March/April 2025 Issue

Page 6 March/April 2025 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN Sally Batton Sally Batton was the head coach of the Dartmouth College Division I Varsity Equestrian Team for thirty years, coaching dozens of riders to regional, zone and national titles. She is the past Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association National Steward and in 2013 was presented with the IHSA Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her contributions and leadership within the organization. In 2020, Coach Batton was inducted into the inaugural class of the IHSA Hall of Fame. Sally currently travels all over the US, including Alaska and Hawaii, teaching clinics to riders of all ages and levels. In 2023 her training tool invention, the Sally Batton Pommel Blocker, was launched by Correct Connect, the industry leader in rider training aids. Batton is the author, along with co-writer Christina Keim, of The Athletic Equestrian and Equicize, both Horse & Rider Books publications. An avid polocrosse enthusiast, Batton is a past board member of the American Polocrosse Association (APA), past member of the United States Pony Club Polocrosse Committee, a certified APA Polocrosse Coach and the author of Polocrosse: Australian Made, Internationally Played. Batton is a certified instructor with both the United States Hunter Jumper Association and the American Riding Instructor’s Association (ARIA); in 2008, she was named ARIA Instructor of the Year. She is the Founder and President of the Athletic Equestrian League, an organization which offers horsemanship education and competition opportunities to riders from first grade through adult. She is also the host of the Athletic Equestrian Riding in College Podcast. Batton holds an Equestrian Studies degree from Lake Erie College and a master’s degree in Communications from Fairleigh-Dickinson University. Perfect Your Two Point Over Fences (Thurs., 5 pm, Equine Arena) Equicize: Mounted Exercises for Improved Rider Fitness (Fri., 11 am, Equine Arena) Riding in College: Studies, Saddles & Showing (Sat., 3 pm, Sun, 11 am, Seminar Hall A) Rider Training Tools to Improve Your Riding (Sat., 6 pm, Equine Arena) See Sally Batton at the Athletic Equestrian booth 223 Carl Bledsoe Carl Bledsoe and his wife, Tammy, reside in Talking Rock, Ga. where they train horses and teach horse owners. Although Carl works with all breeds of horses, gaited horses are his passion. Carl grew up in the Tennessee Walking Horse show world. For years, he trained and showed the incredible breed – many of them champion and world champion horses. Over time, he realized just howmuch the horses had to sacrifice for these titles which prompted him to make a fundamental change in his approach to horses and he hopes to compel others to make a change as well. Rather than shortcuts, gimmicks and subjugation, he believes in classical training with a true understanding of the biomechanics of the horse as well as the rider and is an advocate of purity of gait for the long-term health of the horse both physically and mentally. Carl believes in education and understanding by having compassion and empathy for the horse and approaches each horse as an individual by asking himself, “What’s in this for the horse?” This has taught him how to become a better trainer and teacher for the horses but it has also taught him to be a better husband, father and friend. For this, he is eternally grateful to what he feels is one of God’s greatest creations, the HORSE. Carl & Tammy conduct clinics and attend expos sharing his story of progression from the show ring to now teaching and training with the best interest of the horse as his primary focus. They hope to prove just how wonderful, versatile and extremely talented the Tennessee Walking Horse, as well as all of the other gaited breeds, truly are. Carl has been a guest speaker at the Sound Horse Conference in 2014, a guest speaker representing the Tennessee Walking Horse in 2019 at the Equus Film Festival, a gaited clinician in 2018 at Equifest and the featured gaited clinician at the 2020 Horse World Expo, 2021 Georgia Horse Fair, 2022 Southern Equine Expo and was a guest judge for the Appalachian Trainer Face-Off. Carl has also been selected to be the featured gaited clinician at Equine Affaire in Ohio in 2023. Carl & Tammy are, above all, advocates for the horse and are looking forward to continuing to educate fellow horse lovers and encourage you to always ask yourself, “What’s in it for the horse?” Getting Acquainted with Your Gaited Horse (Thurs., 3 pm, Equine Arena) Find Balance and Regulate Speed with Your Gaited Horse (Fri., 3 pm, Equine Arena) Troubleshooting Problems for the Gaited Horse (Sat., 1 pm, Large Arena) Building a Smooth & Correct Gait for Your Gaited Horse (Sun., 3 pm, Large Arena) See Carl Bledsoe at the Carl Bledsoe Horsemanship booth 418, 419 Kenny Harlow Kenny Harlow is a true horseman sharing his “Training with Trust” methods with horses and students alike gaining astounding results. He is a graduate of John Lyons’ very first certification program and has continued his education training under top trainers in the disciplines of dressage, hunter/jumper, eventing and reining. He has been featured on national television shows including Hard Copy and NBCWeekend Today Show. Many newspapers and horse publications such as Horse World Magazine, Equine Journal and Chronicle of the Horse have featured articles on Kenny’s Training methods. He proves that clear communication and patience is the key to solving the most difficult of problems. Kenny resides in Cumberland, VA, where his is the first equine training school recognized by the state of Virginia. Kenny continues to teach a yearlong equine training program, Intro to Horse Training Program, horse and rider training vacations, as well as traveling the east coast teaching 2 or 3 day riding clinics. Together with his quarter horse gelding, Critter, they continue to encourage horses and students alike to become partners through safe, effective techniques bearing results. His revamped exercises make training faster and allow a solid understanding of a firm training foundation. Who’s In Charge; Be a Proactive Rider (Thurs., 2 pm, Large Arena) Create a Versatile Horse (Fri., 1 pm, Large Arena) Hold Your Horses; Teaching Respect on the Ground (Fri., 3 pm, Round Pen Arena) Get a Good Go Button (Sat., 11 am, Large Arena) Back in the Saddle for Horse & Rider (Sat., 3 pm, Large Arena) Get Softer Hands & Trust Your Horse (Sun., 11 am, Round Pen Arena) Perfect Your Ride; Create Invisible Cues (Sun., 2 pm, Large Arena) Visit Kenny Harlow at the Training with Trust booth 314, 315 Buy your tickets early! Theatre Equus www.horseworldexpo.com