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Piper speaks with the CEO of Wellington International Murray Kessler about all of the new improvements at WEF for the upcoming winter season including AI cameras in the FEI stalls. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Murray S. Kessler is a lifelong equestrian and accomplished American business executive with decades of leadership across global sport and industry. He has served as President of the United States Equestrian Federation & North American Riders Group and CEO of multiple Fortune 500 companies, including Perrigo, Lorillard, and UST. He continues to influence equestrian sport and corporate governance worldwide.
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
• Sponsors: Purina, Great American Insurance Group, and Windstar Cruises
•  Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast in Person live event!

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Piper hosts Plaidcast in Person in front of a live audience at the Maryland Horse Library & Education Center in Reisterstown, Maryland with Kimbreley Hill. Listen in and share with friends!

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Kimbreley Hill is the owner and head trainer of KMH Sport Horses, LLC, a program recognized for its inclusive environment and high standards in horse care and training. A University of Maryland graduate with studies in Animal Science, Pre-Veterinary Medicine, and Equine Business Management, she gained experience working with leading professionals, including Kim Stewart, Geoff Case, Raylyn Farms, and Anne Kursinski. Today, Kimbreley continues to compete and train riders and their horses of all levels from local through Premier rated circuits. 
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Read the Latest Issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Sponsors: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, Windstar Cruises, and Great American Insurance Group 
•  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 speaks with trainer and FEI show jumper Hunter Holloway about her recent business merger with top trainer Don Stewart and what she's excited about for the upcoming year. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Based in Topeka, Kansas, and Ocala, Florida, Hunter Holloway comes from a family deeply rooted in horses and has become a role model to many aspiring young athletes trying to make it within the industry. Hunter’s storied junior career started when she became the youngest to ever win a national standard Grand Prix at just 12 years old. In 2016, she won the coveted ASPCA Maclay Championship as well as the 2016 Washington International Equitation Championships, after winning all three phases of the competition. Hunter also won the U25 Jumper Championship at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show that year. That success has continued into her professional career with highlights such as the 3rd-place podium finish at the 2023 Longines FEI World Cup Finals in Omaha, Nebraska and winning the AON Cup CSI5* at Spruce Meadows and $405,300 HITS Grand Prix CSI5* at Hits Saugerties, and numerous other Grand Prix wins. She’s also had US Team Nations Cup appearances in Canada and Germany.
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
• Sponsors: Purina, Great American Insurance Group, and Windstar Cruises
•  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 University of Wisconsin-Madison in Madison, Wisconsin with Andi Bill, Mara Bunderson, Kayla Kintzele and Emily Elek. Listen in and share with friends!

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Andi Bill is the head coach for the University of Wisconsin - Madison Equestrian Team and owns Sugar Creek Stables LLC teaching both hunt seat and dressage lessons. She started her equestrian career showing ponies then moving up to the 3’6” equitation. She attended Mount Holyoke College and competed on their IHSA team, serving as captain her junior and senior years. She won Nationals in the Alumni division. When she’s not at the barn, she is a civil engineer focusing on traffic safety. She is the Director of the Wisconsin Local Technical Assistance Program and Associate Director of the Traffic Operations and Safety Laboratory and Eastern Tribal Technical Assistance Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  She is a passionate advocate for making research tangible to practitioners and to foster implementation and widespread adoption.  
• Guest: Mara Bunderson is a 2025 graduate of UW Madison and competed on the Wisconsin Equestrian Team for four years. She earned titles of IHSA Reserve National Champion in 2023 and National Champion in 2024 under her trainer and coach, Andi Bill. She’s remained active in the equestrian world, working for Emily Elek as a groom at Pony Finals and riding/taking lessons at both Stonewall Farm and Sugar Creek Stables. Outside of horses, Mara is attending grad school at UW Madison as well as working full time at Wisconsin Athletics as an accountant.
•  Guest: Kayla Kintzele competed on the University of Wisconsin - Madison Equestrian Team for four years and graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering. She remains active in IHSA, having competed as an alumni and also helping organize the IHSA Zone 7 Championships the past two years. Outside of her day job as a project engineer, she trains with Andi Bill, competes as an adult amateur in the hunters with her horse, Levi, and also grooms for Emily Elek.
•  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.
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Read the Latest Issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Sponsors: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, Windstar Cruises, and Great American Insurance Group 
•  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

Tonya Johnston, Mental Skills Coach speaks with Sydney Mohrhardt, who was the winner of both the Taylor Harris Insurance Services Medal Finals and the Hamel Foundation Equitation Championship this fall. Tonya also responds to a listener request for a suggestion about an important skill to work on this winter in order to prepare for next year. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.

• Host: Tonya Johnston, Visit her Website, Facebook and buy her book Inside Your Ride 
• Guest: Sydney Mohrhardt is an 18 year old equestrian from Traverse City, Michigan who has been riding horses for the past 10 years. She is currently a senior in high school and has been riding and training with Nicholas Pongracz and Jacob Pope for the last four years. Sydney competes in the hunter, jumper, and equitation rings. This fall, Sydney was the winner of both the Taylor Harris Insurance Services Medal Finals and the Hamel Foundation Equitation Championship. Sydney is also a Junior Leader at The Kindness Movement, which is an organization that is dedicated to helping spread kindness and positivity within the equestrian community. 
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
• Sponsors: Purina, Great American Insurance Group and Windstar Cruises
•  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 senior editor and senior reporter, Kimberly Loushin about the December education issue of The Plaid Horse.

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Kimberly Loushin is the senior editor and senior reporter at The Plaid Horse. She graduated from the University of Georgia, and over the last 11 years, she’s covered Olympic Games, World Equestrian Games, World Cup Finals and major horse shows throughout the United States for major equestrian publications. Though she grew up in the hunter/jumper world, she now competes in eventing.
• Read the Latest Issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Sponsors: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, Windstar Cruises, and Great American Insurance Group 
• 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 Michael Britt-León, Berry Porter and Steven Bluman. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Michael Britt-León is the owner of Windsor Stables in Alpharetta, GA. Michael has earned countless International, National and Zone championships. Michael spent his junior career under the guidance of the top professionals on the west coast who had him showing extensively in hunters, jumpers and equitation. He eventually worked at “The Oaks Farm” for Joan Irvine Smith developing quality young horses into nationally ranked Hunters and Jumpers. Michael was eventually recruited to ride privately for a family and it was there that he ran their facility and campaigned their horses nationally, solidifying his place on the professional circuit.
• Guest: Berry Porter is the head trainer at Brookside Pine Farms in Conroe, TX. Berry has developed many riders from the beginner level to the collegiate ranks to succeeding at the top levels of equestrian competition. Recognizing this is a sport that constantly evolves, Berry trains with some of the most respected and successful professionals in the industry, applying his skills as he personally competes at prominent venues across the country. Berry’s students have successfully competed at the FEI North American Young Riders competition, National Junior Hunter Finals, in International Hunter Derbies, at Medal Finals, and in Grand Prix.
• Guest: Steven Bluman is an Israeli show jumping rider, trainer, and entrepreneur based between Wellington, FL and North Salem, NY. A cornerstone of Bluman Equestrian, he oversees the development of junior and amateur riders while managing a competitive string of horses at the FEI level. Known for his meticulous approach to flatwork, horsemanship, and team structure, Steven’s coaching style blends high-performance goals with patient education. He also founded the Equo app, a platform designed to simplify horse transportation across North America.
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
• Sponsors: Purina, Great American Insurance Group and Windstar Cruises 
•  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 grand prix show jumper and owner of Bexley Farm, James Fairclough II.

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: James Fairclough II is a Grand Prix show jumper and the owner of Bexley Farm, based in Bedford, New York, and Wellington, Florida. He comes from a deeply rooted equestrian family: his grandfather, Dr. Rost, was an FEI veterinarian, course designer, and show manager; his grandmother, Joan Chambers, was a national rodeo queen at Madison Square Garden and a respected hunter/jumper trainer; his father, James Fairclough, and grandfather, John Fairclough, were accomplished four-in-hand drivers; and his mother, Robin Rost Brown, is a Grand Prix rider, trainer, and judge. James built his professional foundation riding for Frank Chapot, Anne Kursinski, Candice King, Jane Clark, and Stal Hendrix. After winning the Cacchione Cup in college and competing professionally in Europe, he returned home to establish Bexley Farm, a high-performance training and sales program specializing in the hunter, jumper, and equitation disciplines. 
• Read the Latest Issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Sponsors: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, Windstar Cruises, and Great American Insurance Group 
• 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 Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with Danielle and Jimmy Torano. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Jimmy Torano operates JET Show Stable based in Wellington, Florida and Mohrsville, Pennsylvania with his wife Danielle. Jimmy frequently visits Europe, and is one of the nation’s top importers of up and coming young show jumpers, equitation and hunter prospects. Jimmy is a Big “R” judge who has judged many major classes including the 2006 Pessoa USEF Medal Finals, 2007 USET Talent Search Finals, 2008 Pony Medal Finals and the 2008 ASPCA Maclay Finals.  
• Guest: Danielle Torano is the most winning rider in the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Amateur-Owner Jumper Series, winning the Eastern Conference title in 2001, finishing second in 2002, and then gaining the championship again in back to back years in 2004 and 2005. In 2008, Danielle was a member of the winning $75,000 FEI Nation's Cup team in Wellington, Florida aboard Marlo. Danielle went on to represent the United States in the 2008 World Cup Finals in Goteborg, Sweden and the 2009 World Cup Finals in Las Vegas on Vancouver D'Auvray. Danielle is now a trainer at JET Show Stable.
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
• Sponsors: Purina, Great American Insurance Group and Windstar Cruises 
•  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 Paso Robles Horse Park in Paso Robles, California with Amanda Diefenderfer, Jamie Cheney and James Waldman.

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse
• Guest: Amanda Diefenderfer began with the Paso Robles Horse Park six months before the gates first opened in 2015. She grew up riding hunter/jumpers in California and was thrilled when the opportunity allowed her to bring this passion to her career. Initially, she joined the Paso Park to oversee strategy and marketing of the Foundation’s efforts. In 2018 her role grew to include management of all three of the Paso Park’s show products - Schooling Shows, the regionally rated Pathway series, and the nationally rated Classic Series. Today, she manages 12 shows per year, is on the USHJA Amateur Rider task force, is the treasurer of the Norcal Hunter Jumper Association Board of Directors, and continues to compete on her six-year-old jumper.  
• Guest: Jamie Cheney is a second-generation horse trainer whose passion for horsemanship is deeply rooted in family and tradition. Jamie runs Boundary Gate alongside her mom, Heidi Cowley, where they focus on developing young horses and riders with care and expertise. She’s been coming to Paso Robles since the very beginning, and now shares her love of the sport with her daughters, Addison and Felicity, who both ride. Jamie is committed to keeping equestrian sport viable for future generations—not just through training, but through the broader access and education. She has served on the NorCal Hunter Jumpers Association board, the Tri-Valley Animal Rescue board, and currently serves on the Livermore Unified School District Education Advisory Committee. Whether she’s in the ring or in the community, Jamie brings heart, vision, and a deep sense of purpose to everything she does. 
•  Guest: James Waldman has been a respected figure in the San Diego equestrian community for more than 40 years. A lifelong trainer, he now shares his expertise as both a judge and clinician. James currently serves as President of the Greater San Diego Hunter Jumper Association and has judged at many prestigious events, including the CPHA Foundation Finals, Pony Finals, the New England Equitation Championships, and Capital Challenge. His extensive experience and dedication to the sport have made him a valued voice in the hunter-jumper world.  
• Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Read the Latest Issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine
• Sponsors: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, Windstar Cruises, and Great American Insurance Group 
•  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!