On The Rail

Join us on this episode of On the Rail Podcast as Helen Hardy, Manager of Youth Development & AQHYA at the American Quarter Horse Association, reveals the exciting opportunities available to young horse enthusiasts through AQHA's Youth Programs. Discover the Junior Master Horseman, Horse Judging, National Youth Racing Program, and AQHUniversity. Learn about AQHLead, the program empowering...

Welcome to this week's episode of On The Rail Podcast. In our latest installment, we had the privilege of interviewing Darrel Bilke, Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, of the Pinto Horse Association of America (PtHA), along with his staff members. Our discussion revolved around the PtHA and the highly anticipated 2023 Pinto World Championship Show. Throughout the episode, we exp...

Have you ever even thought to be concerned about liniment causing your horse to fail a drug test? Get ready for an eye-opening episode of the On the Rail podcast as we delve into the intricacies of equine drug medication usage rules.  In this episode of the On the Rail podcast, we interviewed three guests from the industry: Ward Stutz, AQHA Director of Breed Integrity, Animal Welfare & Educati...

On this episode of On The Rail podcast, we sat down with Julie Broadway, the President of the American Horse Council, to discuss the state of the horse industry in the United States.    We explored the current state of the horse industry in the United States, including the economic contributions it made to the US economy and the major challenges it faced at the time. Julie shed light on how the CO...

On this episode of the On The Rail podcast, we sat down with Amy Engelskirger, owner of Glamorous Threads English Apparel & Tack and AQHA amateur competitor. Amy shared with us her journey of balancing being a successful competitor and running a thriving business. We discussed her accomplishments as an amateur and the highs and lows of her experiences in the show ring.   We also delved into th...

Join us on this episode of On the Rail Podcast as we chat with representatives from the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) about their Youth Futurity Project. This initiative is a fantastic chance for young horse enthusiasts to showcase their training and horsemanship skills with their yearling or 2-year-old futurity horse project at the 2023 APHA World Championship Show in Fort Worth, Texas,...

We’re back with our next roundtable discussion on On The Rail podcast about the economics of putting on a horse show. We're joined by experienced show manager from Florida, Randall Roser, and facility manager of the Cowpokes Arena at C Bar C in Cloverdale, Indiana, Brice Howell.    In this episode, we explore the ins and outs of the horse show industry, including the primary expenses involved...

In this episode of On The Rail Podcast, we sat down with Cyndy Hetzell, who has been involved in 4-H and youth clubs for over 35 years. We explored Cyndy's journey assisting youth in the equine industry, particularly those involved in breed shows and 4-H. She not only shared her experiences but also offered invaluable insights on how to blend kids from a 4-H background with those in the breed...

On this episode of On The Rail Podcast, we sit down with Chelsea Sinclair, a faculty member at Clemson University's Animal and Veterinary Sciences department, as well as an accomplished breeder, competitor, and stallion owner/manager. Chelsea holds an MS and PhD in equine reproduction and has a wealth of knowledge to share on the topic. We start off by learning more about Chelsea's persona...

Welcome to On The Rail! In this episode, we chat with Suzannah Fuhrman, the Co-founder and Executive Vice President of GoHorseShow.com. Suzannah shares her journey from her time working at ESPN to launching GoHorseShow and the monthly digital magazine, GoMag. GoHorseShow (GHS) is one of the leading websites and magazines for the horse showing community. Suzannah discusses her background in the hor...

Join us on the On The Rail Podcast for our upcoming monthly roundtable discussion, where we'll be delving into the controversial issue of whether amateur riders should be allowed to teach beginner lessons. With emotions running high on this topic, we can all agree, at least, that change is needed to attract and retain newcomers in our industry. Our expert panelists will share their diverse vie...

Join us for the latest episode of On The Rail Podcast, where we talk with judging experts David Dellin and Sandy Jirkovsky about their experience as instructors at the 2023 International Equine Judges Seminar hosted annually by the Color Breed Council. David and Sandy provide a complete recap of the event weekend. They discuss the seminar's purpose and who it's intended for, emphasizing th...

In this episode of On The Rail podcast, we sit down with CPA Greg Tambke to discuss the sometimes complicated intersection of taxes and the horse industry. We explore topics such as the IRS's beliefs around horse businesses verses hobby ventures, the frequency of horse industry-related audits, and what expenses amateurs can write off. We also dive into the nuances of reporting income from horse re...

In this episode of On The Rail, co-hosts Liz and Jenna are back for another "after hours" discussion, and this time they dive into a more serious topic: the current state of the horse show industry. While they usually keep things light and fun, this tone may be more serious than usual. Liz and Jenna feel it's important to address some of the issues that are affecting our side of the equestrian wor...

Join us for a very special episode of On The Rail Podcast, where we sit down with Tara and Doug Landon, the dynamic duo behind the March to the Arch benefit  horse show. Doug started the event in 2005 after his own cancer diagnosis, and the show has since raised over $800,000 for cancer research. Tara and Doug take us behind the scenes of this leading horse show and discuss their plans for th...

Welcome to a special episode of On The Rail Podcast, where we are kicking off a new monthly segment that will be roundtable discussions of current hot topics in the industry. First up in this episode, a handful of passionate individuals in the Quarter Horse industry discuss the AQHA World Championship Show, analyzing what's working and what isn't and how we can improve it. Our panelists provide a...

In honor of Valentine's Day week, get ready for a hilarious ride with On The Rail Podcast! In this episode, we are turning the tables and giving our non-horsey significant others a chance to share their experiences. These brave souls have taken the plunge and fallen in love with us horse-crazy girls. Hear their side about the ups and downs of dating someone who's more in love with their four-legge...

In this episode, we are delighted to chat with three World title winning APHA competitors who have smashed through the often perceived glass ceiling of being a DIY'er. This is a very candid conversation about the realities of being a DIY amateur competing regularly at the highest levels in the horse show industry. These ladies talk about how they got started, how they became successful, and most i...

This week we cover Horsemanship with trainer & judge Kelly McDowell. Kelly has coached many AQHA World Champions in Horsemanship, including the two-time reigning AQHA Amateur World Champion. We talk about what makes a standout horsemanship horse, what gets you noticed as a rider, and maybe even a little bit of what not to do! Is horsemanship really about a great rider or a great horse? Kelly h...

We're BACK (pun intended!) with another On The Rail Podcast episode for an in-depth discussion with leading equine chiropractor, Dr. Shelley Grissom. As our guest expert, she shares her knowledge and expertise on maintaining optimal spinal health in horses, including identifying common misalignments and addressing them with gentle adjustments, and exploring the connection between equine chiropract...

What's life like at the end of the line? Today we talk to longe line guru Anthony Leier about how he got started and why he chose to specialize in showing yearlings. Anthony gave us a behind-the-lines talk of what life is really like preparing 35 yearlings for the show pen each year, and why we determined he must possess a special personality trait to stay sane with a barn full of kindergartners!...

Ever wonder what goes into making these funny things we call tail extensions? In today's episode, we talked to Barb Delf, owner of Custom Tails. We got the nitty gritty on tail extensions. Barb was on the forefront of tail extensions when they first became "a thing" in our horse show world. We talk about how she got started, tips for buying the right tail even if you have a unique horse, and how t...

We're kicking off 2023 with a behind-the-scenes look into one of the industry's favorite husband and wife duos, Wade & Carly Parks. Wade and Carly operate Parks Show Horses out of Sabina, OH, specializing in futurity and all-around horses. We talk about their background, how they met, what it was like combining their businesses, and all the laughs and struggles of working with your spouse. We...

The horse market has been outrageous lately. Is that changing? What is selling? What isn't? We don't have a crystal ball, but we do have some answers for you! In today's episode, we chatted with Laura Gilmer, who runs the high-end horse sales website, Serious Inquiries Only Equine. If anyone has a good pulse on the sales side of the horse industry, Laura does! She's full of knowledge, and we think...

Today we sat down with the young, ambitious, and successful amateur, Madison Nirenstein. We talked about goal setting, the reality of being a young adult paying for your horse show hobby, entrepreneurship, and what it was like being a part of the High Point Performance Horses barn. Most people will know Madison from piloting around her multiple World & Congress champion gelding, Hubbout A Danc...