The Plaid Horse

"What is important for each and every competitor to understand is that 'everyone wins well, but not everyone loses well,' as my trainer likes to say. I’ve thought about this phrase a lot, and put some thought into how I lose. A year ago if you asked me if I was a good loser, I would have answered, 'Absolutely not.'"

"Before riders enter the ring for a hack class, they should take a moment and assess the vantage point of the judge. Where can I be seen and where am I hidden? Both factors may be important in the context of the class."

Read the full January 2021 Issue here: issuu.com/theplaidhorsemag

"Between the jumps and the racetrack, Sheppard has accounted for almost 21,000 starts, and he has won 3,426 races. His career earnings total $88.7 million. It has been a marvelous career, the sum total of intelligence, experience, instinct, horse knowledge, and horse sense."