In my first blog, I briefly mentioned the structure of how my IHSA riders participate in horse shows. That nightmare for most riders, of picking the name of a horse out of a hat? A horse you most likely have never ridden, let alone jumped! - getting on and riding? That’s our reality at every horse show.

Allison Wilson has been riding in the hunter/jumper ring for the past 30 years. In her early years she had a very intense riding career, which included helping sell ponies on the circuit, showing in Wellington and Washington, and riding up and down the East Coast. Later on she ran a small lesson farm, teaching beginners through college students. She also helped train off the track thoroughbreds to then sell them as hunters. Allison is now a mother of five and her girls all ride. She has continued teaching and recently opened a small farm in Weston, CT where she teaches special needs children and adults.

Lauren Mastroianni is an amateur hunter rider and, a certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist. She is also the owner of a 7-year-old OTTB in training, named King, who she initially purchased off the racetrack when he was a 4-year-old and immediately began the re-training process. After looking up his race records, Lauren noticed that King had been claimed a few times during his racing career so her first priority was making sure he knew he had a safe place and a person he can trust. The pair have inseparable ever since!