Welcome to the Summer Riding Season

Just past the longest day of the year and the summer riding season is in full swing! Coast to coast, horse owners are loading up and hitting the trails, heading to shows and taking on the competition. Recently we checked in with a few of our national ambassadors to see what they were up to.

First up was the Old Salem Spring Show in New Salem, NY. Many of the top jumper riders make Old Salem a stop on their annual tour of the northeast making for great competition and great spectating. Amid a beautiful setting, both Todd Minikus and Beezie Madden found success on the scenic grass course with multiple wins a piece. 

Next stop was a visit around Texas horse country. We checked in with Lindy Burch, Kory Pounds and Matt Gaines, all of whom are getting ready for the upcoming NCHA Summer Spectacular in July. Not far removed from the Super Stakes this spring, the Purina cutting horse ambassadors are busy with foals on the ground, maintaining their current competition strings and already prepping for the NCHA Futurity this winter.

"Winter" Season in Florida

While many parts of the country are weathering spring storms and waiting for mud to vacate, the winter show circuits are in full swing in Florida. Well, winter according to the calendar anyways; you’ll be hard pressed to find a shaggy coat or heavy turnout anywhere in sight so I’ll use the term loosely. I was lucky enough to pack up the sunscreen, leave the snow behind myself and spend some time spectating and catching up with our national ambassadors.

First stop was Wellington and the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Our show jumpers keep pretty full schedules throughout their stints there. I stopped by to watch the Thursday grand prix class and see Beezie Madden, Laura Kraut and Todd Minikus in action. It was a big class with 86 entries and a 28 pair jumpoff. There were dozens of international riders also in the class and several Olympians that competed in London last year; as usual the competition in Wellington never disappoints. The jumpoff was chalk full of talent and blistering paces and while we didn’t come away with a Team Purina win, Laura and Cedric held their own with a very respectable fifth place finish from a clear round in 31.468 seconds.