It doesn’t matter your saddle or your discipline. Nor your boots nor your helmet. There is a secret that escapes many riders and yet it’s critical to their success. It is not something that professional trainers and coaches can teach you. It goes well beyond skills and technique.  You spend countless hours in pursuit of your dreams. Dreams require work and they require commitment. There are...

Photo by Crystal Young of Royal Equine An Interview with Marissa Gentner of The Distinguished Rider  One of the primary goals of The Equine Professionals Club is to unite members of the equestrian community from all backgrounds. In this article, we are proud to feature The Distinguished Rider’s founder and owner Marissa Gentner, with whom EPC also shares a mission of increasing accessibility in...

Submission by: Jennifer Staib I will attest to the fact that I knew absolutely nothing about horses when my 9-year-old daughter attended her first 4-day, horseback riding summer camp. Pack a lunch, apply sunscreen, wear long pants and some type of boot, sign a waiver and off we go. Little did I know that my husband and I were about to launch into a lifetime of conversation about horses! To be...

Located in Eastern Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Valley Dressage Association (LVDA) is a United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Region 1 Group Member Organization (GMO) that provides educational opportunities to its membership and local community through clinics, seminars, lectures, and both schooling and recognized dressage shows.  The LVDA is known for the widespread development and success of their...

Photo by Aliyah Hardesty, Aliyah's Timeless Photography 1. Sportsmanship Collegiate equestrian programs seek riders who not only excel in the saddle, but also possess qualities in leadership, sportsmanship, and dedication. Often times equestrian athletes only ever compete as an individual (with their horse of course). Making the transition from an individual sport to a team sport is a huge...

 Photo by Aliyah Hardesty, Aliyah’s Timeless Photography While equestrian competition consists of a partnership between horse and rider, often riders find themselves lacking the support from a team of peers. As up and coming equestrian athletes look to their future ahead of them, it is important that they realize their competitive pursuits do not need to come to an end while attending...