A Tribute to the True Horse Person
by Karen Pickering
This issue is for the person that gets out of bed at an unbelievable hour, with a smile, to feed horses and clean stalls. They yearn for the smell of fresh cut hay and the soft touch of a horse’s muzzle. These folks start and end the day with horses, drive pickups, dream about horse trailers and live for the next show, trail ride or equine related event. Most horse people are not independently wealthy and cannot afford a paid staff to do all barn chores. The fact is we would rather do it ourselves, simply for the sheer joy of doing it.
I live for horse events. While I prefer ones where I take my horse, the horse expos are a close second. It’s a chance to be completely immersed in horses and horse people for an entire weekend. It’s a chance to find new products to make our chores easier or riding more enjoyable, in addition to making new friends and building our local horse economy. We don’t realize just how HUGE an impact the horse industry has in our region. We have nearly 250,000 horses in Washington State (http://www.bchw.org/lnt/main/Economic%20Impact.htm). I look forward to seeing you at the Washington State Horse Expo February 19-21 at the Clark County Event Center. For details visit www.wastatehorseexpo.com. Be sure to stop by and see us.
More than clinics, expos and shows, the horse community provides an amazing network of support. Had it not been for Mark’s stroke, I would never have understood its true depth and heart. I have never felt so loved in all my life and look forward to the day when I can pay it forward.
Lastly, I am delighted to have such a beautiful stallion on our cover. Mark and Karen Plumlee of Mission Equine Inc. in Snohomish, WA purchased a dunalino stallion, Command Bux. Read all about him on page 6—and enjoy living the equestrian life!
Quote: “Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.”
~ Author Unknown
Published in February 2016 Issue
Owner / Publisher | Canfield Certified Trainer
Karen Pickering is a lifelong horsewoman and the founder of The Northwest Horse Source, which began in 1995 as a small equine newsletter and grew into a respected industry publication. With more than 30 years of experience serving the horse community, Karen now focuses on helping equine businesses and organizations build visibility, credibility, and lasting relationships through online marketing, digital promotion, and educational platforms.
As a Canfield Certified Trainer, she blends proven success principles with real-world industry experience, supporting both businesses and individuals navigating change in today’s digital landscape. Karen remains deeply connected to the horse industry and is passionate about serving the community she has helped build for over three decades.
