Karen's past partners...

Lionheart

Karen discovered Lionheart (Landseiger I out of Wendla by Walt Disney) in Germany in the fall of 2002. Their chance meeting seemed predestined. “Never before, nor since, have I experienced such an immediate connection with a horse.”

Together they had an impressive record of successes at the Prix St. Georges and Intermediare I levels. Notably, their victories in prestigious, qualifying events in the United States, secured them short list status to the Canadian Equestrian Team in 2007 and 2008.

In 2007, the team’s qualifying scores secured them a spot on Canadian Pan Am Team in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Vincente, was a 1987 Hanoverian/Trakehner gelding by Virgil out of a Diamante mare. Although he was already 8 years old when their partnership began, Karen and Vincente had a very special bond.

Unfortunately, Vincente's career was cut short when he had to be euthanized at the age of 12. To read more, please go to "In Memory of Vincente".

Glasnost, was a 1986, imported Hanoverian gelding. Karen bought "Ben" from Canadian Olympic rider Bonny Bonnello as a 4 year old and Karen trained him through to Grand Prix. Their highlight together was competing for Canada at the 1995 Can Am Challenge in California where they won the Bronze medal in the Team competition.

Ben was sold shortly after and then belonged to an adult amateur in California who competed at the Advanced levels with him.

Northern Lights, was a 1978 Thoroughbred cross gelding that was born and raised on Karen's parent's horse farm. Karen and "Legs" began competing Nationally together in 1983 and continued on to have a very successful career together. This included representing Canada at the NAYRC's for four consecutive years, winning a Team Gold in 1989 as well as an individual Bronze medal.

In 1993, Legs was sold to young rider, Laura Card, and together they too had a successful career, also representing Canada at the NAYRC's in 1996. He lived a long and healthy life with Laura until he died at the age of 24.

Delight, was a 1980 Thoroughbred cross gelding that was also born and raised on Karen's parent's horse farm and was a full brother to Northern Lights. Some of Karen and Delight's highlights were being double Gold medalists at the 1987 BC Summer Games as well as Gold and Silver medalists at the 1990 Western Canadian Summer Games.

They competed at the Grand Prix level in 1991. Shortly after that Delight was ridden by many riders young and old, both competitively as well as at home, and passed on his knowledge and experience to others. He lived a long and healthy life at CLS until he died in 1999.

Smokey, was a 1970 (perhaps older) Grade gelding. He was acquired by Karen's father on a hunting trip in the early 70's and became a family horse. He had been a stallion living in the wild in Northern BC having escaped from a nearby ranch as a yearling. After being caught, it was apparent that Smokey had a brand on his left hip which was traced to the ranch and he was bought.

He was Karen's first horse and they learned together, starting off with western riding and games, and then learning English riding together when Karen began Pony Club at age 8. He lived a long and healthy life, teaching many, many children how to ride until he died in 1995.