Karin Schmidt is a "been there, done that" horse professional.
Achievements
Some of Karin's most significant achievements
- Participating in the circus with her horse Habakkuk alongside “The Flying Pages”
- Part of the movie production “The Horse Dancer”
- Part of the award-winning short documentary “Healing With Horses” (Click to watch)
- Lunging two of her horses in the World Equestrian Championships in Tryon, NC in 2018
Some Facts About Karin
- Vaulted as a child in Germany when equestrian vaulting was still new and done without a pad.
- Learned riding on ponies, bareback; was exposed to intense high-level English dressage
- Learned the trade of thoroughbred racing and was a successful jockey in Germany, Peru, and the USA for nine years, as one of the first women in a man’s domain.
- Founded and led the vaulting club “A Vaulting Connection” from 2005 to 2022
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Founded Legacy Stables and Karin's Horse Connection (legacyhorses.com)
Sold to family and friends in 2022 - Currently serves as the Vice President of Membership of the EVUSA (Equestrian Vaulting USA)
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Currently serves as the President of EVUSA Region X
- Founder of Vaulting Games - a vaulting competition and showcase hybrid event - an initiative to make vaulting more accessible and affordable at the grassroots level of the sport in the US.
- Author of the training manual "Vaulting Pair Moves"
Karin wants to use what she has learned to help your equine business and vaulting club thrive.
Karin learned from scratch to work IN the equine business. She knows how to shake horse turds, ride the tractor, treat an abscess, unload and stack hay, get unstuck in the mud, deal with non-paying customers, give lessons at very unusual times to all kinds of people in all kinds of settings, load horses and drive horse trailers across the country. She has experienced burn-out, injuries, and all kinds of setbacks, as well as gorgeous sunrises, the brisk wind in her face at a full gallop, the gentle nudge of a warm muzzle just when she needed it, the sound of hay-munching horses in the barn at night check, the connection of a 1500 pound horse in her hands, and the birth of a foal. She has seen MILLION-DOLLAR-SMILES on countless faces of riders and vaulters of all ages and abilities and those of their families. Karin was taught how to work ON the equine business. She has learned to find clarity and direction, prioritize her time and energy, manage staff, conflict, and finances, and create standard operating procedures.