by Melissa Bauer-Herzog

If you’re visiting America’s Best Racing, you’ve likely become a fan of racing and are quickly on your way to loving the sport. While there are about a million different reasons why people love the actual sport of horse racing, there are a billion reasons they love the equine athletes that make it all possible.

It’s hard to remember all the reasons we love horses, so I went to Twitter to ask people what draws them to our equine heroes on the track. While everyone expressed their love in a different way, there were common themes among many of the answers. Without further ado, here are 10 reasons people love horses.

1) Their Heart: Many people of the people who answered cited horses’ hearts as the main reason they love them. From trying all out to win a race to doing everything possible to make their “person” happy, horses give their all to humans.

Read more: Top Ten Reasons People Love Horses

by Shelby Dennis

Cyberbullying in the horse world is on the rise. We asked riders, trainers, and vloggers how they handle it.

The equestrian world has always been full of differing (and often conflicting) approaches and opinions. Everyone has his or her own idea of what they believe to be the “right way.” In some cases, that passion transforms into aggression and anger.

With the rise of social media and the ease with which people can share opinions (in many cases anonymously), equestrians are no longer forced to deal with in-person consequences of their actions. Because of this, cyberbullying and ridiculing others for the ways they ride or take care of their horses has become far too common.

Here are a few tactics you can try if you’re an equestrian being bullied online:

• Talk about it: Confide in someone you trust, like your parents or a close friend or counsellor. Tell them what is going on, and ask for their advice and support. Be honest about what you’re going through, how you’re feeling, and what’s going through your mind. Don’t be alone in your hurt or pain. (Trust me, this really does help.)
• Walk and block: Many people will tell you to “walk away from the computer” or “block bad accounts.” While these are good suggestions, they do not necessarily prevent the hurt that online hate can bring. Nor is it always a realistic option if masses of people are coming after you and/or making new accounts after you block them.
• Report the haters: A lot of channels will not do enough when you rightfully report hateful people, but it’s still worth reporting users to the social media companies to establish a record of activity.

Read more: Equestrian Bullying (And What to Do About It)

by Katrina Elsken

ST. CLOUD — Have you ever wanted to experience a real cattle drive? Plans are underway for the Great Florida Cattle Drive in 2021.

In December 2021, a group of Florida cow hunters will spend a week herding approximately 1,000 cattle from Deseret Ranch in St. Cloud, zigzagging on a trail for about 60 miles to Kenansville. The trek will take seven days and go through areas of the state that are still in their natural state, or as close as anything gets to it in Florida. Cattle drives do not move quickly; The herd will cover about 10 to 12 miles a day. It will take two to three days just to get off the Deseret Ranch, which covers more than 300,000 acres and spans three counties.

Anyone can go, so long as you have a horse to ride or a horse or mule drawn wagon to ride in. Those who plan to go are advised to start early on conditioning their horses and themselves for the physical demands of the trail. “We want to offer this adventure to as many people as possible,” said Doyle Conner Jr., of the Florida Cow Culture Preservation Committee. The camping will be primitive, just as it was for those on historic cattle drives. However, unlike the cracker cowboys who ate whatever game they could hunt along the way, or made do with beans and jerky, participants won’t have to worry about bringing, catching or cooking their own food. Three meals a day will be provided for the participants. Hay and grain will be transported to each night’s campsite for the horses. Water will also be provided for humans, equines and bovines.

Read more: Great Florida Cattle Drive Planned for 2021

The Noel Asmar Group wins award for new eco-friendly athleisure line made from recycled plastic.

Surrey, BC (September 30, 2019) – The Noel Asmar Group, the successful lifestyle brand behind Asmar Equestrian, Noel Asmar Uniforms and Pedicurebowls.com, is this year’s winner of the ISPA Innovation of the Year Award for its first ever line of eco-friendly athleisure uniforms made from recycled plastic. Presented annually by the International SPA Association (ISPA) to deserving members, the Innovate Awards are designed to recognize members who lead the way with groundbreaking initiatives that advance the spa industry.

Known for her pioneering designs, founder Noel Asmar has been designing uniforms, which she defines quite simply as fashionable garment options to simplify your life, enabling you to save time and money, for over 17 years. She is credited with creating the first designer spa uniform in 2002 and since then, has been the recipient of numerous awards for her innovations in the spa and wellness and equestrian industries, including an award for “Most Innovative Rider Clothing of the Year” for her popular All Weather Rider Jacket from the British Equestrian Trade Association. Her designs have been featured in top publications like Vogue and Bazaar and today, Asmar and her team service thousands of professionals in spa, wellness and equestrian sport - from the Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons Resorts and Spas, to the Canadian Equestrian team.

Read more: Asmar Equestrian Founder Wins Award for Innovation

by Mark Felton

“The efforts to rescue the Lipizzaners would end with battle-weary American GIs standing shoulder-to-shoulder with German troops to fight a common enemy – the Waffen-SS.”

IT WAS APRIL 28, 1945.The war in Europe was just days away from ending when one of the strangest episodes of the entire conflict played out along the German-Czechoslovakian border. More than 350 American GIs had just fought their way through enemy lines to reach the town of Hostau.

The settlement, which was still in the hands of a detachment of Wehrmacht soldiers, was home to some remarkably valuable treasure: several hundred prized Lipizzaner horses. The famous and extremely rare animals, which had been seized by the Third Reich as part of a bizarre wartime livestock breeding program, were now in the path of the advancing Red Army where they faced almost certain destruction.

Fearing for the horses’ lives, the German officer in charge of the stud farm sent word to the Americans that he and his men would surrender en masse if the U.S. Army promised to get the beasts out of harm’s way. A cavalry unit in Patton’s Third Army leapt at the chance to save the legendary Lipizzaners.

The mission, which was dubbed Operation Cowboy, would see U.S. troops, along with a motley collection of liberated Allied POWs, a bona fide Cossack aristocrat and a platoon of turn-coat German soldiers race the clock to drive a herd of priceless horses to safety, all the while fighting off attacks by a legion of crack troops from the Waffen-SS bent on their destruction.

This unbelievable true-story was the inspiration for "Ghost Riders," a new non-fiction book by author and historian Mark Felton. Here, Felton himself takes us through the story.

When the shooting died away the snowy field was littered with dead and dying Waffen-SS soldiers. American GIs quickly reloaded their weapons.

Huddled inside their positions with them was a strange group of comrades. German Wehrmacht soldiers cradled Mauser rifles, while fur-hatted Russian Cossacks grinned fiercely through their beards as British and Polish ex-POWs stared grimly ahead. Leading this curious coalition that found itself in action near the Czechoslovakian town of Hostau was a tall, strikingly handsome U.S. Army captain by the name of Thomas M. Stewart.

Read more: Operation Cowboy – How American GIs & German Soldiers Joined Forces to Save the Legendary...

by Louise Dando

Everybody knows it would be very handy if your parents had an unlimited supply of cash to fund your passion. Well, this the case for these very lucky riders. Each of these women compete in their own right and successfully, however it must have helped a little that their Dad’s were millionaires!

It seems particularly on the US show jumping circuit, there are a fair few riders surnames you will immediately recognise as their dads are famous. Saying that though after researching a bit about these women, I must say despite their vast wealth they all do seem to have a genuine passion and love for horses.

Here is my list of riders that have famous parents…

1. Jessica Springsteen

Daughter of Bruce Springsteen, Jessica started riding when she was 5 years old when they her family moved to a horse farm. Jessica is now a very successful showjumper competing at the top level of competition. She is currently a member of the ‘Miami Celtics’ on the Longines Global Champions Tour.

Read more: 7 Horse Riders That Have Really Famous Parents

by Emily Riden

Hannah’s no-nonsense attitude and the passion with which she approaches her equestrian career can likely be attributed to her parents, actors Tom Selleck and Jillie Mack. She fell in love with horses at an early age and became an accomplished competitor at the grand prix level. In 2010, she founded Descanso Farm, fueled by her desire to produce high-quality horses in the U.S. As conversation with Hannah Selleck moves seamlessly from stories and laughs about her first pony and early riding years to earnest insight into her career, it’s easy to feel instantly at home in the discussion.

Her genuine and welcoming demeanor, coupled with a clear passion for the horses that she has built her life around, give the sense that you could be speaking with any fellow horse-crazy barn mate—only this is Hannah, a grand prix competitor who also happens to run her own successful boutique breeding operation. She’s also definitely the barn mate you would want to turn to for riding advice and business tips—and probably fitness and style pointers as well.

Read more: Hannah Selleck

by Kevin Cox

It would all start with a list.

A few days before we'd leave, it would be on my father's dresser. "Q Tips, Listerine, pens, socks, underwear...", and on and on it went. One would think he was Jimmy Hoffa going away for a stretch, but in reality, it was how he would prepare for our two night excursion to Saratoga year after year. Obviously, normative society doesn't feel compelled to itemize the most trivial minutia for a 48 hour pass to nirvana, but this wasn't just any Saratoga fan. This was the uuber fan. The greatest Saratoga fan outside of that one in your family...or your co workers' family...or maybe your neighbor... You get the idea.

We'd shove off at 5:15 in the morning. A time that didn't work for me then, and works even less for me know. He, on the other hand, was as bright eyed and bushy tailed as whatever bushy tailed is supposed to mean. We'd roll into town too early to check in, but that was okay, because we'd go right to the Spa City diner for breakfast. Traditions, you know. After breakfast, while I'd be playing a video game or two in the now abandoned entranceway, he'd be at the table performing origami with his brand new Racing Form. Ripping out the tracks not needed, ( Simulcast ? What's that?? ) then re-folding it so it fit perfectly into the back pants of his shorts pocket. ( Which of course were accessorized with matching hush puppies, because isn't that what fathers do ? )

We'd then check into the best kept secret in town -- the Brentwood motel. Located a horseshoe's throw from the seven furlong chute, and across the street from some breakfast joint which is now the hot spot to go after the races---assuming of course, that you don't want to hear what someone six inches away from you is saying. He would take me to watch the horses enter the starting gate in the morning. It wasn't our place to venture farther than that, you know, but that was okay, because that was the world to an 8 year old.

Read more: Happy Birthday Bijou: On Saratoga's Closing Day, Remembering Traditions with My Parents

by Shya Beth

When asked how Fernanda Garza knows that she has the perfect shot, she answers simply: “Because it takes my breath away, and it makes me feel the way that I felt in the moment when I was photographing the horse.” It’s easy to see the passion, dedication to excellence and years of skillful practice that Fernanda has put into her photography through each and every image that she takes. Much more than just clicking away on her camera, Fernanda creates her sublime images by going over every detail to perfection, carefully crafting a unique visual experience through every image for each over her viewers.

Born and raised Monterrey, Mexico, Fernanda has grown up in a creative family, and as soon as her father gifted her a camera she was hooked. Spending a large amount of her childhood behind the lens, Fernanda developed a keen interest for photography - particularly around horses.

Read more: Because It Takes My Breath Away: Mexican Photographer Fernanda Garza Shares Her Passion Of Horses...