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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 author and educator, Mary Ann Simonds. Listen in and share with your friends!

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Mary Ann Simonds is an author and educator with an international practice helping horse professionals better understand, train, and care for their equine companions. Her research on wild horse ecology, behaviors, and cultures set the foundation for challenging many of the traditional horse training paradigms. In the 1990s, Mary Ann developed a line of stress management products for Toklat Originals, including the first magnetic hoof boot and a line of flower essences and aromatherapy products for horses. She ran the Whole Horse and Equestrian Science Institute for over 25 years and has published four books and written hundreds of articles. After selling her farm in the Pacific Northwest, she now resides full-time in Wellington, Florida. 
• Read the April Issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Sponsors: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, BoneKare and Plaidcast LIVE

theplaidhorse.com

Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.

At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.

Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.

We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.

Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

Send us Fan Mail

Piper speaks with Sonja Ochadlik about the differences between horse sport in Europe vs. the US. Piper also speaks with David Silver, the founder of Detroit Horse Power, a program in which horses help Detroit’s youth and communities grow, connect, and thrive. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Sonja Ochadlik is a showjumping rider originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and now based in Ireland. She runs Stonehall Sporthorses, a business specialising in producing young horses and sourcing and selling top-quality horses and ponies. Sonja is passionate about the training and welfare of horses and working towards making the sport of showjumping more inclusive. 
• Guest: David Silver grew up in Westchester, New York and competed as a Three Day Event rider, eventually working for Boyd Martin. He moved to Detroit in 2012 to become an elementary school teacher and then went out to combine what horses had taught him with the needs that he saw in his students lives to found Detroit Horse Power, a program in which horses help Detroit’s youth and communities grow, connect, and thrive.
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
• Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast LIVE!

theplaidhorse.com

Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.

At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.

Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.

We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.

Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

Send us Fan Mail

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 the team behind HorseGrooms, Dinette Neuteboom and Amy McGann, who were the TPH Small Business Contest Grand Champion winners and the cover story of our April issue of The Plaid Horse magazine. Listen in and share with your friends!

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Dinette Neuteboom is a Dutch-born equestrian professional, writer, and educator, and the founder of HorseGrooms—a platform dedicated to supporting and educating grooms around the world. She has worked across Europe, Argentina, the U.S., China, and New Zealand with her variety of skills in teaching, riding, grooming, and managing top hunters and show jumpers, as well as doing press work for major equestrian events. Through her work and writing, she advocates for horsemanship and helps amplify the voices of those working behind the scenes in the horse industry. 
• Guest: Amy McGann is the creative director of HorseGrooms, a platform founded by her partner Dinette Neuteboom to support and educate grooms around the world. She grew up riding on the East Coast but dreamed of heading west to work with horses on a ranch. Now based out of one of the most famous cowboy towns of the American West, she runs a web design agency called Unbridled Form. The connection between horse and human drives Amy, and she is constantly inspired by the untamable frontier spirit of wild horses. With HorseGrooms, Amy oversees and executes branding, website design, and visual content curation. 
• Read the April Issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Sponsors: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, BoneKare and Plaidcast LIVE

theplaidhorse.com

Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.

At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.

Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.

We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.

Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

Send us Fan Mail

Piper speaks with the Plaid Horse Magazine March cover story, Brooke Brombach and her mother & trainer Colleen Brombach. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Brooke Brombach is a 21 year old Senior at Texas A&M and comes from an equestrian family. Her mother, Colleen Brombach, is a 36-year-veteran trainer who runs Silver Fox Farm in Wimberley, Texas, and her sister, McKayla, is also a top equestrian and currently a Freshman at Texas A&M. Some of Brooke's equestrian accomplishments include being the 2018-2021 WCHR South Central 3’6” Junior Hunter Champion, the 2019 Junior Hunter Finals Champion in the Large Junior Hunter 3’6” 15-Under and the 2021 USEF Talent Search bronze medalist. Upon graduating college, Brooke intends to turn professional and join her mother at their family farm's operation. 
• Guest: Colleen Brombach is the owner and head trainer of Silver Fox Farms in Wimberley, Texas. She started Silver Fox Farms in Orange County, California, but after working more than two decades on the west coast, she and her family operation, which includes her two daughters, relocated to Texas. From her boutique, hands-on approach, Colleen has consistently developed prominent young horses and riders to national levels of success.  
• Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine

theplaidhorse.com

Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.

At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.

Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.

We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.

Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

Send us Fan Mail

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 the future of hunter sport in this country. 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 April Issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Sponsors: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, and BoneKare

theplaidhorse.com

Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.

At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.

Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.

We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.

Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

Send us Fan Mail

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
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Sponsor: Equine Affaire 

theplaidhorse.com

Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.

At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.

Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.

We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.

Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

Send us Fan Mail

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
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Sponsors: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, Equine Affaire and BoneKare

theplaidhorse.com

Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.

At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.

Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.

We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.

Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

Send us Fan Mail

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
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine

theplaidhorse.com

Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.

At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.

Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.

We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.

Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

Send us a text

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
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Sponsors: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services and BoneKare

Send us Fan Mail

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
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Sponsor: Foxhall Equine

theplaidhorse.com

Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.

At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.

Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.

We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.

Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!