The Plaidcast

Send us Fan Mail
Michael Tokaruk is a top rider, trainer, and USEF "R" judge, and the owner of Tokaruk Show Stables, a full-service hunter, jumper, and equitation training and sales operation based year round in Wellington, Florida.
Tokaruk discovered his love of horses as a young rider in his native Canada before moving to the United States and taking a working student position at River's Edge Farm under Ken Berkley and Gary Zook. He rose through the junior hunter, jumper, and equitation ranks, winning classes at Devon and earning ribbons at both the American and Canadian National Equitation Finals, while working alongside some of the sport's most respected professionals, including Scott Stewart, Missy Clark, Bob Braswell, and Anne Kursinski. He went on to attend George Washington University, balancing his studies with riding and training and spending extended time competing and working in Holland.
As a professional, Tokaruk captured the WCHR Legacy Cup Hunter Finals in 2005 aboard Polaroid, and he has since amassed roughly 15 career Grand Prix victories and nearly $600,000 in prize money. He has ridden and trained horses to USEF National Horse of the Year honors and coached champions at the highest levels, including the 2017 North American Young Rider jumper title and 2018 Youth Olympic show jumping gold. His students regularly contest the major national indoor equitation finals and have earned hunter and jumper championships at WEF and Harrisburg. Along the way, he has continued his own education with mentors such as Melanie Smith Taylor, Andre Dignelli, Katie Monahan-Prudent, Richard Watson, and Chris Kappler.
A USHJA Certified Trainer, Tokaruk is also a sought-after judge, officiating at premier competitions including the ASPCA Maclay National Finals, the USET Talent Search Finals, Capital Challenge, the WEF Equitation Championship, and the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Finals.

Geoff Teall is one of the country's leading hunter and hunt seat equitation trainers, with more than three decades of experience in the hunter industry as a trainer, judge, clinician, and author. Horses and riders he has developed have earned championships, medals, and ribbons at the sport's most prestigious events, including Devon, the ASPCA Maclay Finals, the Capital Challenge, the Pennsylvania National, the Washington International, the USET Talent Search, and the National Horse Show.
A USEF "R" judge in both hunters and hunt seat equitation, Teall has officiated at many of North America's marquee competitions, among them the National Horse Show, the Washington International, the Royal Winter Fair, the Winter Equestrian Festival, and the WIHS Equitation Finals. His contributions to the sport were recognized in 2006, when he was named both the Chronicle of the Horse Show Hunter Horseman of the Year and the USHJA Volunteer of the Year.
Beyond the ring, Teall has been a driving force in shaping the hunter discipline. He is a co-founder of the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation and the World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) program, has served on the USHJA Board of Directors and Foundation Board, and has chaired US Equestrian's National Hunter Committee. He is also the author of Geoff Teall on Riding Hunters, Jumpers, and Equitation: Developing a Winning Style, a widely respected guide for riders at every level.
Teall travels extensively throughout North America and Europe to teach, judge, and conduct clinics, and lives in Tryon, North Carolina.

theplaidhorse.com
Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.
At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.
Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.
We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.
Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

Send us Fan Mail
In this episode, we highlight Dr. Cindra Kamphoff and her work in confidence, grit, and mental performance.
Dr. Kamphoff is the author of The Confidence Habit, Beyond Grit, and Beyond Grit for Business. Through her work, she helps athletes, professionals, and individuals strengthen their mindset, build confidence, and perform at their best.
Dr. Kamphoff is the founder of the Mentally Strong Institute and leads the Mentally Strong Kids nonprofit organization. Her professional experience also includes four years providing mental training for the Minnesota Vikings.
Her books can be purchased here: https://cindrakamphoff.com/store/
For many years Tonya taught in the Sport Psychology Master’s program at John F. Kennedy University in Pleasant Hill, CA. She taught classes including Performance Enhancement A and B, Psychology of Injury, and Camp Development as well as working as a supervisor for applied sport psychology interns. In 2010 Tonya was awarded Teacher of Year in the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at JFK University, and in 2013 she was awarded the Alumni of the Year.
Tonya received her BA in Psychology from UC Santa Cruz, and her Master’s in Sport Psychology from John F. Kennedy University. Tonya is a member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, and APA Division 47 – Exercise and Sport Psychology.
theplaidhorse.com
Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.
At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.
Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.
We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.
Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

Send us Fan Mail
McKenzie Armour Gramling is a professional body clipper, braider, and the owner of Armour Equine Services, based in the Carolinas. Specializing in clipping, braiding, and full-service grooming, she has built her business around providing riders and their horses with reliable, high-quality care and polished turnout for the show ring.
With a strong eye for detail and an emphasis on professionalism, Gramling approaches each horse individually, prioritizing safety and well-being throughout the grooming process. Her work combines the technical skills required for top-level turnout with an understanding of the care and patience that go into working with horses, making her a trusted resource for riders looking to have their horses feeling and looking their best.
Beyond her professional grooming services, Gramling is passionate about education and helping others strengthen their own grooming skills. Through clinics offered to barns and individual riders, she shares her knowledge of clipping, braiding, grooming, and overall turnout, giving equestrians the tools and confidence to improve their own horse care and presentation.
theplaidhorse.com
Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.
At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.
Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.
We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.
Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

Send us Fan Mail
Kayleigh Tansey and Piper Klemm discuss My Show Strides School Vacation, the third interactive workbook in the Show Strides universe. 
Join The Plaid Horse Kids' Book Club!

Regina Welsh is the founder and director of the US Pony Racing. She has been a voice behind expanding the sport of steeplechase racing and making it accessible to the younger generations. The USPR offers opportunities to young riders who may not have access to ponies and provides mounts for the kids to race with. Regina has been a main factor in bringing the Shetland Pony Races to the Washington International Horse Show.
theplaidhorse.com
Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.
At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.
Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.
We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.
Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

Send us Fan Mail
On this episode of The Plaidcast, Piper Klemm is joined by guests from across the equestrian world to talk about giving back to the sport, the relationship between horses and humans, and new opportunities for the next generation of riders.
Elizabeth Letts
Bestselling author Elizabeth Letts joins Piper to discuss her latest historical fiction novel, Fallen for France, and the experiences that shaped the story. Elizabeth shares how her lifelong connection to Morocco and her love of horses influenced the novel, which follows an Arabian mare taken from the Sultan’s palace to France during World War I. Piper and Elizabeth also explore the human-horse connection, the importance of observation and “feel,” and the value of stepping away from our increasingly digital lives to develop patience, empathy, and a deeper connection with horses.
Three Mares
Kendall Michaud and Carrie Kehring of Three Mares join Piper to discuss their mission to create positive change through equestrian sport. Three Mares acquires like-minded brands and uses profits and product donations to support organizations working to make sports safer, more accessible, and more inclusive. They share how the company supported 15 organizations with more than $151,000 in its first year, their goal of donating $1 million in products and profits over 10 years, and why supporting small businesses and positive stories within the equestrian community matters.
Cara Cheska & the WIHS Pony Jumper Championships
Cara Cheska joins Piper to talk about the rapid growth of the pony jumper division and the upcoming Washington International Horse Show Pony Jumper Championships, presented by World Wide Technology. Cara discusses how the division is creating new opportunities for ponies and young riders while teaching confidence, strategy, pace, and resilience. She also shares what riders can expect from the championship, where a limited field of 18 small, medium, and large ponies will have the opportunity to compete during Barn Night in a true championship atmosphere.
theplaidhorse.com
Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.
At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.
Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.
We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.
Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!