March 2026 Issue

March 2026 | EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN 8 Sally Batton Sally Batton served for 30 years as head coach of the Dartmouth College Division I Varsity Eques- trian Team, guiding dozens of riders to regional, zone, and national titles. A past Intercollegiate Horse ShowsAssociationNational Steward, she received the IHSA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 and was inducted into the inaugural IHSAHall of Fame class in 2020 in recognition of her leadership and lasting contributions to collegiate equestrian sport. Batton travels nationwide—including Alaska and Hawaii—teaching clinics for riders of all ages and levels. In 2023, her rider-training innovation, the Sally Batton Pommel Blocker, was launched by Correct Connect, an industry leader in training aids. She is co-author, with Christina Keim, of The Athletic Equestrian and Equicize, both published by Horse & Rider Books. An avid polocrosse enthusiast, Batton is a former board member of the American Polocrosse Association, a certified APA coach, and author of Polocrosse: Australian Made, Internationally Played. She is certified by both the United States Hunter Jumper Association and ARIA, which named her Instructor of the Year in 2008. Batton holds degrees from Lake Erie College and Fairleigh-Dickinson University. Schedule • Thur, 1PM, Large Arena (2nd Floor, End of Hallway) Teaching Tools to Improve your Position in the Show Ring • Fri, 12PM, Equine Arena (2nd Floor, to the Right) Judge’s Perspective for English Classes on the Flat • Sat, 6PM, Equine Arena (2nd Floor, to the Right) Equicize; Mounted Exercises to Improve Fitness & Cardio Carl Bledsoe Carl Bledsoe (Naturally Gaited Horses) resides in Talking Rock, Georgia, with his wife, Tammy, where they train horses and educate owners. While Carl works with all breeds, gaited horses are his passion. Raised in the Tennessee Walking Horse show world, he spent years training and showing multiple champion and world champion horses. Over time, he began questioning the sacrifices often required for those titles, prompting a fundamental shift in his approach. Today, Carl advocates classical training rooted in biomechanics, purity of gait, and the long-term physical and mental well-being of the horse. Rejecting short- cuts and gimmicks, he emphasizes compassion, education, and individualized training—often asking, “What’s in it for the horse?” That philosophy guides his work and his life. Carl and Tammy conduct clinics nationwide, sharing his journey from the show ring tohumane horsemanship. He has been a featured clinician and speaker atmajor expos and conferences across the country. In recognition of his advocacy, Carl was honored as Humane Horseman of the Year by the Humane Society of the United States for his commitment to protecting and promoting the welfare of gaited horses. Schedule • Thur, 2PM, Large Arena (2nd Floor, End of Hallway) Riding in Rhythm With Your Gaited Horse • Fri, 11AM, Equine Arena (2nd Floor, to the Right) The Real Reason Your Gaited Horse is “Lazy” or “Too Forward” • Sat, 12PM, Large Arena (2nd Floor, End of Hallway) Why Tempo Matters When Working With Your Gaited Horse • Sun, 3PM, Large Arena (2nd Floor, End of Hallway) Prioritize Mental & Physical Development Over Cues & Tricks Craig Cameron Craig Cameron (Horsemanship, General Training) is a legendary horseman, rancher, and cowboy—and one of the original modern clinicians. A true Texan, Cameronhas sharedhis horsemanship philosophy worldwide for more than three decades. ARoad to theHorse Colt StartingWorldChampion, RFDTVstar,andTexasCowboyHallofFameinductee (2007), he remains a powerful ambassador for the cowboy way of life. Growing up in the 1950s and ’60s, Cameron rejected the rough methods common at the time, choosing instead a slower, morenatural approach. InfluencedbyRayHunt’s philosophyofworkingwith thehorse, not against him,Cameronbecameoneof thefirst clinicians tobring that message to a broad audience, filming his first video in 1985. Nicknamed the “Public Defender of the Horse,” Cameron travels nearly 90,000 miles a year teaching clinics and starting hundreds of colts. He hosts the award-winningRFDTVprograms Ride Smart andThe ExtremeCowboy Race. Honored by the Crow Nation as “Captures Many Horses,” Cameron continues to inspire with skill, humor, and unwavering dedication to the horse. Schedule • Fri, 1PM, Large Arena (2nd Floor, End of Hallway) Easy Exercises to Develop a Great Handle on Your Horse • Sat, 11AM, Large Arena (2nd Floor, End of Hallway) Safer, Braver Horses • Sat, 4PM, Seminar Hall A (Expo Hall, Back Right) Beginning to Winning • Sun, 12PM, Seminar Hall B (Expo Hall, Back Left) Question & Answer Session With Craig, Hall of Fame Legend • Sun, 2PM, Large Arena (2nd Floor, Endof Hallway) Controlled Forward Movement & Fun Patterns Continued on page 10 Athletic Equestrian booth 220 Carl Bledsoe Horsemanship booth 418, 419 HORSE WORLD EXPO 2026 Clinician & Speaker Biographies Cameron Horsemanship booth 321 Visit us at Horse World Expo Booth # 320 Providing the full line of Flex Hoof Boots and much more! www.HoofBootsandBeyond.com Classy and comfortable barefoot hoof protection