor issues in performance horses. Dr. Rullan’s forward-thinking approach, ISELP certification, and passion for equine wellness have established him as a trusted leader in performance horse care, recognized both locally and internationally. 
• Read the March Issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine
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Piper hosts Plaidcast LIVE! from Wellington International with guests Greg Prince & Kyla Makhloghi. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Greg Prince is the owner and head trainer of Woodridge Farm, a full-service show stable operated out of Sherborn, MA and Wellington, FL. Over a career spanning more than two decades as a professional, Greg has imported and produced many top horses and has shown successfully across the U.S. and Canada, earned ribbons at some of the most prestigious horse shows in the country including Devon, Harrisburg, and the Washington International Horse Show. He’s trained riders to top hunter derby finishes, every equitation finals, and grand prix victories, marking him as one of the most prolific trainers currently in the hunter/jumper world. 
• Guest: Kyla Makhloghi is a grand prix show jumping athlete and trainer who owns and operates Rosemont Farm, a top training and sales barn located in Wellington, FL. Kyla graduated with an undergraduate degree in English from Mount Holyoke College, where she was an integral part of their equestrian team and led them to an IHSA National Championship in 2006. Her riders have claimed impressive wins at Pony Finals, WIHS Equitation Finals, Children’s Hunter Finals, and Prix des States, and top finishes at Devon, The National Horse Show, and Harrisburg. In 2022, Kyla won the Wild Card Trainer Bonus award at the WEC Premier Equitation Cup Championship. As a horse trainer, she finds similar success importing and selling quality hunter, jumper, and equitation horses.
• Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
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• Sponsor: Foxhall Equine

Welcome to The Plaidchat- an extension of The Plaidcast where we expand upon conversations in our sport and discuss the most recent issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine. Today, Piper speaks with USEF “R” judge, FEI trainer, and clinician Geoff Case about finding a work/life balance in the horse industry. Listen in and share with your friends!

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Geoff Case is a USEF “R” Judge, FEI Trainer, and Clinician originally from Lexington, Kentucky. Upon graduating from Johns Hopkins University, Case chose to follow his passion to train and grow the next generation of horses and riders. As a rider, Case has produced horses that have represented Team USA in International Competition, placed at Medal Finals and hunters that have claimed championships at major competitions throughout the US. As a trainer, his students have had wins and top placings in Medal Finals on both coasts, Young Rider Medals, and countless hunter championships. As a 'R' USEF judge, Case has presided over major horse shows throughout North America, including WCHR Week at the Winter Equestrian Festival, The Capital Challenge Horse Show, and the WEC Equitation Premier Cup. Case and his wife Taylor Kain relocated to Europe in 2023 where Kain has earned a meteoric rise in the World Rankings, from unranked to the top 20% in the world in less than a year. They continue to follow their passion for developing horses and riders to the highest levels possible for them. In addition to judging, Case is a renowned clinician worldwide known to focus on teaching the mechanics of riding while encouraging horsemanship and self-belief to grow each rider’s ability, goals, and to pursue higher competition.
• Read the March Issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine
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• Sponsors: Equine Affaire, Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, and BoneKare