The Plaidcast is a weekly equestrian podcast hosted by Piper Klemm, PhD, publisher of The Plaid Horse magazine. Guests include Olympic riders, top hunter/jumper and equitation riders, trainers, horse show managers and industry insiders, plus in-depth conversations on topics such as horsemanship, collegiate riding, the state of our sport and horse show how to’s for riders at every level. One episode each month is devoted to the mental side of riding with nationally recognized mental skills coach and author Tonya Johnston (Inside Your Ride).
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Piper hosts Plaidcast in Person in front of a live studio audience at Grier School in Birmingham, Pennsylvania with Kara Lawler, Chrystal Coffelt-Wood, Lindsay Shaw, Natalie Townsend, and Logan Faison.
Guest: Kara Lawler is the Head of School after serving as the Dean of Enrollment and Marketing, the English Department Chair, and the Assistant Director of Admissions over the course of her 19-year career at Grier. Kara brings 25 years of educational experience to the school, with a B.A. in English and an M.A.Ed. in Educational Leadership.
Guest: Chrystal Coffelt-Wood started in the Fall of 2013 as the Director of Riding. She comes with over 30 years of professional experience in training horses and developing successful, competitive riders on the local and national level in hunters, jumpers, equitation, and dressage. Her students have had much success with top ribbons at Pony Finals, USHJA Zone 2 Finals, the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, the Capital Challenge Horse Show, USDF National Finals, USEF Festival of Champions, FEI North American Dressage Championships, IEA Nationals, USHJA Junior Jumper Championship, and the Devon Horse Show.
Guest: Lindsay Shaw graduated from the Grier School in 2020, where she attended for 5 years and served as the Hunt Seat and Dressage captain for 3 years. She competed in USEF, USDF, and IEA competitions with the Grier School Equestrian Team. After graduation, she attended Emory & Henry University where she competed on their IDA and IHSA teams and earned accolades including Female Newcomer Athlete of the Year and a First Level Championship at IDA Nationals and contributed to a 2024 National Champion Team title. She now works at the Grier School as an Admissions and Marketing Associate and Assistant Director of Summer Camp.
Guest: Natalie Townsend is from Kempton, PA, and is a senior at the Grier School where she is in her fourth year. She serves as the captain of the Varsity Hunt Seat team and currently competes on the A circuit in the 3’3” Junior Hunter division with her personal horse, Exclusive.
Guest: Logan Faison is from Linville, VA, and is a junior at the Grier School and a member of the Varsity Hunt Seat and Western teams. Logan is going into her fourth year at Grier School where she serves as the Varsity Hunt Seat captain for two years. Logan shows both of her personal horses in the AQHA and NRHA circuits as well as many of Grier’s talented horses in USEF and USHJA show circuits.
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!
Trent McGee (on Road to the Top) by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
Piper speaks with professional show jumping rider and member of the Road to the Top program, Trent McGee. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.
Guest: Trent McGee is a 23-year-old rider from California. Trent received his first major riding opportunity at 16 when he was a working student for Archie Cox at Brookway Stables. Under Archie's mentorship, Trent transitioned into his first professional role where he went on to win and place in numerous Grand Prixs, placed 4th in the 2021 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – West, and helped to earn a Team Medal at Prix des States for Zone 10. Trent's path toward representing Team USA became more clear through the newly established Road to the Top program. Through this program, Trent now trains and works with Katie and Henri Prudent at Plain Bay Farm, and continues to develop as a rider and professional in the sport.
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.
The Plaidchat: Dr. Stephen Rich & Eric Siegel on tick-borne diseases
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 Dr. Stephen Rich and Eric Siegel about the discovery of a natural and effective tick repellent from that may help our horses fight tick-borne diseases.
Guest: Dr. Stephen Rich is a Professor of Microbiology and Executive Director of the New England Center of Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases at the University of Massachusetts (UMass). Prior to joining the UMass faculty, Dr. Rich was a Professor at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. He did his graduate studies at UC Irvine (PhD), Harvard, and University of Vermont (MS). He is a graduate of St. Lawrence University (BS) and grew up in upstate NY between the Adirondacks and the St. Lawrence River.
Guest: Eric Siegel is a graduate student at the university of Massachusetts working for Dr. Stephen Rich. He is also a director of Kabul Small Animal Rescue and a graduate of the royal veterinary college at the university of London.
Piper speaks with Catie Staszak about her experience working the Paris Olympics as NBC’s Equestrian Data Analyst. Dani Waldman also joins to talk about her new role in the equestrian world. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.
Guest: Catie Staszak is a multimedia sports journalist, the CEO of Catie Staszak Media, Inc., and the color commentator and journalist for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League for the last seven seasons. At the recently concluded Paris Olympic Games, she was the lead equestrian researcher and statistician, supporting her goal of increasing the mainstream exposure of the equestrian sports. When she's not at work, she's caring for her two horses and pursuing the sport with her Zangersheide gelding, Bear.
Guest: Dani G. Waldman, also widely known as ‘Flying Feathers’, has over 30 years experience as a Showjumping athlete. Dani won multiple 5* Grand Prix competitions, competed in six senior championships and took part at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Having retired from active competitions, Dani is now a sports commentator, media producer and supports young athletes’ professional development. To this day, she continues to champion the sport of Show Jumping.
Tonya Johnston, Mental Skills Coach speaks with Val Renihan, one of the country's top trainers. Tonya also discusses looking back on your defining moments as a rider as a way of claiming your best qualities and traits. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.
Guest: Val Renihan is the owner and head trainer at Findlay's Ridge LLC where she specializes in hunters, equitation and jumpers. Val has ridden and shown all of her life and started training students at the age of 16. Val has had success at virtually all of the top horse shows across the country and has had many riders who have gone on to have meaningful and decorated professional careers.
Piper speaks with Maja Lindemann about how she approaches course designing and the process of becoming a course designer. Leigh Tricker also joins to talk about the education opportunities that HITS is offering to create a pipeline for equestrians to become licensed officials. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.
Guest: Maja Lindemann grew up riding and showing in California with the Karazissis family. She moved north to attend UC Davis and graduated with a BS in Animal Science. Maja became a professional horse trainer in 2005 and worked for a few operations in Northern California before opening her own business. In 2022, Maja was presented with the opportunity to course design at a local show and decided to get her license. Maja currently lives in New Jersey and course designs at top horse shows such as HITS Hudson Valley, New York and the Adequan/USEF Junior Hunter National Championship - West in Del Mar, California.
Guest: Leigh Gallagher Tricker is a lifelong equestrian and a marketing and project management consultant for HITS LLC. After graduating from The Johns Hopkins University in 2002, Leigh worked for a global macro hedge fund for more than 20 years before retiring in 2023 to pursue other interests. Leigh is also a USHJA Zone 1 Committee member and was recently elected to the USHJA Board of Directors.
Piper speaks with FEI level 3 course designer Meghan Rawlins about how to read and best understand what is being asked in a course map. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.
Guest: Meghan Rawlins started riding at a young age showing jumpers, eventing and hunters before beginning her professional equestrian career in 1993 continuing to apprenticing under top professionals such as Claudia Cojocar. Meghan is the owner of Cedar Vista Stables in Victoria, British Columbia and is certified as both a licensed coach and EC & USEF course designer. In 2022, Meghan earned her FEI level 3 course design certification.
Piper speaks with USEF "R" judge, FEI trainer & clinician Geoff Case about the Paris Olympics and the state of our sport. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.
Guest: Geoff Case is a rider, trainer and large “R” judge based in Ommen, Netherlands. As a rider, Geoff Case has represented the United States in International competitions. As a trainer, Geoff has had many students become Year End Hunter Champions, USET Finals Champions and many ribbons at Medal and Maclay Finals. Geoff is also a Large “R” judge that has officiated at most major horse shows including The National Horse Show, the Winter Equestrian Festival and he will be judging the West Coast Junior Hunter Finals and The Hampton Classic Horse Show this year.
Piper speaks with rider, trainer and USEF "R" judge Michael Tokaruk about judging and his experience judging the 2024 Adequan/USEF Junior Hunter Finals- West Coast in Del Mar, California. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.
Guest: Michael Tokaruk is a top rider, trainer and judge who also runs a training and sales business, Tokaruk Show Stables, out of Tennessee and Wellington, Florida. Michael worked with top professionals such as Scott Stewart, Missy Clark, Bob Braswell and Anne Kursinski as a junior rider. Michael has multiple grand prix wins, international and national hunter derby wins to his credit along with continuing his professional education by working with professionals such as Chris Kappler, Andre Dignelli, Katie Monahan-Prudent, and Melanie Smith Taylor. Michael has judged at some of the prestigious horse shows including the 2021 USET Talent Search Finals East, 2022 ASPCA Maclay Finals, Capital Challenge Horse Show and most recently the 2024 Adequan/USEF Junior Hunter Finals- West Coast in Del Mar, California.
Tonya Johnston, Mental Skills Coach speaks with Lindsay Archer about her new non-profit group, Equestrian Foundation for Mental Health Awareness (EMHA). Licensed therapist & Equus coach, Kathy Rausin joins to talk about her involvement with EMHA. Hunter/jumper professional Carol Wright also joins to talk about her career and how she stays so consistent. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.
Guest: Lindsay Archer grew up in Northern California on the farm where she and her husband Matt run their business, Shady Lane Farm. They started Shady Lane in 2003 and in 2015, they teamed up with Catherine Harvey of Rhys Farms. After struggling with her own mental health, Lindsay's experience in a group therapy session during the Cavalleria Toscana Clinic in early 2024 opened her eyes to an entirely different way to process what she was going through. From that experience, she vowed to find a way to bring group therapy to the equestrian community on the West Coast, so she started the Equestrian Foundation for Mental Health Awareness (EMHA). EMHA is a 501(c)(3) tax deductible, non-profit organization.
Guest: Kathy Rausin is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Equus coach. Kathy offers individual coaching, leadership development and team building opportunities for both private and corporate clients. She has worked with mental health groups, veterans, families, corporate training groups, and more.
Guest: Carol Wright started riding and showing Morgan horses at the age of two at her parent’s breeding farm, Melodic Morgans. At age 10, she was Reserve Champion in the AHSA 3'6" Morgan Jr. Medal finals. By age 11, she won her first Junior Hunter Championship. Throughout her junior riding career, Carol competed in the hunters, equitation and jumpers. She made her first appearance in the Grand Prix ring at age 19. In 1991, she won her first World Cup Qualifier, a $50,000 class in Los Angeles. Carol has won numerous grand prix and hunter derbies- sometimes in the same week. She focuses on creating strong partnerships between horse and rider while keeping fun in the equation.
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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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
