Kara's Background

I have horses in my blood. I was very fortunate to grow up in a horsey home with very supportive and understanding parents! I have been riding since before I could walk. I love to ride and train my own horses and to teach the joys of riding to all ages and abilities
I began my formal riding training at the age of 5 with Sue Kenney (now Downer), now a well-known dressage rider, and started managing barns before age 13 under the tutelage of Sara Contois. My teaching career began at 16 teaching at the GMHA youth camp in Vermont. Around that time, I also began teaching un-mounted and mounted pony club lessons. Attending Smith College gave me the opportunity to experience hunt seat equitation and “catch riding” (the art of jumping on an unknown horse and riding it in a judged class with no warm-up!). I also ventured into the jumper world for a short time after college (we still play in that world from time-to-time!) but my true love is eventing.

Once I graduated from college and earned my A rating from Pony Club, I worked managing barns and teaching lessons at various barns on the North Shore. After three years in the horse-world, I decided that in order to have my own barn, I needed to get a “real” job. I went back to school to get my Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Tufts University. I have been teaching high school Biology and Oceanography since 2001. Teaching all levels of high school, from special needs to advanced placement, has given me a wealth of experiences with students who have different learning styles.
I took a few years off from major competing to get my masters and for the first few years of teaching. During that time, I nurtured Fieval through beginner novice at unrecognized and recognized events. Since purchasing Sea Me Smile (aka Pippin) from the racetrack in 2004, I have been actively training and competing both Pippin and Pete King’s Manta Ray. Pippin and Manta have been very successful in the past few years competing at the training and now preliminary levels.
I believe that it is very important for both my riding and my teaching to continue my own training. I am currently training with Molly Kenney for jumping and her mom Sue Kenney-Downer for dressage.  I have been very fortunate to have also ridden with Eric Smiley (twice a year since 2004), Phillip Dutton (attended his week-long clinic at his True Prospect Farm in PA in ’09), Jimmy Wofford, Sally Cousins, David O’Connor, Bruce Mandeville, Adrienne Iorio, Darren Chiacchia, Sharon McClusker, Barend Heilbron, AnneMarie Arets-Heilbron, Danny Anholt, Claude Boulard, Beth Perkins, Leslie Law, Sara Contois, John Williams and Suzanne Payne.

Major Equestrian Accomplishments:

• “A” graduate of Pentucket Pony Club
• Competed successfully up to Preliminary on horses that I have trained myself
• Competed in the Open division while a member of the Smith College Equestrian Team where I earned many regional and zone awards including a trip to the national championship where I placed 11th in Open Over Fences.
• Represented the United States in 2 Student Rider Nation Cups in Switzerland and in Ireland.
Please see the results section of the website to view current awards won by Kara and her horses as well as SSS students and boarders.

*Scan in pictures of K riding at age 5… w/ Manny, Jae, Fieval + now Pips

Teaching Philosophy:

I believe that to become a good rider, one must be a good horse person. I love to teach my students the joys of horse management including grooming, tacking up, cleaning stalls, feeding, first aid etc. This also allows the student to understand the work involved in having horses!

I believe in taking things slowly until the rider is ready to move on to the next level. Having confidence, balance and security is my main goal for all of my students and with my extensive Pony Club background safety is always my number one concern. Riders must always wear an approved helmet and proper boots while riding. Horses and riders are thoughtfully matched during lessons to ensure confidence building and positive experiences.

I specialize in starting new riders of all ages (I have had students as young as two to people who are in retirement) and building confidence and skills in more experienced riders. Some of my students actively compete in eventing but most are riding just for the fun of it!