March 2026 Issue

March 2026 | EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN 22 Continued on page 24 their passions with meaningful careers in agriculture and the equine industry. She lives in Centre Hall, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Ben, and their children, Jackson and Kennedy. • Fri 3 PM – College Opportunities for Horse Crazy Kids (Seminar Hall B) Julie Cyra | West 20 Saddle Co. (K) Julie Cyra (Saddle Fit) is the owner of West 20 Ranch & Saddle Co. in East Troy, Wisconsin, one of the country’s largest independent saddle shops. Established in 1990, her purpose-built facility has become a destination for riders seeking proper saddle fit and quality craftsmanship. Known as one of the last all–American-made saddle shops, West 20 emphasizes handmade saddles and tack while educating cus- tomers on fit, structure, and function. Julie works closely with manufacturers to improve designs that meet modern breed and conformation standards. Through hundreds of clinics and private fittings nationwide, she has built a reputation for explaining saddle fit clearly and practically—relying on facts, not opinions, to help riders make informed decisions. • Fri 12 PM – The SaddleThat Fits (Seminar Hall A) • Sat 12 PM– The Physics of Saddle Fitting (Seminar Hall A) Montie Eagle | Montie Eagle Dressage; AliciaMartin booth 224 Montie Eagle has been a lifelong student of the horse and of classical dressage since the early 1980s. She began her formal education under Pat Smeltzer and Karl Mikolka, former head rider of the Spanish Riding School, learning to cue the horse according to the placement of its feet. In 2006,mentorshipwith renowned reining horseman Jack Brainard expanded her work into western dressage, reinforcing her belief that classical prin- ciples transcend discipline. Montie is the author of The Rose in Prime , Riding Anyone? , and Concerns for the Older Rider . From her Carlisle, Pennsylvania facility, she teaches riders of all backgrounds—especially adult beginners and returning riders—promoting the belief that dressage is for everyone and that a sound, joyful partnership is the ultimate goal. • Thur 12:05 PM– Keeping Horses at Home (Seminar Hall A) • Fri 10:05 AM – Concerns for the Older Rider (Seminar Hall A) • Sun 10 AM – Dealing With Show Ring Nerves (Seminar Hall A) Lynn Emerson | LynnEmerson.com Lynn Emerson is an ICF-certified leadership coach, Equineflow practitioner, and lifelong rider who integrates neuroscience, emotional agility, and somatic intelligence to help equestrians and professionals navigate fear, pressure, and transition with clarity and confidence. Founder of Lynn Emerson, LLC, she partners with riders seeking deeper connection—with themselves, their horses, and their goals. Drawing on decades of executive leadership, adult education, and research experience, Lynn applies the same principles of presence and purpose from the boardroom to the barn. Raised on a small New England farm, she learned early that authentic leadership is rooted in trust and self-awareness. Her work helps riders move beyond anxiety and self-doubt to rediscover balance, bravery, and embodied confidence. • Sun 9:05 AM – From Fear & Frustration to Balance & Bravery (Seminar Hall A) Elizabeth Farina | Clarity RidingMorgan Horses booth B2 Elizabeth Farina is a USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medalist with a B.S. in Equine Science from the University of NewHampshire. A decade ago, she transitioned from trail cross-training to competitive trail and endurance riding, developing a passion for distance sport. Elizabeth has bred, trained, and competed a wide range of non-traditional en- durance mounts, including Morgans, gaited breeds, Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, and rescues. Through Clarity Rid- ing’s eight-week Intro to Distance program, she has intro- duced dozens of riders to the sport. Elizabeth serves as Chair of the USA Northeast Endurance Junior/Young Rider Com- mittee and represents the region on the American Endurance Ride Conference Junior and Young Riders Committee. • Sun 1 PM – CTR & Endurance 101; An Introduction to Distance Riding (Seminar Hall A) Sadie Fisher | Unbridled Equine booth 420 Sadie Fisher launched her business eight years ago and now operates it full-time alongside her husband from their farm in Millerstown, Pennsylvania. Working with horses ranging from Miniatures to Draft breeds, she offers train- ing in driving, riding, colt starting, obstacle work, beginner reining, trails, and trick training, along with clinics, demon- strations, and Roman riding performances. Sadie regularly performs at small shows and expos, blending solid horse- manshipwith engaging entertainment. A longtime supporter of Horse World Expo—both behind the scenes and as a fea- tured clinician in 2022—she is honored to return and thrilled to be selected as a competitor for the 2026 Road to the Horse. • Daily Equi-Tainment Performances (Equine Arena) • Thur 12:05 PM – From Training to Entertaining; Tricks for Your Horse (Round Pen) • Sat 9:05 AM – From Training to Entertaining; Tricks for Your Horse (Round Pen) Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club | Penn State 4-H Horse Program, booth 610, 611 Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club traces its roots to founder Ellis Ferrell’s childhood on his grandmother’s farm in Tallahassee, Florida, where a love of horses first took hold. By the late 1940s, Ferrell was riding through North Philadel- phia and soon envisioned horses as more than recreation— they were a path to discipline, pride, and opportunity for urban youth. In 1980, he opened a small stable at 31st and Master Street, giving neighborhood children hands-on ex- perience in riding and horse care while building confidence and character. Relocated to Fletcher Street in 2004, the club became a nationally recognized symbol of Black urban cow- boy culture. Today, under continued leadership inspired by Ferrell’s vision, it remains a powerful force for mentorship, tradition, and transformation—one rider at a time. • Sat 12 PM – Black Urban Cowboys (Seminar Hall B) Molly Friend, PhD | Penn State Ext. Equine Program booth 608, 609 Dr. Molly Friend is a Ph.D. student at Pennsylvania State University studying Integrative and Biomedical Physiolo- gy, with a research focus in equine exercise physiology. She earned her B.S. in Animal Science fromThe Ohio State Uni- versity and her M.S. from Mississippi State University. Her master’s research explored equine-assisted psychotherapy in substance rehabilitation facilities, examining the physiolog- ical effects on both human and equine participants. Molly has competed in disciplines ranging from hunters to western pleasure and is passionate about bridging practical horse- manship with scientific inquiry. Her work reflects a commit- ment to advancing understanding of the horse–human con- nection through research grounded in real-world experience. • Thur 4PM– ABit About BitMechanics (SeminarHall B) • Sat 9:05 AM– ABit About Bit Mechanics (Seminar Hall B) JoyMackay Gallupe | The Joy of Horses, GAIT, Inc. booth B1 Joy Mackay Gallupe discovered her love of horses at a young age and, after saving diligently to own her first horse, embarked on a lifelong journey in the saddle. She oncemain- tained six polo ponies and later competed successfully at the Open level in team penning, ranch sorting, cowboy races, obstacle and trail challenges, earning multiple year-end and series titles. After a serious riding accident left her rebuild- ing confidence, Joy committed to deeper study of training methods, refining them into her own approach while helping her athletic, sensitive horse thrive. A retired special educa- tion teacher, she applies patience and structured learning to horsemanship. Her philosophy—“Using Focus and Inten- tion”—guides riders toward partnership built on kindness, clarity, and step-by-step success. • Fri 1 PM – Intro to Ground Obstacles (Round Pen) • Sat 12 PM – Become a Better Partner With Your Horse (Round Pen) Amanda Grev, PhD | Penn State Univ. booth 623, 624 Dr. Amanda Grev joined University of Maryland Exten- HORSE WORLD EXPO 2026 Additional Clinics & Seminars Continued from page 21