DIANA CONLON
(859) 221-3302 Daglen206@yahoo.com |
Diana is the owner and trainer at Olive Hill Sporthorses in Lexington. Her horses and students show at the local and rated levels in Kentucky and surrounding areas. She has been involved with KHJA for over 15 years and enjoys listening to KHJA members, as well as discussing ideas on rule changes/modifications. Diana thinks KHJA has many ways to improve in order to benefit its membership and she would love to be involved as a leader.
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Maria Kabel grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and began riding for fun at age 10 at Maria Kneipp’s farm. She eventually got her own horse and began taking hunt-seat lessons from Mike Striley, and showing on the local hunter circuit in Cincinnati. Maria started exercising racehorses in 1998 at River Downs and Turfway Park. She took a break from showing horses for about 5 years while galloping, but began showing again with Chris and Matt Payne. “We would take horses off the track, train and sell them. I also continued galloping on the track and eventually took my trainers test and became an assistant trainer to William Bradley, who I currently work for and have worked for for the last 23 years.” Maria retired from the track 3 years ago and started the program at Indian Creek Farm. She offers beginner lessons, hunt-seat lessons and she also retrains and rehomes or sells horses that are too slow to compete on the track. In addition, Indian Creek breaks their own yearlings and offers racetrack layup services.
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MELISSA MURPHY
(561) 531-9884 MurphyManor@hotmail.com |
Melissa has been involved with horses all her life and began competing at age 4. Melissa founded Murphy Manor, LLC in 2010 and currently has 20+ horses and many adventures ahead. As a fourth generation horse trainer, she’s very excited about the future. She has previously helped organize the judges clinics held by KHJA, was the 2011 KHJA Medal Leading Trainer and is currently qualified for Indoors/National on “Picasso” in the Regular Conformation. “I love being involved and contributing to any situations geared to making our organization better, from talking about the rules, to discussing juniors’ involvement (scholarship), to any situations needing decision making. Love being a part of it. I also want to contribute to our area’s horse industry and strive to make it work better.
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ALEXANDRA NELSON
(630) 621-2465 anelson91@yahoo.com |
Alex Nelson grew up in the Chicago area and moved to Lexington in 2010 so that she could continue with her biggest interest - horses and horse showing. She became the assistant trainer at Punchestown Stable in 2011 and since then has helped to grow the business and has a large group of students who are competitive at local and rated shows. Alex has an enthusiasm for everything related to the horse showing industry including getting elected to the KHJA. She hopes to help the KHJA continue to grow as the governing body for the equestrian community in Kentucky.
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ELAINE SCHOTT
(859) 489-0481 rivermountainfarm@gmail.com |
Elaine owns and operates River Mountain Farm in Versailles, KY. The farm has many boarders and students, as well as horses that RMF breeds, raises and trains from the ground up to go to new homes as prepared young show horses. Elaine maintains an inventory of warmblood horses for resale. She has horses in training, a lesson program and sends horses to both AA shows as well as local shows about 30 weekends a year. Elaine has been very involved in hunters and jumpers for over 25 years and prior to that was very involved in the world of combined training. Elaine would like to give back to the industry that has provided so much value to her life. Elaine has served as a KHJA board member for 14 years, including as past President; she is currently Vice Chairman of the USHJA Youth Committee, has served as a USHJA Zone 5 Board of Director the over 10 years, and is the USHJA Working Jumper Group Representative for Zone 5. Elaine is a certified trainer with the USHJA. She is concerned on all levels regarding safety, officiating, sportsmanship, horsemanship and how local organizations could become more active and productive with the National Organizations.
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NATASSIA STALLINGS
(818) 807-2519 ivorycreekfarm@gmail.com |
Natassia Stallings is the owner and trainer of Ivory Creek Farm, a hunter/jumper facility that offers boarding, show training and lessons. KHJA played a pivotal role in Natassia's early career, and she feels it would be a privilege to support the organization as it continues to contribute to the horse community.
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DAVID WARNER
(616) 813-6922 qhrstrnr@aol.com |
David owns and operates Huntsmark, a hunter/jumper operation in Frankfort, KY, where he coaches amateur riders and develops many young hunters. He has been a professional horseman for 35 years. He’s trained, coached and competed in USEF- and AQHA-sanctioned horse shows. Being a KHJA board member gives David the opportunity to give back to the sport he loves while helping it grow and keep its integrity.
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LEEA BRIDGEMAN
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Leea Bridgeman is a member of the KHJA and USEF and an active Adult Amateur who competes in both the Hunter and Jumper disciplines. Leea grew up riding in Westchester County, NY, and rode and competed until she left for college in 1996. After a 20-year hiatus from the sport, Leea resumed riding competitively in 2015, after the birth of her second child. Leea would bring to the KHJA Board her background in competing as a junior, as well as the experience and knowledge she have gained as a competing adult member.
Leea earned a Bachelor of Arts, with honors, from Harvard University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School. Leea currently works as an independent business consultant, but previously served as Vice President of Business Development at Churchill Downs. Leea has extensive board experience and has served on the Board of Directors for the Harvard Alumni Association, the Louisville Zoo, Gilda’s Club of Kentuckiana and Louisville Collegiate School, among others. Leea lives in Prospect, KY, with her husband and two daughter,s and considers her two mares, Carlotta (“Charlotte”) and Kandoodle SCF (“Kanoodle”) to be members of her family. |
KEEDLE RITTER KONOPKA
(502) 643-1023 keedleritter@aol.com |
Keedle Ritter Konopka is the owner and trainer at Forever Green Farm in Prospect, Ky.Having spent nearly 37 years in the saddle, Keedle has competed in hunters, jumpers, equitation, dressage, eventing, and polo. She began her involvement with the KHJA as a junior rider in 1985, when she moved to Kentucky from Florida. In Florida, she was fortunate enough to ride Don Stewart, Jill Townsend, George Morris, Simon Barber, Gunnar Ostergaard, Patrick Dempsey and the list goes on. When she moved here, she spent 10 years riding at Valley View Farm with George and Leslie Governo. She took a short hiatus from showing and worked in racing and breeding, and played polo for a few years with the Louisville Polo Club. She started her professional career in 1999, and found her true passion....teaching. She has developed multiple KHJA year-end award winners for everything from poles to children’s' to jumpers. She also competed her horse Maverick to several year-end awards in the Pre Greens as a professional. She has Louisville's only IEA team for both middle and high school riders. Since originally serving two terms on the KHJA board, she has added to the family: her husband Len and two beautiful children aged 2 and 10 months. She is excited about the opportunity to serve on the KHJA Board again an
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SARA SPRY (2020)
sprysm@yahoo.com |
Sara has been riding and showing hunters and jumpers for over 36 years and has been a KHJA member for over 10 years. Her daughter, Presley, is currently showing in the Short Stirrup and is looking forward to one day showing at Pony Finals.
Sara has been on the KHJA Board for two years and hopes to return to the Board to share ideas, improve the Association, and lead and guide young riders into the future of this great sport. |
MISSY JO HOLLINGSWORTH
(859)750-7568 me@missyjo.com |
Missy Jo Hollingsworth is married to Mark Clark and has two children, Jordan and Preston. Missy Jo is a lifetime horseman, specializing in hunters and jumpers. Her horses have qualified for most of the major shows and has had Champions and prizes in 2018 at Devon, Indoors, Pony Finals, Capital Challenge, Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, Swan Lake, Upperville, Wellington and Warrington. She also trains AQHA champions, with wins at the Congress and World Show. Missy Jo also has a USEF Leading Breeder and Leading Owner honors. She is the owner of *Telynau Royal Charter, a USEF Leading Sire. In addition, she coaches the University of Cincinnati Equestrian Team and is owner of Saddle Lake Equestrian Center and Saddle Lake Loveland.
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TRENA KERR
(859) 250-5473 Tjseclk@aol.com |
Trena Kerr has been teaching and training professionally in the hunter/jumper industry since 1990. She has taught riders who have won championships at both the state and national levels. As a junior rider, Trena was AHSA zone champion in the junior jumper division. Trena has trained and shown horses who have competed in the Working Hunter divisions as well as the Grand Prix circuit. Trena judges locally, as well as conducts clinics; she is also an avid foxhunter.
Trena has been on the KHJA board for approximately 10 years. She is an active professional member of the USHJA, the USEF, the MFHA, and the KY Horse Council. Trena and her husband Danny Kerr run the stable owned by the Camargo Hunt in Burlington, Ky., and operate a show stable under the name of Findaway Farm. Trena has lived and worked in Burlington, Ky., for the past 24 years. |
JENNIFER KRAEMER
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Jennifer Kraemer has been residing in Kentucky for 22 years, moving here to pursue her degree in Equine Science and Agricultural Economics at the University of Kentucky. Prior to moving to Kentucky, Jen competitive heavily on the Junior Circuit. Jen now resides in Northern Kentucky with her husband and three children. Her son has been competing for 2 years with his pony Chase Me Charlie in cross rails and poles, and her daughter Ashlyn is now taking the reins and will be showing Charlie in poles. Jen has also started competing again in the adult divisions. Horses have been a lifelong passion for Jen and she is looking forward to bringing that passion to the KHJA board. Education and horsemanship are very important to Jen and she wants to continue to share this importance with our young riders.
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KIM GUNDRY
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Kim was born and raised in South Africa, where she rode hunter/jumpers and fox hunters. Her passion for horses drew her to America after high school, where she received both an undergraduate and a master’s degree in Equine Science. She currently owns Meadowbriar Stables in Newburgh, IN, where she and her two instructors teach an extensive lesson program. Along with her students, Kim has two sons who actively compete in KHJA- and USEF-sanctioned shows. She has both a middle school and high school IEA team, comprising of around 30 members. Kim hosts numerous local and KHJA shows throughout the year at her facility. Kim has a great appreciation for KHJA. She is especially grateful to KHJA for the opportunity it allows the local riders, who may not have the financial capabilities to compete on the A-circuit, to be included in a great organization and gain recognition for their efforts and skills. She looks forward to being able to help promote the KHJA and provide support and a voice to its members.
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MARIA KNEIPP
(513) 374-9028 kneippfarm@gmail.com |
Maria been in the horse industry for 30 years, running her business on a family-owned farm on the east side of Cincinnati, Ohio. She has had the privilege to work with some of the most knowledgeable professionals in the industry, such as Frank Conway, Wilhelm Genn and David Hopper to name a few. She has tarted riders from the age of 4 all the way thru to receiving college scholarships. Maria was also Chef d’Equipe for the Zone V champion Pony Jumper Team in 2006, as well as qualifying several ponies over the last few years. Maria currently has the leading small green and medium green ponies in Zone V.
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