Welcome to Karin's Horse Connection
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About Us
Karin's Horse Connection operates at Lamoreaux Ridge Equestrian Center and offers a full range of equestrian activities and services including: Quality riding lessons (English and Western), vaulting, therapeutic riding, guided trail rides, young children pony program, birthday parties, Girl Scouts badges, horse boarding and training . . . With over 20 horses we have something for everyone!
We are home to:
Vaulting Club A VAULTING CONNECTION (non profit)
THERAPEUTIC HORSE CONNECTION (non profit)
4 H Club BLAZE WITH GRACE
Grandville High School Equestrian Team
Hope College Equestrian Club
Latest News and Events - Check it Out!!
Birthday Parties!
The Total Horse Lover Seminar
Equestrian Vaulting Workshop
Own A Horse Camp
Our Grandville High School Equestrian Team had a great season and showed real sportsmanship and team spirit.
Other Events
Karin's Horse Connections offers after school riding programs (riding and/or vaulting lessons). Don't miss out on a great opportunity for your kids to get involved in a rewarding, confidence building sport that involves horses.
Now accepting new members in our 4 H Club "Blaze With Grace". For more information contact Tracy Hummer at thummer@comcast.net.
Now accepting new kids in our vaulting team. For more information contact Leoni Schmidt at hottamalee978@yahoo.com
Our Staff
Karin Schmidt Vaulted from age 7-13 at a high level dressage barn in Germany. Mastered bronze "Reitabzeichen" (4 ft. jumps, first level dressage, and written test). Worked at driving, breeding, and kids summer camps.Jockey apprentice at Fritz Drechsler's gallop racing stable (German champion jockey). Raced on every track in Germany. Guest jockey in Peru; raced in Kentucky and Arizona. Exercised horses in Switzerland, England, and Canada. Professionally involved with thoroughbred race horses for 9 years in 3 continents. Experience with breaking and training green horses. Holds German Master Trainer License in training gallop race horses as well as training and mentoring apprentice jockeys.Stable Manager for a European trail riding barn.NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) certification and PEP (Proud Equestrian Program), 4-H Instructor in 2002 and currently active in therapeutic riding and vaulting.CHA Instructor Certification in 2007. March 2008: Accepted as member of the American Association of Riding Schools (AARS).
Liz Parmelee is an Art Education major at Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids. She loves horses and has been around them since she was little. Liz was involved in 4-H for many years and has experience in trail riding and showing both English and Western. She was a member of the Grand Haven Equestrian Team while she was in high school. Liz has been working with Karin's Horse Connection since March 2010 and worked as a wrangler at Spring Hill Camp before that. Liz is excited to work with horses, and to share her love and knowledge of horses with anyone that will listen.
Leoni Schmidt: vaulting coach and assistant riding instructor Leoni is Karin’s daughter. She loves people and horses and is looking forward to following in her mother’s footsteps. Vaulting is her greatest passion. Recently Leoni became national champion with her 2-phase team, third in C-team, and ended up top ten in her individual class (out of 55) in Denver, CO in August 2011. She has competed in California as well as on the East coast and in Germany. Together with her horse Goldie she enjoys to participate in 4-H and high school equestrian team, and local open shows. She earned ribbons in dressage, saddle seat, bareback riding and many more, but her favorite in the show ring are speed events. She says with a smiling face: “I got the need for speed.”
Links We Recomend
AARS-American Association of Riding Schools
AVA-American Vaulting Association
http://www.americanvaulting.org/
PATH International
Bob The Equestrian
http://www.horsecrazy.net/bobsblog/