The World Seems Better from on Top of My Horse
This picture of me and April was taken about 15 years ago and depicts how happy I am when I’m on my horse. Though April died a few years ago, I still cherish every moment I spent with her. She gave me the most connection and enjoyment of any horse I’ve owned. She was a loving mare who always did her best to please me. In life’s darkest moments I’d escape on her back and savor our connection.
I got April at a horse auction when she was a yearling. Her calmness and curiosity hooked me. Even my dear riding buddy, Si Kingma, realized what a find she was. Early on, I dragged her to all the reining shows I went to with my other mare, Dawn. She stood patiently tied to the trailer while I competed and was always good at any event I took her to.
I showed her at AQHA before she was old enough to ride and she did well in halter classes even though she was performance bred. We showed reining, cow horse, and then got into competitive trail where she won me a couple of buckles. She wasn’t spectacular, but she was fun to ride, responsive, and loved cattle work. We did sorting in her later years which was fun for both of us.
As time went on, I got busy. Life happens and I didn’t ride as often as I wanted. Priorities were work and keeping the business afloat. I would often go out and brush her for some quiet time to just chill. We did volunteer work, and she let special needs children ride her. In 2014, I took her to Yellowstone to ride—a memorable experience with good friends.
It’s the moments away from phones, work, responsibilities and hectic schedules where I find my peace. Now that I have a new horse, we’re working on getting that connection. It’s not the same, but the world still feels better on the back of my horse.
I’ve been truly blessed and grateful for the people and horses in my life. I couldn’t be more pleased with the current team I have working on the magazine and our digital presence and I’m grateful for the customers who have supported us through the years. I couldn’t ask for a better life.
This month our cover story on page 6 is about a revolutionary product that saves the lives of horses. Have a great summer, be grateful, and thank you for your continued support! We’d love to hear from you. If you have a special horse in your life, tell us about it.
See this article in the August 2025 Online Digital Edition:
August 2025
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.
