MANAGING EDITOR
DeAnn Long Sloan is a former English teacher who has been searching for a way to channel her love and judgement of most things literary into her passion for horses. DeAnn rode casually throughout her childhood and adolescence, but did not ride with any regularity or own her own horse until well into adulthood. Since jumping into horse ownership, she has tried to immerse herself in the equestrian world as much as possible by becoming a certified equine sports massage therapist and contributing to Horse Nation. Her main past times include trying to be slightly less bad at riding and avoiding as many vet bills as possible. [Email DeAnn]
CONTRIBUTORS
Kristen M. Brennan grew up a horseless but horse crazy kid in New Jersey. A horse was at the top of her Christmas and birthday list year after year, but her parents’ response was always “Go to school, get a good job and then you buy your own a horse.” So she did just that. After almost a decade of higher education and two cross-country moves, she landed herself in the middle of the horse capitol of the world, Lexington Kentucky and that inner horse girl went wild. Together with her husband and young son, she owns Fall Line Farm LLC, home to her beloved horses, some chickens and a few boarders. Living by the motto “My life is just a bunch of ‘it seemed like a good idea at the time’ all strung together,” she showed her OTTB Marcus in the hunters, jumpers, equitation, local medals then tried eventing until his retirement in 2018. Realizing that he was much easier to deal with when gainfully employed, Marcus came out of retirement to be the world’s worst trail horse and dabble in Western Dressage. In 2019, through Horse Nation, Kristen chronicled her journey to the Retired Racehorse Project with her special OTTB Geoffrey , who she impulsively took off the track when she was supposed to “just go look” at horses (Sorry hubby!). Geoffrey, aka “Snap Decision,” and Kristen are now working their way up the levels in eventing and having a blast.
Ashley Francese started riding at the age of four when her father bought her an elderly cantankerous mule. Now a saddle fitter, horse trainer, and riding instructor, she enjoys working with horses with behavioral problems. Ashley loves off-the-track horses and has several Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds in her barn. A lifelong nerd and a lover of all things ancient, she is also a Latin teacher with a Masters degree in English. Writing for Horse Nation allows her to marry her love of horses with her love of words.
Aubrey Graham is an Anthropologist and eventing/hunter-jumper trainer located just south of Atlanta, in McDonough, Georgia. Based out of a farm built for the 1996 Olympics, she runs APGraham Eventing and Kivu Sporthorses & Training. She parlays her 30+ years of riding experience into training students and working with young, green, and challenging rides, but her passion lies in the retraining of the off track thoroughbred (OTTB). Aubrey has competed through preliminary level eventing and keeps her eyes on the upper levels while enjoying the small successes that come from getting the green horses ready for lower-level competition.
Marcella Gruchalak started riding in her teenage years. When she turned 16, her father told her she could have a car or a horse. She picked the old hand-me-down family car, but turned around the next day and bought a horse with her savings. From then on she’s had her fair share of fall offs and bolting experiences, which have helped her balance and seat. She’s up to try any discipline with her horses but you’ll most likely see her making her best effort in impersonating Annie Oakley in the mounted shooting ring.
Jenny Kammerer is a professional artist, video producer and frustrated Philadelphia sports fan who’s been in the saddle since the age of four. When she was 16, she met her Paint/QH/Draft cross Gibson (aka Guitar Solo) as a green two-year-old, and quickly settled into the training side of equestrianism, drawing inspiration from the techniques of Pat Parelli and other natural horsemanship teachers. Known for most of her childhood as both the awkward artsy one and the weird horse girl, she always seemed destined to draw nonsensical horse cartoons. In addition to her independent illustration work, she currently teaches painting classes at Paint With A Twist and produces short-form documentaries that can be seen on Horse TV. You can follow her personal art projects and stay up-to-date on Gibson and the Apocalypse on Instagram: @JennyKammArt
Noelle Maxwell is an all-around horse nerd, equestrian history geek, and reader of books both horsey and non-horsey. Highlights of her rider/writer career so far include but aren’t limited to her ongoing project on Nautical, the Horse with the Flying Tail and getting to interview some pretty cool people (including the legendary Bill Steinkraus). [Twitter]
Katelin Parsons is a full-time Agronomist and part-time barrel racer. She is from Northern Wisconsin and began competing in gaming events at a young age. She has competed in Western Pleasure, Dressage, Endurance and several other equine disciplines, but has always been drawn back to Barrel Racing. Katelin is also huge Thoroughbred racing fan. She has adopted several off-track Thoroughbreds and has found that they do well running barrels when they have the proper training. Inspired by the talent and athleticism of the Thoroughbred breed, Katelin created The Western Thoroughbred, a social media network dedicated to promoting the use of Thoroughbreds in western disciplines. She is continually adding educational and engaging content to the site. As former Miss Rodeo Wisconsin, Katelin hopes to return to the rodeo arena one day as a competitor – maybe even aboard a Thoroughbred!
Amanda Uechi Ronan is a jack-of-all-trades equestrian, wannabe racecar driver, and author. Find her novels on Amazon. Horse life and autocross shenanigans are available on Instagram @uechironan, and if you’re keenly interested in her Wordle results, check out Twitter @uechironan.
Morgane Schmidt is, among many things, an equestrian who still hasn’t quite decided what she wants to be when she grows up. Author of Life with Horses Is Never Orderly, she knows all about the madness that comes with the equine territory, having owned and competed horses in eventing and dressage for years. A lifelong fan of the classic equestrian cartoons penned by internationally renowned artist Norman Thelwell, she began her own comic series in 2011, sharing deftly funny reflections on life with horses on Horse Nation as well as her personal website. A native Floridian, she spent a decade in Reno, NV, where she was able to confirm her suspicion that snow is utterly worthless (she has since regained her sense and moved back to the Florida swamp). Though she has run the gamut of equestrian disciplines, her favorite is dressage. She has completed her USDF bronze and silver medals and is currently working on her gold. Generally speaking, her life is largely ruled by Woody, a 14.2 hand beastly quarter horse, Willie, a now beastly 11-year-old Dutch gelding, and Milona DG, a 5 year old KWPN chestnut mare (you can make your own inferences there…). Visit her website at www.theideaoforder.com.
Candace Wade wrote the book Horse Sluts – The Saga of Two Women on the Trail of Their Yeehaw. She has contributed to Horse Nation, Mature Lifestyles, Riding and Writing, The Tennessean and is a member of American Horse Publications. Candace writes political diatribe, wrote “Hillary’s View” pet column and four unpublished film scripts. She learned to ride at age 46. Still rides at 59+. [Email Candace] [Horse Sluts on Facebook]
Kayla Zielke has been fully devoted to anything horse related her entire life. She is a horse trainer who specializes in colt starting as well as an equine massage therapist, barefoot trimmer and barrel racer. Kayla is a self-proclaimed horse nerd who takes great interest in bloodlines and horse racing. Her racing interests led to her passion of retraining off-track Thoroughbreds for second careers in western disciplines and becoming an ambassador for The Western Thoroughbred. Kayla has shown in everything from showmanship, reining, and barrel racing to colt starting challenges. She takes pride in developing all-around horses no matter the breed or bloodlines. Kayla is based in Southern Alberta where she runs her business Eclipse Equine and enjoys her small personal herd of Thoroughbreds and Quarter horses.
Go Team. Go Riding!
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