cowgirl update
Mary Chapin Carpenter launches a new album of introspection and experience.

Mary Chapin Carpenter, The Things That We Are Made Of

Mary Chapin Carpenter’s new album The Things That We Are Made Of is now streaming in full, exclusively as part of NPR Music’s First Listen series. Released May 6th, ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­The Things That We Are Made Of features eleven new songs written by Carpenter and is already receiving widespread critical acclaim. Rolling Stone praises, “…beautifully sums up where she’s been and sets the stage for what’s yet to come…Something Tamed Something Wild—and indeed the entire new album—finds the songwriter at her most thoughtful, and also at times sweetly whimsical, perfectly capturing the buoyant spirit of her early successes and also serving as a reminder that she remains one of the most grounded, sentient songwriters of her generation.”  In celebration of the release, Carpenter will embark on an extensive American tour, beginning June 4th in St. Louis. Over the course of her acclaimed career, Carpenter has recorded 14 albums and sold over 14 million records. With hits like ”Passionate Kisses” and “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,” she has won five Grammy Awards (with 15 nominations), two CMA awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, and is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Listen to the album free at npr.org or buy it on iTunes or Amazon.

cowgirl updateAQHA Trail Challenge

An AQHA Trail Challenge is a judged course that tests a horse and rider’s ability to work as a team, navigating through natural obstacles they might experience on a trail ride. There are generally 6 to 16 obstacles in any given trail challenge. Each horse-and-rider team starts out with a score of 70, and then gains or loses points depending on their ability to navigate the course. In each division, the horse and rider with the highest overall value is declared the trail challenge winner.  AQHA offers an all-breed division, as well as an American Quarter Horse division at every challenge.  Upcoming events include:

Skull Valley, AZ – July 15-17

Kiowa, CO – July 23-24

Hancock, ME – August 21

To learn more visit aqha.com/riding

cowgirl updateTime to Ride Challenge

Stables, clubs, and businesses nationwide are invited to compete for $100,000 in cash and prizes by growing their business. The Time to Ride Challenge (in its third year in 2016) is now open for registration. Stables, clubs, businesses, and all other horse professionals are encouraged to visit timetoride.com and take the first step towards growing their businesses by introducing new people to horses and expanding our entire industry. The Challenge will award $100,000 cash and prizes, and take place June 1st through September 30th. Since 2014, the Challenge has introduced over 60,000 people to horses through first-time horse experiences with the support and involvement of hundreds of stables, clubs and equine businesses nationwide. Hosts plan engaging, hands-on horse events designed to connect families interested in horses to opportunities in their area such as riding lessons, camps, and trail rides. By reaching a new segment of their community, businesses add to their own client base while supporting the entire horse industry. The Challenge is an program of the American Horse Council’s Marketing Alliance, a group of industry-leading businesses and organizations collaborating to reinvigorate participation in horse activities for the benefit of the entire industry. Registration is free and available now at timetoride.com.