Kendra began her horse-crazy life at 6 years old, and never looked back. Now 24, she has extensive experience in lower level Dressage, with a passion for learning all she can about correct Dressage riding and training. She passes her knowledge to her students, teaching them all she can. Kendra began riding at a local hunter/jumper barn and stayed there for quite a few years, where she was put on the "greener" of the lesson horses. After finding an American Quarter Horse named Alice, Kendra dropped out of the English riding scene for awhile and joined a 4-H club in Hillsboro, Ohio. She had planned to show Alice in a few of the Western Pleasure classes they held, but was in for a surprise when they discovered Alice had a serious buddy sour problem! To avoid injury to herself or to her horse, Kendra decided to show her aunt's Quarter Horse, Annie. Kendra showed in quite a few Western classes at the Highland County Fair, including Western Pleasure, Reining, and Poles - even taking home a few ribbons with Annie!
Though Kendra loved Alice, she quickly decided the Western scene was not for her, and began taking Dressage lessons. She immediately fell in love with the discipline, and soon after, she received her heart horse, a 13 year old Thoroughbred named Seymore (pictured above.) Kendra and Seymore took the Dayton Local and Queen City Dressage Circuits by storm, claiming Junior Grand Champion in both Introductory and Training Levels, Kendra's first year showing Dressage at 13 years old. The pair even made it for a few Combined Training and sanctioned Dressage shows at the Kentucky Horse Park and Antebellum Farm.
Unfortunately, all great things must come to an end, and Seymore has since been retired from his busy show horse life due to lameness issues that are not all that uncommon in off the track Thoroughbreds. Seymore now enjoys his days (or nights, if it's hot out!) in the pasture, and Kendra was given the opportunity to lease one of her best friends' horses, a 13 year old Tennessee Walking Horse named Jake. Jake is a Training Level eventer and schooling 2nd and 3rd level Dressage movements. With Jake, Kendra hopes to be able to improve upon her riding skills, return to the show ring, continue to teach the fine art of riding, and share all of the new knowledge that will inevitably come in the future.
The best is yet to come!
Top: Kendra and Seymore
Bottom: Kendra and Seymore
