05/05/2026
Standing at the back gate during the 2025 Pennsylvania National Horse Show, Carleton Brooks felt like a vacuum had sucked the positive atmosphere out of the ring. As he stood with longtime friends Chris Wynne and Daniel Geitner, the mood around them was hard to ignore. But instead of just venting, the trio started asking what it would take to actually fix the culture.
That conversation has since become the U.S. Equestrian Trainers Association—now nearly 400 members strong—with a focus on communication, accountability, and rebuilding a sense of community in the sport.
More on how one moment of frustration turned into action at the link in comments.
📸 Lindsey Long Photo
