The Presenters at Equine Affaire®

Dan James is yet another outstanding horseman who has emerged from the horse trainer breeding grounds of Australia. Mr. James was raised on a cattle ranch near Queensland where he developed a passion for horses at a very early age and was breaking and training horses by the time he was a teenager. Dan James traveled to Japan and then the United States to gain knowledge and experience training horses. He worked under the tutelage of renowned cutting horse trainer, Punk Carter, before returning to Australia and taking a position managing up to 200 horses on a vast cattle operation. Mr. James’ aptitude for trick riding and entertaining first emerged at this ranch where he periodically performed for guests. In 2008 he left the outback to find his audience—and began training and performing at El Caballo Spanish Horse Centre. It was there that he met his performance partner, Dan Steers, with whom he has developed and promoted “Double Dan Horsemanship.” Dan James’ competitive accomplishments include being the 2012 Road to the Horse World Champion, the 2014 Freestyle Reining Champion at the Kentucky Reining Cup, a Mustang Million Finalist, and winning the “Way of the Horse” at Equitana Asia Pacific. He and Dan Steers also participated in the World Equestrian Games in 2010. Mr. James’ philosophy is to push the limits of horsemanship and entertainment while providing knowledge and understanding of our equine “mates.”

Ken McNabb is the all-American image of what a cowboy should be, a modern day Roy Rogers. With his wife and young sons he continues the traditional ranching family lifestyle of his youth and trains horses on the McNabb ranch in the mountains of Wyoming. As a boy, Ken McNabb knew that he wanted to help improve the lives of others—and at the first horsemanship clinic he attended, he knew immediately that being a clinician was his life’s calling. For more than 20 years Ken McNabb has helped thousands of riders regain their childhood confidence with his easy to follow step-by-step methods and gentle communication style. He shares his vast experience and knowledge of horses through clinics conducted across the country and his weekly show on RFD-TV titled “Discovering the Horseman Within”—now in its 12th year. He is also a partner in the annual Diamond-McNabb Ranch Horse sale in Douglas, WY.

Stacy Westfall’s expertise and effective teaching style have made her one of the most popular and sought-after clinicians in the horse industry. Ms. Westfall began riding at the age of six, and she quickly discovered a natural talent and interest in horse training. While she did a little bit of all types of riding as a youth, she began focusing on reining at The University of Findlay, and more specifically, being able to compete in reining without reins. In 2003 Stacy Westfall won the National Reining Horse Association freestyle reining competition with no bridle or neck rope. Her fame grew far beyond the reining world with her famous bareback and bridleless performance to Tim McGraw’s “Live Like Your Were Dying” at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in 2006. That memorable championship ride led to millions of Internet video views and an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. Stacy Westfall’s other accolades include being the first woman to win the Road to the Horse competition and being inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame. To assist fellow equestrians in training their equine partners, she has produced numerous articles, DVDs, books, and even a blog series. With her husband, Jesse, Ms. Westfall operates Westfall Horsemanship in Perrysville, OH, and travels worldwide to present clinics and teach people how to build better relationships with their horses.

Van Hargis of Victoria, TX, is more than just a clinician who talks about horsemanship—he is a lifelong horse trainer who moves easily across the great divide between the western and English riding worlds with relaxed humor. Mr. Hargis launched his training career at age 12 when the wife of renowned saddle maker Billy Cook hired him to train her horse. He then went on to train 15 ranch horse versatility champions and develop his unique horsemanship seminars while living in New Zealand in the early 1990s. Mr. Hargis advocates that nothing but the basics applies to every discipline and every interaction with our horses. He has produced two videos titled “Training the Versatile Ranch Horse” and “The Trail to Success” and is also the author of The Horse Is My Teacher.

Though he grew up showing Quarter Horses in Australia, Warwick Schiller moved to the United States 25 years ago to pursue his professional horse training career. He initially focused on training reined cow horse and all-around horses before turning his focus to the sport of reining. Mr. Schiller holds multiple champion titles in reining in the United States and Australia, was a member of the Australian reining team at the World Equestrian Games in 2010, and is currently an NRHA judge. For more than a decade, he has been developing Warwick Schiller Performance Horsemanship, based out of Hollister, CA. He conducts clinics in the United States as well as in Australia, New Zealand, and throughout Europe. For the past few years Mr. Schiller has been working on the production of an online video course based on the “Principles of Training,” his popular and award-winning YouTube channel that features more than 200 training videos applicable to all disciplines, and several books.

Tommie Turvey, known to many as the Equine Extremist, grew up loving and riding horses. His unique path to training and showmanship began at the age of 10 when he was hired to present completely unknown horses in the auction ring. As an adult Mr. Turvey expanded his skill set working first for the Medieval Times Dinner Theater and then for the Arabian Nights in Florida. Adept at trick training, Roman riding, and liberty training, Tommie Turvey joined Euro Disney as a trainer and performer at the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show in Paris, France, before touring throughout Europe performing with several other shows. After being recruited and hired by the Hanaford Circus, he returned to the United States and performed with the circus for three years. In 1992 Tommie Turvey obtained his SAG card and embarked on a parallel career using his natural athletic skills as a stunt man in many movies and TV shows. Over the years Mr. Turvey has developed his own unique horse training techniques based on trust, affection, and understanding that enable him to create, with his equine partners, both family-friendly entertainment and incredible movie and TV stunts. His memorable American Paint Horses, Pokerjoe, Joker, and Ace are stars in their own right, with the first two having been immortalized as Breyer® horse models.

Jan Ebeling, a native of Germany, has been a major American dressage competitor since he began riding as a U.S. citizen in 1998. Before coming to the United States in 1984, Mr. Ebeling worked as an apprentice under the late German master Herbert Rehbein and earned his berreiter, a German license to train horses. Aboard several different horses, Mr. Ebeling has collected numerous championship titles including a 2003 gold medal at the Pan-American Games and several USET Festival of Champions wins. Mr. Ebeling has also competed in the 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2012 World Cups. In 2011, Mr. Ebeling and his talented mount Rafalca were the highest-ranked combination from the United States at the World Cup in Leipzig, Germany. Later that year, Mr. Ebeling was a member of the U.S. Team for Aachen, and in 2012, he and Rafalca were awarded a spot on the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team. Fulfilling a life-long dream, he achieved a score of over 70% in the Grand Prix while competing in London. Mr. Ebeling has also been a USDF Young Rider Clinician, Chef d’Equipe for Region 7, and a member of the High Performance Dressage Eligible Athlete Committee. He currently conducts clinics internationally while also operating his training and sales facility, The Acres, in Moorpark, CA.

Jeff Cook, of Sisters, OR, is a veteran of the Grand Prix show jumping circuit who has successfully trained hunters and jumpers for 40 years. Throughout his career, he has coached, ridden, and trained horses and riders for all divisions from low hunters to Grand Prix jumpers. Mr. Cook has worked for some of the sport’s greats, including as an assistant trainer for the United States Equestrian Team Coach, George Morris, from 1986 to 1991 and again from 1998 to 2003. Over the years, Mr. Cook’s horses and riders have won classes and championships at major shows throughout the United States, as well as at international competitions in Canada, Italy, and Mexico. In addition to his accomplishments in the ring, Mr. Cook has written numerous articles for equine publications, including a 28-month series for Practical Horseman. Though he currently lives in Oregon with his wife and children, Mr. Cook also continues to travel throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada to teach clinics and train at horse shows.

Nancy Cahill, of Madisonville, TX, has spent half a century training riders and Quarter Horses. Ms. Cahill started her training business in high school, and by the time she went to college at Texas A&M University, she had 11 horses in training. While at college, she continued to train horses and met her now-husband Bubba Cahill. The pair opened Cahill Quarter Horses after graduation, a training facility they still run today. Nancy Cahill has an illustrious career in the Quarter Horse world that includes winning numerous World and Reserve World Championships. She also founded the Texas Quarter Horse Association in 1978 and went on to serve on their Board of Directors. In 1996 Ms. Cahill was named the American Quarter Horse Association’s Professional Horsewoman of the Year. A firm believer that teaching others is the most important thing she does, Ms. Cahill developed a line of horsemanship DVDs meant to give riders the ability to improve their riding and training of their horses. Ms. Cahill was recently named a member of the 2018 AQHA Team Wrangler, a group of 24 professional horsemen who work to promote educational outreach for the equine industry.

Lynn Symansky is a highly-successful eventer with 30 years of competition experience that includes almost 20 years of international competition. She has been competing at the advanced level of eventing since she was 18, and her extensive accomplishments in the eventing arena include being a member of the gold-medal winning 2011 Pan American Games Team; competing at the 2014 World Equestrian Games and the 2015 Nation Cup; and traveling as a reserve member for the 2016 Olympic Games. She has completed 10 CCI**** events including Rolex (now the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event), Badminton, Burghley, and Pau. Ms. Symansky currently rides and trains out of Handlen Farm in Middleburg, VA. In 2017 and 2018 she was named to the USEF High Performance Elite Training Lists with her 14-year-old off-the-track Thoroughbred gelding, Donner. In addition to training and competing, Ms. Symansky has extensive teaching experience in coaching amateurs, top junior riders, and advanced competitors. She is a U. S. Eventing Association Certified Instructor and has coached US Pony Club eventing and show jumping teams at regional and national championships for several years.

Paul Humphrey, of Rhome, TX, has been running barrels for more than 40 years and has plenty of accomplishments to show for it. After getting his start in barrel racing at the age of 10, Mr. Humphrey spent many years competing through 4-H and rodeo events before moving abroad to further his barrel racing education. He spent several years training in Italy and in that time became a ten-time European barrel racing champion. More than a decade ago Paul Humphrey developed his signature “Breaking the Mold” training program which aims to increase horse and rider body control to improve their barrel patterns. Since then he has produced educational DVDs, a book series, and a line of bits to help riders better connect with their horses and improve their barrel patterns. Mr. Humphrey travels throughout the United States to teach clinics using his Breaking the Mold program and regularly contributes to Barrel Horse News. He was recently was profiled in the American Quarter Horse Association’s Performance Horse Journal.

Bob Giles is an accomplished driving horse trainer, competitor, and clinician who has been deeply involved in the sport of driving for more than 60 years. Mr. Giles trains and teaches safe harnessing, hitching, and driving at Winter Hill Driving Center in Morriston, FL, and is recognized in the world of combined driving both for his enthusiasm and determination. In addition to his stature as a driving competitor, Mr. Giles is a veteran of the Vietnam War who received not one, but two, purple hearts and has dedicated his life to remembering the thousands of men and women who did not make it back from the war. Through his military service in Vietnam, Mr. Giles lost 90% of his hearing and has a fused elbow and only partial use of his right hand. Not one to let physical challenges stop him, in 2014 Mr. Giles competed in the World Driving Championships in Sandringham, England as part of the USEF Para-Equestrian Driving Team, where he drove to a second place finish. In addition to competing and teaching clinics on a regular basis, Mr. Giles judges several draft, carriage, and driven dressage shows each year.

Stephen Hayes is an up-and-coming dressage rider and trainer who has trained with some of the foremost figures in the industry and competed internationally through Grand Prix. Mr. Hayes was born in Britain and dabbled in numerous equine disciplines including working as an exercise rider of Thoroughbred racehorses. He eventually narrowed his focus on dressage and began riding at Two Mills Sport Horses, owned by Mike Jones, an accomplished British dressage rider and trainer. Mr. Hayes transitioned to a position at Villa Equus in Spain, where he trained under the tutelage of three-time Olympian Beatriz Ferrer-Salat. Stephen Hayes moved to the United States five years ago and is now based out of Milton House Farm in Warwick, NY, for most of the year. This winter he joined Perfect Harmony Dressage in Loxahatchee, FL, to spend time on the Florida circuit. In addition to training and showing his own horses and coaching riders, Mr. Hayes is known for his enthusiastic and positive teaching style and runs a busy clinic schedule throughout the eastern United States, Europe, Australia, and even Malaysia. He also writes for the British publication, Everything Horse.

Ketih Miller’s career as a horse trainer and breeder evolved from a part-time job in high school where he worked on a horse breeding farm. He started his own professional training business with his wife, Sydney, more than 10 years ago in the form of Miller Quarter Horses in Reidsville, NC. Since then he has trained and shown Quarter Horses in a variety of disciplines including halter, showmanship, hunter under saddle, western pleasure, trail, equitation, horsemanship, western riding, and hunter hack. His horses have earned numerous wins including multiple World Champions, Reserve World Champions, American Quarter Horse Congress Champions, and National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) Champions. Mr. Miller is an American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Professional Horseman and is a recognized judge through the American Paint Horse Association, AQHA, and NSBA. He is also a member of the 2018 AQHA Team Wrangler, a group of 24 Professional Horsemen who promote educational outreach for the equine industry. Articles penned by Keith Miller have appeared in NSBA’s The Way To Go magazine and InStride Magazine.

Liz Bentley has spent more than 30 years as an active rider and trainer of Arabian and half-Arabian horses. Her experience includes riding and training in numerous equine disciplines including western and English pleasure, hunter, sidesaddle, cutting, and gaited classes. In 2012 Ms. Bentley became the first female rider to pilot the winning horse of the Arabian Western Pleasure National Championship. She followed up the victory by being named the Arabian Professional and Amateur Horseman’s Association Horse Woman of the Year that year. In addition to showing and training, Ms. Bentley and her husband, David, run IIB Farms in Oronogo, MO, a successful breeding business. They have bred several champion horses including the 2004 Purebred U.S. National Championship Futurity Hunter Class Champion, IIB Justalilwicked. Over the past 15 years, Ms. Bentley has bred and trained National Champion horses in all divisions of western and hunter pleasure. Her riders, who compete in the youth and amateur divisions, have been equally successful.

Larry Whitesell’s name is almost synonymous with excellence in gaited horse performance. He has been a renowned gaited horseman since 1980 and has won numerous regional, national, and grand national championships as well as Trainer of the Year honors in 2002. In addition to competing in the show ring, Larry Whitesell has held judges’ cards in several gaited breeds. Over the years, Mr. Whitesell began looking for ways to achieve correctness and lightness in gaited horses and to create mounts that riders could count on to be safe and dependable. He began studying classical dressage in the early 1990s from contemporary masters who had studied under Nuno Oliveira and at classical schools in Europe. Larry Whitesell quickly learned that horses were more consistent in their gait and could perform gaits with a wider range of speeds when classically trained. He now travels the United States and Canada appearing at clinics and equine expositions, promoting his belief that making things better for the horse creates a smoother, safer, more dependable mount.

Though Ty Evans’ experience in the equine world has included riding horses and donkeys in addition to mules, his current training business focuses primarily on mules. Mr. Evans has been training professionally for more than 10 years and has spent many years passing his expertise on to other mule owners through clinics and various media. His DVD series, titled “Ty Evans Mulemanship,” covers everything from groundwork basics to under saddle work to solving common problems people may encounter when working with their mules. Mr. Evans also shares his expertise through a monthly column for Western Mule Magazine and has contributed to North West Horse Source. In 2015 and 2016 Ty Evans was named Champion of the American Mule Trainers Challenge. He also served as the Vice President and President of the Rocky Mountain Mule Association in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Mr. Evans currently travels from his home in Grenola, UT, throughout the United States to teach clinics and improve people’s relationships with their mules, with his wife and their two daughters in tow.

James Cooler, of Hampstead, NC, is a second-generation trainer working under the title of Cooler Horsemanship. After studying the techniques of prolific natural horsemanship trainers, including Buck Brannaman, John Lyons, and Pat Parelli, Mr. Cooler’s father, Don, developed the horsemanship method he called ATRUM and started Cooler Horsemanship. ATRUM refers to the five pillars needed for a successful partnership between a horse and its rider: Attention, Trust, Respect, Understanding, and Motivation. After Don Cooler passed away in 2004, James Cooler carried on his teachings in Cooler Horsemanship with his wife, Kate. In 2014, Mr. Cooler was chosen as the wild card competitor for the Road to the Horse competition, an opportunity extended to him again in 2015. Passionate about improving the relationship between horses and riders, Mr. Cooler has developed eBooks and online video series to increase equestrian’s access to his methods. Though he specializes in colt starting, liberty training, and working with difficult horses, Mr. Cooler has the expertise to train nearly any horse or rider, having ridden in numerous disciplines ranging from ranch riding and reining to jumpers and dressage.

Sandy Croote is a breeder of champion Miniature Horses as well as a carded judge for the American Miniature Horse Association (AMHA), the American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR), the United States Equestrian Federation for Shetlands, and many other organizations. Her experience with horses in various disciplines began in 1983. It was the high-stepping, refined action of Saddlebred-type horses and Hackneys that initially caught her eye and eventually led her to Miniature Horses. By 2000, Ms. Croote owned her first mini and went on to win several AMHR National Championships the following year. From her home in Esperance, NY, Ms. Croote has worked and travelled with top industry trainers and clinicians to strengthen her training and observation skills. In addition, her success in breeding Miniature Horses earned her the title of Champion Breeder of the Year by the World Class Miniature Horse Registry in both 2006 and 2010. Ms. Croote’s Miniature Horses have continued to be shown with much success, taking numerous national, world, futurity, Hall of Fame, and Horse of the Year titles.

Kellie and Sam Rettinger, owners of Whispery Pines Percherons in Kingsville, OH, have been involved in the equine industry for their entire lives. Sam Rettinger grew up with draft horses and began driving and showing them at a young age. In addition to showing, Sam currently trains their horses to work at the couple’s farm and complete logging projects. Kellie Rettinger grew up riding and showing Quarter Horses in hunt seat, western pleasure, gaming, and cutting. After meeting Sam more than 10 years ago, she began to drive, ride, and show draft horses in saddle seat, western pleasure, and Roman riding classes. The Rettingers bring their horses to several events each year to show in different hitch and riding classes. They also provide carriage rides with their Percherons for a variety of events including weddings, birthdays, hayrides, and winter sleigh rides.

Carrie Brandt is the co-owner of Taktur Icelandic, an Icelandic horse focused training barn located in Prospect, KY. Like so many equestrians, Ms. Brandt caught the horse bug at any early age and soon fell in love with Icelandics. She first rode under Gudmar Petursson, a top Icelandic horse trainer in the United States and a member of Equine Affaire’s popular Fantasia performance group, Knights of Iceland. Ms. Brandt continued her education by attending Holar University in Iceland, the only school in the world that produces certified Icelandic horse trainers. As one of only two Americans to graduate from the school, Ms. Brandt uses her education to teach Icelandic horse owners and enthusiasts how to work in harmony with their horses. In addition to training out of her farm, she travels throughout the United States and Iceland to show horses in competitions and breeding evaluations.

Jean Abernathy is a widely-appreciated award-winning artist/author from Waterloo, Ontario, who has been creating equine illustrations and cartoons for almost 40 years. Ms. Abernathy grew up on a farm where she received her first pony at the age of seven and quickly became infatuated with horses. She originally went to a community college to pursue equine studies, but, with the growing number of doodles and cartoons in the margins of her notebooks, she soon realized that she wanted to pursue art. In 1987 she earned her Bachelor of Art in illustration from the Ontario College of Art in Toronto. Ms. Abernathy’s illustrations range from humorous to clinical and have been featured in numerous books and publications such as the Quarter Horse Journal, Young Rider, Horse Illustrated, and Horse Canada. One of her most famous creations is the cartoon equid, Fergus the Horse. Though Ms. Abernathy created Fergus in 2000, he gained widespread notoriety when she began posting his cartoons to Facebook. To date he has more than 300,000 followers. In 2015, Trafalgar Square Books published Ms. Abernathy’s first book, The Essential Fergus The Horse. A second and third book quickly followed, and a fourth on Fergus’ continuing adventures is currently in production.

Dr. Ronald Anders is a mixed animal veterinarian who uses the best of traditional and alternative medicines to treat his patients. He operates out of his Country Animal Clinic located in Coldwater, OH, which treats patients with a wide variety of diseases, ailments, behavioral issues, and injuries. In additional to traditional treatment options, Dr. Anders and his practice specialize in animal acupuncture, chiropractic care, ozone therapy, stem cell replacement therapy, and physical therapy, to name a few. Dr. Anders received both his Bachelor of Science in animal science and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University. He is certified by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in veterinary acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, and has also completed certification in canine rehabilitation. Passionate about helping owners provide the best possible care for their pets, Dr. Anders also hosts a series of videos and articles on his practice’s website to educate owners about everything from choosing their first pet to detailing the lifelong care their pet will need.

Tom Arbour is the land and water trails coordinator in the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Parks and Watercraft. Included in his many responsibilities as the trails coordinator is helping coordinate trail projects in Ohio’s State Parks and working with volunteers to improve trails. Mr. Arbour received a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental studies from Hiram College and then completed his Master of Science degree in environmental science from Miami University. His career at ODNR began in 1999 when he worked for the agency as a college intern. Before coming to the Division of Parks and Watercraft, he was employed as a botanist and wildlife research technician. Thomas Arbour brings a wide knowledge of the geology and natural history of Ohio to his position and looks forward to using this knowledge while he works on the development of the next comprehensive statewide trails plan.

Laura Bedogne is well versed in both horses and the insurance needs of horse owners and equine professionals. She got her start in the equine industry more than 20 years ago initially in the realm of hunter/jumpers and later in the world of dressage. A 2003 graduate of the University of Findlay’s Equine Studies and Equine Business Management programs, Ms. Bedogne first worked as an assistant barn manager before entering the insurance field. She currently works as a Client Service Representative for Marshall and Sterling, Inc. in Birmingham, MI, and assists customers throughout the country. Ms. Bedogne has received certification as a Certified Agribusiness and Farm Insurance Specialist and deals primarily with equine farm and liability insurance. In her spare time, Ms. Bedogne still spends plenty of time with horses through her current dressage training and by assisting friends at shows.

Rachel Bendler is the co-owner of Bella Run Equine, a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming slaughter-bound horses. Ms. Bendler has been riding nearly her entire life and worked as a barn manager for a number of years. It was at a barn that she met her husband, Jack, a horse trainer from Oklahoma. The pair began frequenting horse auctions, looking for horses they could save from slaughter and rehome through adoption. What started as a venture between the pair, using their owns funds to rescue and care for horses, quickly grew as their reputation for rehabilitating horses spread. In 2014 they bought a farm in Athens, OH, so that they could rescue more horses, and in May of 2015, Bella Run Equine obtained its non-profit designation. Since then Ms. Bendler has continued to grow her non-profit business through a variety of fundraising and outreach efforts. In addition to continuing her mission of rescuing slaughter-bound horses, Ms. Bendler has expanded her rescuing talents to include other animals including some species of fowl. Her new farm dog program trains rescue dogs to be competent farm companions.

Steve Berk serves as the Organization Director for Delaware, Franklin, Madison and Union County chapters of the Ohio Farm Bureau. Mr. Berk obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in cell and molecular biology from Washington & Jefferson College in Pennsylvania and has extensive experience in agriculture. Following graduation, Mr. Beck served as a Crop Extensionist in the Peace Corps in Paraguay from 2008-2010, where he focused on soil health, erosion prevention, and cover crop use. Upon his return to the United States he continued his education and completed a Master’s degree in public health from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. In addition to working for the Ohio Farm Bureau, Steve Berk is the Chief Operating Officer for Edible Columbus, a print magazine published quarterly which focuses on sustainable food and agriculture in Ohio.

John Blackburn is the President of Blackburn Architects, P.C. in Washington, D.C., and the author of the book Healthy Stables by Design. He received his Bachelor of Architecture from Clemson University in 1969 and completed his Masters of Architecture and Urban Design at Washington University in 1973. Though he is not currently an active horse person, Mr. Blackburn grew up riding horses and working around the barn. During his extensive career as an architect, he has worked on more than 160 barn projects in 30 states and designed barns for all breeds, sports, budgets, and types of equine operations. Mr. Blackburn possesses more than 40 years of experience as an architect and 30 years as an equestrian facility designer. Structures designed by Mr. Blackburn function for the owner and riders while preserving and contributing to the health and safety of the horses through the use of natural ventilation and light. Mr. Blackburn is also a passionate advocate for equine welfare and is a member of many equine-focused organizations including various state horse councils and the Equine Land Conservation Resource, where he is a Board member.

Dr. Matthew Brokken is a Clinical Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. His current research interests include performance-limiting lameness, orthopedic surgery, and advanced imaging. He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003, immediately followed by an internship at Ohio State in field service and a residency in equine surgery at Washington State University. After completing his residency in 2007, Dr. Brokken worked as a professor at the University of Florida and a surgeon at a private practice in Cleveland before returning to Ohio State. In 2008 Dr. Brokken became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and in 2014 he became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. In addition to completing research and working directly with clients, Dr. Brokken also teaches several classes at Ohio State including “Equine Lameness and Gait Abnormalities” and “Advanced Equine Medical and Surgical Procedures.”

Dr. Karin Bump currently works as the Executive Director of Cornell University’s Cooperative Extension in Madison County, NY. Prior to assuming this role, she retired from her previous position as a Full Professor at Cazenovia College, where she taught and studied topics within the equine discipline. Dr. Bump is the Founder and Director of the National Association of Equine Affiliated Academics, an organization that focuses on increasing collaboration between colleges and universities with equine undergraduate programs. Recently, she has used her knowledge of equine academic programs to launch Equine Academics, an online resource for students, parents, and guidance counselors, with a free database of equine academic offerings in the United States. Dr. Bump earned her Bachelor of Science in companion animal biology and Master of Science in equine exercise physiology and nutrition from the University of Illinois. She later completed her doctorate in higher education and policy studies at the University of Albany. She is also a certified Professional Animal Scientist through the American Registry of Professionals in Animal Science.

Kat Chrysostom, of Ocala, FL, is the President and Chief Designer of BeneFab® Products, a company that makes therapeutic, ceramic-infused products for horses and riders. Born into a horse-loving family, she began riding at the age of four, developed a foundation in dressage, and then excelled competing on hunter ponies and horses. After surviving a severe riding injury in 2011, Ms. Chrysostom became intrigued by the healing power of the far-infrared light therapy recommended by her doctors. She soon began studying how electromagnetism aids in healing joint and muscle stiffness, as well as edema and circulatory disorders, in humans and horses. Combining her passion for horses with her newfound interest in health and wellness, Ms. Chrysostom worked to create technical fabrics that incorporated therapeutic properties, such as ceramics, which became the first BeneFab® prototypes. She now works closely with professional riders, trainers, and veterinarians to design and test products to enhance the comfort of horses. Using her personal background, Ms. Chrysostom also gives talks to schools and community groups about entrepreneurship and goal setting as a way to inspire others to overcome adversity and chase their dreams. Ms. Chrysostom has been able to return to the saddle and rides whenever she has free time.

Dr. Bob Coleman is an Associate Professor and the Equine Extension Specialist for the University of Kentucky’s Department of Animal Sciences. Dr. Coleman grew up in western Canada and has had a lifelong interest in horses. He attended the University of Manitoba where he received both a Bachelor’s degree in agriculture and a Master of Science in animal science. Soon after Dr. Coleman moved to Alberta where he became the Extension Horse Specialist for Alberta Agriculture and completed his doctorate degree in animal science, with a focus on equine nutrition, at the University of Alberta. In 1998 he joined the University of Kentucky as the head of their Equine Extension program and a professor in the Equine Science and Management Program. His research contributions include looking at voluntary forage intake of horses and the use of rotational grazing practices to meet maintenance needs of adult horses. Professionally, Dr. Coleman is a member of the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists, the American Society of Animal Scientists, and the Equine Science Society, where he is a member of the Board of Directors.

Julie Cyra is an enthusiastic horsewoman, dedicated saddle fitter, and the owner of West 20 Ranch & Saddle Co. in East Troy, WI. After working for several years with various saddlers in the Midwest, Ms. Cyra started her business in 1990 with the goal of creating a retail store and facility focused on saddle fitting. West 20 Saddle Company caters to horse owners who appreciate the quality and workmanship of handmade saddles and tack and is one of the last shops in the nation featuring all American-made saddles. At both her store and retail displays at events, Ms. Cyra conducts private saddle fittings and strives to educate consumers about saddle fit and the quality they should be seeking in their horse’s tack. She works with many saddle manufacturers on saddle and saddletree design and fit to help them build affordable products that customers need to meet a variety of breed standards. Ms. Cyra also contributes articles on saddle fit to various equine industry publications, breeds Quarter Horses, and develops horse show series and programs for several breed associations and youth groups.

Lori Douglass is the National Sales Manager for Farm Paint, a company that sells numerous agricultural coating products including paint, roof coating, and arena dust control, to name a few. Ms. Douglass has been in her current position for almost a decade and works out of Farm Paint’s headquarters in Lexington, KY. Being in the heart of Kentucky’s horse country, Ms. Douglass and Farm Paint regularly partner with Thoroughbred and racing-related organizations. She has lent her expertise to articles published in BloodHorse magazine and has been interviewed for stories on the Horse Racing Radio Network. Ms. Douglass also regularly travels to trade shows throughout the United States where she enjoys sharing her knowledge and interacting with customers one-on-one.

Karen Downie, of Ravenna, OH, is the Founder and a Certified Facilitator at Equi-Steps, an equine assisted learning program. A life-long equestrian, Ms. Downie got her start with horses in 4-H from which she transitioned to competing in western and English disciplines on the amateur Quarter Horse circuit. Always having a passion for helping people, Ms. Downie became involved in equine assisted learning as a way to combine that passion with her love of horses. Her program utilizes the building blocks curriculum, a published, respected program that can be used with virtually anyone interested in engaging in equine assisted leaning. Ms. Downie has also used her experience in equine assisted learning to develop The Trail Arm, a patent-pending device that can be used by riders of all ages and skill levels. The Trail Arm has a wide range of applications from retrieving dropped items while mounted and opening gates to assisting as a mounting and dismounting aid. Ms. Downie is currently pursuing a Masters of Education in Health Education and Promotion and hopes to grow her business further after completing her degree.

Janice Dulak is an accomplished dancer as well as the creator of the unique Pilates for Dressage program. Ms. Dulak began her career as a dancer and completed a dance degree from the State University of New York- Brockport. After graduation, she traveled the world performing and teaching workshops before becoming a dance teacher at Stephens College in Missouri. While at Stephens College Ms. Dulak developed an interest in Pilates and became a certified Master Instructor Trainer. In addition to her love of dance and Pilates, Ms. Dulak is also an accomplished dressage rider who earned her USDF Bronze Medal in 2015. To combine her passion for teaching with her experience in dressage and Pilates, Janice Dulak created her Pilates for Dressage program which helps equestrians improve their riding and offers a certification program for Pilates instructors. Ms. Dulak has written the book, Pilates for the Dressage Rider, and created the companion DVDs, Pilates for the Dressage Rider and Pilates: Nine Essentials for the Balanced Rider. She has also contributed to magazines like Dressage Today, Pilates Style, and USDF Connections. Janice Dulak currently teaches out of the Dulak Pilates Center in Champaign, IL, and, during the winter, at her Ruby Rose Farm in Reddick, FL.

Jennifer Eaton, of Groveland, MA, has been involved with the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) practically since its inception and has served in numerous roles as it has grown into the national organization that it is today. Formerly a Board Member and Zone Chair, Ms. Eaton now works as the Membership Marketing Coordinator and focuses on growing and retaining the IEA’s membership. Ms. Eaton has been as a licensed riding instructor in Massachusetts for almost 30 years, and in that time has worked for several barns in the area as a trainer and IEA coach. Her dedication to instructing junior riders and improving their access to equestrian opportunities led to her being named the 2014 Horseman of the Year by the Massachusetts Horseman’s Council. For her dedication to the IEA, Ms. Eaton was awarded the organization’s Timothy J. Boone Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. In addition to working for the IEA, Ms. Eaton further serves the equestrian community as a member of the Board of Directors for the Certified Horsemanship Association.

Denise Farris is a nationally recognized attorney who specializes in equine and veterinary practice law. She founded her firm, Farris Law Firm LLC, in Stilwell, KS in 1996, and her firm is one of fewer than 50 firms in the country that has a specialty in equine law. Ms. Farris’ expertise in equine law is demonstrated both in the courtroom and as an accomplished speaker and writer about legal issues facing the equine community. In addition to presenting at numerous national equine and animal health conferences, she has also been the featured speaker at the annual Equine Law Practitioners Conference in Lexington, KY. Denise Farris contributes articles regarding equine legal issues to several magazines including Equine Veterinarian Management and Better Horses Magazine. In 2013 she was listed in EQUUS Magazine’s “Leaders in Equine Law” feature. In addition to her professional duties, Ms. Farris has served as a Board member on the Kansas Horse Council, Missouri Katy Trail committee, and the Missouri and Kansas Equine Council legislative committees. She is also a member of the American Horse Council, Eastern Kansas Arabian Horse Association (EKAHA), American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC), National Association Trail Ride Conference (NATRC), and Rails to Trails Conservancy.

Emma Ford is a lifelong equestrian who has become one of the most well-known grooms United States. Growing up in southwest England, Ms. Ford hunted and obtained her Pony Club B rating as a child. One year after earning her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wales in 1997, Ms. Ford came to the United States to groom for eventer Adrian Iorio in Boston, MA. In 2005 she moved on to manage Phillip Dutton’s barn in West Grove, PA, where she still works today. While working for Mr. Dutton, Ms. Ford has attended three Olympic Games, two Pan American Games, and multiple four-star events throughout the United State and Europe. She was named the United States Eventing Association’s Groom of the Year in 2007 and the PRO Groom of the Year in 2012. In 2015 her book, World Class Grooming for the Competition Horse, co-authored with Cat Hill, was released. Ms. Ford also regularly contributes articles relating to competition and basic grooming to Practical Horseman and Carolinas Equestrians.

Greg Gage began his career as a massage therapist more than 25 years ago as a certified human massage therapist. It wasn’t long before Mr. Gage turned his massage skills to the equine world and embarked on a new career as a certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist. He founded Therasage EMC, an equine massage therapist certification school based in Janesville, WI, almost 20 years ago. In addition to operating from its based in Wisconsin, Therasage EMC has grown satellite programs in Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas. Mr. Gage specializes in trigger point therapy and deep tissue massage along with stretching and injury prevention. He is also trained in equine kinseo taping. In addition to teaching at Therasage EMC, Mr. Gage is a sought after therapist for competition horses. In 2014 he served as the lead massage therapist for the gold medal-winning United States Reining Team at the World Equestrian Games.

Dr. Alison Gardne is an Assistant Professor in clinical sciences at The Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Ms. Gardner became involved with horses as a child, growing up showing in all-around divisions at Colorado horse shows and working with at-risk juveniles in equine assisted therapy. Dr. Gardner earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University in 2011 and then further advanced her education through a residency in equine surgery at Ohio State. In 2015 she completed her Masters of Large Animal Veterinary Surgery at Ohio State, and then continued on at the school as a faculty member. In addition to teaching, Dr. Gardner works as an emergency and soft-tissue surgeon and focuses her research efforts on colic and laminitis. She became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2016 and the American College of Emergency and Critical Care in 2017. Ms. Gardner also contributes to several scientific journals including The Veterinary Journal, Equine Veterinary Journal, Equine Veterinary Education, and the Journal of Cardiology.

Larry Garner is a life-long equestrian and former race horse trainer who is no stranger to the seemingly impossible task of controlling flies. Mr. Garner is the Event and Partner Director for Spalding Fly Predators, a company that provides fly and odor control products for nearly any two- or four-legged animal. Larry Garner began working for Spalding more than a decade ago, bringing almost a half of a century of experience in marketing and advertising to his role within the company. Based out of Oak Point, TX, Mr. Garner has traveled throughout the United States to educate everyone from backyard horse owners to large stable managers about various fly and odor control methods. Larry Garner is passionate about Walking Horses and bird dogs, and in his spare time he competes in horseback bird dog field trials as an amateur handler and also acts as a field trial judge.

Terry Golson of Carlisle, MA, is a graduate of the Karen Pryor Academy Professional Trainers Course, the country’s foremost positive reinforcement program. This lifelong horsewoman and founder of The Cooperative Horse specializes in problem-solving issues, using ethology and behavioral science to foster a kind, safe and effective option to handling and riding horses. Her program offers a non-confrontational approach to finding horse/rider solutions, whether it’s a flowing dressage test or a pleasurable ride on the trails. Ms. Golson earned her B Pony Club rating in England as a teenager before going on to train with Olympic-level dressage and three-day instructors. Today she competes on Tonka, her 14.3-hand American Paint Horse, in dressage where they have earned the USDF All-Breeds Award for highest-scoring Paint Horse in the Vintage Cup division. Terry Golson is a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, as well as New England Dressage Association, the United States Dressage Association, and the United States Equestrian Federation.

Jillian Kreinbring is a life-long equestrian who got her start riding Quarter Horses and Paints in breed and stock horse competitions. After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in communication from Clarke University, she became a head trainer at Circle L Ranch in Germany and began training and showing halter and pleasure horses. While in Germany, Jillian Kreinbring also studied equine osteopathy at the Vluggen Institute which allowed her to learn more about the intricacies of the equine spine and lower limbs. In the late 1990s she returned to the United States and entered a Master’s degree program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she studied equine movement, posture, and muscular development. She soon discovered a passion for involving her knowledge of equine biomechanics with horsemanship and training for both horses and riders. Ms. Kreinbring now offers lessons, clinics, and training opportunities to improve rider technique and connectedness with the horse out of Hy Court Farm in Cedar Creek, TX. As a Senior Connected Riding instructor, she offers lessons and training programs tailored utilizing the Connected Riding program and travels extensively teaching clinics and speaking on her lecture series, Understanding Equine Movement to Realize Your Horse’s Potential.

Christy Landwehr is the Chief Executive Officer of the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA), a Past President of the American Youth Horse Council, and an AQHA Professional Horseman. She has been active in the horse industry for more than 30 years competing at the local, regional, and national levels in such diverse disciplines as hunter/jumper, dressage, western pleasure, side saddle, barrel racing, endurance, and saddle seat equitation. In addition to her own competitive career, Ms. Landwehr is a Master Level Riding Instructor and a clinic staff member with CHA who has been teaching children and adults how to ride for more than 25 years. With an undergraduate degree in public relations and speech communication and a graduate degree in mass communication and journalism from the University of Colorado, Ms. Landwehr has vast experience in marketing, fundraising and public relations. She has served as CHA’s Marketing Director, as the Sponsorship and Youth Programs Manager for the Arabian Horse Association, as a trainer for Skill Path Seminars, and as the Development Director for The Urban Farm, which works with at-risk youth in Denver, CO.

Rory Lewandowski has worked as an Extension Educator, focusing on areas relating to agriculture and natural resources, in The Ohio State University’s Extension program for 17 years. He started in this position in Athens County, but made the move to Wayne County six years ago and settled just outside of Wooster, OH. Mr. Lewandowski grew up deeply involved in agriculture as his parents owned a dairy farm and grew corn and alfalfa in Minnesota. He went on to complete a Bachelor of Science in animal science at the University of Minnesota followed by a Master of Science in agronomy at the University of Wisconsin. Though most of his livestock experience is with cattle, sheep and goats, Mr. Lewandowski’s expertise in forage and pasture management extends to educating landowners on pasture management for equines. In addition to working directly with farmers and livestock owners, Rory Lewandowski regularly contributes articles to Farm and Dairy and Ohio Country Journal.

Twain Lockhart’s experience in raising and handling chickens began with his time in 4-H and FFA as a child and has spanned more than 40 years. He also has almost 20 years of experience working as a feed store owner, specializing in poultry feed and nutrition. Currently Twain Lockhart is a poultry specialist for Nutrena Feeds who loves to educate people about all types of fowl, including turkey, duck, quail, and of course, chickens. He also contributes to Nutrena and Cargill Animal Nutrition’s blog, Scoop From The Coop, where he writes about everything from avian diseases to nutrition. Out of his home base near Janesville, WI, Mr. Lockhart travels extensively to participate in workshops, seminars, and videos and teach others how they can get started raising chickens and solve common problems that can affect a flock.

Dr. Dawn McCarthy is a Recreation Team Leader and natural resources specialist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service. Since beginning in this position in 2010, she has overseen the recreation program in the Athens Ranger District of the Wayne National Forest in southeast Ohio. During her tenure, Dr. McCarthy has collaborated with partners and user groups including hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, and off-highway vehicle riders to operate, maintain, and improve trail systems and recreation opportunities. She also serves as an advisory member of the Ohio Trails Partnership. Dawn McCarthy is a Marine Corps veteran who received her doctorate in environmental and plant biology from Ohio University in 2008.

David Noble, an apiarist at Stratford Ecological Center in Delaware, Ohio, began his beekeeping career at The Ohio State University Honey Bee Research Lab in the 1990’s. A 2001 graduate from The Ohio State University with degrees in plant pathology and entomology, Mr. Noble employs his more than twenty years of beekeeping and bee breeding experience to inform his practices and guide his educational programs. He is a regular speaker for several beekeeping associations across Ohio including the Greater Cleveland Beekeeping Association, Medina and Summit County beekeeping associations as well as many gardening and farming conferences. He also teaches a wide range of beginner and advanced beekeeper training classes both at Stratford Ecological Center and across the state of Ohio. Mr. Noble resides in Bexley, OH, and believes in a bee-centered philosophy of beekeeping —that a better understanding of bee behavior and biology creates better beekeeping practices.

Melisa Pearce is a highly successful businesswoman who works with a wide variety of business owners, athletes, executives, sales personnel, and entrepreneurs. She is a graduate of Arizona State University with a background in psychotherapy and certification in Gestalt therapy. Inspired by the relationship with horses as well as her background in psychotherapy, Ms. Pearce created the Equine Gestalt Coaching Method™, which combines the tenants of Gestalt as an experiential method with the body somatics and energy fields of both the horse and the human. Through her business, Touched By A Horse, Ms. Pearce, offers services in coaching, team building, and speaking engagements and hosts certification programs in her Equine Gestalt Coaching Method™. She has authored a variety of books on horse and human emotional concepts, the most recent being Equusology, which includes personality tests for horses and their humans. In addition to her business ventures, Ms. Pearce is an accomplished horsewoman who has raised champion Paint Horses and competed at the regional and world levels from her Lil Bit North Ranch in Cave Creek, AZ.

David Reinecker is an eighth-generation farmer with a passion for enhancing the health and comfort of his livestock. After completing his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) in 1977, he returned to his family’s farm to help his father with their swine and field crop business. Within a few years, Mr. Reinecker began his own operation in swine finishing and simultaneously worked on a postgraduate program in education at Gettysburg College. After finishing that program, he started Reinecker Ag, LLC, in York Springs, PA in 1983. In the beginning, Reinecker Ag focused on the sale of livestock watering systems, including the JUG Waterer. They now sell numerous other products including tow ropes and cattle coolers. In addition to co-managing Reinecker Ag, Mr. Reinecker also co-owns and operates Reinecker Farm in York Springs, PA, where he raises cattle and pigs with his family.

Dr. Jeff Reiswig is a veterinarian and specialist in equine dentistry who owns Equine Veterinary Dental Services, based in Granville, OH. Dr. Reiswig is a native of Oklahoma who completed his undergraduate degree at Oberlin College and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1988. After graduation, Dr. Reiswig initially worked in mixed veterinary practices in Xenia and Millersport, OH. In 1997 he opened Village Veterinary Care, an equine and pet animal practice in Pataskala, OH. By 2007 Dr. Reiswig had developed such an interest in equine dentistry that he decided to sell his mixed practice and launch his current dental practice. He completed a Fellowship with the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry in 2010 and then completed Board certification with the American Veterinary Dental College to become an Equine Diplomate in 2015. Dr. Reiswig now performs more than 1200 dental procedures on horses each year and continues to research opportunities for this growing field of veterinary medicine.

In 1985 Jochen Schleese was certified as the youngest master saddler in Europe. As a Certified Master Saddler, Mr. Schleese was honored to be named the official saddler for the 1986 World Dressage Championships as well as for the 2005, 2007, and 2009 World Cup Finals. Mr. Schleese worked with the Canadian Government to develop a three-year recognized apprenticeship program in the trade of saddlery. He holds a patent on his innovative and unique AdapTree®, and his company, Schleese Saddlery, has won numerous industry and business awards over the past 30 years. Jochen Schleese established Saddlefit 4 Life® in 2006 to train and certify equine professionals using his 80-point diagnostic saddle fit evaluation. He teaches at various equine universities, conferences, and professional trainer associations in North America and Europe and is the author of the best-selling book Suffering in Silence: The Saddle Fit Link to Physical and Psychological Trauma in Horses.

Arden Sims, President of the Ohio Horseman’s Council, first got involved with the organization in 1999 when some members of the Washington County Chapter volunteered with a therapeutic riding program that he coordinated. He soon started attending OHC events, one of the first being a horse camping clinic hosted by the Licking County Chapter. Since then, Mr. Sims became increasingly involved in the OHC, previously serving as President of the Washington County Chapter. In 2014, he was elected to his first term as President of OHC and was elected to his second term in 2016. Arden Sims resides with his family in Beverly, OH, and enjoys both trail riding and competing with Icelandic horses.

Eric Stewart has been breeding rabbits since he was 11 years old and has raised many recognized breeds over the years. He became a licensed rabbit registrar in 1993 and received his rabbit judge license in 1995. Mr. Stewart has been a licensed cavy judge since 2011 and was honored to select the Open BIS rabbits at the 2004, 2007, and 2013 American Rabbit Breeders Association National Convention and Shows. He is the ARBA Executive Director and previously served as the ARBA District Nine Director. In addition to his lifelong love affair with rabbits, Mr. Stewart also has a fiber farm raising French Angora rabbits and Colored Angora Goats. His Higher Ground Farm has won multiple national awards including the 2013, 2016, and 2017 National Angora Show BISS and BOB & BOS along with best wool at the 2017 ARBA National Convention and Show. Mr. Stewart holds a Bachelor of Science degree in laboratory animal science from Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, PA.

Sheldon Stutzman is a Solar Energy Consultant for Paradise Energy Solutions in Sugarcreek, OH. Mr. Stutzman got his start in the construction industry almost 30 years ago as a sales representative for a lumber company. Through this position he worked on residential and small commercial projects that included riding arenas and horse barns. Mr. Stutzman began working for Paradise Energy Solutions six years ago and is certified through the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. In his current role he helps farmers and other business owners invest in renewable energy sources using roof space they already possess. In addition to working one-on-one with clients, Sheldon Stutzman also travels throughout Ohio to participate in workshops and other educational opportunities to teach consumers about solar energy use.

Walter Varcoe is an equine skeleton specialist and farrier from Port Jervis, NY, with more than 40 years of experience with horses. He was the head farrier and equine manager for the New York State Department of Corrections, where he not only attended to all aspects of care for the Department’s horses, but also instructed inmates in the proper care of horses and farrier work. During his tenure with the Department of Corrections, Mr. Varcoe processed and mounted his first equine skeleton at the Otisville Correctional Facility’s commercial composting operation. After retiring from the Department, Walter Varcoe began a new career as a farrier. His knowledge of horses and equine anatomy soon led to him presenting educational seminars using real equine skeletons. Today he continues his work as a farrier while producing equine skeletal mounts for museums, universities, and veterinary practices. He also uses skeletons from his own collection for educational purposes at events around the country.

Don Wagner is the current Trails Chair and Southeast Regional Representative of the Ohio Horseman’s Council (OHC). A long-time member of the Council, he is considered the “go to” person for OHC volunteers wanting to establish bridle trails in Ohio. His breadth of experience and knowledge of the terrain throughout the state of Ohio has made him the key liaison between OHC, land managers and other trail partners. In addition to his official roles in OHC, Mr. Wagner is actively involved in other leadership roles in the organization. He has been the OHC’s trails chairman for more than 10 years, and he regularly educates members on the process to award grant money to county chapters that need to improve and preserve local trails. He also assists with the identification of specific bridle trail locations with critical needs between land managers and volunteers. Don and his family enjoy trail riding on their Quarter Horses and Rocky Mountain horses.

Dr. Karen Wimbush is an Associate Professor and Technology Coordinator of the Horse Science and Horse Production and Management program at The Ohio State Agricultural and Technical Institute in Wooster. Dr. Wimbush has been deeply involved in the equine industry for more than 35 years and she has spent her professional life educating horsemen in the areas of horse management, horsemanship, and especially equine reproduction. Dr. Wimbush received her Bachelor of Science in animal science from the University of Maryland and her Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in animal science from the University of Missouri, Columbia. Additionally, she earned her Instructor’s certification from Morven Park International Equestrian Institute in Leesburg, VA. Prior to accepting her current post at Ohio State ATI, Karen Wimbush served on the faculties at Stephens College and William Woods University. Dr. Wimbush actively supervises the reproduction management program at ATI’s Equine Center which stands numerous stallions. Her research endeavors include works in applied equine reproduction as well as animal welfare, and she has authored numerous papers on a wide range of equine-related topics.