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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. Piper speaks with co-author of the Show Strides series Rennie Dyball about book 9, Tally's Turn. Piper also speaks with Madison Sanders, lifelong hunter/jumper rider and the founder of Elite Equine Marketplace, a modern, map-based platform designed to streamline how equestrians buy, sell, and connect.

In Show Strides Book 9, as the new trainer at Quince Oaks, gets settled in, she gives Tally a special opportunity. Nona's friend Emily Elek of Stonewall Ponies needs some extra help at a horse show, and Nona asks Tally to go. At the show, Tally gets to be a groom, an extra set of hands to assist the team, and even has the chance to take a lesson with Emily. But when a younger, greener rider is having trouble in the show ring with her pony, another junior rider will need to step up to help to school the pony and set up his owner for success. Will Emily ask Tally to step into the irons? And will Tally be up to the task?

Madison Sanders is a lifelong hunter/jumper rider and the founder of Elite Equine Marketplace, a modern, map-based platform designed to streamline how equestrians buy, sell, and connect. With nearly a decade of experience in the tech industry and a degree from the University of Virginia, she brings a unique blend of industry insight and innovation to the equestrian space. Now based on a farm in Virginia, Madi manages a full barn while actively riding and competing as an adult amateur, giving her firsthand perspective on the needs of today’s riders, trainers, and equine businesses.

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Piper speaks with the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Co-Founder and Executive Director, Roxane Durant. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Roxane Durant is one of the original founders of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA). She has been the full-time Executive Director of IEA since 2009. Prior to that, she was the Equestrian Director at The Andrews School where the IEA concept first began. In addition to her riding, teaching and training experience in the hunter/jumper industry, her early experience was on show management teams for events including the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, The National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden, Capital Challenge, New York State Fair and HITS. She is an advocate for equestrian sports, particularly with regard to youth participation. She is currently on the Youth Engagement Task Force and DEI Task Force of the American Horse Council and is on the Affiliate and Recognized Riding Academy Committees of the USHJA. 
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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 Liz Ormesher who is the Event Director of BETA International- the go-to trade show for discovering products, trends, and connections in the equine and country sectors. Listen in and share with your friends!

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Liz Ormesher is the Event Director of BETA International, bringing over 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, and event management, alongside a lifelong passion for horses built on 40 years of owning and riding. A dedicated equestrian, she is now living her dream by combining her professional expertise with her love of the sport, both at work and at home with her young, horse-loving daughter.
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Piper hosts Plaidcast in Person in front of a live audience at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut with Patricia E. Kelly of Ebony Horsewomen, Inc. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Patricia E. Kelly is the Founder, President, and CEO of Ebony Horsewomen, Inc. (EHI), a Hartford, Connecticut-based non-profit equestrian and therapeutic center developed and directed by African American female equestrians whose mission is to encourage and empower inner city youth toward positive and successful lives through horses. Under Patricia's leadership, the Ebony Horsewomen Inc. has grown from a local organization to the national level with members across the United States. Patricia is also a United States Marine Corps veteran, a certified Urban Riding Specialist Instructor, a Master Urban Riding Instructor, a Certified Equine Husbandry Instructor, and a certified Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Horse Specialist.
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Piper hosts Plaidcast in Person in front of a live audience at the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont with Chrissy Rohan, Alyx West, Hadley Rogerson-Leach and Dr. Jenny Wilkinson.

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Chrissy Rohan is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Vermont, where she has spent the past decade teaching equine management and training. She also serves as Faculty Advisor to the student-run cooperative horse barn, home to 22 horses just minutes from campus. A lifelong equestrian, Chrissy grew up riding on her family’s farm in Charlotte, VT, competed in Pony Club and the Big Equitation, and rode on UVM’s IHSA team. Chrissy is deeply involved in the equestrian community, serving for over 15 years with the Vermont Hunter Jumper Association and supporting advocacy efforts through the Vermont Equine Industry Advocacy Group. 
• Guest: Alyx West is an Animal Science major with a minor in Equine Studies, expected to graduate in May 2027. She has been riding horses most of her life, and having horses as part of her college experience has been her favorite part of being at UVM. At the UVM Horse Barn, she serves as a teaching assistant for the Equus program taught by Professor Chrissy Rohan. Alongside a team of other teaching assistants, she teaches riding lessons, basic horsemanship, and horse care while also helping oversee UVM’s leased Animal Science horses. After graduation, Alyx hopes to enter the veterinary field as an assistant or technician and continue working with horses in any way she can.
• Guest: Hadley Rogerson-Leach is a senior at the University of Vermont and a member of the UVM Horse Barn Cooperative. Her passion for horses began at age seven, when she read every horse book in her school library before receiving a riding lesson for her eighth birthday. She joined the UVM Horse Barn in 2024 as a teaching assistant for the university’s Equus program. Hadley plans to pursue a career in the equine industry after graduating this spring with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences. 
• Guest: Dr. Jenny Wilkinson grew up riding in Virginia and competed on the University of Virginia’s Equestrian Team. She spent several summers working as a wrangler in Wyoming and now returns with students for hands-on learning experiences. After completing her veterinary degree at Cornell, she worked at Vermont Large Animal Clinic before joining the University of Vermont in 2008. She teaches a range of equine-focused courses and created the travel study program “The European Pony Tour,” taking students abroad to Ireland and France with plans to visit Scotland next. 
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Piper hosts Plaidcast in Person in front of a live audience at Oldfields School in Sparks Glencoe, Maryland with Julie Winkel and Linda Allen. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Julie Winkel is a leading equestrian trainer, judge, and clinician with extensive achievements in hunter and jumper disciplines. She has held USEF R-rated judging licenses since 1984 and has judged prestigious events such as the Devon Horse Show, Pennsylvania National, and USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship. As one of the first USHJA Certified Trainers, she has trained horses to the highest levels, including Grand Prix wins and hunter championships, and continues to compete today. Julie is a sought-after clinician and educator who owns Maplewood Stables in Reno, Nevada, where she trains, shows and breeds horses. She recently received the 2024 CPHA Lifetime Achievement Award. 
• Guest: Linda Allen has had a distinguished 60+ year career in equestrian sports as a rider, judge, and course designer. As a former Grand Prix competitor and USET member, she transitioned into officiating and coaching and became a highly respected Jumper Course Designer and Judge. Linda has earned global recognition for designing courses at prestigious events, including the 1996 Olympic Games, FEI World Cup Finals, and as Technical Delegate for the World Equestrian Games. A member of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, Linda authored "101 Jumping Exercises for Horse and Rider" and several books and received numerous accolades, including the USEF Pegasus Medal of Honor, Course Designer of the Year, and multiple lifetime achievement awards for her contributions to the sport.
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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 Ryan Haselden, our May/June cover feature story of The Plaid Horse magazine. Listen in and share with your friends!

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Ryan Haselden is a 15-year-old show jumper that has ridden and competed all over the world, splitting her training time between Atlanta, Ocala and Ireland, and is currently showing in Regional Grand Prix around the southeast. She is also a vocal advocate for the training and use of CPR and AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) at horse shows. Read about Ryan in the May/June print issue of the magazine. 
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Tonya Johnston, Mental Skills Coach speaks with equitation commentator Ava Stearns who herself was a past winner of the ASPCA Maclay National Championship, Grand Champion at Junior Hunter Finals and an All-American Athlete for Auburn University. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.

• Host: Tonya Johnston, Visit her Website, Facebook and buy her book Inside Your Ride 
• Guest: As a junior, Ava Stearns started out riding for her family's Pond View Farm on Martha's Vineyard, MA. She then became a working student for Missy Clark and John Brennan at North Run. Ava won the 2019 ASPCA Maclay National Championship, was second in the WIHS Equitation Championship and Platinum Performance USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals—East, and grand champion in at Junior Hunter Finals. As an athlete for Auburn University, she was an 8-time All American. These days, Ava is a sought-after commentator for top equitation events such as the Maclay Finals, Medal Finals, international Grand Prixs and other top equestrian events. 
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Piper hosts Plaidcast in Person in front of a live audience at Linden Hall School for Girls in Lititz, Pennsylvania. 

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Dr. Shauna Carter is the Head of School at Linden Hall. She is a servant leader with nearly 25 years of experience as a teacher and administrator in public and independent schools. She holds degrees in English, English Education, Educational Administration, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership. Passionate about empowering girls and young women, she has been active in organizations such as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and The Links, Incorporated.
• Guest: Erika Kurtz is the Riding Coordinator and Trainer at Linden Hall. With nearly 20 years of experience in the equine industry, Erika is a highly respected trainer, instructor, and 'r" hunter/equitation judge known for her strong horsemanship and thoughtful approach to rider development. She holds a degree in English Equestrian Studies and Equine Business Management from the University of Findlay. She also serves as Head Coach of the Franklin & Marshall College Equestrian Team and holds a trainer certification through the USHJA and instructor certification from the Certified Horsemanship Association. Erika also serves as Regional President for her IEA region. 
• Guest: Diana Smedley graduated from Linden Hall School in 2010 where she served as Co-Captain of the Riding Team during her Junior and Senior years. After graduation, she studied Photography & Design at the School of Visual Arts and completed the Entrepreneurship Program at the International Culinary Center in New York City. After relocating to Lititz, PA, she founded Lancaster Gift Box- a specialty food store featuring over 150+ Pennsylvania food brands. Through Lancaster Gift Box, she donates 1% of annual sales to organizations in Hunger-Free Lancaster.
• Guest: Izzi O’Brien is a member of the Class of 2029. Izzie rode for six years before Linden Hall and helps with school horses and the horses at Zone finals. Izzie also helps with the college horse shows on campus.
• Guest: Sophie Suk is a member of the Class of 2026 and has ridden at Linden Hall for three years. She rode for IEA this year and was 4th place at Zone finals. Sophie will be attending Wellesley College in Boston, MA.
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Piper hosts Plaidcast in Person in front of a live audience at Maryland Horse Library & Education Center in Reisterstown, MD with Rob Burk, CEO of the US Eventing Association. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Rob Burk is the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Eventing Association, where he leads one of the largest equestrian organizations in the country and works to support and grow the sport at every level. Eventing has been part of his life from the very beginning. He got his start in Pony Club in California, competed as a young rider, and spent time in Ireland working for an Olympian, experiences that shaped his lifelong connection to the sport. Before stepping into his role at the USEA, Rob built an extensive career in public service, serving as an Executive Director, Senior Adviser, and Chief Operating Officer across federal, state, and nonprofit organizations, where he worked closely with senior leadership at the highest levels and developed a collaborative, thoughtful approach to leadership.
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