Featured in Arabian Horse Times
The Shino Training Center (STC) group of clientele – competitive amateurs and owners alike – travel as a pack at shows. They put their vocal cords to the test from the stands, seeing how loud they can cheer in celebration. They also are waiting for each other at the stalls with a warm hug and words of encouragement if something doesn’t go as hoped in the show arena.
After speaking to many of these clients, the overwhelming consensus for this behavior is because of the culture modeled at STC from the top down. Josh Shino, who recently celebrated his fifth U.S. Nationals as a business owner, works hard to ensure his barn is a place where people can not only excel in their competition, but feel like they are part of a family.
“Sure, I am proud of the ribbons and recognition for our riders, Laura and myself,” Shino said about the barn’s 2023 U.S. Nationals success. “But, more so I am proud that we all chose to gather in celebration and support in life’s other big moments too. It’s incredible that our horses can bring us together in so many ways.”
Shino used this same word “proud” to describe how he felt at the close of this year’s show. The black and blue Shino Training Center drapes ended the week with two national championship garlands, eight reserve national championship garlands, and 19 top ten ribbons hanging as decoration – along with the 10 trophies sitting on tables his grandfather made. Adding to the allure of these impressive results is the fact that STC trainers and amateurs were in the winner circles of six different disciplines – English, Country, Hunter, Western, Native Costume, and Side Saddle.
Support Surrounds
Laura Rodel, STC’s assistant trainer, felt a similar sense of pride. She and Shino had matching answers to the question “what was your highlight of U.S. Nationals?” Both agreed that watching the hard work of their clients and horses come together in such exciting ways was their favorite part. This – among many other things – is what makes this symbiotic duo so effective.
“We both want all the horses to be as good as they can be,” Rodel said about hers and Shino’s priorities. “It works out that we have different strengths and weaknesses. We move horses around depending on what they need at the time. Plus, since we are such good friends, there are no egos involved.”
Rodel joined STC at the start of 2022, following an impressive start to her training career. She and Shino had worked together here and there for years before officially combining forces. It is no doubt that this dynamic is a large contributor to the success of the aforementioned variety of horses who enter the arena under STC direction.
Talent Recognized: 2023 U.S. Nationals
Arabian western horse HP Forte’s performances at U.S. Nationals speaks to Shino and Rodel’s diverse skills. The 10-year-old gelding received three reserve national championships with three different riders. He and Alison Pigott loped to the winners’ circle in the competitive Arabian Western Pleasure 60 & Over, while Rodel and Caitlin Pigott took home both bronze-colored trophies in the Western Side Saddle open and amateur, respectively.
Noble Supreme CRF added to the wins in specialty divisions with a reserve national championship in the Arabian Mounted Native Costume, with Shino aboard.
STC horses also found numerous reserve championships in the County English divisions, which make up a majority of horses in training at the Scottsdale-based facility. Spitfire VM and Shino trotted out victorious in the Arabian Country Pleasure Junior Horse, and Afirey Brandy VM and Julia Brennan earned both horse and rider’s first national trophies in the Arabian Country English Pleasure AAOTR 19-39. As an added bonus, both horses were bred by the Fishgold family, a longtime client of Shino. Dance With Nirvana and Toni Dolby also celebrated with smiles in the Half-Arabian Country English Pleasure AAOTR 60 & Over.
The “STC pack’s” loudest and longest cheers came during the Thursday morning session. As Shino tipped his hat while trotting to receive his national championship with In Deed SS (Indeed) in the Half-Arabian English Pleasure Futurity, his emotions were deeper than excitement for another victory on his show record. Indeed is owned by Jenn McClain DeJong, Shino’s longest standing client, and it was Shino’s first national championship in an English division as a professional.
“Jenn has always been a huge supporter of me,” Shino shared. “That win meant a lot for spoken and unspoken reasons to the both of us.”
STC also opened and closed the eight days of competition with victories in the Hunter Pleasure divisions. Shino and Tamar Han Solo (Jedi) were named national champions in the Arabian Hunter Junior Horse; the red roses hanging proudly all week for sisters and owners Shelley Lee and Kristi Smith who bought the stallion last summer.
“I have never been more excited at a horse show than I was when Josh and Jedi won,” Smith – one of STC’s most dedicated and informed supporters – said. “I really love all our horses, but there is something special about the way Jedi moves. It is so fun to watch Josh and Shelley show him.”
Finally – for the second year in a row – Hakuna Matata WA and Shino put the period on an exciting show for the barn. In 2022, this duo were the unanimous national champions in the Half-Arabian Hunter Pleasure Junior Horse, and this year took reserve champion honors in the Half-Arabian Hunter Pleasure Open.
Consistency Is Key
Even when being interviewed by someone who has known him for more than 15 years, it’s not easy to get Shino to talk about his accolades and accomplishments. However, when presented with the hypothetical contemplation of telling his younger self about such a successful show or not, he did not hesitate.
“I would tell myself, because it would not make a difference in how hard I worked,” Shino stated matter-of-factly. “I am not motivated by winning. In fact, some days it isn’t about motivation at all. It’s about being consistent. My goal is to make Shino Training Center a happy, healthy place for the horses and a fun, supportive place for our clients.”
Shino’s mother, Carolyn McDonald, a well-known horse trainer and member of the Arabian horse community, spoke to her son’s strengths with much more ease.
“Josh will never compromise a horse’s situation for the ribbon,” she shared about Shino’s attention to the horses who rely on his judgement. “That, and his work ethic, are what I am most proud of. It bleeds through all parts of his business and culture. Shino Training Center is one-in-a-million.”
With a final product such as the one 21 horses, 11 amateurs and two trainers were able to accomplish at the 2023 U.S. Nationals, it is clear that not many compromises were made. While this show will go down as, objectively, the most successful of STC’s five-year career because of ribbons and trophies won, Shino also feels like the subjective parts of his business and culture are also only continuing to get better.
“I just feel lucky,” Shino says in conclusion, “to get to keep making memories with these awesome people and horses.”
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