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Dana Diemer has worn a lot of hats in the equestrian world: horse show mom, polocrosse pioneer, international eventing and show jumping steward.
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Dana Diemer has worn a lot of hats in the equestrian world: horse show mom, polocrosse pioneer, international eventing and show jumping steward.
When Roisin O’Rahilly first left Ireland at the age of 23, her father waved her off with hopes that a year in New York City would cure her of her passion for horses.
For Jasmine Hobart, the daily work of caring for 15 horses starts around 6:30 a.m.
Like the majority of Thoroughbred racehorses, Forthegreatergood didn’t distinguish himself on the racetrack.
The annual Blessing of the Hunt and Hounds in Buchan Field Thanksgiving morning drew a record crowd of onlookers.
Going into show jumping at this year’s American Eventing Championships, Heidi Grimm Powell didn’t know where she stood in the 36-horse Modified division.
Last November The Washington Post Magazine featured an article on the plight of the American Mustang: seen by some as a symbol of the American frontier and by others as a parasitic drain on federal resources.
On a typical day of eventing competition at the Carolina Horse Park, hundreds of horses and riders take their turns competing in the dressage arenas, over two stadium jumping courses, and around the cross-country course.
Most of the horses that Ziggy raced against in 1999 are enjoying retirement in grassy fields, if they’re lucky.
The Carolina Horse Park’s Painted Ponies Art Walk will return to Southern Pines in 2021.
Judy Kelley wasn’t even out of her teens when she made a choice that would shape the course of her life.
To know Howie Gonnado This was to understand that his name was more appropriate as a statement rather than a question.
As symbols, horses represent indelible features of the countryside around Southern Pines, vehicles for our wildest imaginings, and trusted friends.
At the end of show season, the most successful competitor isn’t always the one who can ride for hours every day, or take lessons every week, for a year.
Whether it’s an informal schooling show or an extensively orchestrated multi-day competition, at the Carolina Horse Park there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes of every event.
Mary Harcourt has never been afraid to blaze a new trail.
As he dances down centerline to the Power Rangers theme music, the big black horse doesn’t worry about the ancient origins of dressage, its baroque trappings, or his two left feet.
Outside of a handful of horse-centric communities around the United States, it would be easy to assume that foxhunting is a dying pastime.
Justin Dunn owes a lot to horses — especially Mustangs.
Depending on the equestrian, dream horses can come in all breeds, sizes or colors — and are therefore almost impossible to spot at first glance.
Horsemanship and courage are the essence of eventing, and qualities exemplified by one of the sport’s most legendary competitors.
Between the pigtailed poppets on ponies trotting around short stirrup courses and polished Olympic competitors galloping over the most formidable cross country tracks in the world, there’s a group of teenaged equestrians in hot pursuit of eventing glory.
At horse shows across North America, Peter Doubleday has always been the man behind the curtain.
Eventing has at least one thing in common with every other sport: on the day — or three days— of competition, the only thing that matters is how you perform.
It’s become known in eventing circles as “The Best Weekend All Year.”
Though it might be more glamorous than dashing through the piney underbrush in pursuit of a scent, the 43rd Annual Carolinas Hound Show will be more than just a beauty contest for foxhounds.
The Prancing Horse Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship will honor longtime local veterinarian Tom Daniel as its “Hero of the Year” on Thursday in its annual fundraiser at the Fair Barn.
Even among equestrians, polocrosse can be a bit of a head-scratcher.
If you hold a horse show in the heart of Southern Pines, the competitors will come — like the 54 riders who, despite last Sunday’s gloomy weather, turned out at an informal jumper show in Buchan Field.
Recall the opening number of “Fiddler on the Roof,” when Tevye describes the controversy over the age of a horse that divided the late 19th-century town of Anatevka.
Any chance that Emma Poole would “grow out” of horses withered away when she got her first horse.
When you need a doctor, the number you’ll call will depend on whether you have a fever or a sports injury.
If you ask Denny Emerson, he’ll tell you that it wasn’t until the twilight of his 30-year career eventing at the Advanced level that he started to become a great horseman.
Buying an 80-acre horse and cattle farm, moving in above the barn and commencing renovations, battling sandspurs and organizing eight horse shows in a year sounds like no one’s idea of retirement.
On a day of communal gratitude, the Southern Pines community will gather to celebrate one of the things that sets this piece of the world apart.
Wrapping up its 2018 competition season, the Carolina Horse Park is celebrating the 20th year since it was established as the Sandhills Equestrian Conservancy in 1998. This week, we’ll look at how the park got started as a nonprofit competition venue and established its place in the horse in…
Of the 20,000 Thoroughbred racehorses born in the United States every year, only 20 3-year-olds will break from the gate at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.
The 2018 world championships in Western dressage will kick off in Guthrie, Oklahoma, this week with two Moore County riders in competition.
It wasn’t so long ago that Thoroughbreds like By Golly dominated the English equestrian disciplines.
Imagine driving a Ferrari through an intricate pattern, twisting and turning around solid posts then gunning the motor to make it to the next hazard. Or driving through pairs of cones set barely wider than the vehicle, as quickly as possible without displacing balls perched on top.
Maia Kantorowski has learned a lot in the last few years about long days, perseverance and the way horses never seem to care about your plans.
Clinging as they do to the trappings of the past — hunt coats, shadbellies and anything involving a carriage — horse sports seem at a glance to be the height of anachronism.
When he came to North Carolina from his native Maryland to attend St. Andrews University, Rob Jacobs didn’t really intend to become a riding instructor.
Away from public view, a number of horses took part in what are called qualifying races Wednesday at the Pinehurst Harness Track. This allows horses to qualify for races up north. They take place following the annual Spring Matinee Races, which are mostly for show. There 10 qualifying races …
A large crowd turned out Sunday, April 8, for the 69th running of the Spring Matinee Races at Pinehurst Harness Track.The races help train the horses for the trip up north, where they'll spend the spring and summer racing.
The five-day, Cloud 11 Gavilan North Carolina International CIC & Horse Trials event is a wrap. Although the weather was not always cooperative, the excitement and levels of riding throughout the competition were unsurpassed. The March 21-25 event drew riders from all over the USA with 5…
For some time, a group of equestrians have been thinking about the need for a clean and safe place for veterinarians to work during events at the Carolina Horse Park. Among those who shared the vision were Drs. Tom Daniel and Jim Hamilton, of Southern Pines Equine Associates.
Warm and almost balmy weather gave way to rain showers after drivers finished their dressage and cones tests on Feb. 25 at Big Sky Farm in Southern Pines. Being the hardy competitors that they are, equestrians donned their rain gear and finished the third phase of the Horse Driving Trials wi…
For many years, Dottie Greenleaf’s family would ask to throw her a birthday party — and each year, she would say no. But eventually, she compromised, saying, “If I make it to 80, then you can give me a party.”
Dr. Jim Hamilton, who owns and operates Southern Pines Equine Associates in partnership with Dr. Tom Daniel, is a member of the NDMS (National Disaster Medical System) and NDRT (Natural Disaster Response Team).