L.A. Berry

1 week ago | theplaidhorse.com | L.A. Berry

By L.A. BERRY“The Hypocrisy of the horse world [is that it] pretends to love horses but goes to obscene lengths to get the desired results.” —The Equiery, 2025A remark within a review for a fictional murder mystery novel set in the world of competitive equestrians may not seem the typical place to invite a discussion about false horsetails, but it does beg an uncomfortable question. To what lengths will horse show people go?

Dec 8, 2024 | theplaidhorse.com | L.A. Berry

Plaidcast Live Hosted by Piper Klemm By L.A. BERRYCancer was the only beast she could not out-ride. I was nine years old in 1970, when I started lessons on Sundays at a barn an hour’s drive from home. I suspect the hour’s drive was a good excuse for Mom to sidestep the otherwise long mornings on a hard bench. The alternative: listening to the sleepy drone of a Latin Mass in a church our pater familia had not so much chosen as dictated would be his Polish Catholic family’s house of worship.

Oct 9, 2024 | theplaidhorse.com | L.A. Berry

By L.A. BERRYEthos: The distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature or guiding beliefs of a person, group or institution. In the case of the Ethos Award Ceremony on Saturday morning, August 31, at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, NY, it was all about changing the narrative of horse sport by recognizing Black equestrians and allies.

Jul 29, 2024 | theplaidhorse.com | L.A. Berry |Sarah Welk Baynum

By L.A. BERRYThe public face of dressage has not always been a pretty one of late. In February, former Olympic rider Cesar Parra was suspended by the FEI from national and international competition after video footage went viral of “abhorrent abusive training techniques.” Images showed horses, some hobbled, being struck on the neck or head while ridden, or with a whip while on long lines. Nor was this the preamble to the 2024 FEI World Cup™ Finals that the dressage community had hoped for.

Jul 26, 2024 | theplaidhorse.com | L.A. Berry |Sarah Welk Baynum

By L.A. BerryHeritage. It’s something worth experiencing—and cherishing. Which is why Active Riding Trips has been proud to work with True Ranch Collection to present Old West pop-up ranch experiences each season that deliver a true west experience while putting 100% of the proceeds back into preservation and restoration of the O.T.O. Dude Ranch, Montana’s first dude ranch (c. 1910) and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.