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If you asked the younger versions of Mary Scott Head and Hayden Weinstein if they would ever stray from their hunter/jumper roots, they would say never. Until both girls found themselves unexpectedly finding their way back to the saddle with the help of two very special Arabians. Nowadays, neither girl can imagine a life without the horses they describe as dedicated, intelligent, willing, and their heart horses. After meeting in college, the girls instantly became best friends. While they may

Most equestrians will experience an injury at some point in their lives. Nearly everyone remembers sitting in a doctor’s office, anxiously awaiting the verdict that determines how long they’ll be sidelined, and perhaps more painfully, how much time they’ll spend away from the horses they love. For some, an injury means pressing pause on a dream. For others, it forces a reevaluation of long-term goals. Sometimes, it's simply time away from a place that feels like home.

Kristen Petzold has always loved Arabians. Her first horse was an Arabian, and she credits that experience with introducing her to not only a remarkable breed, but a close-knit community that would shape her life. “I’ve been so lucky to have so many horses of a lifetime, and I think partly due to the fact they’re all Arabians,” she said. “The bond you feel with an Arabian is something I haven’t experienced with any other breed of horse. Once I discovered how

Nyssa Sheridan has been a part of Chili’s life since the very beginning. From deciding to breed her beloved mare, Dancing Gdynia, to watching the embryo that would become Chili develop through an ultrasound, Sheridan has been a part of her journey every step of the way. Long before Chili entered the show ring, Sheridan was there imagining what kind of horse she might become. Years later, the foal has grown into No Greater Honor+++/, a versatile Arabian mare preparing to compete on one of

The rich breed history of Los Caballos de Paso Fino, better known as the Paso Fino, dates back over 500 years to 1493 when Christopher Columbus brought a combination of Berber Horses (also known as Barbs), Spanish Jennets, and Andalusians to the Americas. Photo courtesy of Javier Suarez Following orders from King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella of Spain, Columbus landed with his horses and Spanish conquistadors on the island of Borinquen at the Bay of Aguada, which is now known as

When Grace Livingston tried a four-year-old pony named Shadey Hills Golden Cloud when she was 13, she didn't expect to see herself competing against some of the best pony-and-rider combinations in the U.S. four years later at the 2026 USEF Pony Finals presented by Marshall+Sterling. “We didn't know anything about him,” Livingston said of her 2018 Connemara gelding (Windy Isles Get Smart x The Contessa). “I was not at the level where I should have been riding

It takes a certain type of pony to help regain lost confidence, and for Nora Petrey, Mr. Freckles did just that. This former eventing pony brought his little girl from the cross rails all the way to the Regular Pony division in less than a year. The pair is now attending the 2026 USEF Pony Finals presented by Marshall+Sterling for the first time in the Medium Green Pony Hunter division. Owned by Fox Ridge Farm, the 2009 Pony of the Americas gelding (Plaudits Snowman TE x Special N Often) once

Six years ago, Clara and Annika Beck from Tionesta, Pa., weren’t shopping for a show pony. In fact, they were hoping to avoid noticing one, especially while life at home was anything but easy. Their story begins the day an unexpected need brought a Fjord into their world. “It’s not like we were looking for a project,” Annika said. Annika and Pancake competing at the 2026 USEF/World Wide Technology Pony Jumper National Championships (©US Equestrian) The pony, now

For Sophia Goetz, a 17-year-old from Windsor, Colo., the path to being in the saddle began at age six and took shape with her first lesson horse at nine. It was a green start which quickly turned into an all-consuming passion. Sophia and Mickie (Photo courtesy of the Goetz family) "They keep you honest," Goetz said of horses. "You can't fake your way through a run, and you can't force that kind of raw power." Goetz's early years in the sport were shaped by a small,

Some horses make an impression because of what they accomplish in the arena. Others leave an impression because of who they are when they walk back through the barn aisle. For Katie Nayak (Tucson, Ariz.), her partner is special because he is both. Technically, Nayak’s horse is named Iniesto, a 2013 Andalusian gelding (Dimarts x Euro V), owned by Pamela Farthing. But that name is rarely used. Katie Nayak and Iniesto (©Teri Miller, Courtesy of the Nayak family) “I call him

Kim Stevenson describes herself as a “horse crazy girl,” having been obsessed with them from an early age. Every Christmas, her favorite present was a renewed subscription to the Arabian Horse World magazine. She would tear out pages and cover her bedroom with photos of her favorite horses. Stevenson (left) and one of her sisters (right) | Photo provided by Kim Stevenson “Most girls my age had posters on their wall of popular music artists or celebrities on their

Jacqueline Schatzberg has been immersed in the horse industry for as long as she can remember. As the daughter of top show photographers, Howard and Megan Schatzberg, horses have always been a central part of her life. Growing up ringside and behind the scenes at horse shows, it was only natural she would find her own place in the sport. Today, she is an active competitor within the Arabian, Morgan, Hackney, and Saddlebred communities, balancing a busy show schedule with a growing list of