04/17/2026
๐จ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ โฆ
When talking to prospective customer or employees I hear these phrases often -
โWell my background is in barrel racing.โ
โIโm an English rider.โ
โI just trail ride.โ
And so on.
Thereโs nothing wrong with these statements (and itโs helps to give me background on the person.) If you ask me what โI am?โ Iโm quick to answer, โA reiner.โ
However - I love showing huntseat. Iโve dabbled in the jumping. Once upon a time I won a horsemanship class or 2. I learn A TON from dressage trainers and Iโd show a pleasure horse if you made me ๐๐๐
A true horseman and true showman, isnโt an English rider or a Western rider or a saddle seat rider. That is their discipline of choice but a GREAT rider is a GREAT rider in ANY discipline.
Itโs pretty well-known that MG and SBPH are known for the reining program.
BUT - we are currently in FULL prep mode for the All American Youth Horse show where we will compete in everything BUT the reining.
AND almost all of my YEDA National qualifiers in HORSEMANSHIP are reiners by trade.
In fact, Emma Zgrebnak is leading the Nation in Diamond Horsemanship.
The point? Your saddle and your discipline donโt matter as much as the mechanics and the overall ability to ride a horse.
If you are a good rider, you are good fast or slow, in any saddle or no saddle!
Pictured -
Maple Grove Elite Equestrianโs Sammi Minich.
Sammi is a Freshman. She was top 5 in the world in the NRHA 13 and under Reining in 2024. She she was Top 5 in the 14-18 in 2025 and is a Reserve Champion Congress winner - in the reining.
Sheโs also beautiful in the horsemanship and killer in a pair or breeches!