Sharon Redman — Sharmel Arabians
Chino Valley, Arizona

Sharon’s homebred stallion, Sentebale SA (Bellagio RCA x Kareena RCA by Thee Desperado), was recently awarded the unanimous Scottsdale Champion Straight Egyptian stallion.

Sherry Conrads — Al Noor Arabians
Santa Ynez, California

"When my foals are born, I try to be there, so they recognize me as a protector, like their mother. Few memories give me more pleasure than those of the first hours of a foal’s life, taking naps on my lap, in between nursing."

Mike Wilson — Wilson Training and Bloodstock
Sorrento, Florida

“As a trainer, the best thing that I can do to show I care is to make sure the horses get GastroGard before and during every show, no exceptions."

Cindy Reich
Ft. Collins, Colorado

"One of my favorite little things is when we go anywhere with mares and foals, I always take the foal in front of its dam. The foal gains confidence and trust in the handler, rather than just following the mare. Especially with newborns – the mother also is happier because she can see her foal and is not constantly checking on its whereabouts. 

"I have spent a lot of time holding horses in stocks for procedures. I try to make it a positive experience for the horse, especially mares that are going into stocks for the first time. I want to condition them to having a pleasant experience. 

I will gently massage and use acupressure on the face above and below their eyes and around the eye socket. I also massage around their cheek bones. They seem to almost go into a trance at times. If that fails, treats come in handy. Anything good makes it a more pleasant experience."

Francesca Aragno
Mondovi, Italy

“What I do for my horses…first of all, I let them feel respect and freedom to bond with me and my team because they want to…and not because they have to.

“Every morning my father or I go to the stable and give a carrot to each of my horses. My filly loves to be scratched on her back. So I give her a private massage every time I go to the stable. She just can’t get enough of it..:)

“My mare likes to be the first one to go to the fields, so I always take her first so that she can keep everyone under control. She also likes to spend time with our pony, so they usually go out together as good old friends.”

Joe and Kim Orr — Rose City Arabians
Ridgefield, Washington

“We spend a lot of time with the foals in the stalls,” says Joe Orr, of Rose City Arabians. “I sit on my knees and gradually work my way up their necks, and scratch their withers. So they get used to hugs, and by the time they are four or five months old they come over for the hugs, and they will start using their heads to push me in closer so I can scratch their withers.”

Denise Hearst
Santa Fe, New Mexico

"It’s the simple gestures, the words, and actions, that help make my 25-year-old gelding, Jay, feel safe, content, and happy. I put a window in his nighttime shed, with a view into the kitchen. And when we dine in the garden, there’s “J,” watching and listening from his window just a few feet away. Or he’ll graze on one of the several little lawn areas that I planted for him. In the winter when everything is brown, I take him to the back of the property where he enjoys nibbling on the cottonwood leaves.

"Jay and I have a few little rituals. When I step out of the house in the morning, I make a 'Kiss' sound and he answers with a low, throaty nicker.

“But I think he loves most the social stimulation of walks in-hand or under saddle with friends, dogs, and happy people.

“At the end of the day, he just wants to feel like part of the family.”

Bill Flemion — San Simeon Stables
San Simeon, California

“It’s nothing but the little things.”