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Tina Silva is the founder of Equestrian Safety Group and Executive Director of Devil Dog Ranch. A former Lieutenant in the fire service, she brings real-world emergency response expertise to equestrian safety education. With a background spanning multiple disciplines, farm management, and coaching vaulters and riders, Tina's mission is to make the equestrian world safer for horses and riders at every level. 

Elizabeth Rinehart was recently named Best Child Rider at the prestigious Devon Horse Show. "Lizzie" grew up riding practically from the time she could walk, and she comes from a true horse family. Her parents, Richard and Catherine Rinehart, own Rinehart Farms, which means Elizabeth has had horses in her blood her entire life.

Piper's mission is to educate young equestrians in every facet of the industry and to empower young women in particular to find their voices and stories — and to share them. She has spent her entire career focusing on education through various channels, including The Plaidcast, North America's most listened-to horse show podcast; co-authoring the Show Strides book series; and by providing educational articles, grants, and experiential learning opportunities for riders of all ages and levels. 

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

Orchid Bertelsen is one of the most distinctive and analytically sharp voices to emerge in equestrian media in this year. She built a twenty-year career at the highest levels of digital marketing and e-commerce before the horse world pulled her back in and gave her something new to write about. Her professional background spans Fortune 5 accounts at Dentsu, leading digital strategy across more than 40 consumer brands at Nestlé USA, and running operations at Common Thread Collective, a DTC e-commerce growth agency where she built the financial systems that helped brands grow profitably across paid media, creative, and retention. That resume alone would make her an interesting voice in any industry conversation. What makes her genuinely unique is where she is applying it. 

Orchid rode as a child, competed on the B circuit in Illinois and Wisconsin, then stepped away for nearly 30 years. After 30 years away from horses, she returned to the saddle at a historic equestrian club 10 minutes from her home in Grosse Pointe, Michigan — what started as a Christmas gift of six lessons has since taken over her entire personality. She currently leases a horse named Beau, and that experience of returning to the equestrian world with fresh eyes and a sophisticated marketing brain has given her an unusual and valuable vantage point on an industry she now sees clearly as both an insider and an analyst. 

Her Substack publication, Back in the Saddle, is built around the belief that the equestrian industry is a $12 billion market that still approaches e-commerce and digital marketing the way most consumer categories did a decade ago — and that the brands that figure it out first will have a real and lasting advantage. Her writing on the collapse of Dover Saddlery broke through well beyond the equestrian community, demonstrating that the industry's business stories are as compelling as any in mainstream consumer retail when told by someone who knows how to tell them. She writes about the adult amateur community as the largest and most underserved segment in the sport — and has made changing that the mission of her platform.

Follow Orchid on Substack here: 

https://orchid.substack.com/

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. 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.

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 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. 
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
• Sponsor: Sentinel, Chewy, Mojo Joint and Zoetis
•  Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast in Person live event!

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 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.
• Read the Latest Issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Sponsors: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, Sentinel and Mojo Joint
• Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast in Person live event!

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 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.
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
• Sponsor: Sentinel, Mojo Joint and Chewy
•  Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast in Person event!

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 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. 
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
• Sponsor: Sentinel, Mojo Joint and Chewy
•  Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast in Person event!

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 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.
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
• Sponsor: Sentinel, Mojo Joint and Chewy
•  Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast in Person event!

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 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. 
• Read the Latest Issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Sponsors: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, Sentinel, Chewy and Mojo Joint
• Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast in Person live event!

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

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. 
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
• Sponsors: Zoetis, Sentinel, Chewy and Mojo Joint
•  Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast in Person live event!

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!