Equitation, Hunter & Jumper
Karen began her professional career working for George Morris at Hunterdon 1971-1974. Following that she worked at Boulder Brook and Tewksbury with such riders as Ruthann Bowers, Freddie and Daisy Wells, and Francesca Mazella.
Karen moved to California in 1981 and began her business at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. In the following years, she developed many successful riders including Mia Wood, Lauren Kay, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, Kristen Posehn, 1998 AHSA Jr. Horsemen of the Year Jill Prieto and Kasey Ament.
Presently Karen is located at Whitethorne Ranch, in Somis, California. Since coming to California, her riders have won over 100+ medal finals including the 1990 ASPCA Maclay National Finals and the USET Talent Search Finals in 1986, 1987, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013. She has also trained numerous champion hunters and jumpers at indoors, including the 1990 AHSA Large Jr. Hunter National Champion, Magic Word, the 2005 USEF Amateur Owner Hunter 36 and over National Champion, Country Grammar, and the 1996 and 1998 AHSA Jr. Jumper National Champion Freestyling. Her jumper riders have also earned medals at the NAYRC and the Prix de States, including gold medalists Hannah Selleck, Samantha Harrison and Kilian McGrath.
In addition to her students’ success in the show ring, Karen is an instrumental force in the administration of equestrian sport. She holds a USEF R-rated judging license and has judged some of the most prestigious shows in the country, including the Devon Horse Show, the Hampton Classic, the USEF Pony Finals and the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search East Coast Finals.
Karen and her staff are each Certified USHJA Trainers.
COMMITTEES
Chairperson USHJA Equitation Task Force Member USHJA Hunter Task Force Member USEF Developing Riders Committee Member USHJA Trainer’s Committee for Trainer Certification USHJA Emerging Athlete Program Clinician PCHA Board of Directors-1995-2010
AWARDS
1991 Horsewoman of the Year – California Professional Horsemen’s Association
2007 Chronicle of the Horse Person of the Year
Visit Karen’s website: KarenHealeyTraining.com
View Karen’s Video Topics:
The Progression of Releases
Karen Healey and her demonstration riders present the various releases used in the jumping disciplines. Karen shows us what releases are suitable at the different stages in a rider’s development, from a beginner “reach up and grab mane” release to the most advanced following hand or automatic release. She discusses the advantages certain releases have and some common faults riders can make when incorrectly used.
Running Time: 22 minutes and 55 seconds