The Plaidcast

• Plaidcast in Person with Michael Britt-León, Berry Porter & Steven Bluman by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services

  Piper hosts Plaidcast in Person in front of a live audience at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut with Michael Britt-León, Berry Porter and Steven Bluman. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid HorseGuest: Michael Britt-León is the owner of Windsor Stables in Alpharetta, GA. Michael has earned countless International, National and Zone championships. Michael spent his junior career under the guidance of the top professionals on the west coast who had him showing extensively in hunters, jumpers and equitation. He eventually worked at “The Oaks Farm” for Joan Irvine Smith developing quality young horses into nationally ranked Hunters and Jumpers. Michael was eventually recruited to ride privately for a family and it was there that he ran their facility and campaigned their horses nationally, solidifying his place on the professional circuit.Guest: Berry Porter is the head trainer at Brookside Pine Farms in Conroe, TX. Berry has developed many riders from the beginner level to the collegiate ranks to succeeding at the top levels of equestrian competition. Recognizing this is a sport that constantly evolves, Berry trains with some of the most respected and successful professionals in the industry, applying his skills as he personally competes at prominent venues across the country. Berry’s students have successfully competed at the FEI North American Young Riders competition, National Junior Hunter Finals, in International Hunter Derbies, at Medal Finals, and in Grand Prix.Guest: Steven Bluman is an Israeli show jumping rider, trainer, and entrepreneur based between Wellington, FL and North Salem, NY. A cornerstone of Bluman Equestrian, he oversees the development of junior and amateur riders while managing a competitive string of horses at the FEI level. Known for his meticulous approach to flatwork, horsemanship, and team structure, Steven’s coaching style blends high-performance goals with patient education. He also founded the Equo app, a platform designed to simplify horse transportation across North America.Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineTitle Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance ServicesSponsors: Purina, Great American Insurance Group and Windstar Cruises  Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast in Person live event!

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• The Plaidchat: James Fairclough II on the FEI in the United States

  Welcome to The Plaidchat- an extension of The Plaidcast where we expand upon conversations in our sport and discuss the most recent issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine. Today, Piper speaks with grand prix show jumper and owner of Bexley Farm, James Fairclough II.Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid HorseGuest: James Fairclough II is a Grand Prix show jumper and the owner of Bexley Farm, based in Bedford, New York, and Wellington, Florida. He comes from a deeply rooted equestrian family: his grandfather, Dr. Rost, was an FEI veterinarian, course designer, and show manager; his grandmother, Joan Chambers, was a national rodeo queen at Madison Square Garden and a respected hunter/jumper trainer; his father, James Fairclough, and grandfather, John Fairclough, were accomplished four-in-hand drivers; and his mother, Robin Rost Brown, is a Grand Prix rider, trainer, and judge. James built his professional foundation riding for Frank Chapot, Anne Kursinski, Candice King, Jane Clark, and Stal Hendrix. After winning the Cacchione Cup in college and competing professionally in Europe, he returned home to establish Bexley Farm, a high-performance training and sales program specializing in the hunter, jumper, and equitation disciplines. Read the Latest Issue of The Plaid Horse MagazineSubscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineSponsors: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, Windstar Cruises, and Great American Insurance Group Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast in Person live event!

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• Plaidcast in Person at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show with Danielle & Jimmy Torano by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services

  Piper hosts Plaidcast in Person in front of a live audience at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with Danielle and Jimmy Torano. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid HorseGuest: Jimmy Torano operates JET Show Stable based in Wellington, Florida and Mohrsville, Pennsylvania with his wife Danielle. Jimmy frequently visits Europe, and is one of the nation’s top importers of up and coming young show jumpers, equitation and hunter prospects. Jimmy is a Big “R” judge who has judged many major classes including the 2006 Pessoa USEF Medal Finals, 2007 USET Talent Search Finals, 2008 Pony Medal Finals and the 2008 ASPCA Maclay Finals.  Guest: Danielle Torano is the most winning rider in the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Amateur-Owner Jumper Series, winning the Eastern Conference title in 2001, finishing second in 2002, and then gaining the championship again in back to back years in 2004 and 2005. In 2008, Danielle was a member of the winning $75,000 FEI Nation's Cup team in Wellington, Florida aboard Marlo. Danielle went on to represent the United States in the 2008 World Cup Finals in Goteborg, Sweden and the 2009 World Cup Finals in Las Vegas on Vancouver D'Auvray. Danielle is now a trainer at JET Show Stable.Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineTitle Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance ServicesSponsors: Purina, Great American Insurance Group and Windstar Cruises  Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast in Person live event!

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• Plaidcast in Person at Paso Robles Horse Park with Amanda Diefenderfer, Jamie Cheney & James Waldman

  Piper hosts Plaidcast in Person in front of a live audience at Paso Robles Horse Park in Paso Robles, California with Amanda Diefenderfer, Jamie Cheney and James Waldman.Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid HorseGuest: Amanda Diefenderfer began with the Paso Robles Horse Park six months before the gates first opened in 2015. She grew up riding hunter/jumpers in California and was thrilled when the opportunity allowed her to bring this passion to her career. Initially, she joined the Paso Park to oversee strategy and marketing of the Foundation’s efforts. In 2018 her role grew to include management of all three of the Paso Park’s show products - Schooling Shows, the regionally rated Pathway series, and the nationally rated Classic Series. Today, she manages 12 shows per year, is on the USHJA Amateur Rider task force, is the treasurer of the Norcal Hunter Jumper Association Board of Directors, and continues to compete on her six-year-old jumper.  Guest: Jamie Cheney is a second-generation horse trainer whose passion for horsemanship is deeply rooted in family and tradition. Jamie runs Boundary Gate alongside her mom, Heidi Cowley, where they focus on developing young horses and riders with care and expertise. She’s been coming to Paso Robles since the very beginning, and now shares her love of the sport with her daughters, Addison and Felicity, who both ride. Jamie is committed to keeping equestrian sport viable for future generations—not just through training, but through the broader access and education. She has served on the NorCal Hunter Jumpers Association board, the Tri-Valley Animal Rescue board, and currently serves on the Livermore Unified School District Education Advisory Committee. Whether she’s in the ring or in the community, Jamie brings heart, vision, and a deep sense of purpose to everything she does.  Guest: James Waldman has been a respected figure in the San Diego equestrian community for more than 40 years. A lifelong trainer, he now shares his expertise as both a judge and clinician. James currently serves as President of the Greater San Diego Hunter Jumper Association and has judged at many prestigious events, including the CPHA Foundation Finals, Pony Finals, the New England Equitation Championships, and Capital Challenge. His extensive experience and dedication to the sport have made him a valued voice in the hunter-jumper world.  Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineRead the Latest Issue of The Plaid Horse MagazineSponsors: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, Windstar Cruises, and Great American Insurance Group  Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast in Person event!

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• 2025 ASPCA Maclay Finals Recap with the Judges by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services

  Piper speaks with two of the 2025 ASPCA Maclay Finals judges- Robin Swinderman Mitchell and Jimmy Toon. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid HorseGuest: Robin Swinderman Mitchell is a trainer, rider and licensed USEF 'R" judge. At RSM Equestrian, LLC in Morriston, Florida, Robin specializes in the development of young horses and riders motivated to improve their skills and understanding their horse. Robin and her horses have been named champions at prestigious shows such as the National Horse Show, Capital Challenge, and Winter Equestrian Festival. Guest: James “Jimmy” Toon is a trainer, rider and USEF R-rated judge. As the owner of JT Farm, Jimmy oversees the education of all the students and horses at the farm. Jimmy and his students have been champion or reserve at most major horse shows on the East Coast including The Pennsylvania National Horse Show, The Washington International Horse Show, The National Horse Show, The Devon Horse Show, and The Capital Challenge Horse Show. Always in demand as a judge, Jimmy has presided at horse shows from Florida to Oregon, California to Maine, and in Canada including The USEF Medal Finals, The ASPCA Maclay Finals, The New England Equitation Championships and many more.Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineTitle Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance ServicesSponsors: Purina, Great American Insurance Group and Windstar Cruises  Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast in Person live event!

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