Decidedly Equestrian was founded in 2014 and is currently featuring several riders from different parts of the United States including California, Ohio and Texas. One of our biggest missions is to be THE source for honest reviews** of equestrian products from large and small companies in the United States. We write about the important stuff: how an item works in the short term and over time, how long something lasts or holds up after months of serious use, if the quality of the product warrants it’s price, and how the products stand up to their competition.

We share regular lifestyle articles to our readers including DIY projects, news in the horse community, artist and company profiles, trainer tips, barn organization and management and much more!

**We do NOT accept compensation for reviews, but we must have actually used a product to review it! Why do we not accept compensation? Because we feel it might lead our fans to believe our reviews are biased, and we want them to always feel confident that they can depend on our honesty when making purchases based on our reviews!

 

OUR TEAM

Founder/Photographer/Contributor

Rachel Masen, founder of Decidedly Equestrian, is a former art consultant and has been involved with OTTB re-homing for a decade. She holds a BA in Studio Art and Marketing from the University of Arkansas and a MA in Art History and Visual Culture from the University of Chicago. In her day job(s) is a surface pattern designer for various brands, is a web developer, photographer and works with many horse related non-profits. She's also active in her local dressage community being on the board of her local chapter of California Dressage Society for a few years. She also wrote a book! She enjoys a variety of riding disciplines but is currently focusing on training a horse up the levels of Dressage. She is a USDF Bronze medalist and was the TIP 4th Level Champion in 2018 with Spice It Up.

Contributor

Kristin Phillips has been riding horses for almost 14 years – dabbling in almost every discipline along the way. But at this stage she is enjoying the slow and steady pace of western pleasure and trail work. Kristin and her husband own a farm in Central Ohio where they have made a home for their two horses, 4 dogs and beautiful young daughter. Kristin has been writing for several years with We3Equines and has recently moved to the Decidedly Equestrian team.

Kristen Kolenda holds a B.S in Equestrian Studies from Lake Erie College. A former trainer and professional rider, she is now a mental health researcher and clinical Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT). In her personal business she combines her knowledge of horses and riding with her training in yoga therapy and mental health to help equestrians achieve peak performance in (and out of) the saddle. She’s created the Rider Training Scale (think dressage scale, for the rider) to help riders optimize their biomechanics, mobility, mental and emotional health and more for form and function. Kristen can be found presenting at conferences such as Equine Affaire and the Symposium on Yoga Research in addition to providing workshops at private training and boarding facilities. She teaches weekly online group yoga therapy classes to help equestrians connect with their body and their horse, physically, mentally and emotionally. While Kristen has spent most of her life in the jumper and eventing rings her two senior horses, Bittersweet and Mighty Maverick, have her enjoying quiet trail rides more often than not these days. For a little twist she’s recently begun western riding lessons to help better understand her western riding clients and hopes to take a polo lesson or two soon.

Contributor

Nichelle Martin, founder and blogger of Farming in Dresses™ currently lives in North East Texas with her husband and two boys. Nichelle has been involved in the horse industry her entire life. The former founder and blogger of the popular equine blog We 3 Equines, her involvement and experience includes at home horse ownership, boarding and training at private facilities, rescue and rehabilitation of horses, working at a renowned thoroughbred breeding facility, interning with vets, farriers and more. Her father is a retired racehorse trainer, and her mother a long time employee of the CTBA, so a large part of her youth involved being on both sides of the track, as well as retraining OTTBs for further careers as hunter, jumper and dressage horses. Nichelle currently owns 4 horses including a rescued wild mustang mare and her super friendly filly, a Friesian Sport Horse mare and a rescue mare who is suspected to be a Spotted Draft cross as well as a small farm with a variety of farm and exotic animals. Even as a Texas transplant she continues to ride English, even working cattle and on the trails.

Contributor

Jo has been involved with horses for more than 45 years and is an equine attorney, equine business consultant, horse professional, and nonprofit horse program director. Her legal experience includes work as a staff attorney for the Boston Police Department, a legal writer and editor for Quinlan Publishing and Lexis-Nexis, and now her solo, web-based law firm, Windhorse Legal, PLLC. As a horse professional, she has conducted clinics and produced a DVD for fearful riders, taught lessons to all ages, managed barns, gentled Mustangs, and created and directed the Horse-Human Relationship Program at her nonprofit, Tapestry Industry. Jo currently lives in Northwestern Nebraska. She has 5 Mustangs and is a passionate advocate for the breed.