Wilderer Equestrian
IN THE NEWS

Originally published in The Plaid Horse . The Cracked Reflection of a Sport Priced Out of Its Own Soul ONCE AGAIN, ARTICLE AFTER ARTICLE has surfaced across my feed echoing the same concern: equestrian sport is becoming prohibitively expensive for anyone without significant financial backing. The problem is no longer debatable. It’s visible, documented, and widely acknowledged. I’ve spoken to many equine professionals and one thing that is clear—they feel their worth is dimin

I HAVE A CONFESSION: I AM NOT a winter person. As someone who has traveled back and forth to Wellington, Florida, over the past 15 winters, I am so thankful it’s an option. I crave the sun in a way that keeps my motivation and creativity flowing. But not everybody has the ability to relocate, and before I started coming to Florida, I developed a hardened winter mindset: one that only your true passion keeps you persistent and consistent in the unforgiving landscape. Winter do

Interview by Katie Derer originally published in The Plaid Horse . Transporting horses can be one of the most stressful things an equestrian does. It is fascinating to watch this prey species put their full trust in us, as we ask them to get in and out of random trucks, planes, and trailers. Some of these athletes are true frequent fliers, with more airtime than most people. Whereas competitors used to stay local, flying horses across the country and the globe has certainly p

NEW YEAR, NEW HORSE! Maybe you unwrapped that special Christmas present, or maybe you’re still scrolling sale ads and daydreaming. Either way, the excitement of buying a new horse usually comes with one big, nerve-wracking question: “Did it pass the vet?” The pre-purchase exam (PPE) has become one of the most stressful and divisive parts of modern horse shopping. What was once meant to protect buyers and horses now feels like a high-stakes gamble, complete with price inflati

Seasonal calendar showing how horses and staff could cycle through competition, active rest, and full rest over a year: Competition: Peak performance blocks. Active Rest: Light training, low-pressure riding, more turnout, reduced staff workload. Full Rest: Annual downtime for true recovery (horses in pasture, staff on holiday) Article by Katie Derer originally published in The Plaid Horse . Equestrian Sport has undergone a dramatic cultural and structural shift in the past fe

Article by Katie Derer originally published in The Plaid Horse . RECAP In the last installment of the series , we explored the evolving equine industry. We discussed the industry’s ongoing challenges, particularly around worker compensation, transparency, and working conditions. Drawing from personal experience as a freelance equine professional, I drew upon firsthand accounts with the industry’s outdated practices and advocate for much-needed reforms, including fairer pay, s

Article by Katie Derer originally published in The Plaid Horse . INDUSTRY STANDARDS help maintain a certain level of professionalism, safety, and horse welfare in the equine industry. Many argue that there is still significant room for improvement—especially when it comes to worker compensation, better work conditions, and industry-wide transparency. As the equine world evolves, these “industry standards” must also adapt to meet the changing demands of both the workforce and

Article by Katie Derer originally published in The Plaid Horse. THIS CONVERSATION comes at a crucial time for our workforce, in the midst of a hazardous political climate. For this next installment of my series on the industry, let’s break down who makes up our labor force, and how common practices affect workers and freelancers. It’s important that we understand the diversity of the equine industry in the United States, and also how it impacts the labor outlook. Equine worke

Article by Katie Derer originally published in The Plaid Horse . RECENTLY, THERE has been a remarkable amount of inflammatory media revealing the mental and physical state of those living and working in the equine industry. This led me to start asking some serious questions to my fellow peers: amateurs, professionals, and business owners. The consensus: the industry is out of hand. What does that mean, specifically? Their answers: Prices, shows, commissions, staff, lessons, s