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First Dabble in a Derby Earns Michael Tokaruk & Trademark Darmanville a 100 Handy Score

Sometimes it can feel hard to stand out in the hunter ring, but a beautiful, black horse and a 100 score in the handy is a good way to set yourself apart from the crowd. Michael Tokaruk had a fantastic showing at HIPICO Santa Fe Summer’s Fiesta Week, winning the ...

A “Really” Good Trip Earns 3rd in the Derby Finals Classic Round

It was a strong day in Kentucky for west coast riders. For some, a really strong day. Really, a ten-year-old Mecklenburg black roan gelding, earned a combined score of 270.5 to place third in the classic behind Tori Colvin and Nick Haness respectively. After enjoying ...

8 Takeaways from the 2019 USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship

Yes, Tori Colvin is That Good As of tonight, Tori Colvin has won this championship three different times on three different horses. Her picture is all over the marketing material, jumps and signage, and next year will be no different. Her 2018 partner, Private ...

The Suicide Conversation We Should Be Having Before “They Will Be Missed”

She was a talented rider. She was smart, accepted into med school and ready to kick ass in a tough career. She was kind. She was beautiful. She was loved. And she was gone. Here is the thing that burns me about suicide, even more than crying over my phone after ...

The Best Gift You Can Give Yourself is a Trainer Who Believes in You

“I think if I can put it all together, he has a chance to do okay in the hunters,” I said while I hopped off my free Thoroughbred. He’s got sticky changes, a need for speed and extremely questionable hocks. I had long ago decided that we’d stay in the hunter ring ...

A “Poor” Equestrian Ponders AA Shows and Six Figure Imports

Poor is a relative word, and horse people know that. I can’t deny the huge luxury it is to have a horse, any horse. In a country where many struggle to afford healthcare, grocery bills and safe housing, no equestrian should ever complain about being poor. The fact of ...