Ten years ago, it started with a Facebook conversation and a long drive across Texas.

Today, the Arabian Hunter Pleasure Association (AHPA) is one of the most influential discipline programs in the breed, awarding major prize money, growing participation, and helping shape the future of Hunter Pleasure horses nationwide.

In this episode of the We LOVE Arabian Horses Podcast, Paul sits down with Samantha Hilliard (President) and Chelsea Wesson (Vice President), founding members of AHPA, to celebrate their 10-year anniversary and reflect on how a simple idea turned into a powerful movement.

They share:

• How AHPA was born

• Why they chose accessibility over breeding restrictions

• The story behind the iconic saddle silks

• Jackpot classes at Scottsdale, Youth & Midsummer

• A $100,000 Nationals futurity

• How hunters went from “leftover” to “in demand”

• And what’s next for the next decade

If you love hunters, or simply love seeing passionate people lift the entire breed, this one will give you goosebumps.

Because sometimes progress doesn’t shout.

It shows up quietly… and then changes everything.

Marketing is not just websites and social posts.

It is the feeling someone gets the first time they meet an Arabian horse.

In this second marketing roundtable, Paul sits down with industry leaders Hillary Hoffman and Lindsay Rinehart to explore what comes after the tools and technology. Instead of talking infrastructure, this conversation dives into messaging, emotion, and the invitations that truly welcome people into our barns.

They unpack why “versatility” is an inside word, why families need connection more than competition, and how the Arabian horse can be positioned not simply as a show horse, but as the horse that grows with you through every stage of life.

From ice cream socials to barn visits, from therapy and belonging to brand alignment across the breed, this episode challenges all of us to rethink how we present the Arabian horse to the world.

Because people do not fall in love with facts.

They fall in love with how something makes them feel.

If we want more families, kids, and newcomers in our community, we must lead with heart.

Listen in and join the conversation about building a clearer, warmer, more human story for the Arabian horse.

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✅ Invite someone new to the barn this week

In this episode of the We LOVE Arabian Horses Podcast, Paul Kostial, host, chats with Lauren Dickoff, Social Media Manager for the Global Champions Arabian Tour (GCAT), for an inside look at one of the most exciting international show circuits in the Arabian horse world.

Lauren shares GCAT’s vision for the 2026 season, including upcoming shows across the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas, new host cities, rotating international venues, and the return of the prestigious World Arabian Horse Championship Supreme in Paris.

They discuss the growth of the Americas Division with stops in Scottsdale, Miami Beach, and Las Vegas, the addition of performance and riding classes, GCAT’s spectacular opening and closing ceremonies, and how the tour continues to elevate Arabian horses on a truly global stage.

Whether you’re an owner, breeder, exhibitor, or lifelong fan, this episode offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how world-class Arabian competition is being shaped for the future.

Learn more and follow the tour at GCArabiansTour.com.