Julie Winkel & Michael Meller by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services

Send us Fan MailPiper speaks with Julie Winkel about her young horse trainer school and her trainer symposium that brings together seasoned and young trainers to share knowledge and experience for the next generation of trainers. Michael Meller of MMM Horseman also joins to talk about training the young jumpers in this country.  Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid HorseGuest: Julie Winkel is one of the foremost trainers, judges, clinicians and educators in the country. Julie is an R-rated judge since 1984 and has presided over many of the country’s most prestigious horse shows. Julie has designed courses and judged the ASPCA Maclay Finals, the Dover/USEF Medal Finals, the Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search Finals-West and the New England Equitation Championships. Julie is a committed volunteer to the sport and has served on many committees and task forces. Julie also co-authored the book Judging Hunters and Equitation: WTF? (Want The Facts?) with Tricia Booker. Guest: M. Michael Meller is a lifelong horseman who has dedicated his life to the pursuit of excellence in the sport of show jumping. He has helped find and produce some of the top horses in the sport and works closely with owners and riders to achieve top results both nationally and internationally. He is also the founder of the M. Michael Meller Style Award, which recognizes athletes who are not just top riders but also horsemen giving back to the sport and the animals that they love. Presented by Michael, the “Doc Spirit” Award in honor of Dr. John R. Steele is presented annually to horses that best exemplify the heart and athleticism necessary to be competitive at the highest levels of show jumping. Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance ServicesSubscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineSponsors: Purina Animal Nutrition, America Cryo, Alexis Kletjian Jewelry, LAURACEA, BoneKare, Austin Hardware, Show Strides Book Series, With Purpose: The Balmoral Standard and Good Boy, Eddietheplaidhorse.comThank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!