MA Media

10/01/2025

Your horse's blanket is a big investment, and you want to make sure you get the most out of your money to keep your horse comfortable and warm. But you also want him to be safe. For the Tough1 Blog, I share some tips to keep your horse comfortable and safe.
👀➡https://www.tough1.com/blog/boost-your-horses-comfort-smart-blanketing-and-safety-practices.html

25/12/2024

Missed the boat on cards this year. But that doesn't mean my favorite elves aren't feeling merry!

Merry Christmas from the crazy house/farm!!

08/12/2024

This. Is. HUGE.
Congratulations, Kaci, on shattering the glass ceiling!! The only woman in the NRHA - National Reining Horse Association Open Futurity Finals, and she comes away with the biggest win! Your Level 4 and Level 3 Open Futurity Champion!!

14/11/2024

We spend thousands of dollars on our horses: custom saddles, chiropractic work, massage therapy, proper shoeing and regular dental care. We take the time to think about matching the color of our saddle blanket to our show clothes, but how many of us think about what’s going on between our horse’s back and the saddle?

That cheap saddle pad on your horse’s back may cushion your horse from the saddle, but it likely doesn’t have any support or minimal support, especially as the pad ages.

So how can you be sure you’re making the right choice regarding your saddle pad? ➡️ https://www.jtidist.com/blog/choosing-the-proper-western-saddle-pad.html

11/11/2024

BTS: I've been doing a lot of behind-the-scenes work for the All Star Reining Stakes and love having the ability to shine a light on some of the reining industry's best and brightest stallions!

07/11/2024

to a chilly, but fun couple of days working with the BloodHorse photography crew at the 2010 Breeders' Cup World Championships alongside my sister. We were lucky to see the best of the best up close and personal race that year, including Goldikova, BIG Drama, Blame and, the queen of them all, Zenyatta.

05/11/2024

The hardest shape to draw is a perfect straight line.
The hardest track to follow while working with a horse is a perfect straight line.
I loved learning these tips to help exhibitors train to perfect their straight lines going forward and back in this article for The Equine Chronicle.

Mastering The Art Of The Straight Line

While keeping your horse straight is a fundamental skill, it’s one of the hardest to do.

A straight line indicates control, focus, and effective communication between you and your horse. In this article, we will explore practical tips and techniques to help you and your horse achieve perfectly straight lines, ensuring you stand out in the show ring.

Learn from AQHA Professional Horsewoman Shannon McCulloch and AQHA Professional Horseman and University of South Carolina Equestrian Team Coach T.R. Potts by clicking the link: 👇

http://www.equinechronicle.com/mastering-the-art-of-the-straight-line/

26/09/2024

As you're preparing to hit the road for the next show or trail ride, there's a list of necessities that accompany your horse for every trip, which includes grain, hay, tack and health records. Does that include a Coggins test?

Every year it's another cost you must pay your veterinarian, and every year the result is always the same: Negative. What's the point of testing when you already know the answer?

The USDA's Dr. Angela Pelzel McCluskey helps answer that question and explains why you still really need to worry about Equine Infectious Anemia in the extra large Congress issue of The Equine Chronicle:

https://bt.e-ditionsbyfry.com/publication/?i=830816&p=484&view=issueViewer

04/09/2024

I'm excited to be back to writing for the Paint Horse Journal (Official American Paint Horse Association) again, especially with this eye-opening piece on how horse owners can detect pain in their usually stoic animal. Thank you to Dr. Sue Dyson for sharing her time to educate me and the readers about the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram. And, thank you to the editor, Jessica Hein, for allowing me to share this with the APHA members!

27/08/2024

Today, on Women’s Equality Day, we honor the incredible women who are breaking barriers and making strides in the equine world - they are driving positive change and shaping the future of the equine industry. 🐎💪

Their leadership, expertise, and love for horses are not only transforming the field but also inspiring a new generation of women to pursue their dreams in the industry we know and love. Let’s take a moment to celebrate their achievements and continue advocating for equality and opportunity for all.

To all the amazing women in the equine industry: thank you for your hard work, dedication, and the inspiration you provide every day.

20/08/2024

The September/October 2024 issue of Young Rider is hitting mailboxes and newsstands, and it's packed with ideas for young horse lovers to hone their passion. I highlighted a few inspiring organizations you can join with or without horses that I highly recommend.

Groups highlighted:
Harness Horse Youth Foundation
IEA - Interscholastic Equestrian Association
4-H
Amplify Horse Racing
The youth associations as part of breed organizations such as: AJPHA, AQHYA, NRHYA, AMHAY, AMHyA, AHYA

If you have a horse-loving child in your home or family, I recommend getting them their own subscription to this magazine!!

15/07/2024

Breyerfest 2024 wrapped up over the weekend in Lexington, Ky., so I can finally share that I was asked by Breyer Model Horses to write a few of the bios for the newest releases (which were to be unveiled at Breyerfest).

As someone who grew up collecting these beautiful model horses (and now a mom passing on that love to her daughter), I greatly appreciate the honor. Thank you, Breyer! I can't wait to see these guys on the store shelves!

11/06/2024

Transitioning an off-track Thoroughbred from the world of horse racing to a more leisurely or competitive career requires careful attention to every aspect of his care, especially his nutrition. Just like retired human athletes, these horses need a diet that supports their new lifestyle while helping maintain their health and vitality. Hay stands as a cornerstone in their diets, providing essential nutrients and fiber crucial for digestion and overall well-being.

For the Retired Racehorse Project:
https://www.therrp.org/education/care-nutrition/feed-weight/selecting-the-best-hay-for-your-ottb/

20/05/2024

Every summer I look forward to attending the American Horse Publications annual seminar for a number of reasons: the ability to network, the ability to learn new skills and ideas, the ability to promote my work and my potential and the ability to see friends from near and far. This year I was invited to speak on a panel to share my experience with expanding my horizons as a freelance writer. We also celebrated the last seminar with AHP's esteemed leader, Chris Brune, as executive director (enjoy retirement, Chris). And, as good equine media, we cheered for a safe and exciting Preakness Stakes.

For my three articles that were named finalists for the Equine Media Awards, I brought home two second places and an honorable mention. I am so grateful for the editors giving me a chance to contribute to their publications and to my sources for their time and allowing me to share their stories. I look forward to do even more for you this year and in the years to come.

To the women that approached me this weekend, sharing their stories and how they've followed my career for years and thanked me for inspiring them, I want to thank you. I was taken aback by how many people that I didn't know (yet) knew me and said they looked up to me. That was never something I imagined I'd hear, but I am so grateful for that. You inspire me. Together, we can keep making this industry a great one.

16/05/2024

𝐀𝐇𝐏 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭!
I'm headed to Lexington to attend the American Horse Publications annual seminar!

My third and final (that I know of) finalist article is one that might be a repetition of topics for me, but it's such an important one, and I'm so lucky to have great connections with intelligent and passionate people to help me reach different audiences in new ways. I'm certain this article wouldn't be the same without Rebecca Gimenez Husted helping me! Here is the third article that is a finalist for the Equine Media Awards, published by The Equine Chronicle:

Within almost 30 days at the beginning of 2022, two Midwestern farms experienced every barn owner’s absolute worst nightmare. According to the Animal Welfare Institute, 113 deadly barn fires occurred in 2021. Between 2018 and 2021, the average number of animals killed in barn fires each year topped 748,000 animals (this includes chickens, cows, pigs, horses, llamas, etc.).

“I was living in an absolute nightmare..."
https://www.equinechronicle.com/lessons-learned-barn-fires/

13/05/2024

𝐀𝐇𝐏 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭!
Just a few more days before I'm back in Lexington attending the American Horse Publications annual seminar!

Here is the second article that is a finalist for the Equine Media Awards, published by the Retired Racehorse Project's former print publiation, Off-Track Thoroughbred:

The stereotypical Western movie shows cowboys chasing cattle and climbing up treacherous terrain aboard their trusty stock horse—perhaps an American Quarter Horse or a Paint Horse—but a stocky looking horse. Horses sporting heavy, leather-laden saddles hold bits with shanks on the ends protruding from their mouths look more rough and ready for anything, rather than slick and fast.

At least, that’s what we’re used to seeing on the Western side of things. Lately, though, there’s been an insurgence of a new royal pedigree amongst the working type, thanks to the increase in popularity of the Thoroughbred showing true versatility and excelling in Western events not only at the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover event, but on ranches out West and in rodeo arenas across the country.

However, when it comes to taking a retired racehorse from the fast-paced world of track life and slowing it down, it may be one of the more trickier transitions.

Choosing a Western Prospect
When it comes to choosing an OTTB Western prospect, the most obvious choice, when it comes to conformation and the body of the horse is the height of the horse. A Western horse is typically shorter, between 14-15.2 hands.

“We don’t need to go over big jump, obviously,” says Jody Busch, owner and head trainer at Jody Busch Horsemanship in Saskatchewan, Canada. “If you’re going to be trail riding or working cattle, you’ll be doing a lot of opening and closing of gates, so you’re getting off and on the horse a lot. You want something that’s not going to hurt your knees or break your back.”

Stockier horses fit the Western lifestyle better than longer, lankier horses. Horses with a shorter back and shorter croup will have the ability to stop and make sharp turns easier. Busch likes to look at horses that have more of a fast twitch response, much like sprinters, because they can move and react quickly.

“It might be hard to look at a horse fresh off the track because they’ll be in running shape, so you’ll have to really look at their bone structure,” suggests Robin Stang, an AQHA Professional Horseman and Thoroughbred Makeover Judge. “But you can tell a lot by their hind end if they’ll make a good stock horse.”..

09/05/2024

𝐀𝐇𝐏 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭!

In just one week I head back to my "second hometown" of Lexington, Kentucky, for a couple of days of what I like to call "career rejuvenation and inspiration"--otherwise known as the American Horse Publications Seminar! This year, I'll be speaking on a panel as well as leading a table during the networking lunch. And, to top it off, three of my articles that I entered are finalists, including this one:

From the NRHA - National Reining Horse Association Reiner Magazine, May 2023:
If there’s one word that strikes a chord in the reining community following the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s “pivot.”

Reiners pivot all the time in the arena while doing warp-speed turnarounds. Pivot can also mean completely changing the way in which someone does something.
In recent years, there has been an increase in pivoting for NRHA affiliates as they tried to navigate restrictions and regulations during the pandemic, and now a changing economy in the aftermath.

For two affiliates in particular — the Eastern Pennsylvania Reining Horse Association (EPRHA) and the Montana Reining Horse Association (MRHA) — pivoting exhibitors’ and sponsors’ expectations, and creating a new mindset has helped the groups
thrive.

https://mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?m=55500&i=790401&p=44&ver=html5

04/05/2024

My annual Kentucky Derby post, from the first time I was lucky enough to work for the BloodHorse photographer team. It's a weekend of inspiration--from the horses to watching the best in sports media do their jobs.

Best of luck to my photographer and media friends today! I hope you get *THE* shot and celebrate with the best bourbon!
Anne M. Eberhardt Photography
Rick Samuels Photography
Skip Dickstein
Paulick Report
BloodHorse
ESPN