Heritage Los Angeles riding school gets a new owner and a big goal sheet.

by Kim F. Miller

Tori English signs her e-mails with the Winston Churchill quote, “No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle.” And it’s not just a quote for her: it’s the inspiration for her purchase of the Traditional Equitation School at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank.

Positive approach leads to more confidence and less stress.

As they move along in their careers, some trainers stop riding or showing and only focus on teaching and training. Philip Klipa had been on that same path until recently. The Los Angeles Equestrian Center-based hunter/jumper professional recently stepped back into the show ring after many years.  Along with coaching and training clients in his Marlay Farms program, he plans to continue competing, along with riding in a clinic—in this case with Bernie Traurig—another thing he hasn’t done in many years.

East Bay Area hunter/jumper program soars from a horsemanship intensive foundation.

Hunter/jumper trainer Mimi Harwell believes it is important to get the details right. “Taking care of the horses, teaching the riders, and making sure the right homework is getting done will always pay off in positive results,” she says. She puts her philosophy into practice as owner and head trainer of Clean Flight Equestrian, located at the beautiful Sunny Hill Farm in the East Bay’s Walnut Creek.

More coverage and better fit in re-designed popular Farnam product.

Ever since SuperMask® horse fly mask came on the market three decades ago, Farnam has been the leader in fly masks for horses. As of 2017, a redesign on the popular product means more coverage, better fit and protection.

Young but worldly eventing trainer brings her experience to new facility in San Diego County’s Vista.

by Abby Tillinghast for Athletux, Inc. • photos by Shannon Brinkman

The backbone of any top notch training operation is its facility, a concept Olivia Loiacono knows well. Over the coming weeks, Olivia is excited to be moving her training operation, OKL Eventing to a private facility in North County San Diego. Since moving back to Southern California and launching her training operation in 2013, Olivia has been based out of high quality boarding operation Swede Equine, maintaining her own horses along with several clients’ at the pristine facility but leaving the care of her horses in the hands of others. As her operation has continued to grow and prosper, Olivia recently seized an opportunity to maintain a facility of her own and undertake the care and handling of her horses herself. Olivia found the perfect fit at Shady Oak Farm in beautiful Vista.

Veteran trainer finds that Working Equitation takes dressage to the next level.

by Cheryl Erpelding

After attending a Working Equitation clinic in North San Diego County last year, Polly Limond was hooked. A top dressage trainer and competitor since the 80s, Polly loved that Working Equitation took dressage to the next level in a very fun way.
Obstacles such as bridges, slaloms, small jumps, and maneuvering around 55 gallon drums are just a few of the challenges that riders are scored on in the various classes offered in the fast-growing discipline that was started in 1996 by riders from Spain, Portugal, France and Italy.

A modern sport that is based on classical horsemanship.

by Jack Burns

It’s no surprise Working Equitation is gaining popularity in the United States because of the broad appeal that it has with so many equestrians. It is a sport that has developed out of the traditions of classical horsemanship and traditional ranch work. It combines the formality, detail, and rigor of gymnastic arena work with the practical and utility work of negotiating obstacles inspired by what would be found around a working ranch. Riders are outfitted according to the tradition in which they train: dressage, western, or native Spanish or Portuguese attire.

Traumatic brain injury leads to revelations about human & equine balance that have helped many horses and riders.

by Martha Weckel • photos by Alfred DeCicco

On June 6, 1997, a riding accident changed hunter/jumper trainer Arlyn DeCicco’s life forever when she suffered a traumatic brain injury. Despite this serious condition and unaware of her deficits, six weeks after her head trauma she was riding again. Arlyn had to adapt to new ways of training horses due to her compromised condition.

Veterans’ new premiere three day event and dressage facility ready to go in Moorpark.

by Tessa Robinson • photos: Captured Moment Photography

Most newly engaged couples spend the year before their wedding knee deep in plans for their big day. Robyn Fisher and David Koss aren’t most couples. While others would be picking out invitations and floral arrangements, Robyn and David are busy mapping out every detail for their new equestrian facility, R. Farms, located in Moorpark.

Match-making is a key to success at the Ardalan family’s breeding, training, importing and sales business.

by Kim F. Miller

The Ardalan family’s Caspian Stables is a major source of jumpers for every level of the sport. Patriarch Arsia and daughter Tara are busy and familiar riders on the West Coast circuit and go-tos for professionals and amateurs looking for quality horses, from prospects to Grand Prix mounts. Through breeding, training and importing, the program based in San Diego County’s Valley Center prides itself on having a horse for virtually any rider at any given time.