Premier ProTips with Todd Minikus

We're excited to share a ProTip video from our visit to Todd Minikus' farm in Wellington, FL. Todd used a variety of jumps from the Premier PolyPro and Burlingham Sports lines to set up a full course. Heidi Zorn walked the course with him, then he rode a gorgeous gray mare. It was an exciting, informative, and fun day.

Jumps like the culvert wall, skinny gate, roll top, liverpool, and rock wall were featured and Todd provided so many useful tips and information. He talked about jump materials, course design strategies, training young horses and riders, using what's used in the show ring at home for training, and lots more.

Watch the full video below. Visit horsejumps.net for information about theses jumps.

 

Minikus has won the American Grand Prix Association Budweiser Grand Prix of Indianapolis five times, the 2001 Rolex/U.S. Equestrian Team Show Jumping Championship, and competed on six Nation's Cup Teams and in five FEI World Cup Show Jumping Finals. In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, he served as the Alternate for the U.S. Equestrian Team Olympic Show Jumping Squad.  He recently won the I Love New York Grand Prix with Babalou 41 in June, and during week three of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, Minikus and Quality Girl was one of the winners in the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 3. Concluding the 2014 competition, Minikus and Babalou 41 won the $100,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Final.

Minikus keeps a busy schedule, competing regularly while training approximately 25 horses, green to grand prix. He enjoys working with horses at all ages and experience levels.  He and his team were thrilled with Premier’s jumps.  “Our Florida farm has harsh climate conditions, and it can be brutal for our equipment,” said Minikus.  “Wood jumps rot and mold grows within days.  Aluminum jumps are pricey and heavy.  The jump equipment we received from Premier is ideal: very durable, safe, and maintenance free.  Their product has restored our faith in PVC jumps!”

Author Mark Neihart Hosts Debut Party for The Horse Angels

Author Mark Neihart Hosts Debut Party for The Horse Angels

Sandy, Utah (June 16, 2014) – Just in time for the summer solstice, author and Premier Equestrian CEO Mark Neihart will be debuting his first work of fiction, The Horse Angels, at a book release party Saturday, June 21.  This newly released equestrian saga details a woman’s journey to save the age-old relationship between human and horse.  

Set to take place at the Premier Equestrian product testing facility from 7pm-10pm, The Horse Angels release party will feature a reading by Neihart, as well as a discussion on his inspiration for the story, characters, and why he decided to tell this story. 

Neihart started writing his book in 2010, and originally it detailed the history of mankind and horses, the premise being that man progressed through the ages on the back of a horse. More of a documentary style read, Neihart took the advice of an editor to transform the story into a work of fiction, featuring fast paced action, romance, government corruption, and of course, lots of horses. 

The central theme in The Horse Angels is the relationship between horse and man. “It’s what motivates many of the characters. A hundred and fifty years ago it was the horse pulling the cart. Today, we see the Chevy Suburban pulling the horse within the trailer. This is the perfect symbol of our collective love and appreciation of the horse as well as an apt symbol of our gratitude.”That ancient bond is the core of The Horse Angels, a story about an endangered herd of wild horses and the people sent to protect them. 

“I hope readers will be entertained and taken away to a different place,” says Neihart.  “I wanted to underscore how hurtful and damaging rough handling is to horses, and how a harmonious approach is mutually beneficial. Mostly, I hope readers come to have a deeper understanding of how remarkable the relationship can be between horses and people.” 

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear straight from the author how a book came into being, and how he seamlessly drew upon his experiences with legendary horsemen and women like Walter Zettl, Pat Parelli, and Linda Parelli to bring The Horse Angels to life.

For more information on The Horse Angels and the book release party, visit the event’s Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/events/648627565215773, or the Premier Equestrian website at www.TheHorseAngels.com or call 800-611-6109.

 

 

 

Photo: Set to take place at the Premier Equestrian product testing facility from 7pm-10pm, The Horse Angels release party will feature a reading by Neihart, as well as a discussion on his inspiration for the story, characters, and why he decided to tell this story.  (Photo courtesy of Premier Equestrian)

Premier Equestrian CEO Mark Neihart Pens and Publishes The Horse Angels

Premier Equestrian CEO Mark Neihart Pens and Publishes The Horse Angels

 

Sandy, Utah (June 11, 2014) - Mark Neihart loves horses. More than that, he’s fascinated with the age-old relationship between man and horse. As the CEO of Premier Equestrian, he’s surrounded by the horse culture, but he’s not just in the business. It’s much deeper and more personal.

Mark started writing his book in 2010, and originally it detailed the history of mankind and horses, the premise being that man progressed through the ages on the back of a horse.

“I finished it, and it was pretty boring,” Neihart admits. “It was more like a dull documentary. Then in 2011, a friend suggested I write a dramatic story using the factual information as the core of the story. Once my editor got involved we ditched all the remaining boring parts. It turned from a documentary into straight fiction. It’s a story which has something for everyone: fast moving action, romance, government corruption, and, of course, horses.”

What Neihart kept as the central theme in his book was the relationship between horse and man. “It’s what motivates many of the characters. A hundred and fifty years ago it was the horse pulling the cart. Today, we see the Chevy Suburban pulling the horse within the trailer. This is the perfect symbol of our collective love and appreciation of the horse as well as an apt symbol of our gratitude.” That ancient bond is the core of The Horse Angels, a story about an endangered herd of wild horses and the people sent to protect them. 

A brief synopsis; News reporter Anne Harper is called to investigate rumors of a dwindling herd of mustangs. She takes her daughter Samantha and heads up to the Angel Ridge horse rescue ranch where the two get caught up in a decades-old family feud. She meets Nolan Powell, a quiet, brooding horsemen with a secret. The drama unfolds as true nature of the relationship between horse and man is revealed. Fast paced, compelling, and heartfelt. The Horse Angels is a book for every horse lover.

Neihart enjoyed dramatizing the relationship people enjoy with their horses. He depicts this as a mystical, almost magical element in The Horse Angels. He says he based it on the observations he made watching horsemen like Walter Zettl and Pat Parelli. 

“When my company was making the video series, A Matter of Trust, about Walter Zettl, I followed him around for five years, observing him,” says Neihart. “His classical dressage technique utilizes the horse’s natural abilities. I learned how important it is to always be soft, kind, with no force.  Through Walter, I met Pat and Linda Parelli and my education continued. The Parelli’s are leaders in the Natural Horsemanship movement. They showed me how respect for the horse and seeing things from his point of view is the basis of all good training. There were my beginnings; many other world-class horse trainers have come into my life since then. I have been very fortunate.”

As CEO of Premier Equestrian, Neihart gets to live this philosophy everyday. “Premier Equestrian was built around our primary passion for loving, training, and riding our horses,” says Neihart. “Every product we sell is measured against this passion for safety, practicality, and the well being of the horse.”

Mark and Heidi-Zorn Neihart live in Granite, Utah with their three horses, Sting, Serrano, and Isabella. Horses are central to their lives, both professionally and personally.

For more information on this and all Premier Equestrian products, including footing, dressage arenas, jumps, stable accessories, and The Horse Angels, visit their website at www.PremierEquestrian.com or call 800-611-6109.

Editor's note:  Any editor or publisher interested in reading or reviewing The Horse Angels, please contact Premier Equestrian and they will send you a complimentary copy.

 

 

Photo: Mark Neihart, author of The Horse Angels. (Photo courtesy of Premier Equestrian)

Riding Magazine Features Premier Equestrian

 

The June 2014 issue of Riding Magazine features Premier Equestrian and GGT arena footing. Premier Equestrian is the largest U.S. supplier of GGT footing. Premier uniquely educates customers about the importance of choosing the right sand and footing additives for their discipline, arena set-up, amount of horses per day, and other factors. Premier Equestrian provides a detailed, free sand analysis to help customers make informed decisions.

Premier Equestrian also offers a Footing Test Kit, which provides enough samples of our different footing additives to do 5-gallon bucket tests. If you're ready to test a larger area, try out a Test Strip, which includes enough footing additive to test a 100 sq. foot area of your arena. Call us with questions at 1-800-611-6109

Premier Equestrian - Poly Pro Horse Jumps

http://www.PremierEquestrian.com Premier Equestrian - Seven Reasons to use the Poly Pro Horse Jumps.  Our jumps feature lightweight, high quality, maintenance free materials. We offer feature-rich products with innovative designs to help you get the most out of your training efforts. Features like our patented horse jump foot, so stable it keeps your jumps from blowing over in the wind. Or our silk-screened height marks and solid pin-holes, designed for quick relocation of jump cups. All of our horse jumps come fully assembled. No hassle -- just attach the feet and your horse jumps are ready to use!

Call 1-800-611-6109 for more information

Or Visit  http://www.PremierEquestrian.com

Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award -Rider Pam Hardin

Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award Makes AGDF10 CPEDI3* Rider Pam Hardin “Feel Like a Winner”  Wellington, FL (March 21, 2014) - Grade 4 para-equestrian Pamela Sue Hardin of Evans, GA, could have let the odds to beat her, but instead, after accepting the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award for week ten at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, FL,  she told CEO and founder, Heidi Zorn: “I feel like a winner.”
Hardin, who trains with Melanie Mitchell of Johnson, SC, was born in New York City but confesses to a lifelong love of horses.  “Obviously, I was born with some health issues, but that never stopped me from wanting a horse.  Only you really couldn't manage that,” she laughed, “from a six-floor walk-up apartment.”         Which, in comparison, made a few hurdles en route to Wellington nothing Hardin couldn't handle.  “We had some issues over passports for Monty's owner in Germany, then we faced some bad weather, and then when we got here, there were forms my neurologist had to complete last-minute.  To reach him, I had to message him on Facebook!”  She laughed again.  “WhoFacebooks their neurologist?” The “Monty” she refers to is Freemont, a 15 year-old, 16.3 hand chestnut Hanoverian (Foxhunter x Andrea) gelding she has been leasing since January from owner Nadege Soubassis:  “I've never been on a warmblood and certainly nothing as big as this. He's awesome!” Hardin said of her perfect partner to join her competing in her first-ever CPEDI3*. “He has the most giving personality. When you ride as a para, there are things that go along with that for a horse, and he just goes with it.  He tries. I don't always ask the right way but he hits it anyway.  He's great!  We just want to compete in our three classes and have a blast. This couldn't be more fun,” she said, referring to their FEI Para Grade IV Team, Individual and Freestyle tests. As Zorn presented Monty with his tricolor neck ribbon, the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award winner accepted her gift certificate and hardcover copy of Ask Walter, the classical dressage training bestseller by German Gold medalist, Walter Zettl, available through Premier Equestrian.             “Your smile and infectious enthusiasm have lit up the showgrounds all week,” Zorn praised Hardin. “Your joy for riding and being with horses is so obvious.  You're everything this Sportsmanship Award is about!” “How can I not be happy?” Hardin replied. “How can I not be thrilled every single minute, no matter what goes wrong?  This is the culmination of everything I've ever wanted.  Thank you for this award. I do feel like a winner.”        For over a decade, professional horsepeople have trusted Premier Equestrian for affordable arenas built from PVC and other quality materials, as well as footing, stadium fences, barn and stable equipment, gifts, books and DVDs. Premier Equestrian is proud to named the Official Dressage Arena supplier of both the USEF and Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) presented by Gotham North. For a free catalog, free arena footing sample or free arena sand analysis, call (800) 611-6109 or visitwww.PremierEquestrian.com. Photo: Nadege Soubassis (left) and Pamela Hardin. (Photo courtesy of JRPR—no photo credit necessary)

Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award -Rider Pam Hardin

Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award Makes AGDF10 CPEDI3* Rider Pam Hardin “Feel Like a Winner”  Wellington, FL (March 21, 2014) - Grade 4 para-equestrian Pamela Sue Hardin of Evans, GA, could have let the odds to beat her, but instead, after accepting the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award for week ten at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, FL,  she told CEO and founder, Heidi Zorn: “I feel like a winner.”
Hardin, who trains with Melanie Mitchell of Johnson, SC, was born in New York City but confesses to a lifelong love of horses.  “Obviously, I was born with some health issues, but that never stopped me from wanting a horse.  Only you really couldn't manage that,” she laughed, “from a six-floor walk-up apartment.”         Which, in comparison, made a few hurdles en route to Wellington nothing Hardin couldn't handle.  “We had some issues over passports for Monty's owner in Germany, then we faced some bad weather, and then when we got here, there were forms my neurologist had to complete last-minute.  To reach him, I had to message him on Facebook!”  She laughed again.  “WhoFacebooks their neurologist?” The “Monty” she refers to is Freemont, a 15 year-old, 16.3 hand chestnut Hanoverian (Foxhunter x Andrea) gelding she has been leasing since January from owner Nadege Soubassis:  “I've never been on a warmblood and certainly nothing as big as this. He's awesome!” Hardin said of her perfect partner to join her competing in her first-ever CPEDI3*. “He has the most giving personality. When you ride as a para, there are things that go along with that for a horse, and he just goes with it.  He tries. I don't always ask the right way but he hits it anyway.  He's great!  We just want to compete in our three classes and have a blast. This couldn't be more fun,” she said, referring to their FEI Para Grade IV Team, Individual and Freestyle tests. As Zorn presented Monty with his tricolor neck ribbon, the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award winner accepted her gift certificate and hardcover copy of Ask Walter, the classical dressage training bestseller by German Gold medalist, Walter Zettl, available through Premier Equestrian.             “Your smile and infectious enthusiasm have lit up the showgrounds all week,” Zorn praised Hardin. “Your joy for riding and being with horses is so obvious.  You're everything this Sportsmanship Award is about!” “How can I not be happy?” Hardin replied. “How can I not be thrilled every single minute, no matter what goes wrong?  This is the culmination of everything I've ever wanted.  Thank you for this award. I do feel like a winner.”        For over a decade, professional horsepeople have trusted Premier Equestrian for affordable arenas built from PVC and other quality materials, as well as footing, stadium fences, barn and stable equipment, gifts, books and DVDs. Premier Equestrian is proud to named the Official Dressage Arena supplier of both the USEF and Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) presented by Gotham North. For a free catalog, free arena footing sample or free arena sand analysis, call (800) 611-6109 or visitwww.PremierEquestrian.com. Photo: Nadege Soubassis (left) and Pamela Hardin. (Photo courtesy of JRPR—no photo credit necessary)